July 2023

HELLO!

Notes from your Houston SCBWI Co-Regional Advisors

Hello Houston Members and Friends,


I’ve been so very privileged to serve as your Co-Regional Advisor for the past 3+ years. However, my ability to fully commit to my position has changed over the last year due to growing personal and family obligations. After much consideration, I have made the difficult decision to step down. My last day as Co-RA will be December 31st of this year. Applications for the position are now open to SCBWI members and I hope you will consider becoming Houston’s next Co-RA!


The RT's goal is to have my replacement shadow me in all aspects for the remainder of the year so they're fully prepared for success in 2024. Please know I won't be going anywhere! I'll still be an active member of our chapter and will be on hand to answer questions and provide support. We also have a wonderful network of volunteers who do so much to contribute to the excellence that's come to define our chapter.


I am grateful to have had this opportunity to serve the Houston Region. You all are one of the best groups of people I could hope to meet. Working alongside dedicated RT members and volunteers has been deeply rewarding and I'm very proud of all we have accomplished. But the best perk of all has been the front row seat to our member's growth and success. Good News segments will forever be my favorite, because you guys seriously ROCK! Many deep thanks to all of the past and present RT members, volunteers, and chapter members for your support and friendship over the years! ❤️


To Apply as Co-Regional Advisor

Members interested in joining Houston's Regional Team as Co-RA should write to Patricia Wiles, SCBWI’s Director of Regional Team Management, at patriciawiles@scbwi.org by July 23rd to request an application form and a job description. You will have two weeks from the date you receive the application to complete it, including obtaining recommendations from two people. Please email me or to Patricia if you need more information on the application process or have questions.


In other news...

We need your help by taking a short survey about what you value in programming. The results will help direct the chapter moving forward, so please take a moment to share your thoughts with us below!


Wishing you all a creative and not-too-hot July!


Meghan Senkel

Co-RA, SCBWI Houston

houston-ra@scbwi.org

We Need YOU: Chapter Survey

We continue to work toward creating amazing experiences for our chapter members, but we need your help! You're the key to shaping the future of our chapter, so we encourage you to share as much information as you're comfortable with. Tell us about yourself and what you hoping to get out of future events by taking a short survey. Thank you for participating, your input will guide us in making our chapter even better!

Click for the Survey

MEMBER NEWS

When: August 5th at 4 p.m. 

Address: 

Blue Willow Bookshop

14532 Memorial Dr, Houston, TX 77079

The Great Texas Dragon Race Book Launch!


Please join middle-grade author Kacy Ritter at Blue Willow Bookshop in West Houston for the launch of her debut, THE GREAT TEXAS DRAGON RACE, on August 5th. There will be snacks.


There will be books. And there might even be some dragons...


Contact: Twitter/Instagram: @kc_ritter

More Info

Tonya Duncan Ellis serves as an We Need Diverse Books Mentor!


During this one-of-a-kind program, selected Black authors learn the ins and outs of the publishing industry through mentoring and programming with other industry professionals designed to develop their networking skills and hone their craft.


Congratulations, Tonya!

2023 SCBWI Ann Whitford Paul Writer's Digest Manuscript Awards


Houston member, Meghan Downs, has won for the Most Promising Nonfiction Picture Book!


The Colors of the Harp is about Ann Hobson Pilot, who, through dedication and study, became the first Black woman to become a principal musician in an orchestra, despite obstacles faced from of the color of her skin.


Congrats, Meghan! Way to go!

Lisa Chow Represents!


Houston Illustrator Coordinator, Lisa Chow, is excited to announce that she is now represented by Kelly Sonnack at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency!


Congratulations, Lisa!!

Varsha Bajaj's illustrated young middle-grade novel, IT'S SHOWTIME KAVI, tells the story of Kavi Sharma, American Girl's 2023 Girl of the Year. The book released on July 5th, 2023!


Congrats, Varsha!


Have News? Share It With Us!

Submit author & illustrator news for the next newsletter to Angela Yeh 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.

HOUSTON CHAPTER EVENTS

When:

Monday, July 10, 2023, from 7-9 PM


Where:

Zoom + Tracy Gee Community Center

3599 Westcenter Dr, Houston, TX 77042


Click Here for Zoom Link to Monthly Meeting

July Monthly Hybrid Meeting


Trends and Recent Favorites in Kids Books with Cathy Berner


Cathy Berner, a former school librarian, and the Children’s/YA Specialist and Event Coordinator at Blue Willow Bookshop, will discuss recent trends in kids books, from picture books to YA novels, and will also share some of her favorite books released over the past year.

August Monthly Meeting:

In-Person


First Pages Workshop!


Bring your first pages and your A-game! Take your writing to the next level with kind and insightful feedback from your peers.


To participate:

Bring 4-5 copies of the first three pages of your work-in-progress

When:

Monday, August 7th, 2023, from 7-9 PM.


Where: *In-person only*

Tracy Gee Community Center

3599 Westcenter Dr, Houston, TX 77042

Click for More Info

*NEW* Middle-Grade Critique Group

Accepting new members!!


*Meets every Tuesday evening on Zoom

*Seeking authors with manuscripts or beginning a project for critique.


Contact: Nancy Bonomo at bonomo.nancy.e@gmail.com

July Chapter Critique Group:

In-Person


When: July 10th, 2023 at 5:30p-6:30 PM CST

(Before the Monthly Meeting)


What: An informal critique group that meets before all of our monthly chapter meetings. This month we are meeting in person. All written and illustrated works-in-progress intended for the children’s market are welcome.


Where: Tracey Gee Community Center

Do you have a newly formed critique group? Would you like to list it on our chapter's critique connection page?


Fill out the Critique Group Catalogue to have your group added to our list below. This will help prospective members better find you: Critique Group Catalogue Form


If you have any questions please email our Critique Group Coordinator, Nancy Blair, at critiquegroups.scbwihou@gmail.com

Join us in July for 1-hour power write sessions

 Register Here!

Email Kaye with any questions.

Illustrator Corner

Calling all illustrators! We want to feature you! Please submit your completed works to newsletter.scbwihou@gmail.com for a chance to be featured in an upcoming newsletter.


Email Lisa Chow with any questions.

Featured Illustrator Opportunities

Open each month to members.

Featured Illustrator Interviews


DrawThis Prompt!

The July prompt is: SNACKS


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! Share it often online and in your member profile page on https://www.scbwi.org/galleries. We want to see what you create!


Official Hashtag: #scbwiDrawThis 

BEYOND HOUSTON

CONFERENCES, WEBINARS, AND WORKSHOPS

Find these events and many more Regional Virtual Events from the SCBWI website.

Summer Virtual Conference 2023


Immerse yourself in a vibrant digital environment made to uplift, inspire, and inform you about how to make your story come vividly to life for children everywhere.


There are sessions specifically for illustrators, traditionally published & self-published authors, nonfiction writers, picture book writers, and more!


Every attendee has access to the content of all 50 sessions for up to one month after the conference concludes.


Summer Conference 2023

Aug 04, 2023 - Aug 06, 2023

26 events

Online event + Unlimited seats

Registration and Info

SCBWI Awards & Grants

Emerging Voices Award


Two writers or writer-illustrators will each receive:


Full tuition to the SCBWI Summer Conference and guidance on manuscript during the winning year.


Submissions open.


Deadline is July 30, 2023

Announced: October 15th


Click for more information

BIPOC Scholarship


Scholarship winners will receive tuition to the SCBWI Summer Virtual Conference.


Submissions open.


Deadline is July 14th, midnight PST


Click for more information

General Conference Scholarship


All expense paid tuition to the Virtual Conference for any SCBWI member experiencing financial hardship.


Submissions open.


Deadline is July 14th, midnight PST


Click for more information

FOLK WISDOM & OTHER THOUGHTS



By Jim Smolski


The smallest ray of sunshine can start a leaf to turn and look with hope. I want to be the sunshine that creates that moment for at least one leaf every day. -Jim

A Happy Story

While in my room I noticed.

A new book on a shelf.

I know for sure that I did not.

Put it there myself.


I have been looking for

a story that’s just right.

To be a happy bedtime story.

That’s good to hear at night.


My shelves are full already.

I can remember every book.

But finding the right happy one.

Will take a second look.


I decide to check the new book out.

I’m curious to see.

Where it came from, why it’s there.

Or who left it there for me.


Pulling it from the others.

Excited! What’s inside?

Looking for the title page.

My eyes went open wide!


There were mostly empty pages.

Except a little note.

It’s from a friend and it’s for me.

And here’s what my friend wrote.


You always want a happy book.

To read when you’re alone.

I’m giving you this empty book

So, you can write your own.


I want to hear the happy story.

I’m sure your book will be.

And I can’t wait for that happy time.

When you’re reading it to me!


Open Opportunities

OPEN Volunteer Positions

We want to create a chapter that is more involved, engaged, and active, and we need your help to do it!


Open Positions:

Event Webmaster & Ticketing Manager, Membership Coordinator, and PAL Coordinator.


Email Megan or Kaye for more information or to apply.

Stay on top of the latest SCBWI News!

https://www.scbwi.org/regions/houston


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!

Instagram  Twitter  Facebook

Suggestion Box

Have an idea on how to improve Houston SCBWI?

Leave a suggestion in our Suggestion Box!

Our Volunteers

Regional Team

Co-Regional Advisor:

Meghan Senkel

Co-Regional Advisor:

Kaye Marc-Charles

Asst. Regional Advisor:

Lynne Kelly

Illustrators Coordinator:

Lisa Chow

Regional Advisor Emeritus:

Vicki Sansum

Chapter Volunteers

Newsletter & Webmaster:

Angela Yeh

Conference/Retreat Chair:

Annie Harmon

Critique Group Coordinator:

Nancy Blair

Newsletter Column Writer: 

Jim Smolski

Membership Coordinator

OPEN!

Programming Chair & Evite List:

Cheryl McCosh

PAL Coordinator

OPEN!

Social Media Chair:

Heather Walters   

Chapter Logo and Header Design by Marissa Valdez

Copyright © 2022 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.

Write to Angela Yeh at newsletter.scbwihou@gmail.com.

Facebook  Instagram  Twitter