MEMBER GOOD NEWS!! Congratulations to Jennifer Grant! Her book,Consider the Night Sky, Book 3, comes out September 1! Congratulations to Laura Sprtel! Her debut book, Fridays are for Fish Frys, was released 7/21/26! Reach out to Jennifer and Laura on our website: www.scbwi.org/regions/illi...

MARK YOUR CALENDARS! Get Real! Writing Realistic Fiction That Resonates with Editor Adam Blackman Hosted by: Southern Breeze More info at: www.scbwi.org/events/get-r...

We are having a Summer Party! Join Us! Wednesday, August 12 6:00 – 7:30pm 2608 Isabella St. in Evanston Bring a dish to share or a bottle of wine, or both! Please RSVP to crims@aol.com. Look for RSVP info on our Regional Calendar and Good News: www.scbwi.org/regions/illi...

We're collecting swag from 2024-2026 Authors & Illustrators for the 2026 AISLE Conference. Mail in your swag to our PAL Coordinator from August 1 to August 30th: Look for mailing instructions on our Good News newsletter: www.scbwi.org/regions/illi...

Read the new Issue of Prairie Wind! Want to write or illustrate in an upcoming issue? Check out this issue for an opportunity to submit directly to our editor! Email Myania Rankins, Creative Director. Look for the contact info in our Good News Newsletter linked below. 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: First 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...

MEMBER GOOD NEWS! Congratulations to Robin Currie! Her most recent book, Just Enough Room for Christmas, won a 2026 SELAH award, 2nd place in the Children's Picture Book category at the Blue Ridge Christian Writers Conference. Contact Robin on our site: myemail.constantcontact.com/SCBWI-IL-Goo...

Please help us welcome our newest Regional Team Members! Andy Wowor and Lauren Griffin will be joining the Regional Team as co-Assistant Regional Advisors! Welcome our new team members and get involved via the link below: myemail.constantcontact.com/SCBWI-IL-Goo...

GREAT NEWS!! We are excited to announce and new partnership with Enterprise Mobility, giving members exclusive access to discounted rates with Alamo, Enterprise, and National for personal travel. Copy the link below to explore discounts: partners.rentalcar.com/scbwi/

Hear directly from the people inside children’s publishing about how banned books are changing acquisitions, sales, and the stories being told. How to Watch: Watch the livestream on the SCBWI YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@theSCBWI/st...

DOODLES & DRAFTS Live-Only Event Date: Saturday, August 22nd Time: 10 – 12 noon Eastern Everyone is welcome to participate in this free, live-only virtual event for all writers and illustrators. Register here by August 17: www.scbwi.org/events/INSCB...

VOTING IS NOW OPEN! Voting for finalists is open now and includes a very talented member from our region - NICOLE M. HEWITT! Good luck to all of the finalists! Look for the link to voting on our website: myemail.constantcontact.com/SCBWI-IL-Goo...

This recorded webinar is open to SCBWI members and non-members! July 10th, 2026 12 pm Pacific Time Register Now: www.scbwi.org/events/ca-sf... Translating Children's Books Across Cultures by CA: SF/South

Take a trip to visit our neighbors at SCBWI Ohio North! Escape, Create, and Connect Join us for the Skipping Stones Writers and Illustrators Retreat at the historic 577 in Perrysburg, Ohio. Take the next step toward your creative goals and skip stones with us! www.scbwi.org/events/ohio-...

REGISTRATION OPENS TODAY! Join us this fall for a one-day virtual conference! Sunday, Oct 4, 2026 Look for more info 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 Zoom link on our website www.scbwi.org/regions/illi...

✨ The Spring/Summer issue of Prairie Wind drops Monday, 6/29! ✨ We're asking the big question: What is the title of the first book or series you read that ignited your love for reading? Share yours! Drop the title in the comments, or post a photo or video with your book and tag @SCWBI.Illinois

MEMBER GOOD NEWS! 🏆 Carol Fisher Saller 🎉 Machelle A. Bailey 📚 Stephanie Daly This is what happens when writers keep showing up for their craft. Congratulations! 💛 Look for ways to connect on our website: website:https://www.scbwi.org/regions/illinois/regional-calendar-and-good-news

We’re excited to announce the launch of SCBWI Critique Groups! Whether you are an author, illustrator, or translator, this is your invitation to find your people and sharpen your craft. Look for info on our website website:https://www.scbwi.org/regions/illinois/regional-calendar-and-good-news

Want to go on a road trip?! Head to Nashville, Tennessee September 26 - 27 for the SCBWI Midsouth Conference! Look for more info on their website website:https://www.scbwi.org/regions/illinois/regional-calendar-and-good-news

Join Published Author Srividhya Venkat for POWER HOUR! Work in silence with other creators virtually for two 30-minute periods with five-minute breaks to discuss what you accomplished. JUNE 9 & 23 9 AM on Zoom Look for Zoom link on our website: www.scbwi.org/regions/illi...

DON’T FORGET! Writing contest closes tomorrow! Writing Brief: What took root or grew unexpectedly? We invite SCBWI-IL members to write a 12-word Seed Starter for the Fall Harvest. Look for more info on our website website:https://www.scbwi.org/regions/illinois/regional-calendar-and-good-news

Join us for our MONTHLY MEMBER MEETUP! Drop in to chat with Illinois members! Share your Good News and make connections. WHEN: Fist of every month. TIME: 7PM CST WHERE: ZOOM Look for the Zoom link on our website:https://www.scbwi.org/regions/illinois/regional-calendar-and-good-news

MEMBER GOOD NEWS! Our member, author Sara Fujimura, is a finalist in the Soon to Be Famous Illinois Author Project for her indie YA novel BREATHE. Cheer her on via social media! Let us know about your good news on our website: www.scbwi.org/regions/illi...

Big news! 🎉 After winning our Many Voices Prize, GAURI DALVI PANDYA is now a client with Storm Literary Agency! We’re so proud of her talent, hard work, and creativity—and can’t wait to see where her stories go next. ✨ Keep an eye on our socials for more contests, workshops, and opportunities!

MVP WINNER, GAURI DALVI PANDYA! We look forward to all that will come of your prize-winning PB manuscript, FIRST FEAST! As the Many Voices Prize winner, Gauri will receive two 1:1 30-minute Zoom consultations and a written critique with our judge. Plus, an opportunity to query her.

Join us as we learn how to jump into the rabbit hole to find golden nuggets to bring our stories to life for children and teens! Author Rebecca Siegel is an enthusiastic TikTok storyteller and real-life adventurer. Look for the Zoom link on our website: www.scbwi.org/regions/illi...

REMINDER! ✨ Calling All Published Authors! ✨ Have a new book coming out between January - July 2026? We’d love to feature your release in Spring Prairie Wind’s “Season’s Crop”! 🌾 Fill out the form by May 15, 2026, to be included. Look for the form on our website: www.scbwi.org/regions/illi...

Illustrate the 2026 Fall Harvest Masthead Banner based on the theme of Community Gardens! Entry must be received by 11:59 pm on May 15th, 2026. Late submissions will not be accepted. illustration will help set the tone for the event! Look for info 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...