SBC's 23rd Annual Young Authors Conference

March 14, 2013 Keynote

National Book Award winner, Pete Hautman, has written many critically acclaimed books for teens including The Big Crunch, Los Angeles Times Book Prize, Young Adult literature; Godless, National Book Award winner for Young People’s Literature; Blank Confession, Minnesota Book Award Winner; Rash, Michigan “Thumbs Up” Award winner and many others. His latest book, The Obsidian Blade, is the first book in The Klaatu Diskos sci-fi trilogy.

Hautman visits schools regularly. He finds it personally rewarding to play a part in getting students excited about writing.

Hautman lives in Golden Valley, MN.

May 28 - 31, 2013 Keynote

Award winning author, Catherine Thimmesh,
has written on science topics that include space exploration, human evolution, inventions, and scientific discoveries. Her most recent book explores unusual friendships among animals.  Her books have won numerous awards and honors including the Sibert Medal for Team Moon: How 400,000 People Landed Apollo 11 on the Moon. Other award-winning books include: Friends: True Stories of Extraordinary Animal Friendships, Girls Think of Everything, The Sky’s the Limit, Madam President, and Lucy Long Ago.

Thimmesh writes nonfiction because she is curious and finds the real world to be utterly fascinating. She speaks at schools and conferences locally and internationally always striving to engage her listeners in discovery and wonder.

Thimmesh lives in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, with her husband and two children.

The Young Authors Conference (YAC) is a writing extravaganza for 4th-8th grade students. Students will have the opportunity to attend the keynote address and three interactive writing sessions led by local fiction and non-fiction writers, poets, songwriters, playwrights, actors, and illustrators. Students will learn the power of the well-written word and the way it can inform, inspire and transform. Over 4,000 students attend YAC each year.

"This experience has changed the way I will write for the rest of my life." YAC 2011 student

"WOW! All those authors in one place. For anyone who loves to write, this conference is a MUST!"
YAC 2011 teacher

2012 YAC FAQ

2013 YAC Overview

YAC Participant Feedback

A Book Fair which is open to students each day of the Young Authors Conference allows them to browse and purchase many of the works
of conference presenters.

Authors and illustrators are also available during the conference to autograph their works for students.

2013 YAC Dates:
March 14 (grades 4-8)
May 28 (grades 6-8) SOLD OUT
May 29 (grades 4-8) SOLD OUT
May 30 (grades 4-8) SOLD OUT
May 31 (grades 4-8) Limited availability, please contact Colleen Feller

Location:
Bethel University campus in Arden Hills, Minnesota.

March YAC Registration Deadlines:

REGISTRATION IS CLOSED for March YAC.

Metro ECSU Member Rates & Registration Deadlines:
$37 Early Bird rate per student - register by December 21, 2012
$39 Regular rate per student - register by January 18, 2013
$42 Late registration rate per student (if space allows) - register January 19, 2013 or later

Non-Member Rates & Registration Deadlines:
$50 Early Bird rate per student - register by December 21, 2012
$52 Regular rate per student - register by January 18, 2013
$55 Late registration rate per student (if space allows) - register January 19, 2013 or later

May YAC Registration Deadlines:

REGISTRATION IS CLOSED for May YAC.

Metro ECSU Member Rates & Registration Deadlines:
$37 Early Bird rate per student - register by January 30, 2013
$39 Regular rate per student - register by February 15, 2013
$42 Late registration rate per student (if space allows) - register February 16, 2013 or later

Non-Member Rates & Registration Deadlines:
$50 Early Bird rate per student - register by January 30, 2013
$52 Regular rate per student - register by February 15, 2013
$55 Late registration rate per student (if space allows) - register February 16, 2013 or later

Colleen Feller, 612-638-1511 or colleen.feller@metroecsu.org
Fax: 612-706-0811