Meet our Illustrator Coordinator, Jaime Zollars...

Jaime has been a member of SCBWI since 2002. Formerly on faculty at the Maryland Institute College of Art, and VP of the Society Illustrators of Los Angeles, Jaime is the author/illustrator of several books including The Truth About Dragons. We're excited to have her onboard! * For more about Jaime's background, her books and other projects, check out her website: www.jaimezollars.com

News Flash! **This year during a breakout session at CenCal's Writers & Illustrators Day (9/21/24), our Asst. Regional Advisor, Paulina Cuestas Hill, will be collecting names from Author-Illustrators/Illustrator-Authors who are interested in joining a critique group. This group will be designed to help elicit feedback between members on PB Dummies, Graphic Novel Dummies--as it relates to both the story/text and the artwork/illustrations. Click here to REGISTER for this in-person annual event. If you cannot attend but are interested in adding your name to Paulina's list, feel free to email her at CenCal-RA@scbwi.org.

Next Illustrators Mingle:

DATE/TIME: Sunday, August 11, 7:00-8:30ish pm

TOPIC: Writers & Illustrators Day Portfolio Prep!

LOCATION: ONLINE via Zoom

RSVP to cencal-ic@scbwi.org for the link! I plan to send the Zoom link again closer to the above meeting day/time so if you are not already on my email list, please email me so I can add you now for future communications.

As you likely (hopefully!) know, CenCal's Writers and Illustrators Day for 2024 is on September 21, in-person at the Camarillo Community Center (Parks & Rec), and is going to be an amazing opportunity for illustrators. If you have not signed up for this exciting day because your summer is flying by as fast as mine, but (obviously) still want to join in the fun - here's the link: https://www.scbwi.org/events/2024-cencal-writers-day If you already signed up for Writers and Illustrators Day and would like to add a pitch, we can make that happen! Just e-mail me at cencal-ic@scbwi.org and we can get that set up!

If you have signed up for a pitch with any of our esteemed reviewers, please consider attending and pitching your story or portfolio live for us as a practice round. I'll give a few tips first and then we can listen and learn from each other to perfect our pitches before it counts! 

• While you are welcome to attend even without an RSVP, if you plan to pitch, a heads up is helpful for planning purposes! 
• If you cannot attend or have not signed up for a pitch, feel free to join our mingle anyways to pick up some ideas and learn for next time!

BTW: If you are hesitant to sign up for a pitch at our Writers & Illustrators conference but are curious about it and have questions or need guidance, please e-mail me at cencal-ic@scbwi.org and I'm happy to chat with you about the opportunity. If you are hesitant because you do not have a website yet, you may use your membership gallery at SCBWI.org! If you have any questions about setting that up, feel free to contact me as well. I'm always here to help you take the next step towards your goals, so reach out any time!

Until then!

Jaime Zollars

(she/her)

Illustration Coordinator

SCBWI Cen-Cal (Central/Coastal)