SCBWI Arizona -What Makes A Critique Group Webinar

Karen S. Chow is a Taiwanese-American author, who started writing novels as a college sophomore at Arizona State University, while earning a degree in electrical engineering. Now, she is an engineer by day and middle-grade novelist by night. Her debut middle-grade novel, Miracle, is a heart story that combines her love for music with her experiences witnessing her father passing away from pancreatic cancer. Her next book, about a girl struggling with her parents’ divorce and forced to learn about helicopters, is inspired by her day job and comes out Winter 2026. She serves as the Assistant Regional Advisor for SCBWI AZ. Karen is represented by Andrea Cascardi at Transatlantic Agency.

Originally from Germany, Tanja Bauerle grew up in Australia, and now calls Arizona home. She holds a BFA in Computer Animation and owns her own branding and design business. Tanja has illustrated both picture and chapter books, earning awards like the Arizona Book Award, the Glyph Award, and the Annual International Latino Book Awards. One of her picture books is currently on submission and she has just submitted an RR for a historical fiction middle-grade illustrated novel. Tanja has been involved with SCBWI since 2003, she has served both as Illustrator Coordinator and Assistant Regional Advisor, and is now Co-Regional Advisor for the Arizona region.

Michael Hale has over 35 years of creative experience as a designer, writer and illustrator. Now he puts his skills to work writing and illustrating children’s picture books. He loves his work. Michael has illustrated over a dozen books and designed many others. Some were traditionally published, some were “work for hire”, and four, he wrote, illustrated and self published. His first self published book as an author/illustrator, Bad Monkey Business, won a Spark Honor from SCBWI in 2018. Michael also teaches drawing and design at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona, and serves as SCBWI Arizona's Illustrator Coordinator. You can see more of his work by visiting simianbooks.com

Dianne White is a writing teacher and the author of many award-winning picture books, including Blue on Blue, illustrated by Caldecott medalist Beth Krommes, and Dark on Light, illustrated by Felicita Sala. Recent publications include It's Your Time to Shine, illustrated by Nanette Regan, and Finding Grateful, illustrated by Faith Pray. Dianne has been represented by Jen Rofé of Andrea Brown Literary Agency since 2012.