Schedule

Here are the plans for the Novel Immersion Retreat. You will receive a full schedule when you check-in. We have three tracks for this retreat. You will be assigned to your track based on your registration information. You will also be given an appointment for a fifteen minute critique or brainstorming session with one of our faculty at that time. Critiques will be scheduled throughout the weekend. The plan for ALL tracks is shown below:

FRIDAY - September 19th

	4:00 to 5:00 pm -Get Acquainted
	5:15 to 6:15 - Welcome and Opening Speaker, Terry Trueman
	6:15 to 7:15 pm - Dinner
	7:30 to 9:00 pm - Track Sessions
		Jump Start	Revision	Professional
		7:30 to 8:15 - Jump Start Your Novel Process, Suzanne Morgan Williams	Initial Critique Group Sessions with Faculty Leaders - Editors will sit in on specific group critique sessions.	Critique Groups & Networking - Editors will sit in on specific group critique sessions.
		8:15 to 9:00 - Choosing your Point of View, Ellen Hopkins

SATURDAY - September 20th

	7:30 to 9:00 am - Breakfast
	9:00 to 9:45 am - Speaker Jill Santopolo, HarperCollins
	9:45 to 10:00 am - Break
	10:00 to 11:50 am - Track Sessions
		Jump Start	Revision	Professional
		10:00 to 11:50 - Craft Workshop on Creating Characters and Plot. Open to all, Susan Lindquist	Thoughts on the Revision Process - Workshop and Discussion 10:00 to 10:50 - Terry Trueman - Best Tips for Revision, What Works, 11:00 to 11:50 - Jill Santopolo and Heidi Ayarbe - What Most Often Needs Revision.	Guided Roundtable Discussions 10:00 to 10:50 - Nancy Conescu - Topics on Craft. 11:00 to 11:50 - Terry Trueman - Topics on Professional Concerns.
	12:00 to 1:00 pm - Lunch
	1:00 to 5:00 pm - Free time to write, collaborate, and relax
	5:00 to 6:00 pm - Reception
	6:00 to 7:00 pm - Dinner
	7:30 to 9:00 pm - Critique Group Sessions with Critique Leaders - Editors          will sit in on specific group critique sessions.

Sunday - September 21st

	7:30 to 9:00 am - Breakfast
	9:00 to 9:45 am - Speaker Nancy Conescu, Little, Brown Books for Young                                Readers
	10:00 to 11:00 am - Questions & Answers Panel, all Faculty
	12:00 to 1:00 pm - Lunch

 

We are proud of our 2008 Nevada SCBWI Novel Immersion Retreat Faculty. Read more about them here:

Jill Santopolo, is a Senior Editor at Laura Geringer Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. She is interested in literary novels on just about any topic, loves quirky middle grades, and works on picture books, too. Sample titles she has edited include: Wind Rider by Susan Williams, The Thing About Georgie by Lisa Graff, Attack of the Frozen Woodchucks by Dan Elish, The Gingerbread Cowboy by Janet Squires, illustrated by Holly Berry and Freeze Frame by Heidi Ayarbe. Jill holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College, and is the author of Alec Flint, Super Sleuth: The Nina, The Pinta and the Vanishing Treasure, published by Scholastic's Orchard Books imprint.

Nancy Conescu, an editor at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers is looking for literary and commercial middle-grade fiction and edgy YA fiction. She is intrigued by dark humor, satire, and character-driven narratives, and she particularly loves finding and developing new talent. Under Megan Tingley, she worked on novels by Stephenie Meyer, Julie Anne Peters, Trenton Lee Stewart, and Mary Ann Hoberman. Her titles include ghostgirl by Tonya Hurley, This is What I Did: by Ann Dee Ellis, 100 Days and 99 Nights by Alan Madison, the Vampirates Series by Justin Somper, and the Suddenly Supernatural series by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel.  Her forthcoming titles include Ignatius MacFarland: Frequenaut! by Paul Feig, The Prophecy of the Sisters trilogy by Michelle Zink, and School of Fear by Gitty Daneshvari.

Terry Trueman, was born in Birmingham, Alabama, but grew up in Seattle. He attended the University of Washington, where he received his B.A. in creative writing. He also has an M.S. in applied psychology and an M.F.A. in creative writing, both from Eastern Washington University. His novel, Stuck in Neutral was a Printz Honor recipient. Inside Out, his second novel was released in August 2003. In October of 2004, his third novel Cruise Control was released -- a companion to Stuck in Neutral that tells brother Paul McDaniel's intimate side of the story. Hodder Books released Swallowing the Sun in October of 2003 (only in the UK). This book follows a teen’s heroic efforts to save friends and family after his Honduran village is destroyed by a devastating mudslide. No Right Turn is Trueman's fourth US and fifth all-around novel. Read more about Terry at www.terrytrueman.com/.

Terri Farley, is author of the YA novel, Seven Tears to the Sea, and the 24 book middle grade series, the Phantom Stallion. Her work has sold more than a million copies. Her new series The Phantom Stallion: Wild Horse Island, which is set in Hawaii, debuted in May, 2007. A former teacher, and “a cowgirl at heart”, Terri now spends full time writing! She recently lobbied on behalf of wild horses with the Humane Society in Washington D.C. (Find out more about Terri, her books, fans, and work with wild horses at www.phantomstallion.com.)

Ellen Hopkins, has written more than 20 nonfiction children’s books and the YA novels, Crank, Burned, Impulse, and Glass. Look for her upcoming verse novel, Identical. Crank was nominated for a 2005 Quill Award and Burned was nominated for the National Book Award in 2006. All four of Ellen's verse novels have been on the New York Times Best Seller List in 2007 and 2008. Ellen regularly works with aspiring writers offering her support and insight. She is Co-Regional Advisor of Nevada SCBWI. (Visit Ellen at www.ellenhopkins.com or find her on My Space)

Susan Lindquist, is a detailed and thoughtful author of three middle grade novels; Walking the Rim, Wander, and Summer Soldiers and has had poetry published in an anthology by Lee Bennett Hopkins. She has been an instructor for the Institute of Children’s Literature, is a former Regional Advisor of SCBWI NorCA North/East Bay Region, and is a regular speaker at SCBWI events. (Click here to see a short bio on Susan Hart Lindquist).

Lynda Sandoval, is a former police officer and the author of twenty award-winning books. She writes young adult novels as well as women's fiction, romance, and nonfiction for five different publishers, all while working part-time as a 9-1-1 fire/medical dispatcher. Her work has appeared on the Waldenbooks Romance Bestsellers' list and has won numerous national awards, including a Colorado Book Award nomination for Best Young Adult Literature and a National Reader's Choice Award, also in the YA category. Lynda's teen novels have twice been nominated as ALA Quick Picks for Young Adult Readers. (Visit Lynda at www.lyndasandoval.com.)

Suzanne Morgan Williams, is the author of the upcoming middle grade novel Bull Rider and eleven nonfiction books for children including the award winning Pinatas and Smiling Skeletons (Harris and Williams) and China's Daughters (upcoming 2008). She is a frequent presenter at school, library, and teacher events. Her work carries her into the classrooms, museums and communities from her home in Nevada all the way to the Arctic. She is co-regional adviser for SCBWI Nevada . (Visit Suzanne at www.suzannemorganwilliams.com.)

Registration for the 2008 Novel Immersion Retreat is a 2 STEP process. You will need to register with both Nevada SCBWI for the Program and with Granlibakken Resort for your Room & Meal package.

STEP 1: For the Nevada SCBWI Program registration you will need to mail the following items:
      1) a completed Registration Form (see link above)

      2) either 15 pages of your novel + a 1 page synopsis
                                       or
           a page of brainstorming for your novel idea

      3) your payment for the Nevada SCBWI Program portion
          ($190.00 for SCBWI Members or $215.00 for non-members)

Mail these to:
           Nevada SCBWI
           P.O. Box 19084
           Reno, Nevada 89511

STEP 2: For the Granlibakken Room & Meal package, you may either contact the resort by phone or make your reservation through their secure online site. They have a number of different rooming choices ranging from $367.20 per person for a Standard double occupancy room to $580.80 per person for an Executive single occupancy room. There are also a limited number of Meal Only packages for $240.00 per person for those who have alternate lodging available in the Lake Tahoe area. If you want to have a roommate, you can name that person when you register or Granlibakken will assign one for you.

When reserving by phone, call 1-800-543-3221 and identify yourself as a member of the Children's Book Writers Group staying for the September 19 - 21st conference.

To reserve online, go to Granlkibakken's reservation page at http://www.secure.granlibakken.net/irm/AccessType.ASP?BtrvID=2249. From here, check Conference Participant, and click Continue. Type “SOCIETY” in both the Group Number and Password boxes and click Continue. On the next page, click Reservation Form >>. Fill in the information and follow the prompts to complete your Granlibakken reservation.

Granlibakken Conference Center and Resort is located in a tranquil mountain setting with all the wonders of the Sierra at your doorstep. Whether you arrive by car or plane, getting here is easy.

We are located at:
725 Granlibakken Road
Tahoe City, CA 96145

From Sacramento (100 miles)
From Interstate 80 take Highway 89 south from Truckee to the "Y" in Tahoe City. Follow Highway 89 south for 1/2 mile to Granlibakken Road. Turn right and continue for 3/4 of a mile to the deck overhang of the main lodge.

From Southern California
Follow Highway 395 to Highway 50 west in Carson City. Turn right on Highway 28 along the east and north shores of Lake Tahoe to Tahoe City. Turn left at the stoplight and continue 1/2 mile on Highway 89 to Granlibakken Road. Turn right and continue for 3/4 of a mile to the deck overhang of the main lodge.

From Reno (54 miles)
Take Interstate 80 west. At Truckee, take Highway 89 south to the "Y" in Tahoe City. Follow Highway 89 south for 1/2 mile to Granlibakken Road. Turn right and continue for 3/4 of a mile to the deck overhang of the main lodge.

Airport Shuttle Service
Granlibakken offers airport shuttle service through North Lake Tahoe Express. Guests wishing to book the shuttle should call Granlibakken at (800) 543-3221.

 

Emerald Bay - Lake Tahoe

 

Just search Lake Tahoe on the Internet and you’ll get tons of hits. Here are a few websites to start you out. You already have your Granlibakken weekend, but maybe you want an idea for Saturday afternoon, or to stay a few extra days. If you haven’t visited Lake Tahoe, check these out to see what you’ll be experiencing. Mark Twain wrote about boating on Lake Tahoe’s clear water, “So strong was the sense of floating high aloft in mid-nothingness that we called these boat excursions ‘balloon voyages.’” See you at Tahoe!

Nevada Tourism Commission

website for South Lake Tahoe with much information

website for North Lake Tahoe visitor information