Our Chapter

Our Mission

NC/NE Texas SCBWI

The North Central/Northeast Texas Chapter of SCBWI is an affiliate of the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators, the only international organization dedicated to meet the need of people who write, illustrate, or share a love of children’s literature. Through our conferences, critique groups, workshops, monthly meetings, and newsletters, we offer a local network of support to connect you not only with critical information about writing and illustrating, but also with new friends. No matter what your level of interest – whether you are a professional writer-illustrator, a beginner or somewhere in-between – if you love children’s literature, we’d love to have you join us! For more information, check out our FAQs section, or contact us at info@northtexasscbwi.org.

Our History

Linda Powley, Regional Advisor

On March 27, 1982 a group of folks who loved children’s literature met to form the Dallas-Fort Worth Society of Children's Book Writers. At this meeting three critique groups were formed and a schedule of quarterly chapter meetings set up with the spring meeting being an annual all-day conference. It cost $30 to belong to National SCBW, $5 to support the local chapter, and one meeting was devoted to exploring the use of a personal computer with estimated costs for a simple system running from $3000 to $5000!Since then we've grown from three critique groups to eleven, not counting the two online groups, from a houseful of workshop goers to the several hundred conference attendees in one of the Metroplex hotels, and, most importantly, from one or two published writers to twenty-six published authors in 1995 to which we can safely add another dozen today.

There's no doubt about it. If you want to write for children, we have the magic. If you're new, join us at both the local and national level. If you’ve been around awhile then you know how great it is to be a part of something as exciting as writing or illustrating for children.

- Mary E. Penson

Carl Watson
Assistant Regional Advisor

Our Photo Album:
From the Mixed-up Files of ... Mrs. Linda L. Powley?

	2006 Conference Saturday, October 7th: The View from Saturday couldn't have been more fun and encouraging than it was, don't you think? Thank you, Diane Roberts & Sue Ward (our two awesome conference directors) for all your hard work and magic! Photos: Jim Haynes
Sure, the experience of writing your novel can be A Great and Terrible Beauty, but author Libba Bray explained to the audience that creating something that feels true is worth all the anxiety!
	It's Like This, Cat : you've got to be able to find the truth of your story. Nancy Mercado of Dial Books said the truth is different than the plot or theme of a book, but it can be just as important.
If you can be The Giver of something that resonates with readers, then Andrea Menotti of Chronicle Books wants you as one of her authors!
	Artist representative Lori Nowicki layed it out for listeners in Black and White: an art rep can save artists' time and help 'em avoid the pitfalls of contracts and negotiations.
Illustrator Don Tate reminded the audience that although children's illustration can not promise fame & fortune, it is beyond a Shadow of a doubt, worth doing.
	A Story A Story--but the best one you can tell--is all our panelists of experts wanted to guide conference attendees towards. Linda Powley, Diane Roberts, and Sue Ward (front row) introduced panelists and moderated the Q&A session.
You can Number the Stars, but can you number all of the things Kathy Lay has done for our SCBWI chapter? Congratulations to the 2006 Haynes Award winner!
	They Were Strong and Good members already, but how can we thank Betsy & Jim Haynes for volunteering to be next year's conference directors? How 'bout volunteering to help, too?

More Photos