July 29, 2013, Los Angeles— This weekend the most prominent names in the field of children’s books will gather for the Society of Children’s Book Writers Summer Conference August 2-5, 2013 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Century City. The conference will boast an array of specialized workshops and intensives given by top agents, editors, and award-winning authors and illustrators of children’s books. This year’s exciting lineup of speakers include: Laurie Halse Anderson, Mac Barnett, Matt de la Peña, Bruce Degen, Jarrett Krosoczka, Peter Lerangis, Carolyn Mackler, Richard Peck, Jon Scieszka, David Wiesner, and many more.

The conference offers attendees the unique chance to progress their careers with a variety of workshops and showcases given by leaders in the industry.  The Summer Conference hosts sample manuscript and portfolio critiques and agent and editor panels discussing the state of the market and genre trends.

During the three-day event, conference goers will have the chance to meet with icons in children’s publishing, and perhaps become an icon in the making themselves; SCBWI’s Executive Director Lin Oliver says, “Over the years we’ve been doing the conferences, literally hundreds of authors and illustrators have been discovered.  It’s a pleasure to see people who were once attendees now on the faculty and leaders in our field.”

Live coverage from SCBWI’s TEAM BLOG as well as post-conference photos and highlights can be found at www.scbwi.blogspot.com  and on www.scbwi.org. Interview requests with Lin Oliver and Stephen Mooser can be directed to SCBWI Conference Coordinator Sara Rutenberg at sararutenberg@scbwi.org.

About SCBWI

Founded in 1971, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators is one of the largest existing writers’ and illustrators’ organizations, with over 22,000 members worldwide. It is the only organization specifically for those working in the fields of children’s literature, magazines, film, television, and multi-media. The organization was founded by Stephen Mooser (President) and Lin Oliver (Executive Direc-tor), both of whom are well-published children’s book authors and leaders in the world of children’s literature.  For more information about the Summer Conference, please visit www.scbwi.org.