The application window for the 2023-24 Michelle Begley Mentorship has closed. Please check back in September 2024 for information about mentors and the application process for 2024-25.
History:
The Rocky Mountain Chapter of SCBWI wants its membership to succeed! It was in that spirit that Michelle Begley spearheaded the effort to create and coordinate a local mentoring program. The program was named in Michelle’s honor after she passed away in 2015 and true to Michelle’s vision, it continues to inspire and elevate participating writers and illustrators.
The Mentor Program is designed for writers or illustrators who have put in time in their craft and feel that working one-on-one with a mentor could help take their work to the next level.
Our participating mentors are as generous as they are talented. They want to help you find success in the exciting and sometimes crazy world of writing and illustrating for children. They’ve been through the rigors of revision and rejection. They know the frustration of pouring your heart and soul into a project that doesn’t find a publishing home. And in spite of their busy schedules and deadlines, these mentors are offering their time and expertise to help you hone your craft.
The Mentor Program is not a promise you’ll be published. But at a minimum, if you work hard and give the mentorship your best effort, you will learn and your craft will improve.
If you are new to getting feedback, know that it can be a challenge! Read this blog post for suggestions about how to receive and incorporate feedback.
Eligibility
RMC-SCBWI full members (including self-published), associate members, and PAL (Published and Listed) members. We will also accept applications from SCBWI members who have connections to our chapter.
What to Expect
When you apply to the Mentor Program you will select one or two mentors to whom your work will be submitted. If selected, your mentorship lasts six months (see Mentorship Timeline) beginning with your original submission directly to your mentor after acceptance. During the mentorship you will communicate with your mentor at least once per month via email, phone, Zoom, or in-person as decided by you and your mentor. You will also set goals for the mentorship. The work you do will be informed by mentor feedback and expect to work hard on your portfolio or manuscript(s). Be open to constructive criticism and prepared for intensive critique. Each mentorship is unique -- we look forward to seeing what you will accomplish!
NOTE: This is a blind application process and mentors will not know whose work they’re reading. Your name will appear ONLY on your application form, and you will be assigned a number for your work sample, synopsis, and artist statement. Mentors select mentees based on the application, artist statement, and manuscripts or illustrations they have received.
Cost
The cost of the program is $540.
Questions?
Email our Mentor Program Coordinators, Coral Jenrette and Laura Perdew, at mentorprogram.rmc.scbwi@gmail.com.
2023-24 AUTHOR, ILLUSTRATOR, & AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR MENTORS
Below is the list of our mentors for this year’s Michelle Begley Mentorship Program, and the projects and genres they are open to mentoring. For full mentor bios, click here.
Beth Anderson
https://bethandersonwriter.com
Picture Books, Nonfiction
(Historical Fiction, STEAM-science, technology, engineering, art and math, illustrated texts/PBs with a nonfiction element)
Lynn Becker
https://www.lynnbeckerbooks.com/
Picture books
(Rhyming PBs)
Jennifer Chambliss Bertman
www.jenniferchamblissbertman.com
Picture Books, Middle grade, Fiction
(Contemporary, Mystery, SEL-social emotional learning)
Fleur Bradley
Chapter books, MG, YA, Fiction, Non-fiction
(Contemporary, Historical Fiction, Mystery)
Rachel Delaney Craft
https://racheldelaneycraft.com/
Middle grade, YA, Fiction
(Contemporary, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mystery, STEAM-science, technology, engineering, art and math)
Anna-Maria Crum
Illustrator, Author/Illustrator, Middle grade, YA, Fiction
(Contemporary, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Mystery)
Julie Danneberg
Picture Books, Fiction, Nonfiction
(Contemporary, Historical Fiction, Rhyming Picture Books, STEAM-science, technology, engineering, art and math, biography, nonfiction)
Nancy Bo Flood
Picture Books, Middle grade, Fiction, Nonfiction
(Contemporary, Historical Fiction, Novel in Verse, Rhyming Picture Books, SEL-social emotional learning, STEAM-science, technology, engineering, art and math, poetry)
Sandy Ferguson Fuller
Illustrator, AuthorAuthor/Illustrator, Picture Books
(Rhyming Picture Books, All Picture Books, fiction and nonfiction)
Kimberlee Gard
Picture Books
(Rhyming and Prose Picture Books)
Dan Graham
Picture books
(Rhyming Picture Book, SEL, STEAM, fiction and nonfiction)
Jessica Lanan
Illustrator, Author/Illustrator
(Nonfiction, Wordless Picture Books, STEAM, Watercolor)
Heather Brockman Lee
Illustrator, Author/Illustrator
Claudia Mills
Chapter books, Middle grade
(Contemporary, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Novel in Verse, SEL-social emotional learning)
Amber Owen (Z.B. Asterplume)
Illustrator, AuthorAuthor/Illustrator, Picture Books
(Fiction, all media, Fantasy, SEL-social emotional learning)
Laura Perdew
Picture Books, Fiction, Nonfiction
(Contemporary, SEL-social emotional learning, STEAM-science, technology, engineering, art and math)
Dow Phumiruk
https://artbydow.myportfolio.com/
Illustrator, Author/Illustrator, Picture Books
Heather Preusser
https://www.heatherpreusser.com/
Picture Books, Chapter Books, Fiction
(Rhyming Picture Books, SEL-social emotional learning, STEAM-science, technology, engineering, art and math, humor)
Julie Rowen-Zoch
https://julierowanzoch.wordpress.com/
Illustrators, Author/Illustrators, Picture books
(Contemporary, SEL, STEAM, humor)
Michelle Schaub
Picture Books, Fiction, Nonfiction
(Rhyming Picture Books, SEL-social emotional learning, STEAM-science, technology, engineering, art and math)
Sonja K Solter
Picture Books, Chapter books, Middle grade, YA, Fiction
(Contemporary, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Mystery, Novel in Verse, SEL-social emotional learning)
Roxanne Troup
Picture Books
(Rhyming Picture Books, STEAM-science, technology, engineering, art and math)
Andrea Wang
Picture Books, Middle grade, YA, Fiction, Nonfiction
(Contemporary, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mystery, SEL-social emotional learning, STEAM-science, technology, engineering, art and math)
Anden Wilder
Illustrator, Author/Illustrator, Picture Books
Stan Yan
Illustrator, AuthorAuthor/Illustrator, Graphic Novel Illustrator (no text), Graphic Novel both text and illustrations
(Contemporary, Fantasy, Speculative Fiction, Mystery, Rhyming Picture Books)