SPOKANE, WA – Calling all authors, illustrators, and storytellers! Explore your writing potential at the first annual Lilac City Book Festival for Writers and Illustrators of Children’s Books on Saturday, March 8th at Shadle Park Library, where local authors and illustrators from around the Inland Northwest will share their expertise.

Organized by Spokane Public Library and presented in partnership with Wishing Tree Books and the local chapter of the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), the festival features a full day of workshops, panel discussions, and creative insights from local experts designed to inspire and guide you to take the next step in your writing journey.

“I’ve been elated with the response we’ve received from the community,” said Sharma Shields, Writing Education Specialist at Spokane Public Library. “We’re showcasing a wide range of talent within the Inland Northwest, from picture book illustrators to non-fiction authors to Bram Stoker Award and ALA-winning novelists. In today’s screen-addled world, keeping printed literature alive for children is a must.”

Event lineup:

12:00pm – 12:50pm

• Strategies for Editing a Novel | Local author Kris Dinnison shares strategies for the writing and editing of a novel-length manuscript.
• Writing and Illustrative Graphic Novels | Authors and Artists H.F Brownfield and Kayla Coombs, collaborators on the graphic novel series Quinnelope, discuss their writing and illustrating process.

1:00pm – 1:50pm

• Writing & Indie-Publishing Your Picture Book | Celebrated authors Donell Barlow, Stephaine Courtney, April Rivers Eberhardt, and Jaime Stacy discuss their picture books and their writing, editing, and publishing processes.
• Worldbuilding is for Everyone! | Develop a solid sense of place in your writing with award-winning writer Stephanie Oakes.
• Breathing Life into Children’s Books with Erin Pringle | Learn tips for enhancing the reading experience – an opportunity to practice writing for the ear as well as for the eye.

2:00pm – 2:50pm

• Let’s Talk Picture Books! | Published picture book writers and illustrators Jessica Linn Evans, Annette Bay Pimentel, Eija Sumner, and Diane Worthey discuss the art of creating picture books.
• Writing Non-Fiction for Children | Learn how to approach writing non-fiction for young readers with local author and expert Kelly Milner Halls.

3:00pm – 3:50pm

• Picture Book Illustration Featuring Jiemei Lin | Award-winning artist presents and discusses the illustrations in her recent books.
• Writing Spooky Books for Children with Lora Senf | Learn how to write a spooky children’s book with award-winning author of the Blight Harbor Series.

4:00pm – 5:00pm

• Lilac City Book Festival Meet & Greet Featuring Local Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators | Wishing Tree Books and SCBWI will be on hand, selling books and offering resources to local writers, respectively. 

Space is limited, register online for each session to secure a spot!