by Sherry Shahan

I’ve been a proud member of SCBWI since the mid-1980s. I was a young, unpublished writer who met other dreamers at a National Convention in Southern California. Forty or so years later, we remain best of friends, with children’s books that cross age groups and genres. I was thrilled to be selected as the mentor for the 2025 SCBWI-Los Angeles Mentorship Contest for Middle Grade Authors. Giving back is a rewarding way to honor the many mentors who helped shape my career.

I read each contest manuscript several times. Every writer deserved a “place at the table.” Oddly enough, the first manuscript in my “pass” file was I Speak For the Trees by Julia Edwards. The reason? Her writing was (is) very polished—her prose, stunning and well-crafted. Julia is clearly someone who understands the nuances of storytelling. She’s also a published playwright.

I narrowed my choice to two very different and deserving stories. Both writers were equally worthy of producing novels with a long shelf life. Still, Julia’s story haunted me—a magical birth-of-an-activist adventure with a clear, non-didactic message, “We must protect those who cannot protect themselves.” In this case, a forest of trees. I rethought my decision and chose to work with Julia.

Julia is a passionate environmentalist who created an equally compelling story about an unusual family with an unconventional “problem.” Each time I presented her with an exercise or assignment, she dug in and produced material far beyond my expectations. Her theme, always deftly woven in. I’m honored to call Julia my friend and look forward to following her artistic journey. The mentorship program inspires in so many ways, whether you are a mentor or a mentee. Many thanks to SCBWI-L.A. for providing this opportunity.

You can read about the 2025 selection process and contest winner Julia Edwards here. 

PAL Members: Do you want to foster an emerging creator’s love of storytelling and provide valuable career guidance? SCBWI-L.A. wants you! Many folks can attest to the value of having a mentor—but there’s tremendous value in being a mentor as well. If you are an SCBWI-L.A. PAL author, illustrator, or author-illustrator interested in being a mentor, please see the 2026 Request for Proposals. SCBWI-L.A. mentors design their own mentorship program and choose a mentee from applicants who respond.

Proposals will be accepted from February 12, 2026, through 11:59 p.m. PT on March 22, 2026. Good luck!

---

For more fantastic content, community, events, and other professional development opportunities, become a member today! Not sure if there is a chapter in your area? Check here.

Sherry Shahan is a teal-haired septuagenarian who writes in a small California beach town. She holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts, taught a creative writing course for UCLA Extension for 10 years, and has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize in Poetry and Short Fiction, Best American Short Stories, and Best of the Net Anthology. She has 40 children’s books to her credit, including the picture book Spicy Hot Colors (August House) and middle grade adventure/survival novels Frozen Stiff (Random House, Yearling), Ice Island (Random House, Yearling), and Death Mountain (Peachtree).

Images courtesy of Sherry Shahan