The 2026 Spring Thaw Registration open now!
Join in person or online to attend COMPASS QUEST PANELS to
ask questions to our professionals, join ADVENTURE GUIDES to get real industry feedback, and submit your WIPs to ALL our faculty members!
Look for more info here:
www.scbwi.org/regions/illi...
Join us on Tuesday, March 3rd to learn from Ruth Spiro on how to take a picture book from an idea to a finished manuscript.
When: Tuesday, March 3
Time: 6:00 PM
Where: Zoom
Look for the Zoom link on our website:
www.scbwi.org/regions/illi...
Join us for our MONTHLY MEMBER MEETUP!
Drop in to chat with Illinois members!
Share your Good News, celebrate others, and make connections.
WHEN: Fist of each month.
TIME: 7PM CST
WHERE: ZOOM
Hosted by the Illinois Regional Team.
Look for the Zoom link on our website:
www.scbwi.org/regions/illi...
MEMBER GOOD NEWS!
Congratulations to Chicago Northside Member, Jean Reidy!
Jean has a new book coming out on
February 24, 2026!
Visit our website for more info and to preorder the book: www.scbwi.org/regions/illi...
Congratulations to ALA Youth Media Award Honorees from Illinois!
Congrats to Barb Rosenstock!
American Spirits: The Famous Fox Sisters and the Mysterious Fad That Haunted a Nation.
Congrats to Candace Fleming!
Death in the Jungle: Murder, Betrayal, and the Lost Dream of Jonestown.
Upcoming Network Workshops!
Join Nicole Hewitt on Feb 10, Jenna Satterthwaite on Feb 11, and Annie Harmon on Feb 21, for fun and insightful workshops! Join in person or on zoom.
Look for Zoom links on our website:
www.scbwi.org/regions/illi...
Join our in-person and virtual pitch program for on-the-cusp authors, illustrators, and author-illustrators!
In-person:
Thatcher Woods Pavilion
8030 Chicago Ave
River Forest, IL
Registration opens Feb 9 - 12 pm
Look for more info on our website:
www.scbwi.org/regions/illi...
Missed one of our live online or in-person programs? No problem!
Your convenience fee supports future SCBWI-IL Network programs, paid professional speakers and fee-free mentorships and scholarships for Illinois members!
Look for more info on our website:
www.scbwi.org/regions/illi...
Working with a Publishing Co-op: A Comparison
Sandra Macek will be discussing her journey through a hybrid publishing experience.
February 4
7:00 PM
Cook Park Library, 413 N. Milwaukee Ave, Libertyville, IL or Join on Zoom
Zoom link on our website:
www.scbwi.org/regions/illi...
Join us for our MONTHLY MEMBER MEETUP!
Drop in to chat with Illinois members!
Share your Good News, celebrate others, and make connections.
WHEN: Fist of every month.
TIME: 7PM CST
WHERE: ZOOM
Hosted by the Illinois Regional Team.
Look for the Zoom link on our website:
www.scbwi.org/regions/illi...
Take advantage of this prize, celebrating the best work from members of diverse and underrepresented communities within our own. Application opens February 1, free to all Illinois members!
More info on our website:
www.scbwi.org/regions/illi...
Join us this January for another Illinois Lit Live event, featuring readings from Published Illinois Members.
WHEN: Saturday, January 31st
TIME: 7 PM CST
LOCATION: Zoom
Visit our website for Zoom link:
www.scbwi.org/regions/illi...
MEMBER GOOD NEWS!
Congratulations,
@authorlaurenfischer
and
@annastengerillustration
Lauren's book, Orphanland released November 12, 2025!
Anna was awarded the Don Freeman Grant in the pre-published category!
Visit our website for more info:
www.scbwi.org/regions/illi...
Writing Tarot Event!
For those interested in Tarot, join us for a fun and laidback evening over Zoom where you can ask a couple of questions about your writing career.
When: Wednesday, January 14, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM
Where: Zoom
Visit our website for zoom link:
www.scbwi.org/regions/illi...
Jump-start your creative goals for the New Year! Join us as we develop practices to support your goals and discuss tools to inspire you, keep you focused, and reset when things don't go to plan. We’ll check on our progress at our June meeting. Bring a pen and paper to record your personalized plan.
New Year Goal Setting and Reflection!
Join the Rockford Network to reflect on your writing progress in 2025, and to share your goals for 2026. We'll chat about this for a while, and then have some quiet writing or planning time after.
Visit our website for zoom link:
www.scbwi.org/regions/illi...
WRITING PRIZE STARTS JANUARY 12TH!
We invite SCBWI members who reside in Illinois to write a 12-word Story Sprout for the Spring Thaw. Submissions are open January 12 - 26th.
For more information visit our website: www.scbwi.org/regions/illi...
Ready to take your children’s book career to the next level? Our annual Winter Conference for children's book writers and illustrators is back more options for exploring the many facets of the craft and business of illustrating and writing books for kids.
www.scbwi.org/events/2026-...
Join us for our MONTHLY MEMBER MEETUP!
Chat with Illinois members!
Share your Good News, celebrate others, and make connections.
WHEN: Fist of every month.
TIME: 7PM CST
WHERE: ZOOM
Hosted by the Illinois Regional Team.
Look for the Zoom link on our website:
www.scbwi.org/regions/illi...
HAPPY HOLIDAYS from your SCBWI Illinois Regional Team!
Wishing you lots of peace, love, and CREATIVITY this holiday season!
We want to celebrate all of your GOOD NEWS!
Be sure to full out the form anytime during the month, to be included in our monthly newsletter!
Look for link to share now at: www.scbwi.org/regions/illi...
Enjoy UNLIMITED viewings
of our programs with a small convenience fee!
Your fee supports Illinois’ free events and opportunities.
QUESTIONS?: Illinois-ra@scbwi.org
Look for link to watch now at: www.scbwi.org/regions/illi...
Gifting this Holiday Season? Brighten the lives of your friends and loved ones by gifting them cozy books through SCBWI Book Stop, a SCBWI Membership, or supporting your SCBWI Illinois Region!
Visit our website for links:
www.scbwi.org/regions/illi...
Join published author Srividhya Venkat for POWER HOUR!
This is an opportunity to work in silence with other creators virtually for two 30-minute periods with 5-min breaks to discuss what you accomplished.
Look for the Zoom link on our website:
www.scbwi.org/regions/illi...
Swipe to join our HOLIDAY REGIONAL GATHERINGS!!
Get involved and spread holiday cheer by looking for RSVP and Zoom links in our December Good News Newsletter published on the first of the month.
Sign up at:
www.scbwi.org/regions/illi...
Swipe to join our HOLIDAY REGIONAL GATHERINGS!!
Get involved and spread holiday cheer by looking for RSVP and Zoom links in our December Good News Newsletter published on the first of the month.
Sign up at:
www.scbwi.org/regions/illi...
Join us for our MONTHLY MEMBER MEETUP!
Drop in to chat with Illinois members!
Share your Good News, celebrate others, and make connections.
WHEN: Fist of every month.
TIME: 7PM CST
WHERE: ZOOM
Look for the Zoom link on our website:
www.scbwi.org/regions/illi...
MEMBER GOOD NEWS! Congratulations, Sara Shacter!
“My debut middle grade novel, Georgia Watson and the 99 Percent Campaign, interior illustrations by Deborah Topolski, and cover art by C.B. Royal, comes out October 14th. It only took 15 years from start to finish!”
MEMBER GOOD NEWS!
Congratulations, Taylor Tomlinson!
“My book, Goodnight, Western Springs, illustrated by Christine F. Maningo, is the winner of The Golden Wizard Book Prize 2025. Goodnight, Naperville comes out in November, 2025.
Discover this issue of Illinois' premier literary magazine, by and for Illinois storytellers!
Cover by Sarah Kurpiel
www.scbwi.org/regions/illi...
