by Brenda Scott Royce

In April, we invited authors to apply for a six-month mentorship with one of our PAL (Published and Listed) members. Open to writers in the earlier stage of their career, the SCBWI-L.A. mentor contest has been a springboard to many a successful career.

This year’s mentor, Rebecca Langston-George received several worthy applications from local writers, all of whom have bright futures ahead. She is grateful to have friends in the writing community willing to trust her with their precious stories and wants to thank each person who applied.

After considering which person she felt she’d be the best match for, Rebecca selected Lori Anaya, who writes picture books and middle grade fiction. Rebecca was drawn to Lori’s wish to explore the heart of her story, “Rocket Girls,” and Lori’s self-reflection on her strengths (wordplay and lyrical writing) and her self-identification of her struggles (letting the main character solve the problem) as she felt these were areas she could assist with. 

Congratulations, Lori!

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Lori Anaya is a poet, bilingual teacher, and Macondista. She writes picture books, MG fiction, YA fiction, and poetry. She is a volunteer Lit Mingle Host for SCBWI’s Central Coastal region, an SCBWI Summer Conference grant winner in middle grade for “The Girl Who Talks to Crows,” a First Pages winner for “Dream Loud (middle grade), and recipient of a Writer’s Day Honorable Mention for “Pollen Girl” (YA).

Rebecca Langston-George is the author of nineteen books for children including the internationally popular nonfiction For the Right to Learn: Malala Yousafzai’s Story and The Booth Brothers: Drama, Fame and the Death of President Lincoln (a former Scholastic Book Club YA nonfiction title). Her most recent releases are both fiction, with a historical fiction middle grade/YA crossover novel, One Fine Voice, and her first fiction picture book Rover Rolled Over, both released in 2026. The California Reading Association honored her with the Armin R. Schultz Award for writing in social justice in 2016. Read more about her and her work at www.rebeccalangstongeorge.com. 

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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).