The Hairston Family wishes to honor and remember Martha (Hairston) Weston. After publishing more than 50 picture books and easy-readers as an illustrator and/or author, Martha published her first middle-grade novel shortly before her death. Martha always took time to encourage others, and it's the intention of the Martha Weston Grant to carry forward her generous spirit.

Eligibility: Applicants must be SCBWI writer or illustrator members who have previously been published in book format and would like to work in a different genre of children's literature other than that in which they have previously been published. For example: a picture book illustrator might like to write a middle-grade novel or picture-book text, or a young-adult author might like to write or illustrate a picture book.

Grant Amount: One grant of $1,500 will be awarded annually. Most of the grant is expected to fund the tuition, transportation, and hotel expenses incurred by attending the SCBWI Annual Conference in Los Angeles.

Requirements: Applicants must send three (3) copies of a one-page letter, consisting of all of the following: a brief summary of their publishing career, the new genre they hope to pursue, and why they would find it helpful to attend the SCBWI Annual Conference in Los Angeles.

Deadline: Letters must be postmarked on or after May 1st until or on June 10th.

Send letters to:

SCBWI Martha Weston Grant
c/o Elizabeth Partridge
2130 Derby St.
Berkeley, CA 94705

The winner will be notified by July 1st, and must plan to attend the SCBWI Annual Conference that August. The winner will be determined by a committee of published SCBWI members. Announcements about the grant recipient will be made at the Los Angeles conference, and published in the SCBWI Bulletin and on the SCBWI website.