Today on the blog, Mentorship Coordinator Jessica Zimmerman discusses the ins and outs of applying, mentorship and the amazing benefits that come with your 2026 Novel Mentorship submission! 🙌🌟📖🖊📚🎉💥 Follow the URL to read more! scbwimithemitten.blogspot.com/2025/12/2026...

This week on The Mitten blog, Charlie Barshaw interviews Cindy Williams Schrauben, the author of 💛🧡❤️HANK'S CHANGE OF HEART ❤️🧡💛 and 💫✨🌟 THIS COULD BE YOU! 💫✨🌟 URL: scbwimithemitten.blogspot.com/2025/12/writ...

Let the countdown begin! 3️⃣2️⃣1️⃣ 🎉 There's only one month left until registration opens for the SCBWI-MI 2026 Novel Mentorship! Registration opens JANUARY 2, 2026. Is your manuscript ready? 💥👍💫🖊📖🙌🏾👏🎊 Learn more about the mentorship program here: www.scbwi.org/events/scbwi...

👀Check out this week's Studio Tour on The Mitten Blog, featuring Michigan illustrator Trena Brannon! 👀 Follow the link below to read more about how Trena tailors her space to fit her busy life and evolving passions! 🎨🖌🖌🙌👏 URL: scbwimithemitten.blogspot.com/2025/12/stud...

🦃🍮🍂🎊 In case you missed it! 🦃🍮🍂🎊 Last week on the Mitten Blog, Charlie Barshaw interviewed MI author Doris Holik Kelly! Author of 🌧THE GIFT OF SUMMER RAIN 🌈, 🔎THE MYSTERY OF THE COPPER TURTLE, THE MYSTERY OF THE VOYAGEURS RENDEZVOUS 🔍, and more! URL: scbwimithemitten.blogspot.com/2025/11/writ...

Don't miss this week's The Mitten, featuring a writer spotlight on Catherine Bieberich! 👏💫📖🖊💥🙌 URL: scbwimithemitten.blogspot.com/2025/11/writ...

❄️SCBWI-MI illustrators attending the 2026 SCBWI Winter Conference in NYC! Apply for our NYC Illustrator Portfolio Showcase Scholarship & get 50% OFF your showcase fee. 🗓️ Apply: November 1 - December 1, 2025 Go to : www.scbwi.org/regions/mich... #SCBWIMI #SCBWI #KidLitArt #Illustrator #Scholarship

Today on The Mitten blog, we have both TRICKS and TREATS in a spooky Halloween double-feature!!! 🎃👻🍂🔮👾🦇🕷🕸🧟‍♂️ TRICKS: scbwimithemitten.blogspot.com/2025/10/cond... TREATS: scbwimithemitten.blogspot.com/2025/10/litt...

Follow the link below to read more about Danielle's inspirational novel mentorship experience with Kelly Barson and how continuing to say "yes" to yourself, even in the most challenging of times, can make all the difference! URL: scbwimithemitten.blogspot.com/2025/10/beca...

What do a children's book author and Olympic-winning swimmer Michael Phelps have in common? 🤔🏊🏾‍♀️🥇 Read Cindy's blog post, "Writing is a Team Sport" to find out on this week's The Mitten! URL: scbwimithemitten.blogspot.com/2025/10/writ...

Still on the fence about applying? Our previous novel mentorship winners have plenty of reasons why you should take the leap! 🎉📖👣🖊💥📖🙌💫 Read more about our upcoming novel mentorship program here: www.scbwi.org/regions/mich...

Don't miss our upcoming webinar with 2026 mentor Sheela Chari titled "Me, You, Them: Seven Ways of Looking at Multiple Points of View" on Wednesday, October 22 at 7 pm EST! 🎉📖🖊🙌💥 Register at www.scbwi.org/regions/mich...

This week's blog post features Charlie Barshaw's interview with author-illustrator Ryan Hipp! 😎✨👍👏🎉📚 Ryan is the author-illustrator for the book LITTLE STEPS 👣 and has illustrated several other projects. URL: scbwimithemitten.blogspot.com/2025/10/feat...

In this week's The Mitten blog post, Charlie Barshaw @cjbarshaw523 interviews Kristin Bartley Lenz @kristinbartleylenz, author of YA novels THE ART OF HOLDING ON AND LETTING GO and her upcoming title THE DOOR SWINGS OPEN! 🎉🤩🚪📖🖊👏 URL link: scbwimithemitten.blogspot.com/2025/09/writ...

Mark your calendars! Registration for the Me, You, Them: Seven Ways of Looking at Multiple Points of View with our 2026 SCBWI-MI Novel Mentor Sheela Chari opens October 1, 2025! 📣🍂📖🖊🤩👏 The webinar will take place on Wednesday, 10/22 at 7 pm EST.

Join us in celebrating our diverse voices during National Hispanic Heritage Month with this special edition post of The Mitten featuring author-illustrator Jacqueline Alcántara, interviewed by Isabel Estrada O-Hagin! 🎉👏🌈📚🖊📖 Blog URL: scbwimithemitten.blogspot.com/2025/09/cele...

Registration for the SCBWI-MI Critique Carousel opens next week, Thursday, 9/18 for Michigan members! 🎉🌈🦄🙌📚 Consider submitting your novel WIP to get it submission ready for our 2025 Novel Mentorship Program! 💥📖🖊👏

This week on "The Mitten" Charlie Barshaw interviews poet and author Janet Ruth Heller! 🎉🙌📖🖊💫 URL: scbwimithemitten.blogspot.com/2025/09/writ...

We can hardly wait for the SCBWI-MI 2026 Novel Mentorship Program!!! 🎉📚😄🎉 We are so excited to have Sheela Chari on board as this year's mentor; stay tuned for more info about this incredible opportunity! 💥🙌🎉📚📖🖊💫

This week on The Mitten blog, Charlie Barshaw interviews our very own SCBWI-MI Co-RA Anita Fitch Pazner! 🎉💥👏💫📚 Anita is the author of THE TOPSY-TURVY BUS and WORDS MATTER! 📖💫🌈👸🏰☢📚🙌 Blog link: scbwimithemitten.blogspot.com/.../writer...

Tired of your students' blank stares when you mention 'author readings'? Want to level up your literacy game with a local rockstar writer? 🤩 We've got the hookup! Check out SCBWI-MI's Teacher and Librarian Resource Corner for the ultimate author intro www.scbwi.org/regions/mich....

APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN! Apply now for your chance to receive a Critique Carousel Scholarship! Applications are open until 9/14! 💥🎉🙌📚🌈📖💫 #scbwimi #SCBWIMI #scbwimichigan #scbwicritiquecarousel #scbwischolarships #scbwimischolarships #kidlitcreators #childrenslitauthors #childrenslitillustrator

Just a reminder that applications for this year's Critique Carousel scholarship open in 3 DAYS!!!! 💥🙌💫📚🎉 #scbwimi #SCBWIMI #scbwimichigan #scbwicritiquecarousel #scbwicritique #kidlitcreators #authorsandillustrators #ChildrensBooks

Sheela Chari, the SCBWIMI 2026 Novel Mentor, is the author of several books for children, including the Mars Patel series, FINDING MIGHTY, VANISHED, and KARTHIK DELIVERS! If you haven't read them yet, grab them at your local library and mark your calendars for when applications open! #SCBWIMI

Thanks to Charlie Barshaw (@cjbarshaw523) and Stephanie Bearce (@stephaniemowrybearce) for this week's Writer Spotlight on The Mitten blog! 💥🙏🙌📚💫🕵️‍♀️🔎 Blog link: scbwimithemitten.blogspot.com/2025/08/writ...

The Mitten blog announces "Studio Tours"! 🎨👩‍🎨🖌📚🙌 In this post, we get to a glimpse into Jen Boehler's quaint, vintage-chic studio in Saginaw! Thanks for giving us the tour, Jen! 💥👏🙏💫 Blog post link: scbwimithemitten.blogspot.com/2025/08/stud...

Thank you, Karen!! 😊🙏💫👋You will be missed as K.A.S.T. shoptalk co-coordinator! Thank you for all of your time and effort! #SCBWIMI #scbwivolunteers #kidlitcreators

Thank you, Vicky!! 🤩👏💥💫📚🙌 #scbwi #SCBWIMI #scbwimichigan #scbwiauthors #kidlitcreator #childrensliterature #authortalks

On the Mitten blog this week, Charlie Barshaw interviews young adult author Tracy Bilen! 🤩👏🎉 Follow the link below to learn more about Tracy's fascinating journey from studying at the Sorbonne in Paris to teaching French to tips of the trade and more! scbwimithemitten.blogspot.com/2025/08/writ...

If you are an SCBWI-MI Premium member, a creator of books for children, and an educator or librarian, consider applying to the Critique Carousel Scholarship, in honor of the late mother of Suzanne Jacob-Lipshaw. Applications will be open from September 1 to September 14!

Missed The Mitten post last week? Follow the link to read Charlie Barshaw's interview with writer in the spotlight, Diane Telgen, children's author and long-time Michigander! 🎉👏🙌📚💫

Start getting your manuscripts ready...we have a 2026 Novel Mentor, Sheela Chari!! 🎉👏🖊📖🙌📚 Sheela Chari is the author of several critically acclaimed novels! Mentorship applications will open in January of 2026, so keep an eye out for more communications to come!

Mark your calendars! From September 1-14, applications will be open for SCBWI-MI's Critique Carousel Scholarship for MI educators and librarians who create books for children! 🙌🌟📚 This scholarship is in honor of the late mother of Suzanne Jacob-Lipshaws.

This week on the Mitten Blog, Charlie Barshaw interviews poet Elizabeth McBride 🙌💫🖊🎉 Follow the link below to read “Middle child, Jack Ridl, read-alouds, AWA, NWP, Glen Arbor, and great views”! 👏☀️📖 Link: scbwimithemitten.blogspot.com/2025/07/writ...

Today on the blog post we reflect on this year's SCBWI-MI Making Picture Books Bloom 2025 Spring Conference, and how we have permission to make "bad" art! 🎨🖌📚💫 Link: scbwimithemitten.blogspot.com/2025/06/the-...

Happening TODAY!💥 Lansing Area Shop Talk is hosting Ruth McNally Barshaw and Charlie Barshaw to discuss school visits and speaking events. Don't miss these tips and tricks to turn yourself into an extrovert! 2pm ToDaY! #writers #kidlit #authors #Michigan

Today on the Mitten Blog, Charlie Barshaw interviews author Jacquie Sewell! Follow the link below to read more about the Mighty Mac, Whale Fall Cafe 🐋, zombie worms 🐛, lifer librarians, voracious readers 📚 and much more! scbwimithemitten.blogspot.com/2025/06/writ... #SCBWIMI

Welcome Celeste Turner, new co-Coordinator of Metro Detroit Shoptalk! 🎉 Thank you for empowering Michigan authors and illustrators!

Today on the Mitten Blog, Charlie Barshaw interviews author Sondra Soderborg! 🌟🙌🦃🖋️☀️📚 #scbwi #scbwimichigan #scbwiauthors #childrenslit #SCBWIMI

Remembering Katena Lafkas Presutti.🙌💓 Today on the Mitten Blog, Charlie Barshaw compiles tributes to an important member of the SCBWI-MI family. Read about the impact Katena had on many writers. 📚📖🖊https://scbwimithemitten.blogspot.com/2025/05/remembering-katena-lafkas-presutti.html

Today on the Mitten Blog, Charlie Barshaw interviews author, presenter, and publisher Darcy Pattison! 🎊💫🤩🙌🌟📚 scbwimithemitten.blogspot.com/2025/05/writ...

This week's blog post on "The Mitten" features our quarterly celebratory news, "Hugs and Hurrahs"! 🤗🎉🎈🤩 Click below to go to the blog and see what successes fellow SCBWI-MI members are celebrating! 🥳🎊🙌📚 scbwimithemitten.blogspot.com/2025/05/hugs... #scbwi #scbwimichigan #childrensliterature

Thank you, John, for your recent webinar! 🎨🖌️😎🙌🌟📚 #scbwi #scbwiillustrators #scbwimichigan #childrensliterature

Thank you, Deeba, for your recent webinar! 🌟🙌🏵️📚 #scbwi #scbwimichigan #childrensliterature #childrensliteratureauthors

Read about Wendy on The Mitten blog! 📚🌟🙌 scbwimithemitten.blogspot.com/2025/05/writ...

Ready to re-envision your work?🌟 JOIN the Up North Shop Talk on May 15th at the Traverse City Library from 6:30-8:00 pm. Bring the opening page of your work-in-progress and something to write with. Be prepared to write on the spot, or if you prefer, just listen and learn from others.

Today on "The Mitten" blog, Kara Marsee shares her experiences at this year's SCBWI National Conference in New York! 🍎🤩🌟🙌💫🎊📚

💥The Members For Members Scholarship: Supporting members with financial need in Children's Literature. This scholarship is to help colleagues experiencing financial hardship move toward the pursuit of writing and/or illustrating children's books.📚📖 Application on SCBWI-MI webpage

Today on "The Mitten" blog, Charlie Barshaw interviews Spring Conference presenter Maria Dismondy, author, publisher, and founder of Cardinal Rule Press! 👏🎉🙌☀ scbwimithemitten.blogspot.com/.../scbwi-mi....

Today on "The Mitten" blog, Charlie Barshaw interviews spring conference presenter Author Carrie A. Pearson. 🌟🎉Follow the link below to learn more about Yooper winters, so many socials, and U of M preschool. ⁉️ @cpearsonauthor.bsky.social scbwimithemitten.blogspot.com/2025/04/scbw...