This is YOUR chance, SCBWI Illinois #picturebook & #chapterbook author-illustrators! 2 more days for free application.

This amazing community and career building program keeps getting better! Encourage a fellow creative to join you and Just Do It!

#ReadLOCALIllinois

Thanks @mbrockenbrough for @SCBWI Virtual Summer Conference breakout on stakes! One more day to watch.

Having fun at the Poplar Creek Library Author Fest! #kidlit #justsowillow #schoolvisits

TOP TEN: Ten years ago SCBWI Illinois⁩ regional team invited me to seceded the irreplaceable Lisa Bierman (lower rtight) serving alongside (clockwise) Sara F. Shacter⁩ ⁦Terri Murphy⁩ ⁦Alice B. McGinty⁩ ⁦Janet McDonnell⁩ Thanks, you made my decade ⁦⁦scbwi⁩!

TOP TEN: Nine years ago I began to witness the wonderful power of #KidLit creators to build community & outreach through local programs, regional events & international conferences. It’s network reps and volunteers that still make our ⁦SCBWI Illinois⁩ Region great! ⁦

TOP TEN: Eight years ago brought an amazing sense of community and purpose shared with global ⁦scbwi⁩ Regional Teammates like ⁦Samantha M Clark - Read ARROW, Plant Trees⁩ (lr) @katehanniganbooks accepting Golden Kite & ⁦John Parra⁩ “Frida” auctioned to support ⁦SCBWI Illinois⁩ equity

TOP TEN: 2017 Spring Thaw Pitch Perfect w/Jennifer Mattson & PAL social ⁦American Library Association featured regional hospitality & KidLit creators Sarah Aronson (center tl) ⁦⁦scbwi⁩ Kim Turrisi, ⁦Varian Johnson⁩ & ⁦@⁦SCBWI_IL⁩ Regional Advisor Emerita ⁦Esther Hershenhorn⁩

TOP TEN: 2018 brought debut books &⁩ conference opportunities for storytellers (top left) like friends & volunteers @FictionCity ⁦⁦Alex Willan⁩ ⁦Jennifer Wagh⁩ new ⁦SCBWI Illinois Illustrator Coordinator ⁦grandcedric⁩ & Rich Green

TOP TEN: Thanks midwestern ⁦scbwi⁩ regional teammates for a Marvelous Midwest! 2019 Assistant Regional Advisor ⁦Jennifer Wagh⁩, Illustrator Coordinator ⁦grandcedric⁩ & entire Prairie Writer’s & Illustrator’s Day team made our 15th annual unforgettable!

TOP TEN: Honoring ⁦Alice B. McGinty⁩ as RAE & @NY20SCBWI was the calm before the storm of my 5th year as Co-RA. Thanks to the support of volunteers, faculty & committee, ⁦online events like SCBWI Illinois⁩ Interactive brought our community together!

Missed one of our exceptional Fall Networks programs? For just $10, you can request recordings and enjoy unlimited access until December 22, with proceeds supporting our Networks, mentorships, and scholarships! Link in profile.

TOP TEN: 2021 still had us celebrating events like the ⁦scbwi Golden Kite Awards online with our ⁦SCBWI Illinois⁩ community, but by summer I was grateful to be accepted into the ⁦The Highlights Foundation⁩ Whole Novel Workshop.

TOP TEN: 2022 brought leadership to ⁦SCBWI Illinois⁩ in ⁦NaShantá Fletcher⁩ as Illustrator Coordinator, our first in-person event in 3 yrs. & a meeting of global ⁦scbwi⁩ teammates in NYC where we said farewell to wonderful Asst. Regional Advisor ⁦⁦Deb Aronson⁩

TOP TEN: In 2023 our team was finally able to celebrate with ⁦our ⁦KidLit community at Spring Thaw, teacher conferences, book launches and finally brought an in-person ⁩ Prairie Writer’s & Illustrator’s Day back to ⁦⁦SCBWI Illinois⁩ !

TOP TEN: On my last day as Co-RA, thanks to my family, friends & fellow members & volunteers for supporting me. Appreciation to scbwi⁩ for the opportunity to serve. All my gratitude to ⁦Jennifer Wagh⁩ for chasing meaning with me. Wouldn’t have been fun w/o you!

It’s #ReadALOUDIllinois Day! Thanks to all our participating ⁦SCBWI Illinois⁩ storytellers who are virtually visiting Illinois classrooms today! We appreciate the teachers, media specialists and readers for their warm welcomes! #ReadLOCALIllinois

Bought mine at my local independent bookstore!

Thanks to Regal House Publishing for the ARCs!