Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

Louisiana & Mississippi have been aligned as a region since 2013, a natural fit as the two states share a rich cultural, literary, musical and artistic history.

 REGION OFFICE HOURS:

We are all volunteers and do our best to reply to emails as quickly as possible. We will make every effort to respond to your inquiry as promptly as possible. The best times to reach us and receive email replies are:

• Monday-Friday afternoon/evenings

• For general regional questions, contact Gary, [email protected]

• For illustrator questions, contact Denise, [email protected]

THE REGIONAL TEAM:

Marti Dumas, Regional Advisor, is a mom, teacher, and creative entrepreneur from New Orleans. An expert in childhood literacy, Marti has worked with children and teachers across the country for the last 15 years to promote an early love of reading both in and out of the classroom. Her best-selling Jaden Toussaint, the Greatest series combines literacy with STEM skills and humor, and adds much-needed diversity to the children’s chapter book landscape. Her latest books, The Wildseed Witch series and Secret Society of Rebel Girls series are middle-grade fantasies being heralded for their skillful combination of science, family, and magic. Learn more > https://www.martidumas.com/

Gary Alipio, Assistant Regional Advisor, joined SCBWI in 2001 and wears a lot of hats: a children’s book author, digital marketer, photographer, SCBWI advisor, LDWF aquatic instructor & high school fishing coach. A New Orleans native, Gary has now has three children’s books to his name, with the latest Craziest Cajun Football Tale illustrated by his teenage daughter, Melina Alipio. In 2019, his Craziest Fishing Tale on the Bayou represented Louisiana at the National Book Festival in Washington D.C. He likes to fish, bike, hike, jog, walk, swim, play video games and laugh often. Most definitely ... laugh often. Learn more > https://garyalipio.com/ And on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garygalipio

Denise Gallagher, Illustrator Coordinator, joined SCBWI in 2014. Her writing and illustration are inspired by her passion for unusual animals, folklore, and fairy tales. She is the author and illustrator of the picture book, A Tip Tap Tale (2017, UL University Press). She has also illustrated folktales for both Louisiana and Canadian authors including Jean-le-Chasseur et Ses Chiens, a Cajun folktale by folklorist Barry Ancelet, and Peg Bearskin, a traditional Newfoundland folktale published in Canada. She is devoted to promoting a love of arts and literature in children and has given lectures and classes to students from kindergarten through college. Her illustrations have won numerous national awards and her fine art work has been exhibited in museums and galleries in Los Angeles, New York, Portland, Indianapolis and throughout Louisiana. In 2019, a retrospective of her picture book illustrations was exhibited at the Hilliard University Art Museum in her home town of Lafayette, Louisiana. Learn more > https://www.denisegallagher.com/

THE VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR TEAM:

Alisha Johnson Perry, Critique Group Coordinator currently uses her writing and storytelling skills to raise funds for an educational non-profit charter schools management organization, FirstLine Schools. Employing her sensibilities for relationship and consensus building, Alisha leads an integral team of fundraising professionals and volunteers who leverage local, regional and national partners and individual contributions, to resource strategic school-based initiatives that nurture the whole child, in mind, body and spirit. Alisha holds a juris doctorate in Civil Law and a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Spanish. She enjoys words, whether on Scrabble vocabulary lists or in children’s books. Learn more > https://www.scbwi.org/members/alisha-johnsonperry

Sarah Frances Hardy, PAL Coordinator, is an artist and a former lawyer. She is the author/illustrator of three picture books: PUZZLED BY PINK (Viking); DRESS ME! (Sky Pony Press); and PAINT ME! (Sky Pony Press). Sarah Frances is working on several more picture books as well as an illustrated middle grade novel, all of which are in various stages of revision. A resident of Oxford, Mississippi, Sarah Frances is surrounded by a wonderful community of writers and readers. She serves on the boards of the Friends of the University of Mississippi Library and the Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters. Learn more > www.sfhardy.com

Karen Konnerth, Volunteer Coordinator. Based in New Orleans, Louisiana, Karen Konnerth's background as regional and world traveling professional puppeteer became the foundation for my visual storytelling through writing and illustration for children as well as my specialization in arts integrated teaching. I have shared my classroom experience developing and implementing arts integrated projects with educators at the National Art Education Association, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and for the U.S. Embassy English Language Specialist Program in Central America, Asia, the Middle East, and South Africa. She illustrated and wrote Calliope Kate and the Voice of the River and How I Learned to Fly! while The Snowman Walz combines a fun music sheet for classroom dance activities. Learn more > https://karenkonnerth.com/