Chapter Meeting Details
Registration for 2025 - 2026 San Diego Season Tickets is now open.
Chapter Meetings
All meetings will be virtual.
All meetings will be recorded, and all registered attendees (Season Ticket or Individual Purchase) will receive the link to the recording.
Prices
Individual Chapter meeting cost: $10 for SCBWI members, $25 for nonmembers.
Season Ticket: September through April Meetings $60 for SCBWI Members, and $115 for Non-Members. Registration for season tickets is now open and will remain open through December 7, 2025. Those who purchase a Season Ticket between Aug.-Dec. will receive recordings of the meetings they missed.
Season Tickets provide admission to all chapter meetings; discounted pricing for intensives, conferences and workshops when you use the provided discount coupon for each special event. If for some reason the discount coupon doesn’t work for you, it is up to you to notify the ARAs.; access to chapter meeting recordings; and more.
Photographer Alberto Lau will provide complimentary black and white head shots for season ticket holders who purchase by September 30, 2025.
Proposed photoshoot dates, times, and locations.
October 18 @ Village Park Recreation Club 4, 2083 Park Lane, Encinitas, CA 92024
November 1 @ Presidio Park, Presidio Drive & Cosoy Way (NOT Jackson Drive)
November 15 @ Chula Vista Bayfront Park
Chapter Meeting Dates and Speakers:
Sept 27, 2025: Deborah Halverson, Turning a NO Into a YES and Top Picks of Agents and Editors (4 agents and editors and 2 art directors) Currently Open to Submissions. For more info (and to register once registration has opened) click here.
Oct 18, 2025: Meet the Publishers - With Kade Dishmon, Assistant Editor, Holiday House; and Madison Pelletier, Editorial Director, Mayhem Books and Mischief Books, Entangled Publishing. For more info (and to register once registration has opened) click here
Nov 8, 2025: Using Pitches to Create Opportunities with Natascha Morris, Agent, Season Ticket Holders will receive a link to submit a pitch for the speaker to possibly use during their presentation. For more info (and to register once registration has opened) click here
Dec 6, 2025: Dec 6, 2025: Lessons Learned on the Path to Publication with Marie-Laure Couët, PB Illustrator, "Butterfly Sea"; Patricia Daniele, PB Author, "The Girl Who Tested the Waters: Ellen Swallow, Environmental Scientist", Jen Haymore, YA Author, "All Gowned Up"; Joyce P. Uglow, PB Author, "STUCK! The Story of La Brea Tar Pits"; and Elisabeth Norton, Board Book Author, "Big Feelings, Gentle Lessons" Series. For more info (and to register once registration has opened) click here.
January 2026: No Chapter Meeting In January - SCBWI International Winter Conference
February 21, 2026: Neurodiversity & Disability - Authentic Characters & Voice, Larissa Melo Pienkowski, Agent. Summary TBA. The 2026 San Diego Region DEI Grant recipients will be announced.For more info (and to register once registration has opened) click here
Mar 14, 2026: Sandra Proudman, The Anatomy of a Query Letter: Writing a Standout Query. For more info (and to register once registration has opened) click here.
April 11, 2026: The Publishing Process (Tentative Title), Sally Pla, Author (Editor and Agent Invited). Summary TBA. For more info (and to register once registration has opened) click here
Times subject to change.
2:00-2:20 p.m. Announcements and Member News
2:20-3:30 p.m. Craft Talk by Guest Speaker
3:30-4:00 p.m. Questions
Additional Events
Picture Book Intensive – November 1, 2025, 9:00 a.m. - Noon: Topic TBA, Speaker, Tracy Shaw, Art Director, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. For more info and to register click here
FOR SEASON TICKET HOLDERS ONLY Virtual Intensive: Price is $35 for SCBWI Members and $45 for Non-Members when they use the discount coupon provided to them for this special event. If for some reason the discount coupon doesn’t work for you, it is up to you to notify the ARAs.
FOR NON-SEASON TICKET HOLDERS Virtual Intensive $40 for SCBWI Members and $50 for Non-Members
Author Intensive – February 28, 2026, 9:00 a.m. - Noon: Tips for Crafting Compelling First Chapters and Insightful Synopsis with Hillary Fazzari, Bradford Literary Agency. For more info and to register click here.
FOR SEASON TICKET HOLDERS ONLY Virtual Intensive: Price is $35 for SCBWI Members and $45 for Non-Members when they use the discount coupon provided to them for this special event. If for some reason the discount coupon doesn’t work for you, it is up to you to notify the ARAs.
FOR NON-SEASON TICKET HOLDERS Virtual Intensive $40 for SCBWI Members and $50 for Non-Members
Any Intensive SAME-DAY Registrations will not receive the Zoom link to attend live, but you will receive the recording link on the following Tuesday.
Mentorships
Illustrator Mentorship Registration Opens September 21, 2025, 7:00 p.m. (PT) - Mentor and Topic TBA
Author Mentorship Registration Opens September 28, 2025, 7:00 p.m. (PT) - Mentor Hillary Fazzari, Agent, Bradford Literary Agency
MayFest 2026 Virtual Conference May 23, 2026 – More Info to Follow
REGISTRATION OPENS on Sunday, February 22nd at 7:00 p.m. (PT).
There will be two optional add-ons, each for an additional fee:
A Portfolio Showcase judged by industry art professional(s).
An option critique from an industry professional.
IF YOU WANT AN OPTIONAL CRITIQUE (1 per person), it's important that you review each faculty's critique preferences prior to registering. During the registration process you can choose the faculty and critique time (all times are PT), but their preferences are not listed on the registration page.
SAN DIEGO REGION REFUND POLICY
Chapter Meetings, MayFest, and Intensives--refunds will be decided on a case-by-case basis. Any refund will be minus Stripe fees and any other expenses. No refunds one month before the event, because all events are being recorded and available for viewing for 30 days after the event.
Critiques and Mentorships--no refunds because the payment is already promised to the faculty.
NO REFUNDS will be offered for Season Tickets because the meeting recordings are available to attendees for thirty days.
3:30-4:00 p.m. Questions