Words from your Houston SCBWI Co-Regional Advisor | | School’s wrapping up, vacations are kicking off, and it's the perfect time to let creativity take the lead! | | |
Hey Creatives,
To help you keep those creative juices flowing, we’ve got two fantastic summer programs lined up:
- Manuscript Marathon Virtual Retreat
- Creating Engaging School Visits
Plus, we’ve planned some exciting monthly summer meetings that you won’t want to miss.
As always, if there’s a program you’d love to see this summer, just send us an email, we’d love to hear from you!
| |
Exciting News!
This month we have a festive Cinco de Mayo celebration planned for our May meeting. All you have to bring is your appetite!
Also, we’ve got a special guest lined up for our June monthly meeting: Kelly Bennett!!!
She’ll be sharing her expertise, energy, and wisdom in an exclusive in-person meeting. The only catch? You’ve got to be there to experience it! But trust us, it’ll be worth the drive.
Mark your calendar, and come ready to connect, learn, and be inspired!
-Kisha Kaye
| |
| |
Houston Chapter Critique Group
No Critique Group in May! Sorry!
| | | | Join Our Virtual Retreat! | |
Fuel Your Craft
Sign up for our region's many activities below!
| |
|
Kayla Cichello, an agent at Upstart Crow Literary, will start off our 90-minute session with information about Upstart Crow as a whole and then move on to information about herself and her manuscript wish list. We will take a few minutes for moderated questions and then move on to the Pitch section of the event. Submissions will be shown on screen without identifying information and read aloud by a moderator. Kayla will then take a few minutes to react and provide feedback. We encourage you to watch the live event in case Kayla has follow up questions. We will do our best to get through all the submissions.
Before the event:
If you would like us to read your pitch, please submit it via the Google Form on the event page by May 2nd at noon CST.
Pitches must be 150 words or less. Please include title, genre, and age category (this doesn't count against your 150 words). We will choose as many as time permits. Please note this is a short "elevator pitch," not a query letter.
Deadline: May 2nd at noon CST
Unsure how to craft your pitch? Check out this handy guide from our friends at SCBWI Mid Atlantic! "The Essential Guide to Publishing for Children" offers invaluable advice and resources for authors, illustrators, and translators of children's books. Available for free to premium members.
After the event:
Attendees will receive a replay link good for one week as well as special submission instructions for querying Kayla Cichello. Please note she is otherwise closed to submissions per her website.
| | | |
| | |
DATE: Saturday, May 3rd, 12:00-1:30pm central. Replay will be available for one week after the event.
FEE:
$20 – SCBWI premium members
$25 - non members
| | | |
We will visit and share for the first 10-15 minutes and then it is independent work time. I will provide some inspirational music for your listening pleasure as well as an optional drawing prompt. When the music stops, we will share our work! Just think, all the advantages of a peer group but without the drive in Houston traffic! | | | |
Houston Liftoff!
With the power of community, we are creating stories and illustrations in just 30 minutes! Join us on May 13th for the next community session. Remember, after the 30 minutes, we open the mics to share.
And maybe one of these stories or illustrations will be added to a Houston Lift-Off anthology.
Many thanks to Jill Wegner for the new logo!
| | | |
MANUSCRIPT MARATHON VIRTUAL RETREAT: WHERE STORIES & ILLUSTRATIONS COME TO LIFE!!
This is not a conference! It's a retreat with hands-on workshops. Prepare to work! So join us for an one-of-a-kind online experience designed to fuel your imagination, strengthen your skills, and bring your stories to life. Whether you’re drafting your next picture book, refining an illustration, or searching for inspiration, this retreat is your digital oasis for creative breakthroughs.
The retreat will have three tracks to sign up for: Illustrator track, Picture Book track, and Novelist track. As well as lessons, workshops and join working time, there will be a social!
| | | |
How does Marty Chan inspire kids to write during his in-person and virtual school visits?
Join us this July 9th to learn how to increase engagement during kids in presentations, like school visits. Learn how to utilize games, how to illustrate concepts in a way that capture the attention of even the reluctant student.
Let Marty show you how to structure your visit in a way that brings your presentation to life and gets you invited back again and again. Learn how to give them something to remember!
"Marty presented to my class during world read aloud day. It's months later, and the kids are still talking about his presentation!" -Kaye Marc-Charles
| | |
Socials
Are you looking to socialize with other creatives?
| |
| |
Social at Third Gen Coffee
Jill Wegner is hosting this one. Join her at Thrid Gen Coffee in Spring Tx Sat May 24th at 10am
Let her know you're coming so she can save you a seat!
Sign up here to let her know you're coming!
| | | |
A stronger community- Together on Discord
This only works if we come together as a community—checking in, sharing ideas, lifting each other up and being lifted up.
| | |
Have News? Share It With Us For Our Members Corner Newsletter! (published the 10th of each month)
Submit author & illustrator news for the next newsletter by the 5th of each month via this form. Event submissions for member book launches and signings can be added to our regional calendar! Please be sure to include the date, time, and location.
| | Go to "Member Home" then click "My Awards" to find monthly opportunities! | | Remember to check out webinars hosted by SCBWI regions! See the Regional Virtual Events page to see what's coming up for novelists, picture book writers, illustrators, and more. | | From left to right: Jacob Reynolds, Margaret Lea, Tiffany Obeng, Jennie Smith (above), Sabina Grey (below), Annie Harmon (above) Lynne Kelly (below) Kaye Marc-Charles, and Jim Smolski. Missing: Cheryl McCosh, Sydney Dunlap, Sanyu Ntanda, and Sam Kelty. | |
Stay on top of the latest SCBWI News!
Join the conversation in Discord! Sign up here!
Newsletter Tip: Be aware of message clipping! To make sure you're getting the full newsletter, by looking for this message at the bottom of the email:
"[Message clipped] View entire message"
If you're not already, please follow us on social media!
| |
Suggestion Box
Have an idea on how to improve Houston SCBWI?
Leave a suggestion in our Suggestion Box!
| | |
Copyright © 2025 SCBWI-Houston, All rights reserved.
News and other information may be passed on without attribution; original artwork and writing are the property of their creators and may be reproduced only with written permission.
| | | | |
