Attendees Remember the 2013 Conference

Gothic vibes, shushing nuns, tai chi in the gardens, and shaking up picture books: The 2013 Conference in their own words

by Charlie Barshaw 

This is the second in a series of articles. You can read part 1 here.

Let’s go back in time 10 years. Where were you in your kid’s book writing journey in October, 2013?

Dave Stricklen: Two hardcover books written in the Blackwater Pond Series.

Julie Angeli (left) and Heather Meloche
photo from Heather

Julie Angeli: I think I was trying to put the finishing touches on my humorous middle-grade science fiction novel.

Isabel Estrada O’Hagin: I had just begun my journey as a writer. This conference allowed me to meet with my first-ever critique group. All I had were a couple of scenes from my new novel (in my head), and I shared them with my assigned group. We've stuck together since that conference. (And I learned it's not a good idea to start your story with a car ride or a dream/flashback.)

Leslie Helakoski: I had several books published by 2013—Big Chickens, Big Chickens Fly the Coop, Big Chickens Go to Town, Woolbur, and Fair Cow. I had just finished the artwork for Big Pigs in summer of 2013.

Kris Remenar: At this point, I had a contract with Charlesbridge for GROUNDHOG’S DILEMMA but I didn’t have any traditionally published books yet.

Amy Spitzley: My first novel was published in 2013. I believe I had copies for sale at that conference. I remember putting them on the table and being all proud of myself.

 

 

Group photo of the 2013 conference
by Deborah Halverson

 

Why did you decide to attend this conference?

Dave Stricklen: It was my second conference right after the big multi state conference in Fort Wayne (I believe). I made no meaningful connections at the large conference and decide to try a small conference before throwing in the towel.

Julie Angeli: I was interested in speaking to Deborah Halverson

Isabel 

Heather Meloche: I usually attended conferences after conferring with my writing bestie, Julie Angeli. We both like our weekend writing retreats away from other distractions.

Isabel Estrada O’Hagin: It was near enough to Lansing/Williamston where I lived at that time--an easy ride. Also, a new writing friend agreed to be my roommate so I felt I could make it work.

Leslie Helakoski: I was Regional Advisor at that point with Monica Harris and we wouldn’t miss a conference if we could help it, no matter what.

Kris Remenar: I’d been attending SCBWI-MI conferences regularly since 2000 and I was eager for this soul-enriching time with my writer/illustrator friends. Plus, Audrey Vernick was speaking and I was a huge fan of hers!

Amy Spitzley: I honestly can’t remember. Seemed like a good idea on the promotional end, I guess.

 

Ten years is a long time, but what do you remember about the venue? Did anyone ever find the fabled maze?

Dave Stricklen: At night it was dark…I mean dark like looking into a black piece of paper. I was expecting a maze like in “The Shining”. However, it was mowed sections of grass where you were supposed to ponder life and not speak.

Julie Angeli: I remember it being very spartan but comfortable.

Leslie

Leslie Helakoski: I remember the fall colors being beautiful on the grounds.

Isabel Estrad O’Hagin: Yes, I found the labyrinth. Really cool, but I remember it was a weedy patch. The grounds were a bonus. I remember seeing Diana Magnuson doing her tai chi movements in the garden.

The rooms were austere as were the dining hall digs. I recall (amiright?) that the nuns ate on one side of the hall. I slipped into the sanctuary and got a good gothic vibe--almost spooky in its stained glass shadows. The moment inspired some creative writing--I used that passage in my Haunted States short story submission two years ago!  I recall the crammed room where we made collages, storyboards, etc. I also remember the room in the basement (I think???) where Deborah and Audrey spoke to us.

Kris Remenar: I remember the nuns. And the food. Oy. (Asked to explain Oy): The food was definitely basic and we were discouraged from taking too much

Amy Spitzley: I feel like there was a small maze out back? I did go out exploring with my roommate instead of attending a session. She was nice and I totally forgot her name now. I remember finding some walking paths and that was what I needed much more than being inside. Introverts. What can you do?

We had Deborah Halverson and Audrey Vernick as the two cross-track presenters, both middle-grade and picture book. Anything that sticks with you about the writing lessons?

Another group shot
by Deborah Halverson

Dave Stricklen: Deborah had written a book about a hot dog eating contest. It gave me the Idea to find the weirdest contest in the world and wrap a plot around it so tightly that winning the contest was the most important thing in the world. Years later I wrote my KIRKUS recommended (on the “Great Indie Books Worth Discovering” list) MG book “Ripley Robinson and The Worm Charmer”.

Julie Angeli: I don’t remember the writing lessons, but I do remember my conversation with Deborah and her encouraging words and suggestions regarding my pages.

Isabel Estrada O’Hagin: Mostly, Deborah. Probably because I was solely focused on middle grade novels at that time. I caught every word she said and bought her book the next week. She walked us through so many examples of not-so-good-writing and how to transform the excerpt. I could go on and on, but for some reason a lot of her writing exercises and examples have stayed with me: to watch out for redundancies, cliches, dialogue tags, efficiency, etc., but mostly how to make your writing stronger! I remember she had a thing about overuse of italics.

Leslie Helakoski: I remember Audrey talking about shaking up the standard picture book structure which still sometimes comes to mind when I feel bogged down in a familiar pattern.

Do you remember any of the other attendees?

Dave Stricklen: I was VERY impressed with Carrie, Leslie, Anita, Charlie, Ruth and Lisa.

Julie Angeli: I remember a few of the people from my breakout critique session who I still see from time to time at events.

Isabel Estrada O’Hagin: Yes! My first-ever critique group (four other women, including Pat Trattles! ) who have stayed together since that conference. My roommate, Angie Verges. The Lansing Meet-Up group who attended that weekend. I met Dave Stricklen for the first time. Leslie and Carrie!

Leslie Helakoski: Pat Trattles, Ruth Barshaw, Marty Graham.

Kris

Kris Remenar: Anita Pazner made me snort-laugh with her inappropriate humor and I fell madly in love with her! David Krzisnick got us all giggling during mealtimes.

Amy Spitzley: My roommate was nice. I can’t remember her name! I knew other people, but I can’t remember which other people. For some reason my brain is mushing this together with the Mackinac Island conference.

Any particular nun memories?

Dave Stricklen: One of them shushed me for talking while walking in the maze.

Isabel Estrada O’Hagin: No--just one-too-many stern looks. They didn't seem too happy we were in their space.

(However, I found an old email from Isabel, where she wrote):It was cool to be with the nuns.  On my final elevator ride, I told a group of them (sorry, can't help it--a group of wispy thistle heads slightly bent over) that they would soon enjoy peace and quiet again. One of them looked at me with a mischievous grin, and raised an eyebrow, "Oh, so that's what you think goes around here?"  We laughed.  It was a perfect moment.  There's a story there. . . . the nuns' ---------? 
(fill-in the blank: adventures, escapades. . .)

Kris Remenar: Just felt a lot of judgmental stares in the cafeteria.

Amy Spitzley: I saw one in the elevator and she was really nice. I have to say, it was a little weird for me. I’m agnostic and was raised that way, but my parents were both fallen Catholics who had been a nun and a priest! So I kept thinking of my mom, which probably wasn’t the experience anyone else had.

 

Do you remember any of the extracurricular activities?

Dave Stricklen: It was Halloween and we had a crazy hat contest. I went all in with my steam punk 150 year old coat, hat, buckle boots etc. Also, we had an exercise that involved to making a book collage (I still have mine).

Dave's collage

Julie Angeli: No. Though I do remember spending a ridiculous amount of time making a hat using an old baseball cap, magazine clippings, and Mod Podge prior to the conference. Possibly the least comfortable hat I’ve ever worn, but I still have it.

Isabel Estrada O’Hagin: The post-it compliments shared in one of the last sessions. Sort of an open-mic session. Those who volunteered to read were showered with notes from everyone else in attendance. I read a scene. The feedback was very meaningful and encouraging.  I remember the art activities and a counter full of snacks. I recall making a collage of sorts -- something about our book cover. Was there something about hats? I don't recall making or bringing a hat, but some people wore them.

Dave's hat

Leslie Helakoski: I remember the costumes and Dave in his top hat. I think we had some kind of cut out paper activity.

Amy Spitzley: I remember something about hats or something we were encouraged to wear. I don’t think I went along with it!

 

 

 

What has transpired in your dreams and your realities since then?

Dave Stricklen: I have several more books out. I have become a seasoned school presenter and seem to have a knack for large book sales.  School visits seem to be in my wheelhouse.  I also learned that I have an aptitude for 3D reverse perspective painting and have won several contests. I am surprised as anyone…still hard to call myself an artist…but I am working on it.

Julie Angeli: My middle-grade novel never did anything (still considering self-pub), but I did manage sell a 3-part story to Cricket. Also, I recently had a non-fiction story published in Chicken Soup for the Soul about the first time I swam with a mermaid tail.

Isabel Estrada O’Hagin: 2023 -- ten years later -- and my first book is published! Yay! As a ten-year veteran, I'm happy to know many more writers and illustrators who continue to amaze me! And--can't say it enough--our critique group has stayed together since that conference so there's magic there!

LeslieHelakoski: I’ve continued to publish picture books and be part of SCBWI.

Kris Remenar: Since then, I’ve published GROUNDHOG’S DILEMMA and DRAW WITH A VENGEANCE. SQUIRREL NEEDS A BREAK will be published by Charlesbridge in May, 2024 as part of a two-book contract. I’m repped by Fuse Literary.

Amy

Amy Spitzley: I had two novels published with Curiosity Quills, which was a small publisher that then went under. I own the rights to those novels and would love to get them out there, even in a revised version, but I don’t know how to do that. 

I’ve begun various projects that have gone nowhere, though I do keep trying! Currently I’m working more on art than writing, and have improved a lot in that field. (Though again, submissions are a bitch.) 

I’d really like to try book cover work, or art licensing. So far, no luch, but hey, onwards and upwards. Writing-wise, I’m trying to turn my second novel into a screenplay. DO I know how to do this? No. Does that really matter? Again, no. J

I also have a novel I think of as a female Jack and the Beanstalk meets Tam Lin sprinkled with Led Zeppelin. It’s rough, but I do like the idea. 

I’d really love to have a writing partner, someone who would be willing to write a book with me in two parts, you know? Chapter by chapter. I think that would be both fun and motivational. Anyone interested? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

 

Transformations Spirituality Center
photo by Kristen Remenar

(When Kris Remenar sent this photo of Transformations Spirituality Center, she also sent this remembrance): Sadly, I couldn't find any photos of people from the retreat but I did find this one. I remember I read aloud a poem during a breakout session and people said, "Where's the rest of the story?" It was called "The Other Princess and the Pea" and it was about a real princess who'd slept on the tall stack of mattresses, felt the pea, and didn't complain because she'd been raised to be polite, and so was turned away as not being sensitive enough to be a real princess.

I loved hearing feedback that it was good enough writing to be expanded into a midgrade novel, something I'd never thought I have the talent to be able to write. But I did start working on it that weekend, and when I saw this architectural feature, it reminded me of a pea, so I took a photo to remind me. Now I think I might need to dig that manuscript back out!

Anita Pazner:  I have a ton to say about the 2013 conference. My costume was completely inappropriate and I want to address that, perhaps in a lengthy article. (She's busy co-running SCBWI-MI.)

Charlie Barshaw conducts interviews for The Mitten. He's blessed to know many children's book writers and illustrators because of his association with Ruth McNally Barshaw and SCBWI.