Publishing LGBTQ Characters, Themes and Stories in Kid Lit - A Discussion at #NY12SCBWI

I'm excited to share with you that I'll once again have the honor of hosting and moderating the LGBTQ discussion at the Lucky 13th Annual SCBWI Winter Conference in New York City!

At last year's conference in New York we had over 50 attendees, and it was a great conversation!

The giant "Find the LGBTQ in SCBWI" circle at #NY11SCBWI that still felt 'cozy'

From left to right: Myself (in the checked shirt), last year's special guests Executive Editor Ari Lewin, Agent Jim McCarthy, and Aaron Hartzler

Here are the details for this year's discussion:

Find the LGBTQ in SCBWI

7:45pm-8:45pm Saturday January 28, 2012

Room: Broadway

Started at SCBWI's 2008 Summer Conference in Los Angeles and held at every conference since, a group of editors, agents, art directors, authors and illustrators will meet informally to discuss LGBTQ publishing, the submission process, who is interested and what kinds of stories they are interested in.

Maybe you've written a book about or for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, queer or questioning youth; maybe you're interested in doing so, and you're not sure where to begin; maybe you are just curious to learn more about this vital corner of the market for young readers. Whatever your interest in the subject matter, all are welcome. Bring a friend and any questions you may have.

Hosted by SCBWI Team Blog's Lee Wind, our special guests for this event will be Editorial Director at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers Alvina Ling and agent Jennifer Laughran

Alvina Ling is Editorial Director at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers where she has worked since 1999. She edits award-winning children's books for all ages, from picture books to young adult novels, with some nonfiction mixed in. Some of the books she has edited include Newbery Honor winner Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin, a young adult series by Libby Bray (The Diviners), as well as the middle grade novel The Land of Stories among many others. She contributes to the children's book blog Blue Rose Girls at http://www.bluerosegirls.blogspot.com

Jennifer Laughran joined Andrea Brown Literary Agency in 2007. Her clients include Daniel Pinkwater, Calef Brown, Matt Faulkner, Jackie Dolamore, Ilsa J. Bick, Eric A. Kimmel, L.K. Madigan, Adam Selzer, Tara Kelly and Kate Messner, and many excellent debut authors. She is always on the lookout for YA and middle grade fiction with unusual, unforgettable characters and vivid settings. You can find her online at http://literaticat.blogspot.com

I hope to see you there!

Illustrate and Write On,
Lee