Get ready for three inspiring days!
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE (subject to change)
Friday, May 3
12:00 PM: Registration opens at Chicago Marriott Naperville
12:00 – 2:00 PM: Drop off Independently Published Member Books at Bookstore
1:00 PM: Conference Orientation (especially important for those who are new to the industry)
2:30 – 5:30 PM: Intensives and Portfolio Reviews
5:00 – 6:00 PM: Registration
6:00 – 7:45 PM: Dinner and Keynote
8:30 – 10:00 PM: Costume Party and Contest
Saturday, May 4
7:30 – 8:30 AM: Registration and coffee. Breakfast on your own.
8:30 – 9:30 AM: Opening Remarks
9:45 – 11:40 AM: Breakout Sessions 1, 2
12:00 – 1:00 PM: Box lunches
1:00 – 1:45 PM: Keynote
2:00 – 3:55 PM: Breakout Sessions 3, 4
4:00 — 5:00 PM Faculty Book Signing
5:00 – 6:45 PM: Dinner on your own
6:45 – 7:30 PM: Keynote and the winner of the Manuscript Contest will be announced.
7:30 – 9:30 PM: Art Show and Dessert, the winner of Art Show will be announced.
Sunday, May 5
Coffee at conference. Breakfast on your own.
7:00 – 7:40 AM: Yoga (optional)
8:45 – 11:45 AM: Breakout Sessions 5, 6, 7 and Portfolio Reviews
12:00 – 1:00 PM: Box Lunch
1:15 – 2:05 PM: Breakout Session 8
2:20 – 3:25 PM: Closing Keynote
3:40 – 4:15 PM: Remarks, prizes
CONFERENCE FEES
| Members | Early Bird (Feb 2 to Mar 26) | $295.00 |
| Regular (Mar 27 to Apr 24) | $315.00 | |
| Not Yet Members | Early Bird (Feb 9 to March 26) | $315.00 |
| Regular (Mar 27 to Apr 24) | $335.00 | |
| Intensives | (members only) | $ 50.00 |
| Portfolio Reviews | (members only) | $ 45.00 |
| Manuscript Critiques | (members only) | $ 45.00 |
| Manuscript Contest | (members only) | $ 15.00 |
Meals provided at the conference (and included in conference registration) are: Friday evening dinner, and Saturday and Sunday boxed lunches. Dessert will be provided during the Saturday evening art show and coffee service in the morning will also be available.
If you have a disability and require a support person in order to be able to take advantage of this event, please register yourself AND email the Registrar to ask for assistance in registering your support person. Space limitations require us to register support personnel; however, there is no fee or additional charge.
Let’s Go to the Fair! Marvelous Midwest Social
Come one, come all! Step right up and witness the greatest show on earth—The SCBWI Spectacular Midwest Fair! Be amazed by fair-themed food, thrilling games, and dazzling performers. You’re also invited to be on the bill for this event, dressing the part of a performer, animal, or a fair-goer. Creative interpretations welcome, too. Blue ribbons will be awarded to the best costume.
EXCELLENT READING BEFORE REGISTERING FOR/ATTENDING THE CONFERENCE Confessions And Secrets Of A Veteran Scbwi Conference-goer (Or, Do As I Say, Not As I Did) by Esther Hershenhorn
YOGA FOR EVERY BODY Susan Zonca
On Sunday morning, join member and yoga instructor, Susan Zonca, on mat or in chair to relax the mind, stretch and de-stress, focus intentions and be present in community. Comfortable clothing suggested. If you do not have a mat, you may use a towel or a chair.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Special conference rates are available at the Chicago Marriott Naperville, (the conference hotel) through 4 p.m. on Friday, April 12, 2019. Rate: $120.00 per night (plus state/local taxes). To make overnight reservations, call 1-800-228-9290 and ask for the “Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators” rate or reserve online using this link: Book your group rate for Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators Conference 2019 . Reservations must be received on or before 4 p.m. 4/12/19 for the conference rate.
Double queen rooms are available, accommodating up to four people. Standard king rooms are also available, to accommodate up to two guests. All reservations will be held until 10 p.m. on the day of arrival. If your travel plans deem that you will be arriving after 10 p.m., please reach out to the reservation hotline at 1-800-228-9290 directly to inform them of your late arrival. They will make a note on your reservation for the request. The Chicago Marriott Naperville is a smoke-free environment. This includes all guest rooms, meeting rooms, public areas, pool, and restaurant. Complimentary parking is available for registered guests.
POLICY AND CONDUCT
STATEMENT OF INCLUSIVITY The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators is passionate about creating an inclusive environment that celebrates writers and illustrators from underrepresented communities, including (but not limited to) people of color, LGBTQIA+ people, religious and cultural minorities, disabled people, Native/First Nations people, and immigrants. By creating an environment where all writers and illustrators feel a sense of belonging, we can create books that honor all children.
PHOTO POLICY Attendance at this event constitutes permission for your photograph or video to be taken at the event and used for SCBWI purposes. However, if you have an objection to your photo being used, please email a .jpeg of your image to Kirbi Fagan at michigan-ic2@scbwi.org by April 15. If you opt out, please be aware that attendees may be photographing and posting on social media at this event, so it is the responsibility of the individual to monitor their inclusion in photos.
BLOGGING/RECORDING Audiotaping, videotaping, and/or transmitting any part of this conference is prohibited. The presentations and handouts are copyrighted and may not be reprinted, blogged, tweeted, or reproduced in any way without written permission of the copyright holder. You may share your thoughts about the conference and some brief quotes, but please respect our speakers and the copyright law by not giving away detailed notes. Thank you for your professionalism.
WEAPONS POLICY It is the policy of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators to maintain an environment that is safe for all persons. To achieve this objective, it is the SCBWI’s policy to maintain a firearms and weapons free environment at all of our events and prohibit the possession of firearms and weapons regardless of any license or permit that an individual may have which would otherwise authorize the individual to carry firearms or weapons. Weapons are defined as anything that is intended to cause harm to another person.
Cancellation must be before April 1st:
All cancellations incur a $50 processing fee.
Only Registration and Intensive fees may be refunded.
No refunds will be granted for manuscript critiques, portfolio reviews, manuscript contest fees.
The registrant must contact Leslie Helakoski at michigan-RA@scbwi.orgto request a refund.
After April 1st:
Refunds will be considered on a case by case basis.
If granted, a $50 processing fee will be deducted from the total.
No refunds for manuscript critiques, portfolio reviews, or manuscript contest fees.
The registrant must contact Leslie Helakoski at michigan-RA@scbwi.organd request refund.
Manuscript Critiques: Jenny Wagh, illinois-ara@scbwi.org
Manuscript Contest: Jenny Wagh, illinois-ara@scbwi.org
First Pages/Writers: Angie Karcher, indiana-ara@scbwi.org
First Look/Illustrators: Kirbi Fagan, michigan-ic2@scbwi.org
Portfolio Critiques: Mike DeSantis ohionorth-ra@scbwi.org
Art Show: Andrea Skyberg, wisconsin-ra@scbwi.org
Bookstore: Deborah Topolski, illinois-ra2@scbwi.org
Cancellation: Leslie Helakoski, Michigan-ra@scbwi.org
Registration: Darcy Zoells, notmrdarcy@gmail.com
Thank you from your Conference Coordinators:
Illinois: Co-Regional Advisors Alice McGinty and Deborah Topolski, Assistant Regional Advisor Jenny Wagh, Illustrator Coordinator Cedric Gliane, and Esther Hershenhorn Regional Advisor Emeritus
Indiana: Regional Advisor Shannon Anderson, Illustrator Coordinator Sharon Vargo, and Assistant Regional Advisor Angie Karcher
Iowa: Regional Advisor Eileen Boggess, Assistant Regional Advisor Liz Gilbert-Bedia, and Illustrator Coordinator Dorothia Rohner
Michigan: Co-Regional Advisors Carrie Pearson and Leslie Helakoski and Illustrator Co-Coordinators Deb Pilutti and Kirbi Fagan
Ohio North: Regional Advisor Michael DeSantis and Illustrator Coordinator Merrill Rainey
Wisconsin: Co-Regional Advisors Rochelle Groskreutz and Andrea Skyberg