Children's Writers Conference is Oct. 5-6 The 28th annual Writers Conference in Children's Literature will be held Oct. 5-6 at the Memorial Union. The opening session is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 5, with Laura Rinne, graphic designer for Lerner Publishing. Rinne will present “Putting it All Together: The Role of the Art Director in Children’s Book Publishing.” Local authors Randy Mortenson and Janice Tingum will also speak. Mortenson will present “From Pipe Dream to Published Book: How to Fuel the Frenzy.” Tingum ends the evening with tips to help writers and illustrators discover the benefits of having their own web presence. Saturday’s session begins at 8 a.m. at the Memorial Union with a continental breakfast, followed by speakers. Katherine Galbraith, author of “Laura Charlotte,” an award-winning picture book, will present “Writing your own ‘Goodnight Moon,’” and then lead participants in a hands-on workshop to help jump-start their writing. Judy O’ Malley, executive editor of trade books for Charlesbridge Publishing, will give a talk on the business of publishing that will help writers match the right manuscript to the right editor at the right publishing company. The Writers Conference in Children’s Literature, held annually at UND, was founded in 1980 by Emily Rhoads Johnson, who brought to North Dakota the gift of a passion for children's literature. Her goal in starting the conference was to encourage aspiring writers to publish excellent, creative stories for children of all ages. Current co-director of UND Children's Literature Conference, Yvette Lapierre, is excited for the 2007 conference saying, the staff is excellent and well-rounded, bringing both the view of the editor as well as the artist. The conference regularly attracts participants from all over North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota, as well as Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, and Manitoba. Throughout the years, distinguished authors, illustrators, educators and agents have visited the UND campus to share their stories, critique manuscripts and share the latest trends and markets in the field of children's literature with area writers. The conference is presented by the UND Department of English and the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI). Local sponsors include UND Barnes & Noble Bookstore, and the UND Alumni Foundation. Judy O’Malley has been in publishing for more than 30 years as an editor of children’s trade books and magazines, professional books and magazines, and educational materials. She is the executive editor of trade books for Charlesbridge Publishing in Watertown, Mass., where she develops and directs a new line of transitional books, including early readers, early chapter books, and middle grade chapter books, bridging from picture books to middle-grade and young adult nonfiction and fiction. Kathryn O. Galbraith is the author of 12 books for children with four additional books under contract. Her work ranges from novels to short chapter books to picture books. Her picture book, “Laura Charlotte,” was awarded a Parents' Choice Award and was selected as one of the best books by School Library Journal. Laura Otto Rinne has been in the book industry for 15 years and has worked for various nationally-known independent bookstores including The Red Balloon Bookshop and Hungry Mind in St. Paul, Minn. She currently works for the independent children’s book publisher, Lerner Publishing Group, as a graphic designer. Rinne lives in Minneapolis with her husband and cat. Janice Tingum is the author of “E.B. White: The Elements of a Writer” and a winner of the 2005 Highlights for Children Fiction Contest. Her writing has also appeared in numerous magazines for children and adults, including, HiCall, Bread, Turtle Magazine, One, Today’s Christian Woman, The Forensic, and Dreams Alive. R. K. Mortenson (aka Randy) is the author of the “Landon Snow” books, a series of fantasy/adventures with biblical themes for kids ages 8-12. Mortenson has been writing poems and stories since he was a kid. His first published poem appeared in the Minneapolis Star’s weekly “Smile Factory” when he was 11 years old. After serving as a Navy chaplain almost eight years, Randy is now a pastor serving a church in Mayville, N.D., where he lives with his wife, daughter, and two sons. Those interested in attending can visit www.english.und.edu/childrenslit07.html for more information and a registration form. -- English.