Scribbler/Poet Melody Dean Dimick, among more than 70 published authors, will offer books for sale on Saturday, November 3rd from 10 AM to 4 PM at the Historic Cocoa Village Book Fest 2018.
Category Archives: Celebrations
2nd Annual SCBWI Books For Readers Book Drive
SCBWI’s 2nd Annual Literacy Initiative
Gives Books and Builds Dreams
With Donations of Books to Readers In Need
Children’s Book Creators Join Forces
to Provide High Quality Books
for The Literary Alliance, Oviedo, Florida
Here is what SCBWI wants you to know (copied and posted VERBATIM from their press release):
“Members of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators join forces again as part of the organization’s 2nd Annual SCBWI Books For Readers book drive to collect, curate, and donate new books created by its members to one of its two 2018 recipients: The Literacy Alliance in Oviedo, Florida. (The other is the Indian Education Program in Fargo, North Dakota.)
The SCBWI Books for Readers book drive is the organization’s annual literacy initiative that grew out of the desire to combine its individual regional efforts to make a greater impact in increasing book access nationwide.
“In the U.S., many low-income and underserved communities have as few as 1 book per 300 children,” said Lin Oliver, Executive Director of SCBWI, “Our members are committed to changing this by advancing our organization’s mission as children’s book creators and literacy advocates, and to increase access to books for kids in desperate need of them–one book donation at a time!”
SCBWI’s donation of nearly 1,000 of its members’ books will go to The Literary Alliance in Oviedo, Florida run by Diane Keyes, its founder/president, and a Seminole County Librarian plus a core of 30 highly dedicated literacy volunteers. Since 2003, The Literacy Alliance has been creating life-long readers with its “on-demand” literacy programs, diverse educational resources, programs, and mentoring and training opportunities for its underserved, at-risk populations. It also has big plans for these books.
Keyes will be inviting children and families from the 21st Century Community Learning Center, a Title 1 after school program in Sanford, FL, to take part in the SCBWI BFR and The Literacy Alliance’s Distribution Celebration on November 1, 2018, 6-8 p.m., at the Westside Community Center, also in Sanford. At the time, each child in attendance will receive a book of his/her own. The remaining books will go to other readers that The Literacy Alliance serves in schools, hospitals, homeless shelters, and juvenile detention centers, among others.
“Receiving books of their very own will mean a great deal to these children, and their families,” Keyes said with a smile in her voice, “because by having books of their own: they can read them over and over again, see themselves in these stories, grow as readers, and discover that there is a world outside of them—one where they can learn to follow their dreams. Books have the magic to do this!”
In addition to receiving the books at the evening’s celebration, the children and their families will enjoy a literacy line up of local SCBWI author and illustrators, celebration stations featuring interactive story times, art demonstrations, book-plate-making, photo memories, refreshments, and more. The book distribution, however, is sure to be the highlight of the night for everyone involved.
“Getting books into children’s hands is why we create books—to help build dreams, said Oliver, “And, getting our books into hands of readers in need…is a dream come true!”
For more information, please contact:
Tammy Brown
Director, Community Marketing and Engagement, SCBWI
Patricia J. Murphy
Children’s Author
Literacy Initiative Creative Consultant, SCBWI
Diane Keyes
Founder/President, The Literacy Alliance
Email: diane@thelitalliance.org
Mailing Address:
PO Box 622362
Oviedo, Florida 32762
Address of event:
Westside Community Center
Address: 919 S Persimmon Ave, Sanford, FL 32771
Phone: (407) 330-2456
About Society of Children’s Writers and Illustrators
Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators is a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization, which is one of the largest existing organizations for writers and illustrators. It is the only professional organization specifically for those individuals writing and illustrating for children and young adults in the fields of children’s literature, magazines, film, television and multimedia. The SCBWI acts as a network for the exchange of knowledge between writers, illustrators, editors, publishers, agents, librarians, educators, booksellers and others involved with literature for young people.
About the Literacy Alliance
The Literacy Alliance’s mission is to encourage Central Florida residents to reach their highest potential by increasing literacy through diverse educational resources, programs, and training opportunities. Its programs are designed for a variety of audiences to bring books to life, to show that books are interesting and enjoyable, and to build life-long readers vital to success in education and in life.
Led by a qualified, enthusiastic core of dedicated volunteers, the Literacy Alliance’s programs integrate storytelling, puppetry techniques, and STEM/STEAM curriculum. Last year alone, Keyes and her 30 volunteers presented 50-60 programs to over 1800 readers in need at schools, homeless shelters, detention centers, hospitals, and other venues serving underserved and at-risk populations. For more information, visit www.thelitalliance.org.
Jesse Montoya Riffs on JaxbyJax
Jesse Montoya is an acoustic finger style guitarist and singer songwriter from Jacksonville. She plays many venues and events, including The Riverside Arts Market, Rain Dogs, Downtown Art Walk, 1904 Music Hall, The Cummer Museum, Shanty Town Pub, Grape & Grain Exchange, and more.
Montoya’s first album, “Jesse Montoya, Guitar & Voice” debuted in the Fall of 2014. Getcha some!
Montoya recently attended the JaxbyJax Literary Arts Festival for the first time, and submitted the following essay in response:
“I spent this past Saturday listening, and watching authors read their selected works. The first artist I heard was Rashad Hawkins. His work reflected a hard youth growing up in northeast Florida. The poem that spoke to me was titled, “32209”, a zip code from my home city. The piece lists names of rough neighborhoods all over Duval county, and the experiences Hawkins associates with them.
Having grown up in Jacksonville, I also have memories here. Most of them have very little in common with Hawkins. Cultural differences have an influence in this comparison. Even so, one of the lines in the poem, “adored and feared Springfield, before it was colonized, I mean gentrified” resonated with me. I have lived in Springfield the past three years and I adore it. I have never feared it.
The neighborhood of Springfield is becoming gentrified more each day. I’m not sure how I feel about this. Gentrification is inadvertently started by artists and younger generations. Creative people move to areas with big spaces and low rent. Springfield is exactly this, or was. After the artists and millennials move in, the upper class, well to do, get a whiff of a chance to buy cheap, remodel, and sell for profit. At least that’s how I understand the beginnings of gentrification. After that it is downhill from there. Property value goes up, and the families that have lived there for generations are forced to sell or move, caused by skyrocketing rent.
I do not agree with raising rent for people who have lived in a neighborhood all their lives or creating an atmosphere where locals feel unwelcome. I do agree with living side by side, living in peace, living together, and not forcing anyone out. I wish this idea was more prevalent.
Hawkin’s poems brought up many social injustices, and connections with this city, this county. I thought about the effects of gentrification, cultural differences, and the many problems that still need to be solved in this racially unequal land of opportunity. I respect Hawkin’s unique, powerful voice, and hope he continues to write.
The second artist I heard read was Laura Hoffman. Her delivery was fast, and unforgiving. The poems were raw, and uncensored. She seemed to be surprised when the audience clapped at the end of her pieces.
Her subjects were centered around her experiences, and things she had read. Hoffman’s works are not published so I could not find them to reference. However, I remember one clearly. She prefaced the piece with an anecdote about a unique medical condition that can happen to a child in the womb. The fetus dies and calcifies like a stone in the mother’s uterus.
It was an interesting and creepy idea. The poem described a mother experiencing deep emotional turmoil, caused by a calcified child. It was such an intriguing poem I researched the effects of this condition. They were gruesome, as I had suspected. I hope Laura will publish her pieces soon so I can revisit her work.
The literary arts festival was an inspiring and educational event. I’m glad I attended. Hearing works read aloud or hearing spoken word in a live setting is a rarity in Jacksonville. Live readings let the work become spirited, not only through the author, but in the setting, and reaction of the audience. This kind of interaction between authors, poets, and their audiences is crucial to a creative world and needs to be preserved. Events such as, “Jax by Jax”, are making this possible and assuring that literature be more accessible to our community.”
Thanks for your thoughtful response, Jesse!
Jacksonville Magazine Hosts JaxbyJax
We are very excited to announce the return of Jacksonville Magazine as a venue hosting writers for JaxbyJax V on Saturday, October 13 from 3-6 PM.
Here is how they describe themselves on their website:
“Produced by the city’s best magazine editors, writers and photographers, Jacksonville Magazine publications—including Jacksonville, 904, Bride, YourHealth, Home and Taste—offer timeless, well-written features and resources to help readers locate their lifestyle-driven needs. Jacksonville Magazine titles reach upscale, affluent and educated readers throughout Northeast Florida, from St. Augustine to Amelia Island and every community in between.”