January 2026

Words from your Houston SCBWI Co-Regional Advisor

And just like that, we are blessed enough to be stepping into 2026! The regional team and our dedicated local volunteers have so much in store for you. Here's a sneak peek:

Free programming
4 Webinars
Mentorship program
Our 3rd annual in-person retreat

We want this year to be the year that all of your creative wishes come true! We will do all that we can to help you reach your goals.

As the year starts, I want to remind you that we are only an email away. We'd love to be a resource to whatever questions or concerns you have. All suggestions are welcome.

Cheers to a beautiful 2026, filled with love and creativity!

Kaye Marc-Charles

Co-Regional Advisor

SCBWI Houston

Houston-ra@scbwi.org

HOUSTON CHAPTER EVENTS

Critique Grou p s

About Us

Houston Events

We encourage you to view all of our events via our website.

Upcoming Meetings

Houston Chapter

Critique Group

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Where: Online

When: January 5, 2026

5:30 PM – 6:30 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. Free to all.

Authors and Illustrators are welcome to come to the critique session!

February's Chapter Meeting!!

Whether you’re a seasoned writer, an aspiring artist, or someone with a story burning inside you, this event will guide you through the process of turning your narrative into a compelling graphic novel.

Fuel Your Craft

Houston Liftoff!

With the power of community, we are creating stories and illustrations in just 30 minutes! Join us on January 13th for the next community session. Remember, after the 30 minutes, we open the mics to share.

And maybe one of these stories or illustrations will be added to a Houston Lift-Off anthology.

January 15th, 6:00 - 9:00 pm

How does Illustrator Sketch Night work on ZOOM? We enjoy a quick visit and share for the first 10-15 minutes and then it is independent work time. I provide an optional drawing prompt in addition to the SCBWI #DrawThis option if you didn't come with a project of your own. When the timer stops, we share our progress! Just think, all the advantages of a group of creatives doing what creatives do, but without the drive in Houston traffic!

Click here to register for Sketch Night

Stay In the Know

Click to Join the Self-pub Contact List

Keep an eye on our social media for

announcements about area socials!

Interest Form

A stronger community-together on Discord

This only works if we come together as a community—checking in, sharing ideas, lifting each other up and being lifted up.

Join Our Discord

Space City Scribes Blog

Read Julie Hedlund's Interview Here!

Another Year

It’s right around the corner.

I’m crossing off the days.

Making plans to match demands.

Stuck in my writer’s haze.

The new year brings new hope.

Keep writing and submitting.

Surely, I will find someone.

Because I kept committing.

So, I will keep adjusting

my queries and my stories.

Believing I will someday get

some published author glories.

Have News? Share It With Us For

Our Members Corner Newsletter!

(published the 10th of each month)

Submit author & illustrator news for the next newsletter by the 5th 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.

Make Your SCBWI Experience More Local:

Set Your Home Region

The SCBWI has introduced a new "Home Regions" feature that makes it easier than ever to stay connected to your local community.

Why choose a home region?

– Get updates on local events and opportunities

– Connect with your regional volunteers and help them better serve your area

– Strengthen your connection to the SCBWI community

Follow these simple steps to select your home region and follow others that interest you:

Log in and go to Member Home > My Profile > Edit My Profile. Scroll down the settings and click the arrow beside “Set your home region, and add others you’re interested in.”

Go to "Member Home" then click "My Awards" to find monthly opportunities!

SCBWI Regional Events

Remember to check out webinars hosted by SCBWI regions! See the Regional Virtual Events page to see what's coming up for novelists, picture book writers, illustrators, and more.

Our Volunteers

From left to right: Jacob Reynolds, Margaret Lea, Tiffany Obeng, Jennie Smith (above), Sabina Grey was webmaster, now retired (below), Annie Harmon (above) Lynne Kelly (below) Kaye Marc-Charles, and Jim Smolski. Missing: Sydney Dunlap, Sanyu Ntanda, Sam Kelty, Kemi Ogunyemi, Tonya Ellis, Michelle Watts, Annika Royston, and Theresa Villarreal.

Regional Team

Co-Regional Advisor:

Kaye Marc-Charles

Co-Regional Advisor:

Annie Roi Harmon

Asst. Regional Advisor:

Margaret Lea

Illustrators Coordinator:

Jennie Smith

Regional Advisor Emeritus:

Vicki Sansum

Chapter Volunteers

General Webmaster

OPEN!

Newsletter Editor

OPEN!

Critique Group Coordinator:

Jacob Reynolds

Newsletter Column Writer:

Jim Smolski

Kidlit Correspondents:

Annika Royston

Margaret Lea

New Membership Coordinator

Michelle Watts

Programming Chair:

Tonya Ellis

Social Event Coordinator

Sanyu Ntanda

Local Event (Pod) Coordinators:

OPENINGS!

PAL Coordinator

Self-Pub Coordinator

Social Media Crew

Discord Moderator

Mentorship Program

OPEN Volunteer Positions

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

Click here to apply.

Stay on top of the latest SCBWI News!

Join the conversation in Discord! Sign up here!

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!

and now on BLUESKY!!

click here to FOLLOW US!

Suggestion Box

Have an idea on how to improve Houston SCBWI?

Leave a suggestion in our Suggestion Box!

Chapter Logo and Header Design by Marissa Valdez

Houston Liftoff Design by Jill Wegner

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.