by Brenda Scott Royce

Los Angeles’ Friendship Auditorium was an aptly named site for this year’s SCBWI-Los Angeles Writers and Illustrators Day. For the event’s more than 120 attendees, it was a day for meeting, greeting, and gaining knowledge. With educational talks, award presentations, and display spaces for both authors and illustrators, the event was equal parts inspiration and celebration. Read on for a recap of the day!

Keynote speaker Eugene Yelchin, whose awards and accolades are far too numerous to list here, dropped myriad pearls of wisdom gleaned from his distinguished career in children’s publishing. Delacorte Press Executive Editor Britt Rubiano spoke about IP (intellectual property), including what it takes to break into and stand out in this exciting field. Literary agent Kiana “Kiki” Nguyen discussed shifting landscapes in young adult fiction and offered excellent tips on cultivating a contemporary voice in your writing and understanding today’s readers. Agent Jamie Weiss Chilton put on her storyteller’s hat to provide inspiration through examples from her work with her own clients. By sharing tales of other creators’ setbacks, struggles, rejection, revision, and ultimate success, Jamie gave us all encouragement to adapt and persevere.

All four faculty members participated in a rousing “First Pages” session, offering insightful feedback on anonymous submissions from attendees.

In the afternoon, the winners of our 2026 Writers & Illustrators Day Contests were announced. The winner of the illustrator contest, Eori Tokunaga, created the delightful theme art for the event.

In the writing contest, our anonymous judges chose five honorees in three categories: Young Adult, Middle Grade, and Picture Book.

Kristin Yamane Saito’s “The Little Girl Who Took Her Time Everywhere,” about a young girl who tries to befriend time, won the Picture Book category, with the judge commenting, “Little readers everywhere will empathize with the main character’s frustrations and resonate with the book’s message.”

Runner-up in the Picture Book category was Eori Tokunaga for “Love in a Yakuta,” which our Picture Book judge called “a beautiful personal story about identity and the courage to embrace our true selves.”

Dorothy Deene won the YA category for “The Existence of Monsters.” The judge said, “The opening pages set up compelling questions about family, loyalty, and freedom.”

Lisze Bechtold took top prize in the Middle Grade category for “Atwater,” with the judge commenting, “The dialogue is beautifully attuned, and unusual sensory details make this story about friendship and finding your way stand out.”

Middle Grade runner-up Christine Kornylak’s “Treasure Isle” also impressed our judge: “The unfolding mystery … is just subtle enough to leave the reader fully engaged and wanting more.”

The chapter’s Sue Alexander Service and Encouragement (SASE) Award is presented to a regional volunteer who has shown exceptional dedication to SCBWI Los Angeles. This year’s SASE went to Kite Tales Editor Judy Faulkner, for her tireless efforts to create and produce this vital channel of communication for our members.

Thank you to the amazing faculty, energetic volunteers, and enthusiastic attendees who made the event a sold-out success!  We hope to see you again next year.

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Brenda Scott Royce is the Contest Coordinator for SCBWI-L.A. and author of more than 30 books for children. Recent titles include The Encyclopedia of African Animals (Abdo Press); Fluffy, Puffy Animals (Discovery Kids); and the award-winning Angela & Lullingu: Two Gorillas, A World Apart (Blue Sneaker Press). 

Event photography by Jessica Cooper, Judy Faulkner