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WTOH Creative Contest
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Illustration Winners
2011 1st Place - Molly Idle
Molly Idle has been drawing ever since she could wield a pencil, at the age of 18 months, though her professional career began slightly later… Upon her graduation from Arizona State University, with a BFA in Drawing, Molly accepted an offer to work for DreamWorks Feature Animation Studio as a final line animator. After five years, a number of film credits, and an incredibly good time, she left the studio and leapt with gusto into the world of children's book illustration. Molly has been a member of SCBWI since 2000. To learn more about the artwork of Molly Idle visit
www.idleillustration.com
Flaming Dancing
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2011 2nd Place - Tanja Bauerle
Tanja's first picture book, “There’s a Coqui in My Shoe!”, written by Marisa de Jesus Paolicelli and released by ChiChi Rodriguez Books in 2007, won the 2008 10th Annual International Latino Book Awards for Best Educational Children's Book in English. Her second book “The Adventures of Salt and Soap at Grand Canyon” published by the Grand Canyon Association was released in March of 2009. Traditional mediums such as acrylics, water color as well as pen and ink are Tanja’s favorite, but she also loves the freedom that digital tools such as Photoshop offer. Tanja has been a member SCBWI since 2003.
Essay Winners
2011 1st Place - Todd Gordon
2011 1st Place - Todd Gordon
Todd Gordon currently writes for the Mayfair Games' web series and the Bob and Angus Show. While he is not yet published, he is actively sending out manuscripts and writes whenever he has time not already devoted to family or work.
Todd volunteers as Layout Editor for the SCBWI Arizona Newszine "The Journey" and as Technology Assistant at the SCBWI Arizona Welcome to Our House annual conference.He has been a member of SCBWI Arizona since 2001 and looks forward tomany more years.
Todd volunteers as Layout Editor for the SCBWI Arizona Newszine "The Journey" and as Technology Assistant at the SCBWI Arizona Welcome to Our House annual conference.He has been a member of SCBWI Arizona since 2001 and looks forward tomany more years.
The Life of an Author
By Todd Gordon
By Todd Gordon
When I dream about the life of an author, I think about David Sedaris. I picture him sitting at the beach on the French Riviera, having just woken up at 11:00 AM (he had to get up early today because of a book signing), where Hugh looks on disapprovingly as David struggles to string together enough French to order a Mimosa with his eggs and toast. Oh the dream.
My life, as I attempt to become published, is a tad different. My alarm goes off just before 6:00 AM. I make my way to the bathroom, banging my knee on an open dresser drawer, stepping on Legos, and tripping over cats. After my shower, I start a bath for my son, wake up my wife, figure out what in the house can be justified as lunch, and make breakfast. I go to work, come home, start dinner, eat, piano lesson, read to my son, and by the time his lights go out I am ready to shut down. Instead, I pull up my laptop, and write something. Anything. While my brain often complains, makes excuses, and calls me terrible names, it knows my head isn’t allowed to touch the pillow until I have added something to one of the projects I am working on. Right now in life, I am looking forward to the day my book will be done, and my poor brain will get a break from staying up late to write, and instead it will get to stay up late to edit. From there, we will move on to staying up late to research publishers. From there, it’s staying up late to write and submit proposals. Finally, it’s back to writing again while I wait for the pile of likely-rejection letters to return. That’s the life of an author. It’s a lot of work, it’s painful to the ego, and it is certainly not for everyone.
As a matter of fact, I think it’s safe to say most of the world is not up for it, and I don’t blame them. There are lots of things to do other than writing, and they are much easier and much more fun. Trying to be an author is exhausting.
Yet I keep going. Writing is who I am. And if you need to find me between the time my son goes to sleep and the time I finally pass out, look for the guy staring at a word processor while his brain makes little whimpering noises. Work days, weekends, vacations; it’s what I have decided to do. But one day, many years from now, if you ever find yourself on the French Riviera at 11:00 AM and see me on the beach with a Mimosa in one hand, wiping the sleep away from my eyes with the other, don’t judge me. I’ve earned it.
My life, as I attempt to become published, is a tad different. My alarm goes off just before 6:00 AM. I make my way to the bathroom, banging my knee on an open dresser drawer, stepping on Legos, and tripping over cats. After my shower, I start a bath for my son, wake up my wife, figure out what in the house can be justified as lunch, and make breakfast. I go to work, come home, start dinner, eat, piano lesson, read to my son, and by the time his lights go out I am ready to shut down. Instead, I pull up my laptop, and write something. Anything. While my brain often complains, makes excuses, and calls me terrible names, it knows my head isn’t allowed to touch the pillow until I have added something to one of the projects I am working on. Right now in life, I am looking forward to the day my book will be done, and my poor brain will get a break from staying up late to write, and instead it will get to stay up late to edit. From there, we will move on to staying up late to research publishers. From there, it’s staying up late to write and submit proposals. Finally, it’s back to writing again while I wait for the pile of likely-rejection letters to return. That’s the life of an author. It’s a lot of work, it’s painful to the ego, and it is certainly not for everyone.
As a matter of fact, I think it’s safe to say most of the world is not up for it, and I don’t blame them. There are lots of things to do other than writing, and they are much easier and much more fun. Trying to be an author is exhausting.
Yet I keep going. Writing is who I am. And if you need to find me between the time my son goes to sleep and the time I finally pass out, look for the guy staring at a word processor while his brain makes little whimpering noises. Work days, weekends, vacations; it’s what I have decided to do. But one day, many years from now, if you ever find yourself on the French Riviera at 11:00 AM and see me on the beach with a Mimosa in one hand, wiping the sleep away from my eyes with the other, don’t judge me. I’ve earned it.
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2011 2nd Place - Betty Matthews
Betty Matthews loves writing stories and is constantly searching for humorous hooks to draw children in. She usually finds the best ones
close to home. Her experience as a first grade teacher, an international teacher trainer for the American Montessori Society, and a principal of an elementary school has given her great insight into the books children love to read. She hopes to be a published author some day. Betty has been a member of SCBWI since 2011.
Here's the hook from Betty's 2nd place essay.
As the Story Goes
I'm a writer - at least I think I am. However, what's my story? A family story told and retold? That's a thought. It could work. How do I write it so you will understand the humor, the innocence, and the will and determination of my main character? Would this catch your attention? "Some would say that armadillo over there is just road kill. But to me, it's a diamond in the rough out there on the gravel road just waiting
for the taking. I am one lucky girl!"
Betty Matthews loves writing stories and is constantly searching for humorous hooks to draw children in. She usually finds the best ones
close to home. Her experience as a first grade teacher, an international teacher trainer for the American Montessori Society, and a principal of an elementary school has given her great insight into the books children love to read. She hopes to be a published author some day. Betty has been a member of SCBWI since 2011.
Here's the hook from Betty's 2nd place essay.
As the Story Goes
I'm a writer - at least I think I am. However, what's my story? A family story told and retold? That's a thought. It could work. How do I write it so you will understand the humor, the innocence, and the will and determination of my main character? Would this catch your attention? "Some would say that armadillo over there is just road kill. But to me, it's a diamond in the rough out there on the gravel road just waiting
for the taking. I am one lucky girl!"
WTOH Creative Contest winners from the past 