More Member Good News! Robin Martinez has published her first two books in THE ADVENTURES OF DIAMOND AND RILEY series.  Pre-order it on Bookshop.org IG: @airborne.annie, @r.martinez6060 Facebook: www.facebook.com/robin.martin... Website: theadventuresofdiamondandriley.com

Thank you @erikpedersen.bsky.social for the handy updated map of So Cal independent bookstores to visit this year!...The map is great for when you're out and about and have a few minutes (or hours) to fill. Find the closest one to where you are at that moment!

The Utah/Southern Idaho region has a few spots open for their upcoming Critique-A-Palooza where you can receive professional feedback from agents and editors. Check out the event here: www.scbwi.org/events/usi-c...

Truth. "You can always edit a bad page. You can’t edit a blank page.” — Jodi Picoult

Carlene gives us the scoop at our monthly writers meet up on Sunday at 1pm. See you there!

Did you know...SCBWI just launched critique groups! Whether you are an author or illustrator this is your invitation to find your people and sharpen your craft. Build the kind of creative community that makes the work of creating books for young readers worthwhile. www.scbwi.org/critique-gro...

Save the date! May 24 Meet-up presenter Carlene Griffith shares highlights from the SCBWI Winter Conference in NYC—insights from authors, agents, publishers, and art directors, plus what she learned and how it can help your creative journey! carlenegriffith.com/index.html

More good news from our members! Tootie Nienow’s picture book, FOR ALWAYS FRIENDS, will be coming out this Fall. It is illustrated by Katherine Ahmed and published by Blue Dot Press. Preorder on bookshop.org or visit Tootie's website: tootienienow.com

Did you know? The OC Children's Book Festival at Orange Coast College is on Sept 20 and our chapter reserved a booth! This event draws 7,000 families and is for 0-12 year olds. Registration to have a spot in the booth for bookselling/signing opens May 23rd at 8 AM. See our website for more info!

May 9, explore what separates a forgettable antagonist from one that lingers long after the last page. Sign up for this amazing event with SCBWI Southern Breeze region. www.scbwi.org/regions/sout...

Did you know SCBWI and Candoo Tech bring premium members FREE technology lessons? Next LIVE event is TODAY 3:30 PST/6:30EST. Learn about Zoom backgrounds & Filters. Every class is recorded. No registration needed. At the scheduled time, click the link to sign in 👉 www.candootech.com/scbwi-lessons

What makes an author-editor relationship work? How do you find the right one? How do you accept feedback that may be necessary yet painful? Senior Editor Grace Kendall and Author Tina Cho talk through their relationship and path to publishing. www.scbwi.org/events/the-a...

We have an update to the Festival Line Up - Melissa Bent will now be in the 4pm time slot. So many wonderful authors and illustrators! Hope to see you there!

Let the designing begin!

Illustrator Meet-up Guest Speaker: Linda Liu Topic: Saving Scraps: My Author-Illustrator Journey When: Saturday, April 11, 10:00-12:00 Where: Zoom Cost: Free Please email Heather Soodak: [email protected] to be added to the illustrator emails, get the zoom link, and for specifics on submissions.

Planning on going to the LA Times Festival of Books? Here's the SCBWI LA/So-Cal Line up! Meet some of your favorite local authors and buy some fun books!

Don't miss the fabulous guest speaker, Cynthia Baseman, at our chapter meeting today! Topic is writing with the theme of kindness.

Charlotte Watson Sherman's pb, illustrated by Esther Stimphat tells the story of a Black toy factory created with Mattel Inc., after the Watts Uprising in 1965. Available NOW at: bookshop.org/p/books/lear... @charlottewatsonsherman Website: www.charlottewatsonsherman.com  Congrats!

Our Art Day 2026 is full, but there is a waitlist if you'd like to give it a try 🤷‍♀️. Contact the illustrator coordinator at [email protected] if interested.

Have you signed up for ART DAY yet? :)

Registration Opens Today!

Popular Event Alert! Registration opened today and as of 2:06 PST, there are only 2 spots left for Tahquitz! Hurry to our chapter's website to register! www.scbwi.org/events/2026-...

Ever wondered how audiobooks are made? Sisters in Crime is hosting a FREE field trip to AudioVision Studio in Tustin. Writers, readers, and the curious are invited to go behind the scenes and learn how audiobooks are recorded from performance to production. April 26, 3–5 pm sistersincrimeoc.com

Registration for our writers retreat starts next Sunday! For more info, visit: www.scbwi.org/events/2026-...

Did you know ART DAY is not just for illustrators? Check out the creative workshops for picture book authors and graphic novelists too!

Hey members! The Orange County Children's Book Festival on SEPT 20, 2026 welcomes authors, illustrators, and bookstores to rent exhibitor booths to meet young readers, promote and sell their books. More info on booths/speakers/guests at: www.kidsbookfestival.com/event-info

Good things are happening to our members this month!   WHAT IS A SAFE SPACE? illustrated by member Carrie Schneider debuts this month by Barnstormer Publishing!    Please, share the exciting news with your friends and preorder your copy here: square.link/u/Y9zvNvuh @carrieschneider.bsky.social

Hey Members! Want to sell/sign your books? Are you an SCBWI PAL member? SCBWI SoCal is renting a booth at the festival alongside SCBWI-LA. You can rent time in our booth, sharing your time with other SCBWI members. Ltd slots are available and they’ll go fast! Registration opens Friday, Jan. 30, 9 AM

Let’s meet at the OC Zoo!

NEW Illustrator/PB Author Accountability Group First Meeting: WED June 11, 7pm One hour motivational work session—bring anything you’d like to work on! Comment for the Zoom link!

Registration opens in ten-ish minutes! Don't miss out! www.scbwi.org/events/virtu...

In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we asked eight authors of new books ranging from picture books to YA about highlighting their cultures, history, and traditions for young readers

Join us for our May Illustrator's Meetup, Saturday, May 10, 3 pm!

Meet us this Saturday at Comic Orange to support local authors and illustrators!

Team Copy Cat will be at Comic Orange this Saturday May 10th along with lots of other SoCal authors and illustrators! 11am-3pm at Tustin Library @scbwisocal.bsky.social @steamteambooks.bsky.social @barefootbooks.bsky.social #kidlit #ComicOrange #ocpl

44 Picture Books Celebrating Asian Joy - Pragmatic Mom www.pragmaticmom.com/2022/05/asia... via @pragmaticmom #ReadYourWorld #AAPI #AsianPacificAmericanHeritageMonth #KidLit

Nosy Crow supports library workers and educators in protecting our community’s right to read on this #RightToReadDay.

Happy National School Librarian Day! We ❤️ school librarians! Sending heartfelt thanks today and every day for inspiring kiddos to be readers, thinkers, and dreamers! 📚 #NationalSchoolLibrarianDay #kidlit #EduSky #Skybrarian

Agents seeking #KidLit illustration talent! I encourage you to browse this thread of art samples from artists seeking representation: debbieohi.link/illustrators... #KidLitArt

#KidLit reminder: Tomorrow is #KidLitArtPostcard day! Be sure to post with that exact hashtag. I'm going to refresh my info page with art from April's posts, see this page for more info: www.ginaperry.com/postcard

Happy Book Birthday to "A Thousand Years"!! Written by Christina Perri and illustrated by SoCal illustrator, Joy Hwang Ruiz! #kidlit @momisdrawing.bsky.social

April is for Autism Appreciation and a great time to update your children's bookshelf with autism-affirming reads! Comment with your favorite autistic or neurodivergent children's books. #AutismAcceptanceMonth #childrensbooks #autismappreciation #kidlit #autism

Also seen on my walk. Meow! @littlefreelibrary.bsky.social #cat #books #LittleFreeLibrary #reading #kidlit

Did you know next Thursday, April 3rd, is #KidLitArtPostcard day? www.ginaperry.com/postcard #kidlit #kidlitart

📚🎨 Celebrate #SchoolLibraryMonth with 7 incredible graphic novelists! Dive into the world of visual storytelling, creativity, and the impact of school libraries. Don’t miss this exciting panel! ➡️ www.ala.org/aasl/slm #AASLslm

Local Author-Illustrator, Hannah Shafiroff's new book is out!

@susischaeferart.bsky.social Susi Schaefer's newest picture book ALL EYES ON YOU was released Feb. 18! If you ever feel stage fright, maybe this book can help.

Children’s author Mac Barnett wants the U.S. to appreciate picture books | SF Chronicle

⭐PB Rising Stars Mentee apps are officially OPEN now - March 21 at 11:59 PM ET!!! Are you an unagented OR agented PB author, illo, or author-illo without an agent-repped PB deal? Then this is for you!! Apply: www.pbrisingstars.com/mentors #kidlitmegafeed #kidlit #kidlitart #pbrisingstars #pbparty