The Pacific Northwest Children's Book Conference for writers and illustrators, sponsored by Portland State University, will be held on the campus of Reed College, July 14-18, 2008.

Now in its ninth year, the Children's Book Conference presents an exciting week of lectures, panels, small group, faculty-led workshops and critique sessions. Linda Zuckerman, director of the conference, has brought together another stellar group of instructors, authors and illustrators. Special guest Allyn Johnston, editor-in-chief at Harcourt Children's Books, a California publishing house, will be giving several insightful talks about the current publishing scene.

Conference participants will explore topics such as plot, picture book structure and development, fiction techniques to enliven nonfiction, writing for the educational market, poetry, writing young adult fiction and dealing with writer's block. Several concurrent sessions are offered, including workshops for those relatively new to the field and others with more experience.

Illustrators will have the opportunity to work on developing characterization, setting composition and visually interpreting a brief text provided by the conference writers. This year's distinguished faculty includes Bonny Becker, Susan Blackaby, Marla Frazee, Allyn Johnston, Kirby Larson, Dave Patneaude, Ann Whitford Paul, Susan Goldman Rubin, Elsa Warnick, Emily Whitman, and Linda Zuckerman, director.

Housing and meals will be available on Reed College campus to allow more opportunities for networking and ongoing discussion with faculty and fellow students. Tuition ranges from $675 to $1,355 for the week depending upon residency and credit options. Individual manuscript and portfolio reviews are available for an additional fee and university credit is available through Portland State. Enrollment is limited to 70 spots.

For more information, to request a brochure, or to register, contact Portland State University at 503-725-9786. For complete conference information visit www.ceed.pdx.edu/children.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (#08-047)

Source: Nancy Eichsteadt (503-725-5577)
Continuing Education