HELLO!
Notes from your Houston SCBWI Co-Regional Advisor
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I am absolutely thrilled to introduce myself as a member of your regional team. Meghan may have small feet, but she has left some monumental shoes to fill. That woman can toss out quips like they’re confetti at a ticker-tape parade, and she could always finesse her team into a cohesive show-up-and-git-er-done force. I feel a bit intimidated; my claim to fame is being able to whisper across a noisy room and still be heard. But I’m also competitive, so my goal is to see our chapter as one of the most sought after Texas resources.
Our mission as your regional team is simple: to inspire and nurture the creative spark within each of you. We're here to cultivate a vibrant community of writers–a family brought together by a shared passion for inspiring others with storytelling, whether through words or illustrations.
With that goal in mind, we are thrilled Christine has volunteered to create small scale social events. Please engage with her. If you have an innovative idea to augment hers, you can reach out to her at Socials.SCBWIhou@gmail.com. But either way, show up for as many of the events as you can. Coupled with the already successful Sketch Seshs Lisa hosts every month, these writer’s social events are there to help us network, but also, and perhaps most importantly, to refill our creative wells.
Believe me when I tell you that we, as a community, are missing your creativity, your questions, and the knowledge you don’t even realize you have when you aren’t able to gather at our metaphorical dinner table…or should we call them family reunions? So, please reach out if there is something stopping you from coming to an event you want to attend.
I’m looking forward to growing my skills as an artist alongside you, my family of glorious creatives.
Annie Roi Harmon
Co-Regional Advisor
Houston-ra2@scbwi.org
Houston SCBWI
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November Monthly Meeting
Join us this November as attorney Iona McAvoy speaks on "Intellectual Property Law Updates for Creators."
2023 once again has moved intellectual property for all creator into the forefront. Copyright, Trademarks and the most recent big ticket item, AI.
We will go over some basic on these as well as delve into the AI issues looming. Contracts are changing, or in drastic need of changing. What is an artist to do? Let's talk!
When:
Monday, November 6, 2023 from 7-9 PM
Where: Online Zoom Register HERE!
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November Illustrator
Sketch Sesh
Join us for our monthly illustrator sketch sesh! Open to illustrators, writers, and all kidlit creatives.
Where: Slowpokes
When: November 18, 10am-11:30am
Register HERE!
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Join us in December!
Get ready to PAR-TAY! Join Houston SCBWI IN-PERSON to celebrate the holiday season with a festive party! We’re doing a no-fuss potluck with plenty of mingling and socializing. Join the fun for: Games, Food & drinks, Holiday music (obviously!) and DOOR PRIZES!! You can choose to sign up to bring a food item or drink when the SignUp Genius is sent out. The chapter will provide paper goods, silverware, and ice.
And since we’re meeting in-person, we’re also using this time to thank Meghan for her years of dedication.
Where: Tracy Gee Community Center
When: December 4, 7-9 PM
Register HERE!!
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Houston Chapter Critique Group
When: November 6, 2023 on ZOOM
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CST
What: An informal critique group to meet before most of our chapter meetings.
Details: All written and illustrated works-in-progress intended for the children’s market are welcome.
Please view the group's guidelines prior to attending.
No critique group in December!
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A Double Cover Reveal
Lynne Kelly is delighted to share two new book covers! The beautiful cover for The Secret Language of Birds was illustrated by Leo Nickolls. The novel will be out on April 9th and is available for preorder wherever you like to get your books. Also there's a new edition of Song For a Whale on the way, as a Romanian translation.
@lynnekkelly (Instagram)
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New Picture Book by Joy Preble
Joni Sussman at Kare Ben has bought world rights to Happy Passover, Edie Rose! by Joy Preble, illustrated by Valeria Cis, about the vivacious Edie Rose who always hosts the best Passover seders, but when she suffers a fall, her young neighbor Mia convinces their fellow neighbors to help rescue the seder.
Publication is slated for spring 2025. Jennifer Rofe at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Mela Bolineo at MB Artists represented the illustrator.
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Freddie the Flyer Takes Off!
Freddie the Flyer (Tundra Books/Penguin Random House Canada) just launched! This picture book biography mash-up is co-written with the first Indigenous commercial pilot in the Arctic, and features gorgeous northern canvases by Inuvialuit artist Audrea Loreen-Wulf. Kirkus Reviews says it "Shines with a love of both planes and place."
This is a true North-South story: I completed a research trip to Inuvik, NWT in 2019 while living in Houston and workshopped early drafts with the SCBWI Houston chapter before moving back to Canada. And now it's out in the world alongside Alis the Aviator's hardcover and new paperback edition. Thank you to all my kidlit friends Stateside and hope to celebrate in person with you sometime soon! More details at www.daniellemc.com
@Danielle_Author (Twitter) and @dmchenail (Instagram)
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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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PAL Corner
Are you a published author? 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. Application is open now! Got more questions? Email Kaye!
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Sydney Local Author Spotlight
Sydney Dunlap is an award-winning author and former elementary school teacher who has worked with at-risk youth in a variety of settings. She enjoys reading and writing heartfelt, hopeful fiction that expands young readers’ awareness of tough topics. She is a published poet and has also written for a newspaper. Her debut contemporary middle grade novel, It Happened on Saturday, is the recipient of a gold medal in the Moonbeam Book Awards and is listed on School Library Journal's Mock Newbery blog. It is also featured in Kirkus as promoting children's mental health and has been chosen for an all-community read in Virginia. When she's not writing, Sydney is likely tutoring a student, walking her dog, or spending time with friends and family. She is represented by Ann Rose at Tobias Literary Agency. You can find her online at www.sydneydunlap.com.
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SALE YOUR BOOKS ON THE SCBWI WEBSITE!
Our annual member bookselling promotion is back. SCBWI BookStop is now open for you to create pages and let book readers and buyers browse, buy, and enjoy your work. BookStop is open to all premium members – PAL, Full, Associate, Student, and Developing Nations.
- Books published between January 1, 2019 - February 28, 2024, are eligible for BookStop.
- To be eligible for BookStop, books must have been published after January 1, 2019, and before February 28, 2024.
- A BookStop page is USD $25.
Bookmark scbwi.org/bookstop-faq to keep up on any new developments.
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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.
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November Featured Illustrator:
Jennie Smith
Jennie is a wife of 34 years, mother of 3 grown kids and grandmother of 3! She is “that first grade teacher” that would rather sit at the kid’s table than with the adults! Jennie loves camping, crafting and genuine people! A mixed media artist by choice, she's never met an art supply she didn’t want to try or buy, but prefer her watercolors and graphite/pen and ink compositions. Jennie has spent a lot of time creating for her friends and family but she is currently launching what she hopes to be her next career as a promising illustrator/author! Born in Colorado, lived everywhere, but she will forever call Texas her home. Actively seeking representation and open for creative opportunities!
To learn more about Jennie, follow her on Instagram!
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DrawThis Prompt!
The November prompt is: Soup
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!
#scbwiDrawThis
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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
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The Story of Leaves
Leaves fall to the ground.
The trees will let them go.
Winter’s growing near.
The weather tells them so.
It happens once a year.
They make their branches bare.
Saving all for seasons change.
Asleep, they will repair.
Dreaming all through winter.
Wake up again in spring.
New leaves to shade against.
What summer’s heat will bring.
Yes, summer will be coming.
We’ll have more leaves for shading.
Until another fall moves in.
When again, the leaves start fading.
Trees have their year in order.
Nature’s way of caring.
It is the story of leaves.
And the seasons that we’re sharing.
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Rope in your pens and paints and projects cause this year we’re holdin’ a conference as big as Texas!
That’s right, for the first time ever, we’ll be holdin’ one conference for all Texas writers and illustrators down in the center of Texas. We’ll have opportunities for you to hone your craft and also pitch and network with agents and editors from any number of houses. Maybe even ones from New York City.
So polish those pitches.
Pore over your portfolios.
And save May 4-5, 2024 on your calendars!
For more information, check out our webpage.
We’ll keep a spot open for ya!
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20% OFF
VIRTUAL Winter Conference
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Get a coupon code for a 20% discount on the VIRTUAL Winter Conference when you register for the in-person event! Click on RESOURCES under your Member Home after registering to access the code. | | | |
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Draw This Award!
A monthly art prompt, part of the SCBWI publication Insight.
All submissions shown on the online gallery, and two winners featured in Insight, the website, and social media.
Check for submission guidelines.
Click for More Info
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Golden Kite Award
Authors/Illustrators must be a current member through December 2023 to have a book submitted to the Golden Kite Awards.
Books must be published by PAL publishers.
The book submitted must be published in 2023.
Click for More Info
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BIPOC Scholarship
All expense paid trip to the Winter or Summer Conference for Black, Indigenous, and People of color.
Submissions open Friday, October 27 through Friday, December 1.
Winners announced December 15.
Click for More Info
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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, Social Media Crew, and PAL Coordinator.
Click here for more information or to apply.
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Suggestion Box
Have an idea on how to improve Houston SCBWI?
Leave a suggestion in our Suggestion Box!
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Join our conversations on the SCBWI Texas discussion board!
Copyright © 2023 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.
newsletter.scbwihou@gmail.com.
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