Banner logo by Ashley Belote



Hi, Carolinas! It's Ashley, Becky, Elizabeth, & Erica


1. FALL CONFERENCE - There's still time!

We've had a last-minute opening -



Advanced PB Critique with agent Sean McCarthy. Are you an advanced PB writer looking for in-depth critique? Take your manuscript to the next level with this full-day intensive!

Learn More


ATTN: Our next Carolinas conference will be in fall 2026.

Stay tuned for details about our 2025 Fall Retreat.

2. Conference Faculty Spotlight

Meet two of the industry pros joining us this fall in the Carolinas!

Kelly Delaney,

senior editor with Crown Books for Young Readers


EXPLORE: Check out this list of books Kelly has edited and published!


Don't miss Kelly's in-depth look at getting your PB ready for the marketplace!



Alyssa E. Henkin, founder of Birch Path Literary


QUOTABLE: "My favorite books are character-driven, quirky, heartfelt, slyly humorous, and ultimately hopeful."


Check out Alyssa's carefully curated revision intensive for novelists!

3. Mingle, Anyone?

NEW MINGLE ALERT!


Saturday, August 3rd from 1:00-3:00 pm at the Hoppy House Taproom & Hangout Place, 10966 Chapel Hill Rd, Morrisville, NC 27560. Hosted by Paige Payne.


If you wish to attend, please contact Elizabeth Rawls at carolinas-ara@scbwi.org.

4. Ignite the Spark

Join us!


What is it? The Carolinas' favorite virtual meet-up, every third Tuesday on Zoom.


This month's meeting: July 16th, 7:30-8:30 pm ET. We will welcome Ashley Belote, author/illustrator of SHEEPWRECKED, as our special guest! Ashley is the IC for SCBWI Carolinas and will supply the prompt for the evening.


Please use the sign-up tab in the Ignite the Spark email sent out each month.


Questions? Contact Elizabeth Rawls at carolinas-ara@scbwi.org.

New Participants are WELCOME! And we are still looking for special guests to join us! If you are interested, please email John Stong and Linda Gerber at ignitethesparkcarolinas@gmail.com.


*Sign-up closes at 11:59 p.m. ET the night before the event.*

5. Follow us on our NEW WEBSITE

To be a member of SCBWI Carolinas and receive our most current news, you must "follow" our region in your Member Home area of the new website.


  • At scbwi.org, click MEMBER HOME
  • Click MY PROFILE, then EDIT MY PROFILE
  • Scroll to "Set your SCBWI home region..."
  • Select "Carolinas" from the drop-down menu and click UPDATE



Hint: You can follow other regions, too!

6. Book Fairies

Book Fairies Logo by K.A.K. Lecky



Book Fairies

July 2024


Ashley Belote

SHEEPWRECKED

Book link


Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams

Illustrator: Toby Allen

SCHOOL FOR MAGICAL MONSTERS #1: RISE OF PEGASUS

Book link



Have a new release coming? 

PAL members, watch your inbox for the monthly Book Fairies invitation.


For more information about our Book Fairies program, click here.


7. Book Fairies First Look Interviews

Don't miss our video from June:


Micki Bare interviews author/illustrator Constance Lombardo about her latest picture book,

ITTY BITTY BETTY BLOB


Be sure to catch up on ALL of our SCBWI Carolinas BFFL Interviews

on our SCBWI Carolinas YouTube channel.

8. Carolinas Critique Connection

Unique Online Critique Opportunity!


An online MG/YA critique group has an opening! They meet monthly and each member submits up to 5,000 words at the beginning of the month with all critiques due at the end of the month. They follow SCBWI critique guidelines but operate without a designated moderator. If interested, send a 500-ish word sample to Dave Kwee at kweeda@gmail.com. Group members will send you back their feedback and a sample of their work for you to critique. This allows all participants to determine if it’s a good fit.


If you are interested in joining this critique group or starting one in your area, please use the form below.

Critique Group Inquiry

9. SCBWI Carolinas Member Spotlight


Meet the next creator participating in the

SCBWI Carolinas Member Spotlight:

YOU!


SCBWI Carolinas is proud to highlight members who are self-published or published by independent publishing houses. If you would like to participate, email Ashley Belote the following information:


  • Author or Illustrator Name
  • Publications (Title and ISBN)
  • A link to your website
  • Headshot