SCBWI
Society of
Children's Book Writers
and Illustrators
Meghan P Browne and illustrator Brook Smart’s DOROTHY THE BRAVE launched last month. Publisher Penguin Random House calls it:
“the empowering story of a real-life Rosie the Riveter who served as a Women Airforce Service Pilot. Dorothy Lucas yearned to …
At the monthly meeting, marketing tips were discussed 
by seasoned panelists: author-editor Cynthia Leitich Smith, author Donna Janell Bowman, author-illustrator Vanessa Roeder, and author Rebekah Manley.
Here are some highlights:
—To begin marketing: plan ahead; collect …
Author-illustrator Vanessa Roeder‘s picture book THE STACK has launched. Publisher Penguin Random House says:
“From the creator of The Box Turtle comes a clever and stunningly illustrated bedtime story about doing (and building!) whatever it takes to reach for …
Laekan Zea Kemp joined Leander ISD District Library Coordinator Becky Calzada in conversation at Book People on April 8 for the launch of her YA novel, Heartbreak Symphony.
From publisher Little, Brown and Company:
Clap When You Land meets …
Look at this beautiful cover for Shachi Kaushik’s DIWALI IN MY NEW HOME, illustrated by Aishwarya Tandon. DIWALI IN MY NEW HOME is Shachi’s debut picture book.
According to publisher Beaming Books, Shachi’s story helps a girl named Priya navigate …
We’re thrilled to celebrate our 2022 scholarship winners!
To encourage writers and illustrators to create diverse worlds, we launched our annual Austin SCBWI Scholarship for Creators of Diverse Worlds in 2015 and have been thrilled to …
Our March meeting featured Illustrator Thomas Jung presenting “A Slightly Scientific Approach to Creating Depth in Scenes.” Thomas is an Austin chapter member and a concept designer, educator and art director with over 25 years of experience in video games. …
“How to be Critique Ready” was the topic of our February Monthly Meeting. Regional Advisor Samantha M. Clark and our new Illustrator Coordinator Laura Fisk offered advice for both authors and illustrators ahead of this year’s SCBWI Austin Annual …
An inspiring panel of writers kicked off the new year by discussing the topic of writing non-fiction at the January Monthly Meeting.
Carol Kim
Evan Griffith
Gloria Amescua
Moderator Carol Kim, author of King Sejong Invents an Alphabet (Whitman, …
Last week, the American Library Association announced the 2022 Youth Media Awards, and Austin SCBWI chapter members and authors Cynthia Levinson and Gloria Amescua were among those honored.
Cynthia Levinson won the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award for most …
Austin member Adrianna Cuevas recently shared the good news, announced in Publisher’s Weekly, on twitter: “Trisha de Guzman at FSG has bought, in an exclusive submission, world rights to The Ghosts of Rancho Espanto and an untitled middle grade novel …
Congrats to Laekan Zea Kemp on this gorgeous MG cover reveal! OMEGA MORALES AND THE LEGEND OF LA LECHUZA comes out with Little, Brown Young Readers in April 2022 and is available for preorder.
Laekan Zea Kemp is a …
Betty Davis (front center) with Meredith Davis (back center), Lindsey Lane (far right) and the 2018 Young Writers of Merit recipients (left to right) Ke’Myra Jackson, Nubia Fuente and Sydney Moise.
On January 5, 2022, A dear member of the …
Congratulations to Austin SCBWI member Robyn McGrath on the cover reveal for her upcoming debut picture book: DOLLY! THE STORY OF DOLLY PARTON AND HER BIG DREAM. DOLLY! is illustrated by Ellen Surrey and focuses on a young Dolly Parton’s …
Welcome and congratulations to new Austin SCBWI chapter member Diann Floyd Boehm on the publication of her picture book, A Song of Peace! The book, illustrated by Judy Gaudet, tells the story of Tommy, who sings a special song for …
At the November Zoom meeting, author Meredith Davis
Emma Virján
Meredith Davis
and author-illustrator Emma Virján demonstrated how writers who “can’t draw,” indeed can successfully create a picture book dummy to aide the book-writing process. Emma had previously
…At the October monthly meeting, Alda P. Dobbs, 
author of BAREFOOT DREAMS OF PETRA LUNA (Sourcebooks Young Reader, 2021) shared resources and research tools for historical fiction/nonfiction writers.
For Dobbs, a story passed down by family led to her …
Congratulations to Austin SCBWI member Susan Kralovansky, who has been honored by the prestigious International Latino Book Awards, the largest awards in the country celebrating Latinx literature! Her picture book, The Book That Jake Borrowed / El libro …
Congratulations to Austin SCBWI member Shachi Kaushik on signing a deal for her debut picture book, Diwali in My New Home! The book, which will be illustrated by Aishwarya Tandon, features a young girl celebrating Diwali for the first …
Congratulations to Austin SCBWI member Carol Kim, whose debut picture book, King Sejong Invents an Alphabet, illustrated by Cindy Kang, released on Oct. 1st from Albert Whitman and Company!
The nonfiction picture book tells the story of 15th-century …
Congratulations to Austin SCBWI member Varian Johnson on the publication of his newest middle-grade novel, Playing the Cards You’re Dealt! It launched on Oct. 5th from Scholastic.
The story features ten-year-old Ant Joplin, who is excited to prove himself …
At our monthly meeting, a fun and inspiring live demonstration of block printing techniques was given on Zoom by illustrator Michelle Lambing.
Block Printing Tips:
-Check out Michelle’s influences: block printer Gustav Baumann and the more recent work of …
Austin SCBWI says a big WELCOME to a new Illustrator Coordinator this month. Laura Fisk will be taking over for Rivkah LaFille, after Rivkah’s move out of state.
Rivkah said of the changeover: “Serving as Illustrator Coordinator for our …
Every year, the highly regarded Bank Street College of Education’s Children’s Book Committee announces its picks for the best children’s books of the year. They grant a few of these books specific named awards and also highlight some with an
…On August 20, 2021, the Writers’ League of Texas announced the winners and finalists of the 2020 Writers’ League of Texas Book Awards, celebrating the best books by Texan writers published during the year 2020—and many children’s books by …
Adrianna Cuevas, author of THE TOTAL ECLIPSE OF NESTOR LOPEZ and CUBA IN MY POCKET, 
spoke at August’s meeting about making the switch to writing middle grade books from picture books and young adult books.
Why Write Middle Grade?…
Congratulations to Austin SCBWI member Meghan P. Browne, whose debut picture book, Indelible Ann: The Larger-Than-Life Story of Governor Ann Richards, was released on June 22nd from Random House Studio! The picture-book biography, illustrated by Texan illustrator Carlynn …
Congratulations to Austin SCBWI member Gloria Amescua, whose debut picture book, Child of the Flower-Song People: Luz Jiménez, Daughter of the Nahua, releases from Abrams Books for Young Readers on August 17th! The picture-book biography, illustrated by the …
Congratulations to Austin SCBWI member Anne S. Bustard, who just signed a deal for her third middle-grade novel, FAR OUT! The story features Magnolia Jean Crook, a “would-be detective and UFO-phile,” according to the Publishers Weekly announcement. Magnolia …
Congratulations to Austin SCBWI member and author-illustrator Kristin Wauson, who recently announced her debut picture book, Mr. Thatcher’s House! The story features Mr. Thatcher, a solitary rabbit who is building the house of his dreams. But no matter …
Congratulations to SCBWI member Cynthia Levinson, who just sold her latest picture book, FREE TO LEARN! The book, which will be illustrated by Mirelle Ortega, is based on the life of one boy whose family was part of the …
Congratulations to Austin SCBWI member Don Tate on the release of his newest picture-book biography, Pigskins to Paintbrushes: The Story of Football-Playing Artist Ernie Barnes! 
Don’s journey to writing this story began with an unexpected personal connection to the …
Congratulations to Lindsay Leslie, Assistant Regional Advisor of the Austin SCBWI chapter, on the upcoming release of her fourth picture book, So You Want to Build a Library! The story turns readers into architects as they imaginatively design …
Christine Van Zandt
Moni Ritchie Hadley
Christine Van Zandt’s Path: A BRIEF HISTORY OF UNDERPANTS, (April 2021, becker&mayer! kids)
—Book fair …
The June meeting, via Zoom, featured LGBTQ+ topics relating to kidlit. A panel of speakers discussed their experiences writing and illustrating, including Jason June, Leslea Newman, Emma Virjan, and Rivkah LaFille, who also moderated. Originally also …
Liz Garton Scanlon
Congratulations to Austin SCBWI member Liz Garton Scanlon on the publication of her fifteenth picture book, I Want a Boat! It launched on June 22nd from Neal Porter Books by way of a BookPeople Zoom event with …
Congratulations to Samantha Clark, Regional Advisor of the Austin SCBWI chapter, on the launch this month of two new middle-grade novels! In Arrow, releasing on June 22nd from Paula Wiseman Books, a boy who has grown up as …
Con
gratulations to Austin SCBWI member and two-time Newbery Honoree Christina Soontornvat, who just signed a deal for her middle-grade graphic-novel memoir, THE TRYOUT, as well as its sequel, THE SQUAD! The books will be illustrated by Joanna Cacao. …
Cong
ratulations to Austin SCBWI member Jason June on the publication of his debut YA novel, Jay’s Gay Agenda! It launched on June 1st from HarperTeen, just in time for Pride Month.
The YA rom-com tells the story of …
Congratulations to Lindsay Leslie, Assistant Regional Advisor of the Austin SCBWI chapter, for winning a Crystal Kite Award for her picture book, Dusk Explorers! The book, illustrated by Ellen Rooney and released from Page Street Kids in June, …
Debbie Loren Dunn
Congratulations to Austin SCBWI member Debbie Loren Dunn, whose picture book, Perkin’s Perfect Purple: How a Boy Created Color with Chemistry, co-written with Tami Lewis Brown and illustrated by Francesca Sanna, won a Cook Prize …
Congratulations to Austin SCBWI member Kari Lavelle, whose debut picture book, We Move the World, releases on May 4th! The book is illustrated by Nabi H. Ali and published by HarperCollins. By pairing the small everyday accomplishments of …
Congratulations to Austin SCBWI member Laekan Zea Kemp on the publication of her YA novel, Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet! It launched on April 6th from Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.
Set in a tight-knit Chicanx community in …
Congratulations to Austin SCBWI member Cynthia Levinson, who just published her second nonfiction picture book, The People’s Painter: How Ben Shahn Fought for Justice with Art! The book, illustrated by Evan Turk, came out from Abrams Books …
Congratulations to Austin SCBWI member Liz Garton Scanlon, who just announced a new picture book, THE WORLD’S BEST CLASS PLANT, sold as part of a two-book deal! The book is co-written with Audrey Vernick and will be illustrated by …
Congratulations to Austin SCBWI member Marit Weisenberg, who just signed a deal for her fourth YA novel, THIS GOLDEN STATE! The deal was brokered by Kerry Sparks at Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary Agency.
The novel features a restless teenager …
At the April meeting, authors Samantha M. Clark and Lindsay Leslie 
presented a guide for pitching your story. Your pitch is like a honed tool to keep in your back pocket, ready as needed. Here are some highlights:
Reasons to …
The Austin SCBWI Chapter awards the Regional Advisor Scholarship and the Carmen Oliver On-the-Verge Scholarship to pre-published, unagented kidlit or teenlit authors to help them on their writing journey.
This year, our scholarship judges had a tough time narrowing the …
At the March meeting, illustrators learned about “Building a Better Portfolio.” Special thanks go to our distinguished panelists, previous Austin SCBWI Portfolio Showcase winners, Rachel Bostick, Laura Fisk and Eliza Kinkz. 
Congratulations to Austin SCBWI members Jarrett and Jerome Pumphrey, 
brothers and creators of the widely acclaimed picture book The Old Truck, on the publication of their second picture book, The Old Boat! It tells the story of …
Congratulations to Austin SCBWI member Lalena Fisher, who has signed a deal for her debut picture book, Friends Beyond Measure! Lalena, who creates infographics for the New York Times, has applied her expertise in this form …
Congratulations to Austin SCBWI member Melissa Coffey, who just signed a deal for her debut picture book, Fridge-O-Polis! According to the Publishers Weekly announcement, “in this pun-filled picture book that touches on the problem of food waste, …
We’re thrilled to celebrate our 2021 Creators of Diverse Worlds Scholarship winners and honor recipients!
To encourage writers and illustrators to create diverse worlds, we launched our annual Austin SCBWI Scholarship for Creators of Diverse Worlds in 2015 and have …
Congratulations to the numerous Austin SCBWI members who have been honored by the Texas Institute of Letters (TIL) this year as part of the annual TIL Literary Awards! The TIL is “a nonprofit Honor Society founded in 1936 to celebrate …
Congratulations to Austin SCBWI member Varian Johnson, who just signed deals for two new books—a middle-grade novel and a biography—with Scholastic!
The middle-grade novel, Playing the Cards You’re Dealt, “explores themes of toxic masculinity as a 10-year-old card …
Don Tate
Huge congratulations to Don Tate and Christina Soontornvat, 2021 Golden Kite Award winners! Don won the Nonfiction Text for Younger Readers category for William Still and His Freedom Stories: The Father of the Underground Railroad, and …
Congratulations to Austin SCBWI member Evan Griffith on the publication of his 
debut picture book, Secrets of the Sea: The Story of Jeanne Power, Revolutionary Marine Scientist! The picture-book biography, illustrated by Joanie Stone, tells the story of Jeanne …
Congratulations to Austin SCBWI member Susan Kralovansky on the publication of two new picture books, the bilingual The Book That Jake Borrowed / El libro que Jake tomo prestado and We Really, Really Want a Dog! Susan wrote and illustrated …
Congratulations to Austin SCBWI member Patrice Barton—not only has she just released her latest picture book, but she now has some of her art featured at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, Massachusetts!
Congratulations to Austin SCBWI members Jason June, Cynthia Leitich Smith, and Nicholas Solis, who have all been recently featured in various magazines!
Jason June (author of picture books, chapter books, and an upcoming YA novel) was interviewed …
bestselling author of more than 30 novels. “Hope in the mail” is also a mantra Wendelin …Photo Credit: Ryan Bilawsky
Congratulations to Austin SCBWI member P.J. Hoover, who just signed a deal for a young-adult nonfiction book about contemporary women working in STEM fields! The deal was brokered by Jacqui Lipton at Raven Quill Literary Agency.
P.J. (Tricia), a …
Congratulations to illustrator and Austin SCBWI member Eliza Kinkz on signing with an agent! She is now represented by Stephen Barr at Writers House. In recounting how she landed her agent, Eliza explains: “A good friend, the awesome author/illustrator …
Giant congratulations to Austin SCBWI member Christina Soontornvat for the outstanding success of two of her books for young readers, All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys’ Soccer Team and A Wish in the Dark, each …
Congrat
ulations to Austin SCBWI member Adrianna Cuevas, whose debut novel The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez just won a Pura Belpré Honor! The award recognizes outstanding children’s and young adult literature that “portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino …
January’s meeting kicked off 2021 with: Take Control of Your Creative Life, 
presented by writer, teacher, and coach P.J. Hoover, author of HOMER’S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE, THE HIDDEN CODE, and TUT, THE STORY OF MY IMMORTAL LIFE, among many …
At November’s Monthly Meeting, illustrator Laura Fisk took us
down a “Different Road to an Illustration Career.” Her debut book, SLEEPING BAGS TO S’MORES, a camping guide by Heather Balogh Rochfort and William Rochfort, was recently published by Houghton …
Congratulations to author-illustrator and Austin SCBWI member Vanessa Roeder, who just 
signed a deal for her next picture book, The Stack, as well as a second untitled picture book! According to the Publishers Weekly announcement, The Stack, “pitched as …
Congratulations to Austin SCBWI member Carol Kim, who within a few weeks both signed with a literary agent and announced her debut picture-book deal! King Sejong Invents an Alphabet, which will be illustrated by Cindy Kang, is set to …
Congratulations to Austin SCBWI member Jennifer Coleman, who just signed a deal for her second picture book, Come ‘N Git It!: Cookie and His Cowboy Chuckwagon’s Day on the Trail! The book will be illustrated by Julie Dupre …
At the online October Monthly meeting, our distinguished panel discussed the nuances of self-publishing. 
Here are some highlights:
P.J. Hoover:
-Experiences with both traditional and self-publishing can be rewarding
–Reasons to self-publish: write what you want; make some
Congratulations to Austin SCBWI member Lindsay Leslie, who just signed a deal for her fourth picture book, So You Want to Build a Library! The story, according to the Publisher’s Weekly announcement, “puts readers in the driver’s seat …
Congratulations to Austin SCBWI member Don Tate on the publication of two new picture books, William Still and His Freedom Stories: The Father of the Underground Railroad and Swish!: The Slam-Dunking, Alley-Ooping, High-Flying Harlem Globetrotters. Don is both author …
Huge congratulations to long-time Austin SCBWI member Cynthia Leitich Smith on winning the 2021 NSK Neustadt Prize for Children’s Literature! This prestigious biennial award connected to the University of Oklahoma and the magazine World Literature Today is given on the …
September’s meeting was hosted by Austin SCBWI member and VCFA faculty member Varian Johnson, award-winning author of nine novels including new middle-grade graphic novel Twins, illustrated by Shannon Wright, from Graphix/Scholastic. TWINS was named a Junior Library Guild …
On September 23rd 2020, the winners of the 2019 Writers’ League of Texas Book Awards were announced, celebrating the best books published by Texan writers during the year 2019—and the Austin SCBWI chapter won big! Six chapter members placed as …
Congratulations to Austin SCBWI member Britta Jensen on the Oct. 1st release of her newest YA novel, Hirana’s War! It’s a story about living with disability, overcoming the ravages of war, and finding hope in the most unusual of …
Congratulations to Austin SCBWI member Varian Johnson, whose new middle-grade graphic novel Twins, illustrated by Shannon Wright, releases Oct. 6th from Graphix/Scholastic! The novel has already been named a Junior Library Guild Selection and received starred reviews from …
Congratulations to Austin SCBWI member Nikki Loftin, whose debut picture book If You Get Lost was just sold at auction to Anne Schwartz Books! The book will be illustrated by Deborah Marcero.
Told in just 144 words, If You …
Congratulations to Austin SCBWI member Bethany Hegedus on the publication of her newest picture book, Huddle Up! Cuddle Up! The book, illustrated by Michael Deas, rele
ased on August 25th from Viking Books for Young Readers.
The picture book features …
Congratulations to Austin SCBWI member Alisha Gabriel on signing with an agent! She is now represented by Heather Cashman at Storm Literary Agency.
Alisha is a music educator and the author of numerous works of fiction and nonfiction in …
Congratulations to Austin SCBWI member Tina Mowrey, whose debut picture book, What a Prickly Pear, released on August 25th from Clear Fork Publishing! The book is illustrated by Sarah Williams.
The story features two clever raccoons, Roxy and …
Congratulations to Austin SCBWI member Cynthia Levinson, whose nonfiction book for children and teens, Fault Lines in the Constitution: The Framers, Their Fights, and the Flaws that Affect Us Today, will be released as a graphic novel adaptation…
At our August meeting, held on Zoom, local author and illustrator Salima Alikhan led a discussion with literary agent and attorney Jacqui Lipton, author of Law & Authors: A Legal Handbook for Writers. 
Jacqui founded Raven Quill Literary Agency…
At the July meeting, Jenny Elder Moke, author of YA novel HOOD (Disney/Hyperion, June 2020), spoke to a well-attended Zoom gathering about the three pillars necessary for a first draft.
HOOD is about the daughter of Robin Hood and …
Congratulations to Austin SCBWI member Candy Wellins, whose debut picture book Saturdays Are for Stella releases August 11th from Page Street Kids! The book, which is illustrated by Charlie Eve Ryan, has already received a glowing starred review from …
Congratulations to Austin SCBWI member S.G. Wilson, whose debut MG novel Me Vs. the Multiverse: Pleased to Meet Me releases on August 4th! The humorous action-adventure novel, the first in a series, will be published by Random House Children’s …
Congratulations to Austin SCBWI member Holly Green, who just sold her debut novel! 
In the Same Boat is a YA novel about a teenager named Sadie who is determined to finish an epic canoe race one year after another race …
Congratulations to Austin SCBWI member Jenny Elder Moke, who in the past month released one novel and sold another!
Her debut novel, Hood, a YA historical adventure that reimagines the story of Robin Hood through the perspective of …
Congratulations to Austin SCBWI member Christina Soontornvat, who had two new books come out in June!
The first, Slush Puppy Love (released on June 2nd by Scholastic), is the fifth book in the Diary of an 
Ice Princess chapter …
This month, authors Cindy Baldwin, Bethany Hegedus and Catherine Stier discussed writing about difficult topics for young readers.
Cindy Baldwin’s middle grade novel, WHERE THE WATERMELONS GROW, includes a parent with mental illness, and her newest book, BEGINNERS WELCOME, …
Rivkah LaFille
Austin SCBWI has a new Illustrator Coordinator! Please join us in welcoming Rivkah LaFille to this role!
Rivkah is a long-time volunteer for our chapter, helping to run a critique group, sketch meetups, our conference portfolio showcase, as …
Austin SCBWI has a Crystal Kite winner in its chapter for the third consecutive year!
Middle-grade nonfiction book, HER OWN TWO FEET: A RWANDAN GIRL’S BRAVE FIGHT TO WALK by Meredith Davis and Rebeka Uwitonze won the 2020 Crystal Kite …
Congratulations to Austin SCBWI member Jacquetta Nammar Feldman on selling her debut middle grade novel to HarperCollins. Here’s the recent announcement from Publishers Weekly:
Antonia Markiet and Megan Ilnitzki at HarperCollins have preempted Jacquetta Nammar Feldman’s debut middle grade …
Congratulations to the winner and finalists of Austin SCBWI’s 2020 Cynthia Leitich Smith Writing Mentor Award!
The finalists are chosen by the critiquing faculty at our annual conference. Each faculty member may nominate one of the manuscripts they critiqued, …
Congratulations to Austin SCBWI Member Anne Wynter on receiving an individual artist award from the Sustainable Arts Foundation. Anne was one of 20 winners selected from a field of nearly 1,800 applicants. The judges commented, “Anne Wynter delighted and …
Congratulations to Austin SCBWI member Lindsay Leslie on the upcoming publication of her third picture book, DUSK EXPLORERS, illustrated by Ellen Rooney and published by Page Street Kids, due out June 2, 2020.
DUSK EXPLORERS received a starred review …
Cynthia Leitich Smith
Austin SCBWI member Cynthia Leitich Smith has been announced as a finalist for the NSK Neustadt Prize for Children’s Literature. The prize recognizes significant achievement of a writer or illustrator, either over a lifetime or in …
