Illinois NETWORKS Click here to return to Main Page
NETWORKS offers Illinois SCBWI members easy, handy access to programs, writing groups, networking opportunities and other interested (and interesting!) writers and illustrators. Check below for your particular NETWORKS’ time, location and Shop Talk.
Interested in starting a NETWORKS group in your area? Contact NETWORKS
Coordinators Heidi Bee Roemer ( 708-460-5210
/ Hroemer@hotmail.com)
for the Chicagoland area or Alice McGinty (
217-328-1994 / alice@mcgintyzone.com)
for areas south of Chicago.
**Please note, hovering your cursor or clicking on
representatives' names will display some brief biographical info about
them. This works only for the names that are highlighted as a link.
Spring 2008
Chicago
Representatives:
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Please watch listserv for upcoming programs or contact Network Representatives.
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Chicago's Southland
Representatives:
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For more information and current shop talk topics, visit the Chicago
Southland blog at http://scbwisouthchicago.blogspot.com.
Shop Talks:
Second Thursday of every month.
Daytime Talk: 9 a.m., Barnes and Noble, 105 Orland Park
Place, LaGrange Rd. (Rte. 45) & 153rd St. in Orland Park
Evening Talk: 7 p.m., Barnes and Noble, Orland Park
Joint Program with Naperville Area Network:
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Featuring Paula Morrow, former editor of Babybug and Ladybug
magazines.
TBA: Location and details. Please watch listserv
for update.
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| Northern Suburbs |
Cook County
Representatives:
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Shop Talk:
Second Wednesday of each month, from 7-8:45 p.m.
The Book Stall at Chestnut Ct., 811 Elm Street, Winnetka. 847-446-8880.
New members and visitors are always welcome to our monthly gathering of
children's writers and illustrators.
We ask that participants contribute $15 per season (September through
August of the following year) towards a general SCBWI fund that pays for
honoraria for our speakers.
Programs:“Informal Program” meetings will be networking,
biz-chat, idea-sharing opportunities. More informal than our program presentations,
our summer sessions at The Bookstall will allow lots of time for chat
and book-browsing. Join us!
April – “ A Chat with Franny Billingsley.”
Franny Billingsley was successfully rehabilitated from the practice of
law 25 years ago and has never once relapsed. In the intervening
couple of decades, she’s published two fantasy novels for upper-elementary
and junior-high readers, WELL WISHED and THE FOLK KEEPER. Her picture
book, BIG BAD BUNNY (K-3), has just been released. She's still working
out the details of her school-and-library program for BIG BAD BUNNY, but
she has, at least, memorized all the words to "Little Bunny Foo Foo."
Her novel-in-progress, THE CHIME CHILD (working title) has had an
elephantine gestation, but she hopes it will be released in the fall of
2009.
May – Susan O’Halloran: “Secrets From Folk Tales and Myths” What can we learn from folk tales and myths? What are the secret patterns of characterization and plot embedded in these powerful stories that can improve our work? Evanstonian and professional storyteller, Susan O'Halloran, has performed across this country and internationally. She is author of THE HUNT FOR SPRING, a picture book for children, as well as books for adults.
Far Northern Suburbs
Representatives:
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Shop Talk & Critiques:
Meetings are held the first Wednesday of each month 7-9 p.m at the Barnes
& Noble on Rte. 60 & Milwaukee Avenue (Westerfield's Hawthorne
Shopping Mall in Vernon Hills) .In June we’ll plan to have a speaker
discuss self-publishing.
Far Northwest Suburbs
Representatives:
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Open Critique
Third Wednesday of each month, 7 - 9 p.m. in the cafe of Barnes &
Noble, 590 W. Golf Road, Schaumburg. All meetings are open critiques with
the last half hour dedicated to answering any new writer questions.
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Dundee Area
Representative:
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Shop Talk/Critique Session
Second Thursday of the month 7-9 p.m., unless otherwise noted.
Barnes and Noble (at Spring Hill Mall), 1444 Springhill Mall Blvd. West
Dundee, 60118
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| Western Suburbs |
Oak Park and Near West Suburbs
Representatives:
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Shop Talk
Second Thursday of the month, 7 - 9 p.m.
Dole Library, 255 Augusta Blvd., Oak Park (708-366-9032)
Programs for Spring 2008:
Mar. 13 – Meet an elementary school librarian/media person
to find out how this huge part of the market views and uses our work.
April 10 – Read-aloud humor night. Start thinking
now about what funny passages you’ll want to share as we look at
humor in children’s literature.
May 8 – End of the year planning session and Critique
Night. Read a brief passage from any of your work or display artwork in
progress for immediate constructive feedback. Guidelines for critiquing
will be reviewed. Time will be divided equally among all presenters. And
remember those goals we worked on back in September? How are you doing
on them?
Far West Suburbs
Representatives:
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Shop Talk: Discontinued after January, 2008.
Joint Program with Southland Network:
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Featuring Paula Morrow, former editor of Babybug and Ladybug magazines.
TBA: Location and details. Please watch listserv
for update.
Geneva Area
Representatives:
|
Shop Talk
First Wednesday of each month, 7:30- 9 p.m.
Barnes and Noble, 102 Commons Drive, near Randall Road, Geneva
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| Northern Illinois |
Freeport/Rockford Area
Representatives:
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Critique Session
Second Monday of each month, 6 - 9 p.m.
Highland College Conference Center, Freeport
4th Saturday - 10 am to 12:30 am
Freeport Public Library - Meeting Room upstairs
- lunch at varied local restaurants if desired
4th Thursday - 4 pm to 6 pm
Freeport Library Gallery Cafe - food available
Shop Talks:
Third Saturday of each month, Noon - 2 p.m. Lunch available.
Establishment varies, Freeport. All writers and illustrators welcome.
Please contact Lee or Debbie to verify dates/locations.
DeKalb Area
Representatives:
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Shop Talk
Last Wednesday of the month
At 7:30 PM at Border's on Rte 23 in DeKalb.
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Central Illinois
Central Illinois (Champaign-Urbana)
Representatives:
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Program:
Spring Critique-nic
Sunday, April 27th, 2007, 1 – 4 p.m.
Crystal Lake Park, Urbana, IL, Outside the Lake House
This call goes out to anyone who’s interested in: 1. Getting
feedback on your manuscript, 2. Learning more about the critiquing process,
and 3. Getting to know each other and having fun.
Lunch is pot-luck. Bring a dish to share and a drink. We’ll provide
plates, cups, etc. RSVP to Alice McGinty for open mic guidelines and bad
weather plan.
Program: Downstate IL Workshop
Book and Story for Tweens and Teens:
A Weekend Workshop with Richard Peck
Join us for a weekend of learning and inspiration with Newbery Award winning author, Richard Peck. The focus will be on middle grade and young adult writing. There will be sessions on opening lines (“You’re Only As Good As Your Opening Line”), diction and voice (eliminating your adult voice), a panel on promoting yourself and your work, and more. Be prepared to read aloud from your manuscript.
March 1st and 2nd, 2008 (9 a.m. Saturday until 3 p.m.
Sunday)
Eastland Suites, Urbana, IL
Cost: $175 for SCBWI members and $190 for non-members
Please note: Program is full.
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| Bloomington/Normal (Near-Normal Writer’s Group) |
Representatives:
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| Springfield Area |
Representatives:
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Currently, the Spfld SCRIBES critique meetings are closed. To be placed on a waiting list or to get information on starting your own group, please contact Toni or Kim.
Program: Downstate IL Retreat
Words in the Woods
June 20 - 22, 2008
Cantrall, Illinois (10 miles northwest of Springfield off I 55)
Cost: $250 for SCBWI members, $275 for non-members (includes meals and
lodging)
48 slots available. Registration opens February 19 (postmark)
Our special guest speakers, author Holly Black (middle grade author
of the Spiderwick Chronicles, and YA series Tithe, Valiant, and Ironside),
agent Barry Goldblatt, and Hyperion editor Namrata Tripathi will offer
their wisdom and guidance in carving out interesting characters, developing
vivid settings, and plotting paths for page turning books from YA to picture
books. Optional manuscript critiques available for $30, critique groups
will also be formed.
See SCBWI-IL
Events page for further information and registration form.
Questions: Contact Toni Leahy, 217-438-5510
Mail to: cyfarwydd@royell.net
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| Southern Illinois |
Representatives:
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Monthly Critique Meeting:
Third Wednesday of the month , 7 p.m.
Barnes & Noble in Fairview Heights
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| Chicago-area Illustrators Network |
Representatives:
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Monthly Meeting: The Illustrators Network meets
at the Des Plaines Library from 9:30 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. the second
Saturday of each month unless otherwise noted. We discuss topics,
go on field trips, or host presenters. We also critique each
other's work at the end of most meetings if time allows. Everyone
is welcome. For directions to the Des Plaines Library, check
their website: http://www.dppl.org/
March 8: Get a sneak peek at the big SCBWI conferences
by attending this "National Conference Notes" meeting!
Terri Murphy will share notes from a winter SCBWI conference
she's attending in California. Any members who are attending
the NYC conference in February are invited to share their experiences
as well. E-mail Christine at Chrthornton@aol.com if you're planning
on going to NYC and are willing to share your adventures.
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| Downstate Illustrators Network |
Representatives:
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Programs for 2008:
Saturday, April 5, Illustration Meeting
10 a.m. -12 p.m.
Decatur Public Library, 110 N. Franklin, Decatur, IL
Members will share shop talk and hold critics for new work. A tour of
a popular art supply store is planned after lunch. Contact: mamalou@hotmail.com
if interested in attending.
Saturday, July 5, Portfolio review
10 a.m. -12 p.m.
Urbana Free Library, 210 W. Green, Urbana, Illinois
Contact: mamalou@hotmail.com if interested in attending.
Saturday,October 5, Illustration Meeting
8 a.m. to ?
Scovill Park Zoo, 71 S Country Club Rd., Decatur, Il
Members will sketch at the zoo before opening hours. A picnic
brunch is planned. Bring work to be critiqued and share shop talk.
Contact: mamalou@hotmail.com if interested in attending.
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