June 2025

Words from your Houston SCBWI Illustrator Coordinator

Summer is finally here and the teacher in me gets as excited as the kids do when that last bell rings! Now that there is time, are you feeling the “Where do I start?” “What am I doing here?” emotions? Well, I dove into some old notes and found a few quotes that resonated with me, and I hope they inspire you as well! 


“No one else is doing what YOU'RE doing." Laurent Linn


“ART is the elimination of the unnecessary.” Pablo Picasso


“In the end only 3 things matter, how much you loved. How gently you lived. And, how gracefully you let go of things not meant for you.” Tommie de Paola


I then read in my notes that Kate DiCamillo received 473 rejection letters before she got a YES! 


So make a simple and meaningful plan that fills YOU! Field trips or vacations, SCBWI events or time alone in your studio – YOU do YOU!


Jennie Smith

Hey Creatives,


What are you doing this summer to keep those creative juices flowing?


Tag Houston SCBWI on Instagram or Facebook!


Swimming with the grandkids, going to the zoo, urban sketch session, girl dinners on the patio?


Let the creative juices flow!!


#SCBWIhouston

#summercreatives

#YOUdoYOU

What's your summer project?


One of mine is...painting these chairs!


Let's compare projects at the next IN PERSON MEETING when we get Kelly Bennett all to ourselves!


She’ll be sharing her expertise, energy, and wisdom in an exclusive in-person meeting. The only catch? You’ve got to be there to experience it! But trust us, it’ll be worth the drive.


DON"T FORGET we’ve got two fantastic summer programs lined up:


  1. Manuscript Marathon Virtual Retreat
  2. Creating Engaging School Visits


Plus, we’ve planned some exciting monthly summer meetings that you won’t want to miss.


Mark your calendar, and come ready to connect, learn, and be inspired!


As always, if there’s a program you’d love to see this summer, just send us an email. We’d love to hear from you!

HOUSTON CHAPTER EVENTS

Critique Groups

About Us

Houston Events

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

Upcoming Meetings

Houston Chapter Critique Group


Where: Tracy Gee Event Center

When: June 2nd, 2025

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!

Join Our Virtual Retreat!

MANUSCRIPT MARATHON VIRTUAL RETREAT: WHERE STORIES & ILLUSTRATIONS COME TO LIFE!!


This is not a conference! It's a retreat with hands-on workshops. Prepare to work! So join us for an one-of-a-kind online experience designed to fuel your imagination, strengthen your skills, and bring your stories to life. Whether you’re drafting your next picture book, refining an illustration, or searching for inspiration, this retreat is your digital oasis for creative breakthroughs.


The retreat will have three tracks to sign up for: Illustrator track, Picture Book track, and Novelist track. As well as lessons, workshops and join working time, there will be a social!

July's Chapter Meeting

Fuel Your Craft

Sign up for our region's many activities below!

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!

Anyone interested in joining in on a figure drawing session on a Sunday afternoon?


Email me: houston-ic@scbwi.org (low cost and limit of 10 people)

Houston Liftoff!


With the power of community, we are creating stories and illustrations in just 30 minutes! Join us on June 10th 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.


Many thanks to Jill Wegner for the new logo!

How does Marty Chan inspire kids to write during his in-person and virtual school visits?


Join us on July 9th to learn how to increase engagement during presentations, like school visits. Learn how to utilize games and illustrate concepts in a way that captures the attention of even the reluctant student.


Let Marty show you how to structure your visit in a way that brings your presentation to life and gets you invited back again and again. Learn how to give them something to remember!


"Marty presented to my class during World Read Aloud Day. It's months later, and the kids are still talking about his presentation!" -Kaye Marc-Charles

Socials

Are you looking to socialize with other creatives?

HomeBrew Coffee Shop in Katy!

Jennie Smith is hosting a June summer coffee meet up! Join her at HomeBrew Coffee Shop Tuesday, June 10th at 9:00 - 10:30 am


Let her know you're coming on the google form in the blue button!


Stay In the Know

A stronger community- Together on Discord


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

Space City Scribes Blog

FOLK WISDOM & OTHER THOUGHTS


By Jim Smolski


"It is the imperfections in a child's artwork that makes it perfect!"



“I love to paint; van Gogh I ain't”

 

From my mind to the canvas.

Something goes wrong I guess.

The brush strokes and my detail,

Always ends up such a mess.

 

It's like that when I’m singing too.

It sounds so good inside.

But note for note I miss the mark.

This cannot be denied.

 

To paint and sing, I love them both.

I do them for the pleasure.

The happiness that fills me up.

Is something not to measure.

 

So, I paint and sing in spare time.

When I sing I keep it low.

And what I put on canvas. 

Well, I’m surely not van Gogh....

 

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.

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 (below), Annie Harmon (above) Lynne Kelly (below) Kaye Marc-Charles, and Jim Smolski. Missing: Cheryl McCosh, Sydney Dunlap, Sanyu Ntanda, and Sam Kelty.

Regional Team

Co-Regional Advisor:

Kaye Marc-Charles

Co-Regional Advisor:

Annie Roi Harmon

Asst. Regional Advisor:

Lynne Kelly

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

Margaret Lea

New Membership Coordinator

Sam Kelty

Programming Chair:

Cheryl McCosh

Social Event Coordinator

Sanyu Ntanda

Local Event (Pod) Coordinators: 

OPEN POSITIONS!

PAL Coordinator

Sydney Dunlap

Self-Pub Coordinator

Tiffany Obeng

Social Media Crew

OPEN! 


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"


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Chapter Logo and Header Design by Marissa Valdez

Houston Liftoff Design by Jill Wegner


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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.