Meme Contest Winners!

So at past physical conferences, there was a joke contest... This year, with #SCBWISummerSpec gone digital, there was a MEME contest.

And here (drumroll - yeah, that's virtual, too)... are the winners!

@jmillspaints

@authormamanda

Congratulations to @jmillspaints and @authormamanda - your memes are funny, true, and winners!

PJ Library has given out over 28 million free books to children... and now they're pairing with SCBWI for a new award!

SCBWI in partnership with PJ Library has established the Jewish Stories Award to encourage the creation of more high quality Jewish children’s literature. PJ Library®, a program of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, sends the gift of free Jewish children’s books to more than 200,000 North American participants each month.

Deadline: Submissions will be accepted from September 1st 2018 through September 30th 2018 only.

Award: $2,500 will be awarded to the author of the manuscript deemed most promising for publication and for distribution by PJ Library. PJ Library will make every effort to partner with a publisher to have the manuscript published and to carry the book in the PJ Library program.

Check out the details here.

Remembering Bridget Zinn

In 2011 we lost one of our own—Bridget Zinn. At 33, Bridget had just sold her first book to Disney/Hyperion, and she was also bravely fighting cancer. I was lucky enough to be friends with Bridget, but we all feel her loss. Her agent Michael Stearns had a beautiful post about her passing, along with a video that really captures her beautiful spirit HERE.

Bridget and her husband, Barrett Dowell

(left to right) Cyndi Koon, Suzanne Young, and Bridget at their "rockstar lunch."

But now is the time to celebrate for Bridget. Her first book, POISON, is due out from Disney/Hyperion on March 12th, and we invite you to help us spread the word. From now until Monday night we are running a contest for you to win Bridget's book! But first, here's the description:

Sixteen-year-old Kyra, a highly-skilled potions master, is the only one who knows her kingdom is on the verge of destruction—which means she’s the only one who can save it. Faced with no other choice, Kyra decides to do what she does best: poison the kingdom’s future ruler, who also happens to be her former best friend. But, for the first time ever, her poisoned dart…misses.

Now a fugitive instead of a hero, Kyra is caught in a game of hide-and-seek with the king’s army and her potioner ex-boyfriend, Hal. At least she’s not alone. She’s armed with her vital potions, a too-cute pig, and Fred, the charming adventurer she can’t stop thinking about. Kyra is determined to get herself a second chance (at murder), but will she be able to find and defeat the princess before Hal and the army find her?

Kyra is not your typical murderer, and she’s certainly no damsel-in-distress—she's the lovable and quick-witted hero of this romantic novel that has all the right ingredients to make teen girls swoon.

So now for your part: When you share this blogpost, write your own, or tweet the hashtag #poison—come back and comment on this post. On Monday at midnight, we'll select one lucky winner to receive an ARC of Bridget's amazing book POISON!

I hope you take the time to help spread the word and support our dear friend, an amazing spirit, and our fellow writer--Bridget Zinn. Thank you.

Pre-order POISON:
IndieBound
B&N
Amazon
Powell's Books