Co-Regional Advisor- Susan Amesse
Susan has been a member of SCBWI for over 30 years and has been co advisor for the past 4. She writes middle grade fiction and her book Kissing Brendan Callahan was published by Roaring Brook press. She is working on other middle grade novels, including a mystery, all set in her home town of Staten Island. When she’s not writing or organizing, she loves to be involved in historical dancing, traveling the world, going to the theater and museum In NYC and playing pickleball.
Co-Regional Advisor- Julie Palomba
Julie is a middle-grade writer living in the East Village. Her work was featured in the YA Sci Fi anthology Brave New Girls, whose proceeds go to the Society of Women Engineers scholarship fund. Her current works-in-progress are a STEM-themed middle grade novel and a historical nonfiction picture book series about her beloved neighborhood. When she’s not writing, you can probably find her at the Tompkins Square dog park with her shorkie, Lucy. Otherwise, she’s out-of-office, racking up countries on her travel bucket list – 58 and counting!
Assistant Regional Advisor- Bridgitte Rodguez
Bridgitte has been a member of SCBWI since 2020. She writes across kidlit genres, mostly picture books, but her current work in progress, is a YA Novel in Verse. Her debut picture book, A Walk Through the Redwoods, illustrated by Natalia Bruno, was published by Reycraft Books. Bridgitte grew up in San Diego, CA, but has called NYC home for the last six years.
Illustration Coordinator- Lisa Anchin
Lisa Anchin has been a member and volunteer with SCBWI for over a decade. She is the author/illustrator of THE PAPER BIRD and THE LITTLE GREEN GIRL (Dial Books for Young Readers), a Crystal Kite award winner, and the illustrator of a number of other books for children. Her forthcoming illustrated title PEDAL PUSHER will be out in February 2025 (Henry Holt). She lives in Brooklyn with her family.