The Carmen Oliver On-the-Verge Annual Austin SCBWI Conference Scholarship is awarded each year to a children’s book writer who has the passion and desire to pursue a career in this industry. It is designed to give the winning writer a …
2020 Regional Advisor Scholarship Recipients
The Austin SCBWI RA Scholarship is awarded each year to children’s book writers who have the passion and desire to pursue a career in this industry. It is designed to give the winners a good foundation from which they can …
February 2020 Meeting: Mark Mitchell
Author-Illustrator and Instructor Mark Mitchell designed his talk around color palettes at February’s vibrant meeting. 
Mark wrote and illustrated the award-winning RAISING ‘LA BELLE’: THE STORY OF THE LA SALLE SHIPWRECK, Eakin Press, 2002. He is also a contributor to …
Vanessa Roeder’s The Box Turtle Makes Spring 2020 Kids’ Indie Next List
Congratulations to our member Vanessa Roeder on her picture book, THE BOX TURTLE, being included on the Spring 2020 Kids’ Indie Next List!
Here’s a description of the book: Terrance the turtle was born without a shell, so he …
Cynthia Leitich Smith wins with Hearts Unbroken
Congratulations to our member Cynthia Leitich Smith on winning the 2020 American Indian Youth Literature Young Adult Award for her latest novel HEARTS UNBROKEN.
The award is given by the American Indian Library Association.
Here’s the description of the book:…
2020 Creators of Diverse Worlds Scholarship Winners
Since 2015, the Austin SCBWI chapter has awarded conference scholarships to authors and authors who are creating diverse worlds. The scholarship was inspired by our February 2015 monthly meeting, when author Cynthia Leitich Smith gave an amazing seminar on the …
January 2020 Meeting: Author Meredith Davis
This January, Meredith Davis gave us an “Extreme Makeover—A Case Study of Revision.” Meredith is co-author of the touching, true story entitled HER OWN TWO FEET: A RWANDAN GIRL’S BRAVE FIGHT TO WALK (Scholastic, 2019).
Using her own book, about …
November Meeting: Author Jason June
As we all gathered ’round for November’s meeting, Jason June presented
“A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words: Writing Illustration Notes in Picture Books.” A skilled wordsmith, Jason is the author of WHOBERT WHOVER, OWL DETECTIVE, Margaret K. McElderry Books/Simon & …
Novel Workshop
Those working on middle grade and young adult fiction got healthy doses of inspiration and instruction from four multi-published novelists at the recent Austin SCBWI Novel workshop.
Varsha Bajaj, author of COUNT ME IN and ABBY SPENCER GOES TO …
Picture Book Workshop with Lesa Cline-Ransome & James Ransome
Both writers and illustrators were inspired and energized by the recent workshop presented by James and Lesa Ransome for Austin SCBWI.
The afternoon event started with a co-presentation from the couple sharing how they got into children’s publishing. James had …
Cynthia Leitich Smith to Lead HarperCollins Imprint
HarperCollins Children’s Books recently announced the launch of Heartdrum, a new Native-focused imprint led by award-winning and New York Times bestselling author Cynthia Leitich Smith (Muscogee Creek), and Rosemary Brosnan, Vice President, Editorial Director, HarperCollins Children’s Books.
Heartdrum’s first …
Melissa Coffey Signs With Agent
Congratulations to Austin SCBWI member and picture book writer Melissa Coffey! She is now represented by Charlotte Wenger at Prospect Agency.
More about Melissa: She grew up in Wisconsin toting around an overstuffed book bag and a dog-eared …
New Book for Samantha M Clark
Austin SCBWI’s Regional Advisor Samantha M Clark has sold her second middle-grade novel to Paula Wiseman Books/Simon & Schuster. The announcement was made in Publishers Weekly last month.
Samantha’s next novel, called ARROW, tells the story of a boy who …
Austin SCBWI Members Organizing Nonfiction Fest
Austin SCBWI member Susie Kralovansky and six of her writing friends from across the US – the Nonfiction Chicks, are organizing a nonfiction version of NaNoWriMo.
NF Fest will begin in February. Each day there will be a post from …
Crystal Kite Award Winner: Samantha M Clark
Congratulations to Austin author Samantha M Clark, winner of the 2019 Crystal Kite Award for THE BOY, THE BOAT AND THE BEAST (Simon & Schuster).
During our September chapter meeting, SCBWI Board of Advisors member Cynthia Leitich Smith presented …
September Meeting: Christina Soontornvat Shares Chapter Book Insights
At the September 2019 meeting, Austin SCBWI member Christina Soontornvat, author of the recently published chapter book series, DIARY OF AN ICE PRINCESS (Scholastic, 2019), shared her insights on writing for emerging readers.
Here are a few of her …
Samantha M Clark Teaches Writers League Class on Building Characters Through Conflict
Austin SCBWI Regional Advisor Samantha M Clark is teaching a class on characters and conflict for the Writers League of Texas on Oct. 5, 10am to 1pm. The class is called “Throw More Stones: How to Build Your Character Through …
Lauren Flake’s Book in Movie!
Congratulations to Austin SCBWI member Lauren Flake, whose picture book WHERE DID MY SWEET GRANDMA GO? is featured in the movie Ode to Joy, starring Martin Freeman and Morena Baccarin.
Check out the trailer and keep your eye …
July Meeting: 2018 Debut Author Panel
Cate Berry, Samantha M Clark, Kendra Fortmeyer, Vanessa Roeder and Gayleen Rabakukk
July’s meeting featured authors Cate Berry, Samantha M Clark, Kendra Fortmeyer and author/ illustrator Vanessa Roeder sharing insights on being newly published, moderated by ARA Gayleen …
Congratulations to our Cynthia Leitich Smith Writing Mentor Award Winner
Austin SCBWI wishes a big congratulations to Romy Natalia Goldberg, who has won our 2019 Cynthia Leitich Smith Writing Mentor Award. Natalia wins a year’s mentorship with author Varian Johnson.
Varian is a Vermont College of Fine …
PAL Members Meet Librarians
Austin SCBWI sponsored a booth at the recent Texas Library Association’s Annual Assembly.
PAL members were invited to sign and sell books, while RA Samantha Clark and ARA Gayleen Rabakukk shared SCBWI resources including the Speakers Bureau with its searchable …
Agent Jennie Dunham Discusses Character at Austin SCBWI Workshop
Nineteen writers gathered at the Writing Barn for the Protagonist on the Page, led by literary agent Jennie Dunham, founder of Dunham Literary.
Jennie reminded attendees that the protagonist drives the story, so consider carefully which character you’ll …
Austin Member Wins Crystal Kite for 2nd Consecutive Year
Austin SCBWI has a Crystal Kite winner in its chapter for the second consecutive year!
Middle-grade novel THE BOY, THE BOAT, AND THE BEAST by Samantha M Clark won the 2019 Crystal Kite Award for the Texas/Oklahoma region. Samantha is …
Austin SCBWI 2019 Writers & Illustrators Working Conference Highlights
More than 215 people attended the Austin SCBWI 2019 Writers & Illustrators Working Conference on May 18-19 and left inspired and ready to create.
Author P.J. Hoover moderates the publishing panel. Photo: Susan Johnston Taylor
Three large publishing houses were …
Austin SCBWI Members Tour Lark & Owl Booksellers
More than a dozen Austin SCBWI members braved the rain to enjoy a sneak peek at Lark & Owl Booksellers in Georgetown last month. Founder and general manager Jane Estes led a tour of the new independent bookstore a few …
Farrar, Straus & Giroux Acquires Adrianna Cuevas Debut MG Novel
Trisha de Guzman at FSG has acquired world rights to Adrianna Cuevas’s debut middle grade novel, Nestor’s Guide to Unpacking, about a Cuban-American boy named Nestor with a secret ability to speak to animals. Nestor and his mother move to …
SCBWI Booth at Texas Library Association Conference
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- Authors Cate Berry
Congratulations to the Recipients of the First Austin SCBWI RA Scholarship
Congratulations to the recipients of Austin SCBWI’s first RA Scholarship.
The scholarship was started this year by Regional Advisor Samantha M Clark to lift up a voice that shows great promise in children’s books.
We were thrilled to see the …
Amy Bearce Signs With Agent
Congratulations to author Amy Bearce, who recently signed with agent Alice Sutherland-Hawes of the Madeleine Milburn Agency. A Southwest Texas chapter member, Amy was last year’s Honor recipient of the Cynthia Leitich Smith Mentor Award at Austin’s annual conference. Author …
Crystal Kite Award Winner: Cynthia Levinson
Congratulations to Austin author Cynthia Levinson, winner of the 2018 Crystal Kite Award, for The Youngest Marcher: The Story of Audrey Faye Hendricks, a Young Civil Rights Activist, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley Newton and published by Atheneum Books for Young …
Varian Johnson Wins Coretta Scott King Honor Award!
Austin SCBWI member Varian Johnson recently received a Coretta Scott King Honor award for his MG novel, THE PARKER INHERITANCE (Arthur A. Levine, 2018) from the American Library Association.
The Coretta Scott King Book Awards are given annually to outstanding …
Creators of Diverse Worlds Scholarship Winners
Congratulations to the winners of our 2019 Diverse Worlds Scholarship! The contest was judged by agents Stefanie Von Borstel of Full Circle Literary and Tanusri Prasanna of Foundry Literary + Media.
The winners are:
Illustration: Reggie Brown (New Friend/First …
January Meeting: Author Tara Dairman
To ring in the New Year, Tara Dairman, author of The Great Hibernation (Random House) and The Four Stars foodie series (Putnam/Penguin) informed a full house how to deal with anxiety in the writing process. First, she confessed to …
Austin SCBWI Auction 2019
What do you love about SCBWI?
• Speakers
• Webinars
• Workshops
• Scholarships
• Networking
• Annual conference
How does Austin SCBWI afford these amazing events?
Austin SCBWI is run by an enthusiastic group of volunteers! And we keep …
Random House Acquires S.G. Wilson’s Debut Novel and Sequel
S.G. Wilson's debut novel, ME VS. THE MULTIVERSE, sells to Random House.
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SCBWI Member Meghan P. Browne Signs with Agent
Meghan P. Browne recently signed with agent Alyssa Henkin of Trident Media.
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The Impossible Winterbourne’s AlphaBots Awarded “Best ‘Bots” by The Austin Chronicle
The AlphaBots, written and illustrated by SCBWI Austin member The Impossible Winterbourne, was just awarded "Best 'Bots" in Austin by The Austin Chronicle.
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Lee Zarnikau Launches Ellie’s Car Kindergarten
Under her pen name Lee Zee, Lee Zarnikau launches her debut picture book, Ellie's Car Kindergarten.
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October 2018 Meeting – What You Don’t Know About SCBWI
By Susan Johnston Taylor
Membership has its perks, as they say. But SCBWI has so many programs for writers and illustrators that even long-time members may not know about all the opportunities available to them.
The October meeting of the …
The Impossible Winterbourne Featured on Portland’s KGW8-TV with the AlphaBots
The Impossible Winterbourne features The AlphaBots alphabet picture book featuring steampunk robots on local Portland news station.
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SCBWI Reception with Kwame Alexander
Writers braved the rain October 8 for a special chat with Newbery-winning author Kwame Alexander prior to his BookPeople event in celebration of his latest novel, SWING.
In a casual and candid conversation, Kwame talked about the 18 years it …
2018 Picture Book Retreat for Authors & Illustrators Highlights
The hill country bloomed with more than wildflowers the weekend of September 14-16, 2018. Inspiration was in the air at Austin SCBWI’s first Picture Book Retreat for Authors & Illustrators.
Ariel Richardson, Chronicle Books, Abigail Samoun, Red Fox Literary and
…September 2018 Meeting
Wow , what an incredible turn out for our September meeting! SCBWI Austin was privileged to have such a talented panel present at our September monthly meeting.
Our panel included Ann Rose, agent with the Prospect Agency, Ariane …
Austin SCBWI Member Sue Meredith Cleveland Publishes New Novel in Crispin Leads Mystery
Digging Up the Dead follows on the heels of the 2017 award-winning debut novel Shrouded.
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Gloria Amescua Signs with Full Circle Literary
Congratulations to Austin SCBWI member Gloria Amescua for signing with agent Taylor Martindale Kean at Full Circle Literary.
Gloria met Full Circle Literary agent Stephanie Von Borstel at the 2017 Austin SCBWI conference, where Stephanie critiqued one of …
SCBWI Member Rebekah Manley Signs with Bradford Literary’s Natalie Lakosil
Networking at the most recent SCBWI Austin annual conference led Rebekah Manley to her agent match.
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Lindsey Lane and Shelli Cornelison Teach Six-week Short Story Class
Writers of short stories for all ages welcome to Lindsey and Shelli's short story class at Austin Creative Alliance.
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Connection at SCBWI Summer Conference
Connection seemed to be the theme of SCBWI’s 2018 Summer Conference in Los Angeles, Aug. 3-6.
Libba Bray, Lois Lowry and Lynda Mullaly Hunt all talked about how writing connects us in their keynotes.
All equal parts hilarious and emotional, …
Austin SCBWI Promotes Members at TLA Annual Meeting
Austin SCBWI joined the Texas Authors and Illustrators RoundTable of TLA to co-sponsor a booth at the TLA Annual Meeting this month.
At the booth, local authors and illustrators who are members of both organizations promoted their own books and …
Gayleen Rabakukk steps up as ARA
The Austin SCBWI chapter bids a huge THANK YOU to P.J. Hoover, who’s stepped down as the Assistant Regional Advisor after serving for the last three years.
Stepping into her duties, we’re excited to welcome Gayleen Rabakukk, who has …
June 2018 Monthly Meeting
SCBWI Austin was privileged to have a wonderful team of librarians at our June monthly meeting. Filled with information about books, requirements, selection and state lists, the librarians gave us a peek into what the process looks like when selecting …
Varian Johnson’s The Parker Inheritance Selected as 2018 Boston Globe–Horn Book Honor Book
The Parker Inheritance (Levine/Scholastic), written by Austin SCBWI member and author Varian Johnson, was selected as a 2018 Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book in the fiction and poetry category. These awards are among the most prestigious honors in the field …
2018 Crystal Kite Award Goes to Cynthia Levinson and The Youngest Marcher
The Youngest Marcher: The Story of Audrey Faye Hendricks, a Young Civil Rights Activist by Cynthia Levinson (illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton) won the 2018 Crystal Kite Award for the Texas/Oklahoma region. The Crystal Kite Award is given to fifteen books …
2018 Cynthia Leitich Smith Writing Mentor Awards Chosen
Congratulations to Aimee Thomas, who has won Austin SCBWI’s 2018 Cynthia Leitich Smith Writing Mentor Award! Plus, our mentor Jennifer Ziegler has decided to expand her mentorship to include an Honor recipient, Amy Bearce.
Aimee receives a year’s mentorship …
2018 Austin SCBWI Conference Highlights
A record 250 people attended the Austin SCBWI 2018 Writers & Illustrators Working Conference on April 28-29 and left feeling inspired and ready to work.
A rapt audience listens to Simon & Schuster art director Lucy Ruth Cummins.
Three of …
SHROUDED by Meredith Lee Receives Starred Review
SCBWI member Sue Meredith Cleveland and Dixie Lee Evatt, aka Meredith Lee...
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February 2018 Monthly Meeting
IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO BE
WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE BEEN.
GEORGE ELIOT
The topic of our February SCBWI meeting led by Melissa Buron, MAB Media, was Learning, Fear and Creativity: How to use Science to Improve Your Creative …
Congratulations to our Diversity Scholarship Winners!
Austin SCBWI’s annual Creators of Diverse Characters Scholarship gives scholarships in three categories: novels, picture books and illustration. We awarded two scholarships in each category: The winner gets a full scholarship to the 2018 Austin SCBWI Writers & Illustrators Working
…SHROUDED Receives Starred Review from Blue Ink
SHROUDED: A Crispin Leads Mystery by Meredith Lee (pen name for authors Dixie Lee Evatt and Sue Meredith Cleveland) received a starred review from Blue Ink Review
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SE Witschorke Signs with Natascha Morris, BookEnds Agency
SE focuses on middle-grade and young-adult novels.
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Helping Kidlit’s Hurricane Harvey Victims
Our thoughts and prayers are with all of the victims of Hurricane Harvey across the south and eastern areas of Texas. Libraries have lost their collections and so many people have lost their homes or experienced severe damage. So we're …
SCBWI Member Lindsay Leslie Sells Picture Book to Page Street Publishing
THIS BOOK IS SPINELESS slated for a Winter 2019 launch date.
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SCBWI Member Sue Meredith Cleveland and Dixie Lee Evatt to Launch Debut Mystery Novel SHROUDED on Sept. 9
Launch event for SHROUDED at The Writing Barn from 3-6 p.m.
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Cate Berry Graduates with VCFA MFA
Cate Berry, an Austin SCBWI member, recently received her MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts...
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Cynthia Leitich Smith’s Childhood Story Published in Anthology
"Dreams to Write" by Cynthia Leitich Smith appears in OUR STORY BEGINS by Elissa Brent Weissman.
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Congratulations to our 2017 Cynthia Leitich Smith Mentorship Winners
Twelve finalists were nominated for our 2017 Cynthia Leitich Smith Writing Mentor Award at our 2017 Writers & Illustrators Working Conference, two of them nominated twice for difference manuscripts. And now we're thrilled to announce not one but two …
Perseverence at 2017 SCBWI Summer Conference
Perseverence seemed to be the buzz word at the 2017 SCBWI Summer Conference in Los Angeles July 7-9. From debut authors Stephanie Garber, who wrote the New York Times bestselling novel CARAVAL, and Kim Turrisi, who wrote the YA novel JUST …
Lindsay Leslie Signs with Agent Stephanie Fretwell-Hill/Red Fox Literary
Congratulations to Lindsay Leslie, an Austin SCBWI member, who has signed with agent Stephanie Fretwell-Hill with Red Fox Literary!
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RA Samantha M Clark sells book to Simon & Schuster
Congratulations to Austin SCBWI Regional Advisor Samantha M Clark.…
Austin SCBWI Members’ Books Recognized by Bank Street College of Education
Bank Street College selects four books by Austin SCBWI authors/illustrators to 2017 Best Children's Book list
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Guest Post by Misha Maynerick Blaise: How Winning the SCBWI Portfolio Contest Supported My Path to Publication
How Winning the SCBWI Portfolio Contest Supported My Path to Publication
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Inspiration and Support at Marketing Boot Camp
Austin SCBWI writers and illustrators gathered to learn and share tips about speaking, booking events, marketing and career strategies on Feb. 25 at our Marketing Boot Camp.
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Artist Daniel Minter Talks Illustration of STEP RIGHT UP by Donna Janell Bowman
Watch this video of artist Daniel Minter showing how he created the beautiful woodcut illustrations for STEP RIGHT UP
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Congratulations to our Diverse Characters Scholarship Winners
Austin SCBWI's annual Creators of Diverse Characters Scholarship expanded in 2017 to give scholarships in three categories: novels, picture books and illustration. We awarded two scholarships in each category: The winner gets a full scholarship to the 2017 Austin SCBWI …
WHOOSH! Named 2017 Cook Prize Finalist
WHOOSH! LONNIE JOHNSON'S SUPER-SOAKING STREAM OF INVENTIONS by Chris Barton and illustrated by Don Tate was named a 2017 Cook Prize finalist.
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Noah Weisz Shortlisted for Bath Children’s Novel Award
A manuscript written by Austin SCBWI member Noah Weisz was shortlisted for the 2016 Bath Children's Novel Award.
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Donna Janell Bowman’s STEP RIGHT UP Receives Two Honors
STEP RIGHT UP: HOW DOC AND JIM KEY TAUGHT THE WORLD ABOUT KINDNESS by Donna Janell Bowman was selected
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Gloria Amescua Chosen for LEE & LOW BOOKS 2016 New Voices Award Honor
LEE & LOW BOOKS announced today that Gloria Amescua, an Austin SCBWI member, has been chosen to receive the New Voices Award Honor for her manuscript Luz Jiménez, No Ordinary Girl.
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SCBWI Member Kit Rosewater Leads Six-Week Fiction Writing Course @BookPeople
Kit Rosewater will lead a six-week fiction writing course called "Write the Book!" at BookPeople beginning Feb. 1
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Food, Fun and 2016 Festivities
About 70 Austin SCBWI members and guests came together to enjoy good company and bid goodbye to 2016.
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Carmen Oliver’s Bears Ring Bell
Carmen Oliver's debut picture book is on the shortlist for the 2017 Colorado Libraries for Early Literary (CLEL) Bell Picture Book Award
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Donna Janell Bowman Steps Up to CYBILS
Congratulations to Donna Janell Bowman, whose debut picture book biography has a finalist for the 2016 CYBILS awards.
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Cynthia Levinson’s Young Marcher Marches Into Mixed Up Files
Cynthia Levinson's debut picture book, THE YOUNGEST MARCHER, was featured on popular blog From the Mixed Up Files
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