Events, Opportunities, and Resources happening now and coming soon for the Tri-Regions and beyond

OPEN NOW
Registration for the popular SCBWI Los Angeles Working Writers Retreat is now open! Join fellow writers from September 27–29, 2024, at the Holy Spirit Retreat Center in Encino “for a weekend of immersive writing, critique, revision and camaraderie.” This annual retreat will have plenty of quiet work spaces, social evenings, and even group critique sessions led by four publishing industry professionals! Spots are filling up very quickly!

SEPTEMBER 7
Stop by Bel Canto Books in Long Beach on Saturday, September 7, 2024, from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. for the Mini Mid-Autumn Festival with Storytime & Book Signing with Benson Shum! This free event will feature pop-up vendors, children’s activities, and a “Mooncake Cake Pops Workshop with Sprinkles & Gems!”

SEPTEMBER 8
Swing by the Los Angeles Kids Book Festival in West Hollywood Park on Sunday, September 8, 2024, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., for “live book readings by celebrated authors, interactive storytelling sessions, musical performances, and various arts and crafts activities.” Be sure to visit the SCBWI SoCal booth, featuring local authors.

SEPTEMBER 14
Grab your seat for the 2024 Envision Summit & Book Expo presented by Writer’s Block Press and the International Association of Women Authors! “Featuring local bestselling authors and writers from all over the world, this conference and book event highlights indie authors.” The event will take place on Saturday, September 14, 2024 at The Grand in Long Beach, California. The paid portion of the conference will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., while the Book Expo is free for all attendees from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

SEPTEMBER 15
Turn in your application for the We Need Diverse Books (WNDB) 2025 Mentorship program by September 15, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time! “WNDB is offering fifteen mentorships split among the following categories: Picture Book Text (PB), Middle Grade (MG), Young Adult (YA); and Illustration (IL).” “Mentorships are available to diverse writers or illustrators OR any writers or illustrators who submit a manuscript for children or teens featuring a diverse main character or diverse central subject matter.”

SEPTEMBER 21
Don’t miss SCBWI CenCal’s 2024 Writers and Illustrators Day, in-person at the Camarillo Community Center on Saturday, September 21, 2024. Enjoy agent/editor/publisher & debut author speakers—plus prizes, morning coffee & pastries, catered lunch, photo opportunities, First Pages, and a wonderful opportunity to connect with other writers and illustrators. 

SEPTEMBER 22
Come on out to the annual Orange County Children’s Book Festival at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa on Sunday, September 22, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m! SCBWI PAL and self-published authors and illustrators will be selling and signing their books at the SCBWI booth. Click here to register as an SCBWI volunteer!

SEPTEMBER 22
Kick off Banned Books Week at Banned Books Read ALOUD, a special performance by WORDTheatre and ALOUD on Sunday, September 22, 2024 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Los Angeles Public Library Central Library in Downtown Los Angeles. This free event, which will also be streamed, aims to shine “a spotlight on many of the 4,000 books that have been banned in the United States.”

OCTOBER 1
The deadline for submissions has been extended to October 1, 2024, to apply for the SCBWI Impact & Legacy Fund (ILF) Russell Freedman Award or a grant from The ILF Encouragement Fund! No SCBWI membership is required. However, you must be traditionally published. Submit your book now!

OCTOBER 5
The SCBWI SoCal Fall Harvest Writers and Illustrators Day takes place online OR in-person at the California State University Fullerton Titan Student Union, on Saturday, October 5, 2024, from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Learn about craft and book publishing in a full day of presentations by agents, an art director, authors, and an illustrator.

OCTOBER 5–6
Rare Books LA returns to the historic Ticket Concourse at the Los Angeles Union Station on October 5–6, 2024! This exciting event will feature the “finest antiquarian booksellers, ephemera, and map dealers from all over the world!”

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