Since March 2020, when we all had to retreat to our homes and could no longer meet in person, the wonderful Laura Backes Bard and Jon Bard of the Children’s Book Insider have been hosting weekly online meetups for writers and illustrators called KidLit Distancing Socials. NOTE: As of summer 2021, they are now known simply as KidLit Socials.
Each week at 8 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, 5 p.m. Pacific, Laura and Jon host a Zoom mini-webinar featuring a different special kidlit guest, and it is completely FREE and open to anyone who wants to attend. You don’t even have to register ahead of time. Just find the link on the CBI website, or sign up to receive info and get the links sent to your email every week.
Past guests have included children’s poet, David Harrison; Bad Kitty creator Nick Bruel; Helen Wu, who talked about writing for the international market; Eileen Robinson, who has a publishing imprint geared toward books for boys; Josh Funk, who writes hilarious and delightful picture books; editor Emma D. Dryden of drydenbooks; Gabriela Periera, the creator of the DIY MFA; Julie Hedlund, founder of the 12×12 Picture Book Challenge; and many more.
Not only that, but each week, Laura gives updates on developments in the publishing industry, we celebrate fellow socialites’ successes, and we have FUN!
You can watch all the replays at THIS LINK, and you can also sign up to get notification of future KidLit Distancing Socials. These events are one of the highlights of my week, and I have learned so much.
Hope you’ll join us!
