September 2024

Join us in celebrating our Members' News!

Authors and illustrators, share your good news!

Writer's

Spotlight!

Illustrator's Spotlight!

IBPA Magazine Features Houston Chapter Member

SCBWI isn't the only one spotlighting our Houston chapter member Cathey Nickell. She was recently featured in the online magazine for the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)!

The topic was Cathey's popular school visits, which always feature a whimsical art car that she invites to roll along with her. Her picture books, Arthur Zarr's Amazing Art Car and Yazzy's Amazing Yarn were also featured. You can read the article here: Art Car

And if you want to watch the fun, follow her @catheynickell (Instagram)

🌟 IT’S HERE! 🌟

Suhasini Gupta is finally able to reveal the cover of her debut picture book, KAI PO CHE: Mini's Perfect Diamond, releasing on March 25, 2025 with amazing GnomeRoadPublishing and illustrated by Devika Oza!

Suhasini invites you to check out the Official Rap Song "I'm Not Small, I Am Dynamite!" Inspired by her picture book "Kai Po Che". Kids are going to groove with this song paired to the book! This track is all about courage and dreaming big! (Voice credit - Aaliya K) Watch here

Pre-order the book now! 📚 (on Bookshop.org, Amazon, B&N)

Find more info at

https://www.thesusankam.com

https://gnomeroadpublishing.com

Have News? Share It With Us!

Submit author & illustrator news for the next newsletter by the 25th 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.

Spotlights

Are you a published author? Are you an illustrator working hard on your craft? Would you like to be featured in one of our monthly newsletters and website? Get your bio & cutest headshot ready and complete the short application.

Authors, click here.

Illustrators, click here.

Applications are now open! Got more questions? Email Kaye!

Illustrator Spotlight

Michelle Bryant

Michelle is a Case Manager working with an agency that helps house homeless families. But although her work is serious, she loves making silly illustrations!

A lifelong doodler who is just now getting comfortable with her iPad and Procreate, she has been working on improving her backgrounds and incorporating more vibrant color palates into her work.

Michelle serves as the New Member Coordinator for the Houston SCBWI chapter, hosts a monthly picture book study, and never gets tired of talking about kidlit topics. She has written a handful of picture book manuscripts but is currently working on a chapter book loosely about her small (and strange) hometown.

To see more of her art, follow her on Instagram

DrawThis Prompt!

The September prompt is: COMICS

Every month we develop a long list of potential #scbwiDrawThis prompts to choose one word or phrase that will challenge our illustrator members to dig deep and draw. Our goal is to find words rooted in a unique action, mood, point of view, or character theme. We also hope this practice will help you develop new art for your growing portfolios. Share your work with us! We want to see what you create!

#scbwiDrawThis

Illustrator Gallery

Adding your illustrations to your SCBWI profile is a great way to showcase your talents, build a portfolio, and connect with industry professionals.

Visit: https://www.scbwi.org/galleries to view the SCBWI illustrator gallery.

Regional events that look too good to miss

Price with membership: $10

SCENE AND SUMMARY: HOW TO SHOW AND TELL

⭐ Level Up with Uma Krishnaswami! We’re often taught to “show, don’t tell” but what does that really mean? Where does storytelling fit in? Why not sharpen both sets of skills? Examine how we write scenes, how and where we place them, and how we link them with summary to create story.

⭐ Registration closes October 6th. ⭐ (This webinar will be recorded and available to view for one month for registered attendees.)

Check it out here

Price with membership: $30

A GUIDE FOR "INDECISIVE" ILLUSTRATORS

⭐Oh, my! Did we just pick an event from OUR region? It's the best illustrator event we found on the Regional list, so illustrators, check it out!

⭐Marissa Valdez, #1 New York Times best selling illustrator, discusses her experience with style indecisiveness, then details how she refined her own style as a children’s book illustrator. She will explain the pros and cons of working in multiple styles. This is a two and a half hour value with both webinar and workshop components. The workshop element will be an interactive event with limited live critiques so make sure to submit images of both your art and influences in advance.

⭐There are also live critiques and written critiques available!

Check it out here

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