Last Saturday was the SCBWI Utah/Idaho Conference at the Salt Lake City Library. Sydney Hussman put together a great conference. Chelsey Eberley presented as the editor from Random House. Stephen Chudney was the agent and Pricilla Burris, the national illustration coordinator for SCBWI, was the visiting illustrator.
During my picture book dummy critique with Stephen Chudney, he mentioned that he did these conferences to give back to the children’s book community. That has been my experience with the people involved with children’s books. They are kind and willing to give a helping hand to those who are learning the craft. Priscilla Burris gave a great presentation and got the illustrators that attended thinking about character, place, what’s memorable and sketching with an ink line. Ann Cannon finished up the conference with a great presentation that had us all thinking and laughing. It was a great way to meet and network with writers and illustrators in the area.