AZ Events

Creators love to create, but it's hard to understand the other side: the publishing industry. It's dizzying delving into the many avenues and many options! AZ IC Michael Hale will cover all the ways creators can turn manuscripts into books, what options are available in 2026, and the associated costs and potential returns for each method.

• Overview
• Available Publishing Options in 2026:
• The Business Side of Publishing:
• Breaking down the costs and potential returns:

Click here to register for the event

For writers and illustrators who have parted with their agents (whether it was self-imposed or the agent left the agency for their own reasons), and how to weather that storm and find their way to another agent. Amy is going to focus on how to word a query letter and approach agents.

Click here to register for the event

In-Person & Online Workshops

See above for our next webinars!

EI Meeting

This is a regularly occurring meet-up activity and is FREE for Members

WHERE:  Zoom platform & In-person at Tempe Public Library, Study Room 7

DATE: Sunday, April 12, 2026

TIME: 2:00 - 3:00 pm

WHAT: Spotlight with Susan Metallo. Susan is a young adult author and librarian. Her debut novel, Reasons to Hate Me, is a hilarious and heartfelt novel about a neurodivergent theater nerd that tackles slut-shaming, what it means to be a friend, and the power of forgiving others—and yourself. It is on Publishers Weekly’s “Best Books of 2025” and was selected by the American Booksellers Association for Indie Next Kids (Sept/Oct 2025) and Indies Introduce Kids (Summer/Fall 2025). 

RSVP to: Susan at [email protected]

Hosted by: Susan Foss

PAL Events

Next meeting details are below

WHERE: TBD

DATE: TBD

TIME: TBD

RSVP to: Dianne or Kim at [email protected]

Hosted by: Dianne White and Kim Tomsic

Spark Events

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: March 2, 2026

TIME: 7:00-8:30 pm

RSVP to: Kathie at [email protected]  

Hosted by: Kathie McMahon and Cynthia Bordelon

Illustrator Events

This is a regularly occurring member networking and meet-up activity and is FREE for Members

Fourth Thursday: 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm 

DATE: February 26, 2026

TIME: 6:30-8:00 pm

WHERE: Zoom

RSVP to: Michael at [email protected]

Hosted by: Michael Hale – SCBWI-AZ Illustrator Coordinator 

KidLit Mingle Events

These are regularly occurring member networking and meet-up activities and are FREE for Members 

Ask Us Anything

First Saturdays every month: 8:30 am – 10:00 am 

Date: March 7, 2026

Where: ZOOM Meeting platform

RSVP to: Anne Hanovich at [email protected]

Hosted by: Anne Hanovich

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: March 12, 2026

Where: ZOOM Meeting platform

RSVP to: Patricia at [email protected] or Fawzia at [email protected] 

Hosted by: Patricia Franz

Craft Club

Third Saturdays: 9:00 am - 10:30 am

Date: March 21, 2026

Where: ZOOM Meeting platform

RSVP to: Kathie McMahon at [email protected]  

Hosted by: Kathie McMahon

-----

MINGLES BY LOCATION:

East Valley In-Person KidLit Mingle

DATE: April 25, 2026

TIME: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

LOCATION: Panera at Dana Park, Mesa, AZ

RSVP to: Kathie at [email protected]

Hosted by: Kathie McMahon

Northern Arizona In-Person KidLit Mingle

First Tuesdays: 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Date: March 3, 2026

Where: High Country Motor Lodge, 1000 Route 66, Flagstaff 86001

RSVP to: Stephanie at [email protected]

Hosted by: Stephanie Kohen

***NEW MINGLE*** Scottsdale/PV In-Person KidLit Mingle

Quarterly

Date: March 8, 2026

Where: Flower Child, 12640 N. Tatum Blvd., Phoenix, 85032

RSVP to: Claudia at [email protected].

Hosted by: Claudia Sloan

Tucson In-Person KidLit Mingle

First Saturdays: 10:00 am - 11:30 am

Date: March 7, 2026

Where: Caffe Luce, 4205 N Campbell, Tucson, AZ

Please RSVP to: Lori at [email protected] or Lucy at [email protected]

Hosted by: Lori Alexander and Lucy Munguia

West Valley In-Person KidLit Mingle/Show and Tell

Second Saturdays: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

DATE: March 14, 2026

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