Greetings, Art and Writer Peeps!

I was thrilled this year when asked by our SCBWI Southern Breeze region (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) if I would lend my “Writer Mouse” illustration image for use in the annual Writing Contest logo.  (Thanks, Cathy Hall, for the suggestion.)

This creative little creature hangs out in my Etsy shop, in the form of a print matted to 8X10,  in a smaller version in a fun mini frame, and in a diminutive version on Christmas ornaments closer to the holidays. (The larger pen & ink/pencil original was purchased by a friend.)

Now this Mousie is online and lookin’ fine… thanks to the amazing talents of TeMika Grooms, SCBWI Illustrator Coordinator, who added the perfect doses of digital magic.  (I asked her if she’d come make a similar transformation to my house?!)

What about that contest, you ask? Each year, SCBWI Southern Breeze sponsors a free writing contest judged by industry professionals – entries must be received by June 30! The contest is open to Current SCBWI members in the Southern Breeze Region and those who have  attended the previous WIK or Springmingle Conference.  Find all the details here. (And if you enter, good luck!)

SCBWI also sponsors an Illustration Contest in January in memory of one of our beloved and oh-so-talented members, Liz Conrad, who left us much too soon.  Find out about that contest here too.

If you are interested in writing or illustrating for children, SCBWI should be your first stop! (After the library, of course.)  :0)