Join us in celebrating our members' news! | |
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Debut Picture Book!
Two years ago Shams Mammadli became a mom and, inspired by her daughter, she created a children’s board book called Love You. After 10 months of dedication, she's thrilled to share that it’s now available on Amazon!
If you haven't read it yet, you can check it out on Amazon. And if you have, always remember that new authors depend on your reviews.
Love You on Amazon
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Let's GO!
Houston SCBWI Member, Valerie Ellis, is thrilled to reveal the cover of her second children's book. With rhyming text and beautiful illustrations, Let's Go! Bible Adventures contrasts modern and ancient transportation to engage kids in timeless stories. Children ages two to six will love the bulldozers, garbage trucks, hot air balloons, airplanes, boats, and much more. (Take a peek inside on Valerie's website.) It releases from Tyndale on February 4th and is available for preorder now.
Follow Valerie on: Instagram
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Starred Reviews for They Built Me for Freedom
Tonya Duncan Ellis' debut picture book received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and School Library Journal and was a Common Sense Media Common Sense Selection.
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Author Curtain Call for 2024 Texas Family Literacy Festival | |
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Story Square, the chair of the Lit with Families Texas Family Literacy Festival, invites authors to join in our enchanting day of fun family learning, prizes, live performances, and visits from special guests starting at 10:30 am on November 9, 2024, World Freedom Day, at Discovery Green.
Story Square is an evidence-based education social enterprise whose mission is to galvanize families' catalytic power to convert literacy into freedom. We believe that Story Square is where alphabet magic spells fun family learning. So, when an author steps into Story Square, they become our Alphamagicians!
Authors can join in the festival fun by:
- Reading their book(s) in our Lighthouses (25 minutes)
- Donating books
- Becoming vendors to sell their books and interact with TFLF families throughout our special family day
- Purchasing a sponsorship package to increase their brand awareness and visibility to this one-of-a-kind family audience, and/or
- Competing to be our 2024 Alphamagician through our 2024 Alphamagician Book Competition (ABC) Award. (Terms and conditions apply.)
You may click here to access the author e-packet. The packet also includes background about the festival, our chair, and details about the four different roles authors assume at the festival.
The Texas Family Literacy Festival is a great opportunity for self-published children's book authors (picture book, middle grade, and YA authors) to publicize the great work they are writing and to sell their books!
Traditionally published authors can read, sign their books, and have their books sold with one of our booksellers at the festival.
story square website
INSTAGRAM
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Great place for book-loving volunteers! | A note from member Katie Wray Schon: Texas Children’s Hospital has patient / family libraries in both the Main and Woodlands locations. I’ve been volunteering at the Woodlands location, and we need more volunteers! It’s a super job - you get to hang out and help any visitors to the library, and push around a book cart to hand out books to patients. We all know how awesome books are and how much brighter they can make your day - what better way to give a little joy to some kids who need it! | |
Info shared by Katie Wray Schon @katiewrayschon (Instagram) | |
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I’ve found TCH a really great organization to volunteer for, too. They request three hours a week for consistency, but are very understanding about needing to miss for sick kids, travel, etc.
If you’re interested in volunteering, you can start here and find your way to the right volunteer application. Or if you have any questions for me about my experience there, feel free to reach out!
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The Tweens Read Festival is coming up on Saturday, October 26th! This all-day event features presentations and panels with over 20 middle grade authors, including our own Crystal Allen and Lynne Kelly. See the Tweens Read website, tweensread.com, for more information and to register for this free event.
Frank Dobie HS, 10220 Blackhawk Blvd, Houston, Texas, 77089
tweensread.com
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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.
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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!
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The September prompt is: TOAD
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
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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.
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Regional events that look too good to miss
You can scroll through all virtual SCBWI events by clicking here
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Price with membership: $25
The Art of Extraordinary
October 19, 2024
Led by Estelle Laure, Agent, Senior Content Development Editor At-Large, from one of the industry’s top literary agencies, Folio Jr. We’ll be taken on an unforgettable journey filled with techniques on how to master your writing craft and tips & tricks to creating a standout query.
⭐Don’t miss out on the incredible opportunity to submit your work.
Other topics covered:
choosing your social media outlets
⭐registration closes October 18
⭐recording will be available for one month following the event
Check it out here
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Price with membership: $10
Crafting Believable Characters for Children's Books
October 19th, 2024
Assistant Editor at Peachtree Publishing Company, Zoie Janelle Konneker is guiding you from composing an authentic voice and establishing relatable, compelling motivations, to refining your craft in order to make your characters shine.
This workshop will address all things character-related in children's books. We will cover the role of the narrator, discuss the difference between flat and round characters, and have several opportunities for class participation where we will use what we've learned to build genuine, believable characters that young readers will love.
Check it out here
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Copyright © 2024 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.
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