Carolinas Submission Spot

Haunted States of America Update:
Submissions Re-Open for Selected States
(paraphrased from SCBWI’s INSIGHT, 2/2/22)

The anthology that SCBWI is preparing for publication by the Laura Godwin imprint at Henry Holt is finally underway. Submissions have been read and submitted to the publisher, and the finalists for the first five states have been selected. Rejection letters have been mailed; if you haven’t heard from us, your submission is still under consideration. 

There are still several states that we'd like to see additional submissions from, including Delaware, Mississippi, South Dakota, Washington DC, Indiana, West Virginia, Wyoming, Oregon, Alaska, Maryland, Missouri, and North Carolina. If you are affiliated with any of those states and would like to submit a scary story set in one of them, submissions will be accepted until March 21st (this is updated from last month's newsletter).

Please keep in mind that we are looking for contemporary stories that give a real sense of place. Each story should have a 1,300 word limit, be intended for middle grade readers, and emphasize a specific locale within the state. To submit, please click HERE.
Regional Announcements:
IGNITE THE SPARK
SCBWI Carolinas members are invited to Ignite the Spark by writing—and drawing—microfiction. Hosted by our very own John Strong & Linda Gerber!

Ignite the Spark is held every third Tuesday. The next meeting will be on March 15th, from 7:30-8:30 pm EST.

LEARN MORE about ITS. SIGN UP for this month's meeting.
Please contact your local library systems, local bookstores, local schools, and other specialty locations that might be interested in our PAL members' newly-released books!

March Participants:

Viviane Elbee

Author: Viviane Elbee
Illustrator: Nicole Miles
Title: I WANT MY BOOK BACK
ISBN: 1499811748
Publisher: Little Bee Books
Release Date: March 1, 2022


Laurie J. Edwards

Title: Unicorns to the Rescue (Unicorns of the Secret Stable series)
Author: Laurie J. Edwards
Illustrator: Jomike Tejido
ISBN: 9781631636004
Publisher: Jolly Fish Press
Release date: March 2, 2022
 
Title: Lucky and the Dragon (Unicorns of the Secret Stable series)
Author: Laurie J. Edwards
Illustrator: Jomike Tejido
ISBN: 9781631636042
Publisher: Jolly Fish Press
Release date: March 2, 2022
 
Title: Magical Unicorn Horns (Unicorns of the Secret Stable series)
Author: Laurie J. Edwards
Illustrator: Jomike Tejido
ISBN: 9781631636080
Publisher: Jolly Fish Press
Release date: March 2, 2022
 
Title: Mermaid Magic (Unicorns of the Secret Stable series)
Author: Laurie J. Edwards
Illustrator: Jomike Tejido
ISBN: 9781631636127
Publisher: Jolly Fish Press
Release date: March 2, 2022


Pam Zollman

Author: Pam Zollman
Illustrator: Frances Ives
Title: I'll Say Goodbye
ISBN: 978-0-8028-5499-5
Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
Release Date: March 29, 2022


LEARN MORE about our Book Fairies Program.
Logo art created by K.A.K. Lecky.

BOOK FAIRIES FIRST LOOK

Don't miss our February interview with author Joan Holub. While there, please follow the SCBWI Carolinas YouTube channel.


Critique Group Opening!

The Queen City Critique group meets via Zoom the first Saturday of each month from 9-11 a.m. and the third Sunday of each month from 1-3 p.m. If you live in the Charlotte area and would like to join us, please contact Sam and Jenn at qckidlit@gmail.com for more information!

(This is the group that normally meets at the SouthPark Barnes & Noble. We hope to resume in-person meetings sometime in the future.) 
Don't miss this month's
Pen & Palette blog post:

Two Cents on Picking the Perfect Pun
(or Idiom)

by Kimberly Wilson
Call for Blog Submissions!

The Pen & Palette is a place for regional members to share their experiences in writing, illustrating, and publishing books for children. It represents the professional careers of our members, and as such we strive to present well-polished entries. We encourage writers and illustrators to share about their creative processes and artistic journeys, including our Full members' experiences in self publishing and marketing.

Please submit proposals to Carol Baldwin. The blog coordinator reserves the right to request contributors to revise/edit their entries. The entry will be due one month in advance of publication.

Submission requirements:
  • 700 words or less 
  • Edited for content and grammar
  • Submitted as a Word doc (If you are unable to submit .docx, please alert Carol) 
  • Please include images to enhance your content, as well as a headshot and short bio
Self Publishing Support Event

Calling all self-published authors and illustrators
of the Carolinas region

We are holding another self-publishing support event March 16th, 2022 at 7pm ET. Attendees will have the opportunity to network with fellow self-published professionals and discover ways to help support one another.
You will receive an email confirmation with a zoom link to join the meeting.
Featured Illustrator: Ronni Runyon

I joined the SCBWI in August of 2021 and have loved it so far. Going all the way back to my childhood, I was such a bookworm. I loved the stories, but I’d also look at the artwork and get my construction paper and crayons to study the illustrations themselves. That passion carried on through my life, and I graduated from Herron School of Art and Design in 2019 with a BFA in Drawing and Illustration. I love creating narrative work and quirky characters, so children’s publishing is where I naturally headed from there. I have my first published illustration in Spider Magazine this month (March), which I’m so excited about! I am hopefully on track toward a book deal, so my major goal for this year is to illustrate at least one full picture book. My eventual goal is to work full-time as an illustrator. I currently don’t have an agent, and I’m actively seeking representation!

My website link: www.ronnirunyonillustration.com 
You can find me on Instagram and Twitter @ronnirunyonillo 
Unless otherwise specified, questions about the contents of this newsletter should be directed to one of the following members of the SCBWI-Carolinas Regional Team: Erica Wood (Regional Advisor), Elizabeth Rawls (Assistant Regional Advisor), Becky Shillington (Co-Assistant Regional Advisor), or Ashley Belote (Illustrator Coordinator).

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Our mailing address is:
SCBWI-Carolinas
P.O. Box 805, Mount Holly, NC 28120

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