SCBWI Near West Suburban Network

As a network representative for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) in Illinois, I run an ongoing program of events for the Near West Suburban Networks. Events are free and open to members and not-yet-members. All are welcome. To see the upcoming programming in my network and also the other wonderful network offerings across Illinois, please see the SCBWI IL Networks page. Our current slate of programming is detailed below.

Holiday Jolly

Wednesday, December 3, 2025, 7:00 PM, at Dandelion Bookshop, 139 South Oak Park Avenue, Oak Park, IL

No matter which holiday you celebrate, join us to toast the festive season, the milestones and achievements of our respective creative journeys, and connect with our kidlit community in our new network home, Dandelion Bookshop. All are welcome! Please bring along a beverage of your choice plus a dessert or appetizer to share. RSVP to attend.

Click here for parking and transport links.

Build a Custom Creativity Toolkit for 2026

Wednesday, January 14, 2026, 7:00 PM, at Dandelion Bookshop, 139 South Oak Park Avenue, Oak Park, IL

Jump-start your creative goals for the New Year! Join us as we develop practices to support your goals and discuss tools to inspire you, keep you focused, and reset when things don’t go to plan. We’ll check in on our progress at our June meeting. Bring a pen and paper to record your personalized plan.

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How to Make an Agent Fall in Love with You

Wednesday, February 11, 2026, 7:00 PM, at Dandelion Bookshop, 139 South Oak Park Avenue, Oak Park, IL

During Valentine’s week, we’re thrilled to welcome Jenna Satterthwaite of Storm Literary Agency for a discussion on MG/YA publishing, life as a literary agent, and what she looks for in a submission. She is also a published author and will share views from the writer’s perspective as well. Her latest novel, The New Year’s Party, was released on Nov 4.

Attendees of the event will have the opportunity to submit their work. Join us for the conversation and bring your questions!

Click here for parking and transport links.

New Network Book Club

Our new network book club begins in March 2026, and we’ll discuss Scattergood by H.M. Bouwman.

Book Club Discount Info: Purchase your copy of Scattergood from Dandelion Bookshop for store pickup or delivery to your doorstep and receive a 10% discount.

Creative writing workshops

I run a series of classes, both online and in person, including:

- - Storytelling in Word and Image (Grades 4 +)
  - Story Builder Workshop Series (Grades 4+),
  - Writing City: An Enriching Literary Experience (Grades 5 +),
  - Story Explorers (Grades 1-2), and
  - Zoom Story Shorts (an online class that promotes a daily short burst of creativity).

See Program Options for more information about each class. To find out about scheduling, please Contact Me.