Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Arizona (scbwi az)

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Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Arizona (scbwi az)

Serving Arizona since 1988.

05/13/2026

Guess who is coming to the November 14, 2026, Arizona SCBWI Beyond the Page Conference? We are thrilled to announce Ariel Richardson, Senior Agent with Chronicle Books, Charlotte Wenger, agent with The Prospect Agency, and award-winning author, Cynthia Harmony! More information coming soon.

05/05/2026

Who are you excited to meet at the upcoming Beyond the Pages conference? Follow along as we share about all the amazing classes, authors, illustrators, agents, publishers and more who will be at our November 14, 2026 Arizona conference.

This week's spotlights are:

Adam Rex is the author and illustrator of more than forty books for kids. These include New York Times bestselling picture books like Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich and School’s First Day of School, (with illustrator Christian Robinson).

G. F. Miller is the author of multiple upper-MG and lower-YA books. Her published works include MAYBE WE'RE MEANT TO LAST (2026, Aladdin), WHAT IF YOU FALL FOR ME FIRST (2025, Aladdin), NOT IF YOU BREAK UP WITH ME FIRST (2024, Aladdin), and GLIMPSED (2021, S&S BFYR). She is a two-time recipient of the Jr. Tome Book Award.

Natascha Morris is an Agent for Tobias Literary Agency. Natascha is primarily looking for bold, emotional narratives with layered characters; lyrical and atmospheric writing; voicey genre-blending tales; big stakes; speculative worlds filled with haunting, quietly wondrous magic; sharply funny rom-coms and coming of age narratives; witty and heartfelt picture books; and fearless storytellers tackling big ideas.

04/29/2026

"Thank you to everyone who submitted artwork for SCBWI-AZ Conference theme prompt, 'Beyond The Page.'

It was great to see all of the submissions provided. The submissions were presented to the Conference Planning Committee and a winner was chosen from those entries.

The committee has selected the winning submission and would like to congratulate Jim Paillot!

Jim's artwork will be used to help promote the conference and used in the collateral and signage for the event. Way to go, Jim!

04/22/2026

Arizona SCBWI is launching the E&I Desert Bloom Scholarship for the conference on May 1 (accepting submissions May 1-31).

The application will be open on our community website. Check out the details and rules to apply.

04/19/2026

All the work behind the scenes is paying off. The SCBWI AZ Fall Conference is shaping up to be an event you won't want to miss.

Stay tuned for more surprise releases.

04/11/2026

Remember when you started writing or illustrating? That special feeling you had, certain that something magical was about to happen?

Sometimes hurdles can dull your enthusiasm, which is why connections with fellow members are so important. We look forward to connecting and reigniting that flame.

04/06/2026

Lori Alexander joins us for Author Talk. Is it talent or persistance that is more important in your wrting journey.

03/31/2026

SCBWI AZ Webinar - Back to the Trenches

For writers and illustrators who have parted with their agents (whether it was self-imposed or the agent left the agency for their own reasons), and how to weather that storm and find their way to another agent. Amy is going to focus on how to word a query letter and approach agents.

Register Here:

https://www.scbwi.org/events/scbwi-az-webinar-back-to-the-trenches

Cost:

Member: $25.00

Non-Member: $45.00

Date: Saturday, April 4, 2026

Time: 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm PST (Note: Phoenix does not change time during DLS)

Zoom Information

If you are unable to attend the program live, a recording will be made available within a week after the event concludes. The recording will be available to registered attendees for 30 days after the recording link has been posted.

Critiques

Amy Trueblood has agreed to provide up to 10 written critiques of query letters of creators who have lost their agents and don’t know how to get back in. Only registered attendees who sign up and pay for a critique when registering are eligible.

Query Letter Critiques - Amy will electronically edit each person’s query letter which should fit on one page - no more than 400 words.

Amy Trueblood

Amy Trueblood is the award-winning author of two Young Adult novels, NOTHING BUT SKY and ACROSS A BROKEN SHORE. Both of her novels are Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selections. Across a Broken Shore was also named a “RISE” selection for Best Feminist Books in Children’s Literature by the American Library Association and has received gold medals for historical fiction in both the Independent Publishers Awards and The Moonbeam Children’s Awards. While she grew up only ten minutes from Disneyland, which instilled an early love for storytelling, she now calls Arizona home.

Social media: Instagram - Website: amytruebloodauthor.com

09/05/2025

SATURDAY • IN-PERSON

September 6, 2025

Time: 11:00 am - 1:00 pm

Location:

Literally Bookshop

397 S Gilbert Rd, Gilbert, AZ 85296

FREE for the whole family!

You're invited to celebrate a new year of books!

Games, prizes, and giveaways!

Fun for the whole family!

Priscilla Burris
Violet Duncan
Matt McMann
Brittany Pomales
G.F. Miller
Jim Paillot
Kim Tomsic
Kathryn Rammell
Dianne White

Join the SCBWI PALs on their annual Book Birthday Bash as they celebrate nine talented children's book authors and illustrators and their newest publications. Stamp your book birthday passport, play games, do crafts, and hear about the latest and greatest kidlit! Once called "even better than Universal Studios," you won't want to miss this family-friendly event!

Address

12640 North Tatum Boulevard
Phoenix, AZ
85032

Website

http://arizona.scbwi.org/

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