Chapter Meeting Details
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.
Individual Chapter meeting cost: $10 for SCBWI members, $25 for nonmembers.
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 click here.
Oct 18, 2025: Meet the Publishers - Kade Dishmon, Assistant Editor, Holiday House, and Madison Pelletier, Editorial Director, Entangled Publishing, will share the history and mission of their publishing houses and what they are acquiring. They will answer questions about the publishing process, securing a book contract, writing a strong proposal, navigating submissions to publishers, and the current state of publishing. For more info and to register click here.
Nov 8, 2025: Using Pitches to Create Opportunities with Natascha Morris, Senior Agent with Tobias Literary Agency. 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 click here.
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 click here.
Jan 2026: No Chapter Meeting In January - SCBWI International Winter Conference
Feb 21, 2026: Neurodiversity & Disability - with Irene Vázquez, Associate Editor, Levine, Querido. The 2026 San Diego Region DEI Grant recipients will be announced.For more info and to register click here.
Mar 14, 2026: The Anatomy of a Query Letter: Writing a Standout Query with Sandra Proudman, Agent, Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency, For more info and to register 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 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
Season Ticket
Season Tickets provide admission to all chapter meetings; access to chapter meeting recordings; discounted pricing for intensives, conferences and workshops when you use the provided discount coupon for each special event; and more. (If for some reason the provided discount coupons don't work for you, it is up to you to notify the ARAs.)
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 14, 2025. Those who purchase a Season Ticket between Aug.-Dec. will receive recordings of the meetings they missed.
To register for a season ticket, click here.
Photographer Alberto Lau will provide one complimentary black and white and one color headshot for season ticket holders who purchase by September 30, 2025.
Those who purchased a Season Ticket by September 30 will receive an email with a link to sign up for a photoshoot. Photoshoots will be from noon-1 p.m. on the following dates 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 Meet at the southwest corner of the park, i.e. take West J Street until it ends
Additional Events
Intensives
Picture Book Intensive – Nov 1, 2025, 9:00 a.m. - Noon. From Idea to Print - What Happens After Your Submission Gets Noticed with Tracy Shaw, Art Director, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. For more info and to register click here.
Author Intensive – Feb 28, 2026, 9:00 a.m. - Noon: Tips for Crafting a Compelling First Chapter and an 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 Sept 21, 2025, 7:00 p.m. (PT) - Kerry Martin, Creative Director at Holiday House. For more information and to register, click here.
Author Mentorship Registration Opens Sept 28, 2025, 7:00 p.m. (PT) - Mentor Hillary Fazzari, Agent, Bradford Literary Agency. For more information and to register, click here.
Writing for Children 101 With RAE Patricia Morris Buckley
This online class takes you from idea to a polished manuscript and covers plotting, dialogue and characters, as well as finding an agent or publisher. Also included are critiques of students' work.
Cost is $60 for members, $90 for nonmembers. For more information and to register, click here.
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.