Check Out the Portfolio Showcase: Lee's Highlights

When I asked the illustrators on SCBWI Team Blog (Debbie Ohi, Don Tate, Jaime Temairik, and Justin Campbell) to check out the 150+ illustrator portfolios from this Summer Conference and share a few that caught their eye here on the blog -- so we could encourage you all to explore the art there -- I apologized to Jolie Stekly that as she and I weren't illustrators as well, I thought it was something just the illustrators should do. 

To my surprise, everyone thought the writers of the group should participate as well -- and when I thought about it, in my own experience (two out of four of my picture book editors) sometimes we writers get asked if we have any illustrators we want them to consider for our picture book. So, I happily went to the online portfolio showcase to explore...

(you can go now: https://www.scbwi.org/submissions/summer-virtual-conference-2024-portfolio-showcase)

Because I imagine most folks are going to start with page 1 and make their way through to page 14, I did the opposite. There were certainly many accomplished and beautiful pieces in the show, but not all of them told a story, and I'm really drawn (pun intended) to story. Please note that as with everything in publishing, this is really subjective.

Okay, with no further ado, here are 11 illustrations that really captured my eye and imagination:

Jason Crowley

Jason Crowley's illustration

Heather Bell

Heather Bell's illustration

Hollie Michaels

Hollie Michaels's illustration

Shannon Brady

Shannon Brady's illustration

Kate Phillips

Kate Phillips's illustration

Pranami Bora

Pranami Bora's illustration

Nyrryl Yrrah Cadiz

Nyrryl Yrrah Cadiz's illustration

Sarita Rich

Sarita Rich's illustration

Danielle Heitmuller

Danielle Heitmuller's illustration

Sy Brontide

Sy Brontide's illustration

Katie Mazeika 

Katie Mazeika's illustration

It's so fun to check them out. Go now while the portfolio show is still online!

Illustrate, Translate, and Write On,
Lee

Success Story Panel: Amy Kumph

Moderator Alvina Ling (top L), illustrator
Amy Kumph (top R), author Pam Harris (below)

Amy Kumph earned a Bachelor of Science in interior design, a more practical path to her than an art degree, but she continued to creating murals and pottery before ultimately set her sights on illustrating. Amy lives on the East Coast, close to the sea, with her husband, three daughters and two funny little dogs. 

AMY'S FIRST BOOK is in progress right now, but she started thinking about illustrating a decade ago while raising her kids. She was reading a lot of incredible kids books that she absolutely loved and just kept thinking "I think I would like to do this, but there were a lot of people out there volleying for these positions and I felt like I wouldn't make it, and that created a little bit of fear. I won't lie to you, there was a little bit of will I ever even accomplish this goal? But I just kept going, and here I am."

Amy's favorite book as a kid

Amy's first in-person conference was the SCBWI New England Editor/Agent Day many years ago for which she wrote and illustrated a book dummy to present at different round tables over the course of the day. Amy says the positive feedback from those roundtable industry professionals was enough to keep her going for many years to come.

Until last year! When she won the SCBWI unagented illustrator portfolio show award. From that win Amy had two interviews, one with Little Brown Books, and one with Simon and Schuster, and Amy called both of those experiences "just fabulous".

But Simon and Schuster's Lauren Rille helped set Amy up with her agent, Andrea Morrison of Writers House, and in January of this year Amy found out she would be illustrating legendary Cynthia Rylant's next picture book (title to come) with Allyn Johnston of Beach Lane Books editing.

Advice Amy would give to those just starting out: 

• Give yourself time and space to be creative. 
• You be you, be true to who you are. 
• Think long and hard about what you want to actually draw or illustrate, because that passion will come through, and if you're not interested in what you're illustrating, that will be obvious.
• Have fun.
• Fear less.

Amy says she regrets not putting herself out there earlier, she lurked for years before joining or submitting to portfolio shows, and the first show she did finally enter she won! If you've worked really hard, if you've done the research, if you've done the reading, the next step is to start putting yourself out there.

from Amy's online portfolio

Editors & Agents Panel: Sonali Fry

Sonali Fry is VP & Publisher of Crown Books for Young Readers at Penguin Random House where she  acquires timeless, diverse children's books. She began her publishing career at Penguin, where she worked at Grosset & Dunlap in the managing editorial department. She then held editorial positions at Scholastic and Simon & Schuster. Prior to joining PRH in Spring 2019, she was Publisher of startup Little Bee Books, which she joined at inception and grew into three imprints. 

Sonali (she/her) focuses on board books and picture books.

Another part of her job is working with Little Tiger to craft their publishing program, with a focus on board books and picture books.

She loves working with new talent, finding new illustrators, collaborating with authors to come up with ideas, stories that are waiting to be told.

Changes in the industry

Sonali believes that post-pandemic, people have been reassessing what they want to do. Editors and publishers have been moving between houses; this can open up new opportunities for writers.

Because more publishers and agencies are more open to remote work, it increases the diversity of their workforce.

On Trends

Be wary of chasing trends. By the time the book comes out, the trend is probably going to be over.

Some trends do stick around longer, like sustainability. Some printing trends may or may not stick around, depending on the affordability.

Craft and Technique

Sonali does throw out ideas to agents and writers, will discuss the topic to find out how they approach it, asks the writer to write a synopsis. Sonali loves the collaborative process, the back-and-forth during the creative process.

She likes breaking the text into pages, which helps her figure out pacing and page turns.

Success Story Panel: Pamela N. Harris

 

Pamela N. Harris is an award-winning author of young adult novels, which include WHEN YOU LOOK LIKE US and THIS TOWN IS ON FIRE.

Pam's been writing for as long as she can remember. 

As a child when Pam went to the story her parents they would get her a new Lisa Frank notebook that she would immediate fill up with words. And, in second grade she wrote a story called the Troll Princess, and she was selected to read her story to the kindergarteners. In that moment she fell in love with telling stories to others. 

Pam discovered the SCBWI while doing research and seeing that joining the SCWI was recommended by editors and agents. She attended her first conference in LA when Judy Blume was the speaker, and, of course, she cried. 

After getting her first agent, she thought all was going to be great. But it took her subbing three different YAs and a middle grade before she got her first contract. It took nearly 8 years before her break came. Pam stayed focused over that time. She also took a short breather (from writing but not reading) and also stayed connected to the community, listening to the stories of perseverance. 

If you're brand new to the SCBWI, Pam advises taking a break from your writing when you need it, but during that time devour books. - Keep writing. Keep reading. Persevere. Continue to learn. Continue to be eager. And always take care of yourself. 

To those who are already published, Pam recommends doing your best to understand the business side of things. Be aware of all that's going on. Also, continue to follow the journey of those you admire. 

Pam shares that the biggest mistake she made was querying before she was ready. Pam queried when she was only half though a manuscript (to test out the pitch) and when the agent then asked for the full, she wasn't prepared. It meant she didn't share her best work, and it felt like a wasted opportunity. 

One piece of advice that was important for Pam to hear came from Judy Blume at that the first SCBWI she attended. She had been struggling with a beginning, and Judy Blume shared to start a story on the day your character's life changes. That bit of advice has helped her and stayed with her. 

When it comes to Pam's writing routine, it's key for Pam to be intentional. She has a busy life, with a day job, and two young children with special needs. So, when it comes to writing, she schedules it. It is on her calendar. 

Welcome and Intro with Sarah Baker

Welcome to the 2024 SCBWI Summer Conference #scbwiSummer24! We received a warm greeting from Sarah Baker, Executive Director of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.

Sarah encouraged us to meet others via the Coffee Lounge hangouts as well as other socials, to check out the Portfolio Showcase. All the links are in the conference schedule.

Sarah talked about some of the other exciting upcoming events at the conference, and she encouraged us all to check out the Conference Portfolio Showcase, where 154 members' artwork is on display. She congratulated everyone who entered.

Next up: SCBWI Success Story Panel, moderated by Alvina Ling, featuring SCBWI members Pamela Harris and Amy Kumph.

Sarah Baker (she/her) is the Executive Director of SCBWI, where she leads the SCBWI staff and works closely with the Board of Directors, the Advisory Council, and the official SCBWI volunteers. She joined the SCBWI staff in 2011. Sarah graduated from UCSB with a major in Studio Art and began her career in children’s book publishing at Penguin Young Readers Group, where she designed children’s books. Sarah is also a children’s book illustrator, with her debut illustrated picture book coming out in 2026: Becca and Bubbe's Bucket List, written by Laura Gehl, published by Rocky Pond Books.

Portfolio Showcase Highlights from SCBWI Team Blog

Kudos to everyone who entered the 2024 SCBWI Summer Conference Portfolio Showcase! Whether or not you win an award, it always takes courage to put yourself out there. Your work has been or will be viewed by many in the industry in the days to come; the gallery is open to the public for a month after the conference ends.

Lee Wind invited members of SCBWI Team Blog post a few portfolios from the Showcase that caught our eye:

Lee Wind

Jaime Temairik

Debbie Ridpath Ohi

Don Tate

Justin Campbell

Related: Index of 2024 SCBWI Summer Conference Posts.

Newcomer Orientation with Jolie Stekly

Author and writing coach Jolie Stekly was recognized as SCBWI's 2009 Member Of The Year and now welcomes hundreds of first-time attendees to the international conference in Los Angeles and New York City, helping them make the most of their experience. "It’s one of my favorite things." Jolie is one of the contributors to the just-released The Haunted States Of America (Godwin Books).

As fun as it is to meet in person, a virtual conference has the advantage of being more accessible. Plus we don't have to pick and choose which sessions to attend because we'll have access to the replays afterward.

Jolie gave us a tour of the conference website, how attendees can find their events, register for their individual events, download handouts and video replays.

Jolie also encourages attendees to make the most of the whole conference experience by visiting the Portfolio Showcase and Conference Bookstore.

Illustrators! If you post your illustrated notes on Bluesky with the #scbwiSummer24 conference hashtag and #scbwiNotes, I may include them in a special round-up at the end of the conference.

In addition to urging to check out various sessions and events during the event, Jolie Stekly suggested we check out the Coffee Lounge Virtual Hangouts...a new feature of the virtual conference that Jolie is helping with.

Some Advice From Jolie:

If you participated in the Portfolio Showcase, celebrate! You were brave enough to put yourself out there.

If you are participating in the Pitches, be fully present for other people's pitches, not just your own.

Step out of your comfort zone. Attend a Coffee Social. Find your ONE THING that you were meant to hear or experience.

If you discover areas where you feel you need improvement or would like to learn more about, check out the regional webinars. Jolie also encourages everyone to thank their regional team members since they are all volunteers! Start with peer connection, don't just focus on connecting with editors, art directors or agents. If you haven't already, check out your local Regional Chapter.

Confused about whether your work is ready for submission? You can download Jolie's free Submission-Ready Checklist from her website.

When posting on Bluesky, Instagram or other social media, use the hashtags #scbwiSummer24 and #SCBWIBIRD. You can find Jolie on Instagram at @cuppajolie on Bluesky at @cuppajolie. 

More from #scbwiSummer24: Index of 2024 SCBWI Summer Conference Posts.

UNBanning Books Panel: Arthur Levine

UNbanned Books: Fighting Book Bans

Sarah Baker, our fabulous SCBWI Executive Director, welcomed us all with this kickoff panel of the 2024 SCBWI Summer Conference; a transparent, yet inspiring chat about the landscape of the book banning.

Moderated by Arthur Levine, the panelists were:

Kyle Zimmer - President, CEO and Co-founder, First Book

Maggie Tokuda-Hall - Author

Lee Rowland, - Executive Director, National Coalition Against Censorship

Betsy Gomez - Assistant Director of Communications & Outreach, Unite Against Book Bans and the American Library Association Office for Intellectual Freedom

Right off the bat, Betsy Gomez shared several statistics that were truly eye-opening, illustrating the trends and effects of book bans in recent history. Over the past few years, there has been more and more movement toward banning books with little to no evidence of "obscenity" or "pornography." 

Arthur Levine even shared that Levine Querido had experienced a 50% drop in income/revenue directly attributed to book bans. 

What I did appreciate was how Betsy put it into context and related it to other times in history when materials were banned, giving examples like the attempted ban on comic books in the 50s or the "morality crisis" in the 80s. It showed us the bigger picture but also gave us hope that there is change on the horizon if we stand together for we've fought for our rights in the past and will do so again.

But amidst all of the stark data, Arthur urged us to "refuse to let the publishing climate change what we create or the passion for our books and creators. Our livelihood is your livelihood."

"Make books and bring them to the people who want them."

"Much of this is directed toward the least empowered groups in our country. If we want to close the gap between the privileged and unprivileged groups, we need books to reflect our diversity." 

One of my favorite quotes came from Maggie Tokuda-Hall, who then shared an article with the attendees:

"Do not obey in advance"

Maggie Tokuda-Hall

Such a good reminder: Do not censor yourself. 

"You must say what you want to say. You must tell your story because that is always going to be more powerful and compelling than anything else. There are publishers out there who will be open-you can find passion, and brave people everywhere. That is the key." - Arthur Levine

Get involved however you can!

• Buy banned books (See Panelist Bookshop Picks)
• Check the book out from the library (It tells the system that "you can't ban this book, people want it!")
• Circulate the book (Ask your library to buy the book if their budget allows)

Below are some resources shared throughout the panel. This will definitely require a rewatch because it was jam-packed with excellent information and ways to combat these book bans in order to thrive and strive!

RESOURCES AND QUICK LINKS

Ban Tool Kit Link Guide

https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRyXKZt5QpRDqD4cq17bUccIyY2rk-e2eXE8vJ6TbILF3k0GbnSv--CZ9EgMtBjVUDdMTQ6h3QiR4dT/pub

American Library Association (Challenge Reporting)

https://www.ala.org/tools/challengesupport/report

American Library Association (Banned and Challenged Books)

https://www.ala.org/bbooks

UNBanning Books Panelists Picks

https://bookshop.org/lists/unbanning-books-panelists-picks?

Unite Against BookBans

https://uniteagainstbookbans.org/ 

Unite Against BookBans (Action Toolkit)

https://uniteagainstbookbans.org/toolkit/

National Coalition Against Censorship

https://ncac.org/

National Coalition Against Censorship (Right 2 Read Network)

https://ncac.org/project/right2read

Authors Against Book Bans

https://www.authorsagainstbookbans.com/ 

Resist Authoritarianism by Refusing to Obey in Advance

https://lithub.com/resist-authoritarianism-by-refusing-to-obey-in-advance/

The conference kicks off tomorrow!

Register for the 2024 Virtual Summer Conference at www.scbwi.org

Arthur Levine

Author, Editor

About
Arthur A. Levine is the President and Editor-in-Chief of Levine Querido, an independent publisher founded in 2019 to seek out and publish exceptional books that come from places and people who have historically been overlooked. Folks say he’s a nice guy with excellent taste and a strong moral center. Visit his website at www.levinequerido.com to learn more.

https://www.levinequerido.com/

Unbanning Books Panel: Kyle Zimmer and Betsy Gomez

Kyle Zimmer is President, CEO and Co-founder of First Book. Founded in 1992, First Book is a nonprofit social enterprise on a mission to ensure that all children, regardless of their background or zip code have access to equitable education. 

Kyle talks about First Book's three major programs: A research arm with national reach, a nonprofit ecommerce site that's moved over 13 million books especially elevating diverse authors and cultures, and something they call an accelerator where First Book works to provide communities access to a range of experts in everything from mental health, to literacy, to race and culture in the classroom.

First Book put actual facts back into the book ban discourse with their national studies on diverse books in classrooms. They also started the Diverse Books for All Coalition. Over 60 organizations serve kids 0-8 and with this group First Book is "locking arms and saying we believe in purchasing, in providing diverse books that reflect the full, wonderful spectrum of peoples and cultures in our country. . . we're trying to pull together to do collective purchasing because we want the publishers to hear us loud and clear that there's a strong market for these books, that they're needed, that they're desired in these settings by formal and informal educators..."

Kyle thinks we need a mass market approach to reach beyond us, the already true believers, in protecting intellectual freedom. First Book wants many, many, many more hands on the wheel.

Kyle (L), Betsy (R)

Betsy Gomez is the Assistant Director of Communications & Outreach for Unite Against Book Bans and the American Library Association Office for Intellectual Freedom. Unite Against Book Bans is a national initiative to empower readers everywhere to stand together in the fight against censorship. ALA and its Office for Intellectual freedom actively advocates and educates in defense of intellectual freedom—the rights of library users to read, seek information, and speak freely as guaranteed by the First Amendment because intellectual freedom is a core value of the library profession, and a basic right in our democratic society. A publicly supported library provides free, equitable, and confidential access to information for all people of its community. 

The office tracks censorship data and 2023 saw the highest number of attempts and bans in recent history, with censorship attempts in libraries increasingly driven by organized groups targeting LGBTQIA+ and diverse content: 7 of the top 10 most challenged books including LGBTQIA content. Banned Books Week is a prominent public-facing program of ALA, launched in 1982 in response to Supreme Court decisions and state censorship, but you can read banned books any day of the week. Buy the panel's recommended banned book list from SCBWI's bookshop.org page or check them out from your local library.

KEEP TITLES CIRCULATING: Betsy says, "Circulation numbers do matter, especially when a book is challenged. If the library can share that the book is popular and people are checking it out they're more likely to keep it. You can also request your library to buy books if there's something you want to see more of, they may not be able to run out and buy everything you asked for, but if you want to see diverse materials in the library, ask for diverse materials."

Unbanning Books Panel: Maggie Tokuda-Hall and Lee Rowland

From top left: Arthur Levine, Lee Rowland, Maggie Tokuda-Hall, Kyle Zimmer, and Betsy Gomez

Maggie Tokuda-Hall (pictured, top right) is an award-winning author and one of the founders of Authors Against Book Bans. They are a national grassroots group of nearly 2,000 book creators (not just authors, they welcome illustrators, translators, anthology editors, etc...), and they're planning events all across the nation for this September's Banned Books week observance. "None of us fights alone."

Lee Rowland (pictured, top center) is the Executive Director of the National Coalition Against Censorship. They are a national alliance of 60 groups who all care about free expression, including SCBWI. (They turn 50 this year!) Lee is a life-long 1st amendment attorney. "The first amendment is with us," on the side of the people who believe in liberty and free expression. Public opinion is with us, too. Needs to be a popular social movement. And carrying that energy into November... Their grassroots effort: Right to Read network.

Some highlights from what Maggie Tokuda-Hall shared:

Authors Against Book Bans offers training and guidance to authors whose books have been banned, and to other book creators who want to help and speak in front of school boards or library boards, and information about what project 2025 promises.

 "Pornography" is becoming defined as what some people don't like (like the existence of Queer people), which allows the banners to criminalize the creators, and criminalize the librarians who share those books (promising on page 5 of Project 2025 to register librarians as sex offenders for carrying books with Queer characters and/or themes). Other events planned include candidate score card making activities, read-ins, and more!

"It's not about the books. It's never been about the books. ...It's about identity panic, people realizing their consolidated power is starting to wane....None of us are alone."

Creators, Never obey in advance. (Don't self-censor.) We should not be catering to what we are afraid what might happen to our books. We should create bravely. 

Publishers, Never obey in advance. Publish bravely. Be stridently on the side of the freedom to read, all the time. Things publishers can do: 1) be transparent with authors about who on your team can support authors when their book is banned. 2) make toolkits available to help. 3) report bans yourself (report to multiple different places). 4) lawsuits, sign amicus briefs, 

Some highlights from what Lee Rowland shared: 

"The law is never enough to save us. It's necessary but not sufficient." Book bans keep happening because it's a political movement - right now, led by Moms for Liberty, who have a three part agenda. 1) banning books. 2) being anti-trans. 3) killing the public education system - full stop.

Even if you're not an activist, use your public institutions. Support an author reading from banned books. Weigh in with your local government. Write a letter to the editor at your local media. 

We're winning, so the banners have shifted their tactics - they're taking banning out of spotlight and doing it out of the public eye, because they're losing the battles in public. Our greatest tool in this moment is transparency.

Full of passion and hope, the session ended with an audience Q&A.

Bottom line: How can you help? 

Maggie's advice: Buy diverse literature. And using public libraries and taking out diverse books from those libraries will help support the publisher, author, and our public institutions.

SCBWI Summer Conference Portfolio Showcase: Open For Viewing!

The SCBWI Summer Conference Portfolio Showcase is now open for public viewing! According to TeMika Grooms, this year there are 154 portfolios from around the globe, and a "variety of styles and media used to create stellar pieces of art."

Even if you aren't an illustrator, I encourage you to browse some of the amazing art. You can also show your support for your fellow creators by helping to promote this showcase in your social media. When you do, be sure to use the conference hashtag #scbwiSummer24. Gentle reminder: Never scoop and share an illustrator's art in social media unless you have their permission, especially if the image you're sharing does not have their info included.

Speaking of illustrators, isn't Francesca Mahaney's conference art fantastic? Feel free to check out the pre-conference interview with this talented young illustrator about how she was invited to be the official conference illustrator, her creative process, and what kind of illustration work she's currently seeking.

If you're participating in this year's Showcase: CONGRATS for putting yourself out there, whether or not you end up winning a prize. Putting together a portfolio can be a valuable learning experience. Find inspiration from other creatives as you browse portfolios. Many, MANY publishing professionals will be seeing your work. Also, the SCBWI keeps a record of the illustrators who participate in Showcases and refers to the list throughout the year when they are looking for members to do SCBWI-commissioned work.

Curious about the history of the SCBWI Portfolio Showcase? Read this behind-the-scenes post.

As much fun as it is to browse portfolios in person, there are advantages to browsing a virtual portfolio showcase. Here are just a few:

1. You can take your time and enjoy the art from the comfort of your own home.

2. You can search by name or keyword.

3. It's easy to click through and find out more about the illustrator.

After you click on "full submission", click on the Member name to be taking to their SCBWI page.

Have fun browsing! I have a special fondness for the SCBWI Summer Conference Portfolio Showcase because it's the event that jumpstarted my career in children's book illustration.

The Portfolio Showcase Winners will be announced on Saturday.

Related: Index of 2024 SCBWI Summer Conference Posts, Portfolio Showcase Awards.

Pre-Conference Interview with Frances Mahaney, SCBWI Summer Conference Artist

Francesca Mahaney is an illustrator who works in educational publishing. She received her BFA in Communication Design from Pratt Institute and recently finished illustrating her first early reader series, Inside Scouts. When she isn’t drawing, Francesca enjoys relaxing with her cats, watching musicals, and trying new restaurants. 

You can find out more about Francesca on her website, Instagram, and X/Twitter.

Q. I love the banner art you created for this year's SCBWI Summer Conference! How were you selected to be the illustrator?

Frances: Good question! I don’t know the exact reason, but I’ve been a member of SCBWI, attended conferences, and participated in the showcase in the past. Each conference I’ve loved seeing the banner art, so being asked to create a piece for the Summer Conference was amazing!

Here's what TeMika Grooms, SCBWI's Manager, Illustration and Design, had to say about the choice of Francesca as the artist for this year's Summer Conference:

"When selecting an artist to promote a conference, we often start by reviewing those who were recognized in past Portfolio Showcases. We consider the quality of work, appropriateness for the children’s book market, and an ability to create memorable art. We take great joy in spotlighting the artist to be seen by fellow members and professionals in children's book publishing.

"As we combed through portfolios, Francesca Mahaney’s work stood out because of the angular lines, color palette, and the way she plays with planes within her work. Her website includes really interesting illustrations. Francesca was very professional and provided several sketches and final art files that could be easily used in our visual assets. She was a perfect choice to be this year's Summer Conference artist!"

Q. How did you create the art? What guidance did the SCBWI provide, if any? What was your process?

Frances: Since there was no specific theme for this conference, the brief was open-ended, which is always exciting! 

I wanted to illustrate something related to reading and summer, and my mind kept thinking about the reading programs where volunteers read to animals in shelters. In my experience, animals make great reading buddies, so I was excited about this concept! 

The SCBWI provided me with several mockups with text layouts so I could picture how the work would look on various platforms. From there, I used my iPad to sketch out the piece and then moved into color. Then I sent the file to the talented TeMika Grooms for the finishing touches. I’m so happy with the way it all turned out!

Q. What do you enjoy most when you're creating art?

Frances: The blend of creativity and problem-solving, bringing a character’s personality to life, and communicating with more than words alone are all incredibly fulfilling. But my all-time favorite is adding movement to a piece. Conveying a sense of energy and motion in a still image is the best feeling. For me, it’s just as fun and energizing as performing on a stage or dancing around your room.

Q. What kind of illustration work are you looking for?

Frances: I’m always open to new picture book projects! I love working with stories that give me the opportunity to research and learn about new topics (the more niche, the better). I am especially drawn to STEAM-centered stories. 

My favorite projects are ones that combine STEM learning with the visual arts, music, and/or theater.

Team Blog Intros: Justin Campbell

Hello hello!

I’m Justin Campbell, author/illustrator and professional performer/choreographer based in Brooklyn, NY and I am so excited to be joining Team Blog again this summer!

A little about my journey:

A graduate of Montclair State University with a BFA in Dance and a Minor in Art Studio & Design (Illustration), I now perform professionally, nationally, and internationally. I’ve had the opportunity to perform in beautiful countries, in stunning theatres alongside so many amazing artists—

BUT—

With the closing of the theatres during the pandemic, I was unable to dance, sing, act, rehearse, perform, twist, leap, slide, jive, kick, spin, shimmy, shake —well, you get the picture—which sent me into a major slump as so many of us experienced. But soon the relentless buzzing of the artistic bumblebee filled my head, and I had to answer its call. So I picked up a pencil and sketchbook, and reconnected with my illustrator roots, which was originally my dream profession. 

After countless hours of self-administered workshops and foundational work, I was introduced to SCBWI and it clicked for me. I had found a community of authors and artists that encouraged me and kept the fire of creativity burning. A member of SCBWI since 2021, I’ve had the privilege to participate in so many events and activities, my favorite being the conferences! 

As an artist and author, I create stories that inspire children of all ages, cultures and backgrounds. I love mixing visual and performance art, being inspired by my background in dance, movement, and theater. With the desire to be the “griot” of the family, I write stories that explore, and celebrate the interconnectivity, imperfection, and uniqueness of BIPOC people while challenging stereotypes and narrow constructions of identity, gender norms, and the stigmatization of queerness. I aim to reveal the softness, gentleness, and vulnerability of Black/Brown characters.

I write for the child I was who struggled to navigate a world that did not see him and my greatest wish is to be a true storyteller OF and FOR the world by adding to the legacy of BIPOC stories and characters, paying tribute to ancestral influence, and helping facilitate change for the future.

For more information about my performance career, visit www.justincampbellnyc.com or my illustration website, www.mermancam.art

I am also a part of the FABULOUS Queer KidLit Creators, a community group of Queer-identified authors, translators, and illustrators of books for children, tweens, and teens. Founded and hosted by the incredible Lee Wind, we have been meeting once a month for almost 4 YEARS!

All that said, what I’ve learned throughout my journey is that you can’t go at it alone! I’m so glad I am a part of such a vibrant community and can’t wait to dive into the sparkling waters of this Summer Conference!

 

Follow me!
Instagram
Bluesky 

For more, follow #SCBWIsummer24 

Register at www.scbwi.org

Free UnBanning Books Panel and Last Call For the SCBWI Summer 2024 Virtual Conference - #SCBWIsummer24 Starts Aug 1, 2024!

Whether of not you'll be attending the online conference, we hope you'll join the SCBWI community for Unbanning Books - a free panel discussion with Betsy Gomez, Arthur Levine, Maggie Tokuda-Hall, Lee Rowland, and Kyle Zimmer on Aug 1, 2024 from 2:30pm-3:30pm Pacific. You can register for free here.

You can find out about all the #SCBWIsummer24 keynotes, breakout sessions, panels, socials and so much more here. 

Hope to see you at one or both! 

And make sure to bookmark The Official SCBWI Conference Blog, where the entire #SCBWIsummer24 Team Blog will be posting live updates, reports, and inspiration. Cheers to Don Tate, Jaime Temairik, Jolie Stekly, Justin Campbell, and Debbie Ridpath Ohi for joining me (Lee Wind) on Team Blog for this summer conference!

Illustrate, Translate, and Write On,
Lee

Team Blog Intros: Meet Debbie Ridpath Ohi

Counting down the days until the SCBWI Summer Conference! I have a special fondness for the Summer Conference because my own children's book career got jumpstarted in 2010 because of this event; you can read details here, as well as advice I wish I could tell my younger self.

For those who don't know me, I'm Debbie Ridpath Ohi.

Once upon a time I was a computer programmer/analyst. Now I write and illustrate books for young people! My illustrations appear in books by Judy Blume, Michael Ian Black, Linda Sue Park, Rob Sanders, and others. My home publisher is Simon & Schuster Children's Books, where I have the privilege of working with Justin Chanda and Laurent Linn.

I'm currently working on illustrations for I'M BUSY, written by Michael Ian Black and illustrated by me (Simon & Schuster), and I have a solo picture book coming out Sept. 17, 2024 called I WANT TO READ *ALL* THE BOOKS.

Excited to be on SCBWI Team Blog! Whether you're an SCBWI Conference newcomer or a seasoned pro, I recommend attending Jolie Stekly's Orientation Session on August 1st; it's a great way to start the event. In addition to contributing to the SCBWI Conference Blog, I'll be doing some live-posting from Bluesky with the #scbwiSummer24 hashtag.

For those on Bluesky, I've also created:

#scbwiSummer24 custom feed: Picks up Bluesky posts tagged with #scbwiSummer24 or #scbwiTeamBlog. Empty right now, since I only JUST created it.

SCBWI Feed: Searches SCBWI-related lists (like the ones below) for #SCBWI hashtag as well as others related to kidlit or YAlit.

SCBWI Regions: Click the "About" tab to see a list of SCBWI Region accounts who are on Bluesky.

SCBWI List: Click the "About" tab to see a list of those on Bluesky who are members or supporters.

Also don't forget to follow SCBWI Team Bloggers who are on Bluesky! 

Lee Wind @leewind.bsky.social
Don Tate - @dontate.bsky.social
Justin Campbell - @themermancam.bsky.social
Jolie Stekly - tba
Jaime Temairik - tba
Debbie Ridpath Ohi - @debbieohi.com

For those new to Bluesky, I have some Starter Threads, feeds and lists, tips and resources in this blog post. Bluesky recently launched user-created "Starter Packs" to help new users connect with others, so feel free to check the "Starter Packs" tab in my profile to find KidLit/YA Agents, Editors, Librarians, Publishers, Book Bloggers/Reviewers, etc.

Also do check out the KidLit Mega Feed, a collaborative Bluesky feed that picks up #kidlit and related hashtags kidlit Lists curated by others in the community. Admins: Me, Charlene Chua, Brian Kirby. Moderators include Jaymie Heilman, Diana Sousa, Erica Lee Schlaikjer, Julie Hedlund, and Kellie Nicely. It's been exciting to see the kidlit community growing on Bluesky! (Pssst: Educators, too! School Library Journal asked me to write an article about Bluesky for their August issue.)

Looking forward to seeing you all at the virtual SCBWI Summer Conference!

Team Blog Intros: Meet Lee Wind

 

Scenes from the recent American Library Association Conference, from top left: me and publisher Cynthia Sherry in the IPG booth just before my signing copies of my YA novel A Different Kind of Brave (Duet Books/Interlude Press/Chicago Review Press); me posing in the Reycraft Booth with a promotional peach and a copy of my newest picture book Love of the Half-Eaten Peach, illustrated by Jieting Chen and due out Sep 3, 2024; and me in the Lerner booth, marveling at the giant image of my newest nonfiction for readers 11 and up, The Gender Binary Is a Big Lie, due out Aug 6, 2024; and me speaking to a crowd of 45 or so librarians on the diversity stage about how the gender binary really is a big lie!

Hi SCBWI community!

I'm really excited to once again be the organizer—and proud member—of SCBWI Team Blog for this Summer 2024 virtual conference.

Allow me to briefly introduce myself:

As an author, I write books for kids and teens (picture books, nonfiction for ages 11 and up, and YA novels), the kind of books that if I'd had them as a Gay Jewish kid would have changed my life. And because publishing is unpredictable, I have three books out in 2024 (see caption and photo above.)

Some of my books have been challenged/banned, but I didn't write them for the haters. I write them for the young people who need to know Queer history, feel Queer hope, and access Queer joy.

To that end, right now I'm running the BRAVE kickstarter to raise funds to empower hundreds of LGBTQIA2+ and Allied teens with their own copy of my gay teen action adventure romance A Different Kind of Brave -- as I explain in the campaign notes, "My book is saying that we queer people can be our authentic selves, find love, live an adventure, save the day, be surrounded by an awesome group of diverse friends, and have our happily ever afters, too.” The campaign runs through Saturday July 20, 2024 at 6:50am Pacific, and you can learn more here: bit.ly/BRAVEkickstarter

I'm also the host and founder of Queer KidLit Creators, a community group of Queer-identified authors, translators, and illustrators of books for children, tweens, and teens. 

With that same community-organizing hat, I'll be hosting the LGBTQ+ and Allies social at this conference Saturday Aug 3 at 4pm Pacific. I hope to see you there!

Outside of the KidLit world, I have a great day-job for the nonprofit Independent Book Publishers Association, my husband and I have been together more than 27 years, we have a grown daughter, and I live in Los Angeles.

You can learn more about me and my books at my website, and I invite you to connect on socials: Bluesky, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

Here's to a wonderful conference ahead!
Lee

P.S. - If you're interested in crowdfunding (even if you're traditionally published), I did a free podcast about that, with 12 tips. You can listen here, or on YouTube.

We're Getting Excited! Have You Registered for #SCBWIsummer24 Yet?

 

Inspiring Keynotes!

Fascinating Panels!

Practical Craft and Business Breakout Sessions!

Helpful Peer Critiques!

Community-connecting Socials!

... And so much more! Check out the full conference schedule, and faculty, and offerings.

The online conference starts August 1, but you can still register!

Hope to see you online--* 

We have amazing team of bloggers (even if you're attending, you can't be everywhere at once, so keeping up with this conference blog, as well as team blog's social media posts (like on Bluesky) will offer you an even more expansive, informative and inspiring experience. 

Your SCBWI Team Blog for this Summer 2024 Virtual Conference is:

Debbie Ridpath Ohi

Don Tate

Jaime Temairik

Jolie Stekly

Justin Campbell

and me, Lee Wind

Each of the bloggers will be introducing themselves here before the conference, so stay tuned!**

Illustrate, Translate, and Write On,
Lee

*I would have put an exclamation point there, but seven, I think, should be the limit with a post this brief.
**Ack - that made eight.