NESCBWI Spring Conference

03/29/2026

It is only 7 weeks until NESCBWI 26! For those of you who have registered, we'd love to know what you are most excited about! For those of you who haven't yet registered, there is still time to sign up! Registration closes April 17 (or as soon as we sell out).

Want to take a look at the full conference schedule? Check it out here:

Friday Night 7:00 PM Professional Critique Open - If you have a professional critique, please go straight to the critique registration table. *The schedule link will be found here the week before the event. 7:30 PM Registration Opens. Portfolio Check-in Register for the conference early, then h...

03/20/2026

As you know, the conference theme is Create Boldly! Well, you creators have certainly registered boldly. Within an hour of registration opening on Sunday, more than 150 of you made a commitment to attend the conference! At this point we have only 65 spots left, and there are still open spots for critiques. If you are considering attending the conference, consider no longer. Sign up now! If you wait to sign up, you may miss out on this opportunity.

We have a lot of options available for pre-published writers and illustrators, as well as those who are already published. There will be time for learning, connecting, and fun. And don't forget about the submission opportunities!

So, create boldly and register boldly as well. The world needs your story and the conference needs your registration. We look forward to seeing you in May!

Register here! https://www.scbwi.org/events/2026-new-england-spring-conference

Valerie Bolling
Assistant Conference Director

We are thrilled to go back to UConn Stamford for our Regional Conference May 15 - 17, 2026! Registration opens March 15 at 10AM EST! Bookmark this page for conference updates.

03/15/2026

Anyone else awake in anticipation of registration opening? Feel free to use this thread to ask me anything about the conference. I will come and check it all morning until 9:45. After that time, send an email to [email protected] or [email protected] if you have questions or concerns.

Some quick tips -

- log in to SCBWI.org early to make sure your login is working. We can not help you with website specific issues so if you lost your psssword or your membership expired, you will need to reach out to HQ

- have your list of publishing pros and backup pros ready and know what day they will be there. We have attempted to slow down the selling out process by limiting each time period to one critique.

- be willing to take a chance on a pro that you didn’t think was for you if others sell out as long as they critique your material. The feedback you gain will help you submit to anyone.

- you do not need to sign up for specific workshops in advance

- remember, conferences aren’t just about critiques, they are about learning and forming a community. When you ask a veteran conference goer why they keep coming back, they won’t tell you about the critique they had that got them published (that is the exception, not the rule). They will tell you about the people they met, the thing that they learned, the inspiration they received that helped them keep going. This business can be lonely. Finding the people who will travel with you along the way will not just enrich your writing, it will enrich your life.

-one more thing - have your lunches picked out in advance! The system will not let you complete your registration without making those two choices.

The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators provides the resources, professional networking, and community-building opportunities that support writers, illustrators, and translators throughout their careers.

03/14/2026

Conference Registration Opens tomorrow, March 15, at 10 am ET!

Here are the incredible publishing professionals who will be doing critiques at the event:

EVE ADLER, Agent, Red Fox Literary (PB Dummies/Portfolios, PB Manuscripts, MG, Graphic Novels)

LINDSEY ADUSKEVICH, Literary Manager, Martin Literary Management (PB Dummies/Portfolios, PB Manuscripts, MG, YA)

ADAM BLACKMAN, Acquisitions Editor, Cardinal Rule Press (PB Manuscripts, MG)

JULIE BLIVENS, Editorial Consultant & Author (PB Dummies/Portfolios, PB Manuscripts, Middle Grade)

KANDACE COSTON, Editor, LEE & LOW BOOKS (PB Dummies/Portfolios, PB Manuscripts)

SARAH DILLARD, Agent, Painted Words (PB Dummies/Portfolios, PB Manuscripts, Graphic Novels)

JULIA ERMI, Agency manager, Heirloom Literary & Media (PB Manuscripts, YA)

CHRISTY EWERS, Agent, CAT Agency (PB Dummies/Portfolios, PB Manuscripts)

SAMANTHA GENTRY, Editor, Little Brown (PB Dummies/Portfolios, PB Manuscripts, MG, YA)

CARTER HASEGAWA, Agent, Tugeau 2 Art & Literary Agency (PB Dummies/Portfolios, PB Manuscripts, MG, YA, Graphic Novels)

ALEXANDRA HINRICHS, Editor, Islandport Press (PB Manuscripts, MG)

SASHA ILLNGWORTH, Associate Creative Director, Little Brown Books for Young Readers (PB Dummies/Portfolios, YA, Graphic Novels)

OLIVIA LUCHINI, Associate Editor, Penguin Workshop, Penguin Young Reader (PB Manuscripts, MG, YA)

KRISTEN NOBLES, Art Director, Charlesbridge (PB Dummies/Portfolios, PB Manuscripts)

MATT PHIPPS, Editor, G.P. Putnam’s Sons (PB Dummies/Portfolios, PB Manuscripts, MG, YA, Graphic Novels)

SERA RIVERS Literary Agent, Speilburg Literary (PB Dummies/Portfolios, PB Manuscripts, MG, YA, Graphic Novels)

ALISON WEISS, Editorial Consultant, Alison Weiss Editorial (PB Dummies/Portfolios, PB Manuscripts, MG, YA, Graphic Novels)

The critiques are separated into Friday Night, Saturday, and Sunday. If a publishing pro is sold out during one of those times, look at the other two before giving up. Some of the professionals listed below will only be at the event on Saturday. Make sure to click on SCHEDULE in advance of registration to see which days they will be at the event.

A good tip is to have a list of the pro you want along with backups with you when you register.

If you were not able to get a spot, but still decide to register, please fill out the waitlist form. Last year we were able to accommodate most people because of cancellations.

Keep in mind that you may still use the post conference submission opportunity if you do not have a critique.

We are thrilled to go back to UConn Stamford for our Regional Conference May 15 - 17, 2026! Registration opens March 15 at 10AM EST! Bookmark this page for conference updates.

03/08/2026

We are so excited to share our 2026 conference keynotes! Registration opens one week from today! We look forward to seeing you there!

Saturday Keynote:
Heidi EY Stemple (she/her) didn’t want to be a writer when she grew up. In fact, after she graduated from college, she became a probation officer in Florida. It wasn’t until she was 28 years old that she gave in and joined the family business, publishing her first short story in a book called Famous Writers and Their Kids Write Spooky Stories. The famous writer was her mom, author Jane Yolen. Since then, she has published almost 50 books with more under contract. Her newest include, THE POETRY OF CAR MECHANICS, a verse novel, JANIE WRITES A PLAY, a picture book, and the first book of the AVIAN ADVENTURERS, an eco-series for middle grade readers.

Heidi lives and writes on a big old farm in Massachusetts that she shares with a dozen deer, a family of bears, three coyotes, two bobcats, a gray fox, a red fox, tons of birds, and some very fat groundhogs. Once a year she calls and counts owls for the Audubon Christmas Bird Count.

Sunday Keynote:
Nina Crews (she/her) is an award-winning children’s book author and illustrator. Her first book, One Hot Summer Day, was published in 1995 and is still in print in hardcover and paperback. Other favorite titles include I’m Not Small, The Neighborhood Mother Goose, Not Done Yet: Shirley Chisholm’s Fight for Change (written by Tameka Fryer Brown), A Girl Like Me (written by Angela Johnson,) and Seeing Into Tomorrow: Haiku by Richard Wright (poems by Richard Wright). She will have two new picture books in 2025, Big Family Beach Day, multigenerational celebration of summer, and Liftoff: How the Apollo Moon Missions Made Alma Thomas’s Art Soar, a STEAM-themed true story with tremendous visual appeal.

Nina’s work has been recognized by the ALA Notable Committee, the Black Caucus of the ALA, The Horn Book, Junior Library Guild, NCTE, CCBC, New York Public Library, Chicago Public Library, Bank Street College of Education, and many others. She is the recipient of the 2023 New York State Library Association’s Empire State Award. Nina is the daughter of children’s book authors and illustrators Donald Crews and Ann Jonas. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband and son.

Stay up to date with conference announcements by bookmarking the conference registration page: https://www.scbwi.org/events/2026-new-england-spring-conference

03/06/2026

Thank you to New England Illustrator Coordinator, Theresa Tuano, for creating our amazing conference artwork!

Visit her online at https://theresatuano.com

03/06/2026

Today we announced our 2026 conference theme: Create Boldly! The World Needs Your Story

Creators create. Even when we don’t know what to write or draw. Even when we struggle to combat imposter syndrome. Even when the world around us is crumbling. We do it. We create.

To create boldly means to do so in joyous times and even when it’s hard. When we don’t feel like it. When we’re struggling to navigate the inequities and discrimination that abound in the world around us. When some people want certain voices and stories silenced. These are the times when we must be our boldest. For those of us who represent groups that some don’t want to hear – or even wish that we didn’t exist – we must raise our voices louder and more boldly to tell the stories that only we can tell.

Even if it may be difficult now to get an agent or have a submission acquired, that doesn’t mean we should stop creating. It means that we must continue to create and resolve to do so even more fervently. We must tell those stories that some in the world may not want to hear – or may even want to ban – but that we know children need. And we must fight for – and always create for – the world in which we want to live.

By attending NESCBWI 26, you’re taking a step toward building the kind of world we want to live in. A world where our stories – and all stories – are welcomed and valued, ready to be placed into the hands of the children for whom we write. We hope you’re able to join us in May when we will celebrate and learn more about creating boldly together!

-Valerie Bolling, Assistant Conference Director

https://www.scbwi.org/events/2026-new-england-spring-conference

More announcements coming soon!

We are thrilled to go back to UConn Stamford for our Regional Conference May 15 - 17, 2026! Registration opens March 15! Bookmark this page for conference updates. PLEASE NOTE THAT REGISTRATION MIGHT LOOK OPEN AS WE TEST THE PAGE BEFORE MARCH 15. ANY REGISTRATIONS BEFORE THAT DATE WILL BE DELETED

03/05/2026

Conference registration opens March 15!

Keep an eye on your inbox. We're counting down to May 15 - 18, and can't wait to reveal all we have planned. Our first big announcement is arriving today, and it’s just the beginning!

If you’re not on our email list, don’t worry, every announcement will also be shared here in the Facebook group after it goes out to members.

We hope to see you there!

Send a message to learn more

12/13/2025

Today is the final day to put your hat in the ring to volunteer as conference director for the SCBWI conference May 15-17, 2026, at UConn Stamford.

The conference director will set the tone for the event by selecting the theme and will be our MC throughout the weekend. They will be part of the selection process for conference faculty and workshops, agents, and editors, and will work alongside me in directing a group of volunteers to do the finishing touches of putting it all together.

The role comes with amazing perks - attending the conference for free, a hotel room for the weekend (if needed), all meals and travel, attending special private events with faculty, agents, and editors, and what I find the best, the incredibly fulfilling feeling of being part of helping to enrich the writing and artistic lives of everyone who walks through the door.

If you are interested, please email me directly at [email protected] and I’ll send you the link to the application and answer any questions. You must be a SCBWI member who currently lives in New England to be considered.

11/25/2025

Want to shape the direction of the 2026 conference? There is still time to apply to be the conference director. The conference director will work along side our co-regional advisor Stacy Mozer to set the tone of the event by select the theme, leading the selection of keynotes and workshops, help with contacting venues, coordinate volunteers, and communicating with members about the event. The application closes December 13. We look forward to hearing from you!

We’re excited to begin planning for NESCBWI 2026! If you’d like to be part of the team that makes it happen, we’d love to hear from you. Please note that all roles are volunteer positions and do not include financial compensation or perks. However, the Conference Director and Book Festival Coo...

11/01/2025

***call for proposals***

Faculty Proposals for NESCBWI Spring Conference are due by December 13, 2025!

We’re looking for fresh, engaging, and practical workshop ideas that will inspire writers and illustrators at every stage of their creative journey. If you’re interested in joining our 2026 faculty, please submit your proposal by Friday, December 13 using the link below. Please read the form carefully for the details.

Click here to submit your proposal:

We’re so excited to begin planning for NESCBWI 2026! The weekend will follow a similar format to last year, with each faculty member presenting two unique, one-hour workshops on Saturday. We’re looking for sessions that inspire creativity, spark discussion, and offer practical takeaways for chil...

10/27/2025

We’re thrilled to announce that the NESCBWI Spring Conference will return to Stamford, CT, May 15–17, 2026! Mark your calendars for a weekend filled with creativity, connection, and kidlit magic as we come together to learn, laugh, and celebrate our incredible community of storytellers and artists.

Look in the comments for links to our faculty proposal and volunteer forms! Both are due by December 13th.

Send a message to learn more