May 19, 2023
Picture book dummies are valuable tools to help you revise and edit your manuscript. These rough mock-ups are used to help you perfect how the story will exist within the picture book format. The team that eventually publishes your manuscript might have a different vision of how the pages will be broken down, but the dummy allows you to ensure that each page of the book is filled with delightful surprises and copious illustration possibilities. The Picture Book Dummy for Dummies: The Foundation For Creating Better Picture Books presented by Michael Hale The Picture Book Dummy: The Writer’s Revision and Editing Friend presented by Tanja Bauerle Hands-On Time - Work on your Dummy
In this dynamic program, you’ll learn how to discover and refine the unique angle that will make your nonfiction KidLit stand out in a crowded market. Whether you're writing a picture book or a young adult narrative nonfiction title, your story deserves a distinct voice and perspective. We'll dive into techniques to help you identify your book's unique hook, ensuring that your message resonates with your target audience. Through interactive exercises and exploring comp titles, participants will leave with a deeper understanding of how to make their book stand out by finding its unique angle—one that captivates your audience and makes your message unforgettable.
See above for March-May 2025's in-person Workshops
WHAT: Edelweiss - the Secret Tool to Getting Inside the Industry Mindset with Susan Chang
DESCRIPTION: What’s the first image that comes to mind when someone mentions the word “edelweiss”? If it’s Christopher Plummer strumming his guitar in The Sound of Music or the star-shaped alpine flower, you’re not alone. But what if I were to tell you that Edelweiss is also the name of a free—and shockingly underused—online platform that will give you valuable insight into the mindset of publishing industry insiders? In this webinar, freelance developmental editor Susan Chang (former acquisitions editor at HarperCollins Children’s Books, Disney Publishing Worldwide, and Macmillan/Tor Publishing) will demonstrate how to utilize Edelweiss to reverse engineer your query letter pitch, identify potential comparable titles, stay abreast of market trends, and much more!
DATE: Saturday, April 26, 2025
TIME: 1:00 - 2:30 pm
Register at: https://www.scbwi.org/events/edelweiss-the-secret-tool-to-getting-inside-the-industry-mindset-susan-chang
WHAT: Crafting Your Unique Angle for Non-Fiction Success Webinar with Nancy Castaldo
DESCRIPTION: In this dynamic program, you’ll learn how to discover and refine the unique angle that will make your nonfiction KidLit stand out in a crowded market. Whether you're writing a picture book or a young adult narrative nonfiction title, your story deserves a distinct voice and perspective. We'll dive into techniques to help you identify your book's unique hook, ensuring that your message resonates with your target audience. Through interactive exercises and exploring comp titles, participants will leave with a deeper understanding of how to make their book stand out by finding its unique angle—one that captivates your audience and makes your message unforgettable.
DATE: Saturday, May 31, 2025
TIME: 1:00 - 2:30 pm
Register at: https://www.scbwi.org/events/crafting-your-unique-angle-for-nonfiction-success-webinar
This is a regularly occurring meet-up activity and is FREE for Members
WHERE: Tempe Public Library - 3500 S Rural Rd, Tempe, AZ 85282, in Study Room 7
DATE: Sunday, April 27, 2025
TIME: 2:00 - 4:00 pm
WHAT: Write-in and mingle. Bring your laptops and writing supplies; we'll be writing!
RSVP to: Susan at [email protected]
Hosted by: Susan Foss
Next meeting details are TBD.
WHERE: TBD
DATE: TBD
TIME: TBD
RSVP to: Dianne or Kim at [email protected]
Hosted by: Dianne White and Kim Tomsic
This meeting occurs every two months and is a member networking and meet-up activity that is FREE for Members
WHERE: Zoom Meeting platform
DATE: May 5, 2025
TIME: 7:00-8:30 pm
RSVP to: Kathie at [email protected]
Hosted by: Kathie McMahon
This is a regularly occurring member networking and meet-up activity and is FREE for Members
Fourth Thursday: 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
WHERE: Zoom Meeting platform
DATE: April 24, 2025
TIME: 6:30-7:30 pm
RSVP to: Michael at [email protected]
Hosted by: Michael Hale – SCBWI-AZ Illustrator Coordinator
These are regularly occurring member networking and meet-up activities and are FREE for Members
Ask Us Anything
First Saturdays: 8:30 am – 10:00 am
Date: May 3, 2025
Where: ZOOM Meeting platform
RSVP to: Alison Fraclose at [email protected]
Hosted by: Allison Fraclose
Book Look
Join fellow writers and illustrators for a dive into Craft and mentor texts. What makes a PB, MG, or YA novel sell? Let's analyze the factors and explore applying them to our own writing.
Second Thursdays: 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Date: May 8, 2025
Where: ZOOM Meeting platform
RSVP to: Patricia at [email protected] or Fawzia at [email protected]
Hosted by: Patricia Franz and Fawzia Tung
Show and Tell
Second Saturdays: 9:00 am - 11:00 am
Date: May 10, 2025
Where: In-person at Asante Library - 16755 W. Verde Solana Dr., Surprise, AZ 85387
RSVP to: Angela at [email protected]
Hosted by: Angela Morrison
Craft Club
Third Saturdays: 9:00 am - 10:30 am
Date: May 17, 2025
Where: ZOOM Meeting platform
RSVP to: Kathie McMahon at [email protected]
Hosted by: Kathie McMahon
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MINGLES BY LOCATION:
Tucson In-Person KidLit Mingle
Second Saturdays: 10:00 am - 11:30 am
Date: May 10, 2025
Where: Woods Memorial Library - 3455 N. First Ave, Tucson, in the Large Meeting Room
Please RSVP to: Lori at [email protected] or Lucy at [email protected]
Hosted by: Lori Alexander and Lucy Munguia
Northern Arizona In-Person KidLit Mingle
Third Saturdays every other month: 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Date: May 31, 2025
Where: IHOP back room, 2654 E Rte 66, Flagstaff, AZ 86004
RSVP to: Anne at [email protected]
Hosted by: Anne Hanovich
East Valley In-Person KidLit Mingle
DATE: May 31, 2025
TIME: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
LOCATION: Panera Bread - Village Square at Dana Park, 3426 E. Baseline, Ste #113, Mesa, AZ 85204
RSVP to: Kathie at [email protected]
Hosted by: Kathie McMahon
West Valley In-Person KidLit Mingle
DATE: April 12, 2025
TIME: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
LOCATION: Asante Library, 16755 W. Vereda Solana Dr., Surprise, AZ 85387
RSVP to: Angela at [email protected]
Hosted by: Angela Morrison