Join us in celebrating our members' news! | |
Houston members at Corpus Christi's Teen Bookfest by the Bay
The annual Teen Bookfest by the Bay is a free festival in Corpus Christi, featuring panels, presentations, and book signings with 25 authors and illustrators. Houston members Crystal Allen, Lynne Kelly, Kristen Kiesling, and Susan McCauley are among this year's authors! Learn more at the festival's website, https://www.teensread.org/
Where: 1901 N Shoreline Blvd, Corpus Christi, TX 78401
When: February 22, 2025
Start time: 10am
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Lynne Kelly at the Lorraine Cherry Nature Preserve
March 1st will be a busy day for Lynne Kelly. She will be at the Lorraine Cherry Nature Preserve on March 1st at 10:30 AM to discuss her latest novel, The Secret Language of Birds, a story that was inspired by a whooping crane nest sighting in Texas.
Then she's off to support Sydney Dunlap at Buy The Book at 4 PM
Instagram: lynnekkelly
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Book Launch: Sydney Dunlap in Conversation with Lynne Kelly | |
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Come join us to celebrate the release of Sydney Dunlap's latest middle grade novel. Lynne Kelly is one of the blurbists for RACING THE CLOUDS, and they will discuss the story and the inspiration behind it. Refreshments will be provided, including the extra-chocolatey chocolate chip cookies that appear in the book!
When: 3/1/15 @ 4pm
Where: 25162 Grogans Park Dr, The Woodlands, TX
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Tiffany Obeng will be returning to Varnett Public School to present her Amazon bestseller children's career book, Andrew Learns about Engineers. With nods to Black engineer pioneers and diverse images, the visit is perfectly timed to kick off Engineer's Week and close out Black History Month. | |  |
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Ellen Leventhal, co-author of Don't Eat the Bluebonnets, and author of A Flood of Kindness, and (and many more), is now represented by Ritu Anand at D4EO Literary Agency.
(photo credit: Mark Katz)
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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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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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Angie Kay Dilmore's literary journey began in 2000 when she took a Writing for Children class at a community college in her hometown, Pittsburgh, Pa. There, she discovered the SCBWI, joined the Western Pennsylvania chapter, and participated in a kid-lit critique group.
In 2007, Angie and her family relocated to Southwest Louisiana. Major culture shock! While overwhelmed, she was also enchanted with her new home state and fascinated by all that was different and unique – the language, landscape, music, food, flora and fauna. In 2008, she wrote her debut children's book, Bedtime Lullabayou, set to release April 1, 2025.
Angie has sold stories to Highlight’s for Children, articles to Clubhouse/Clubhouse Jr., and was a regular contributor to Boys’ Life magazine for over a decade.
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Read more about her on the SCBWI website, or find her on her website! | |
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 January prompt is: CYCLE
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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Illustrator Corner
I decided it was time we have a spot just for the illustrators. There are not as many of us as there are authors in our chapter, but let's face it, they need us! We set the tone and the mood for their words. We fill the air with love and laughter, calm and serenity, color and design! We need to stay strong and keep each other motivated and also keep each other informed of area events or happenings that would be of interest to our group! So let me take this opportunity to encourage you to first join Discord and then start "chatting". If you are feeling nervous or fearful of yet another platform DON'T. Discord is EASY. Just like texting your friends. The only trick is "opening the correct "file cabinet drawer" for that message to go inside of! I bet if you asked during the meeting this month we could even give you a short demonstration of how to do it! I also want any of you to know that you can email me and I will give you a personal mini ZOOM help session for the technology and navigation of our website or Discord. There is a lot of tech in our world and I will be the first to admit it is hard to keep up and very tempting to just tap out and stop. Please hang in there with us! Shoot me an email and I will help in any way I can to ease the anxiety of technology!
Now, what about Illustrator Sketch Night this month? We meet online, the third Thursday of every month (unless there is a holiday), to help keep ourselves accountable to making progress on our goals! Schedule the TIME with us, but more importantly TIME to WORK on your craft! Authors and illustrators alike gather to simply WORK!! It is very motivating! We will visit and share for the first 10-15 minutes and then it is independent work time. Can't be there the whole time?...not to worry, think of it as an online open house where you can come and go as you please!! I will provide some inspirational optional drawing prompts based on SCBWI's #DrawThis monthly challenge, or you can just work on your current project. When our time is up, we will share for a little bit about our work! Just think, all the advantages of a critique group but without the drive in Houston traffic!
Jennie Smith
houston-ic@scbwi.org
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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: $120
SCBWI Austin: Marketing, Social Media, and Selling Bootcamp
March 1, 2025 (registration closes February 27) CST
(You can check the time in your time zone here)
Whether you're traditionally published or blazing your own trail in self-publishing, this marketing bootcamp is your all-in-one guide to marketing and selling your children's book with confidence. Join us on March 1st, from 8 AM to 2 PM CST for our first bootcamp of the year, a focused and practical event designed for authors and illustrators who want to master the business side of books. From growing your audience to increasing book sales, this event is packed with expert insights, real-world strategies, and hands-on workshops tailored to help you reach your readers and make an impact.
Check it out here
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Price with membership: FREE!
New Year, New Goals
March 11, 2025 MST
(You can check the time in your time zone here)
The first weeks after your book releases are when you generally have the most publisher support and reader attention. Join HOUSTON'S Tonya Duncan Ellis, author of the picture book THEY BUILT ME FOR FREEDOM (HarperCollins 2024) and the self-published SOPHIE WASHINGTON chapter book series which has sold over 175,000 copies as she share strategies to maximize your book launch experience during the early days of your release and beyond. Attendees will learn why early reviews matter and how to get them; media and blogger pitching tips; how to use launch groups to promote your book; book launch party tips, including an ultimate launch photo list for future marketing; and ways to build relationships with local bookstores to keep sales moving long after launch. This webinar will be recorded and available to attendees for 30 days following the event.
Check it out here
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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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