Southern Breeze SCBWI is a big region, covering Alabama, Georgia, and the Florida Panhandle. And in our region we have authors, illustrators, and translators at all phases of their careers: pre-published, newly published, and well-published. Members’ work often wins accolades and awards.
What do these accomplished folks all have in common, besides living in our region?
- They didn’t quit.
- They worked at their art.
- They honed their craft.
- They attended conferences and webinars, shared their work for critique, and lifted up other writers, illustrators, and translators.
So let’s celebrate our friends’ achievements. Here are self-submitted publications and awards for the 17-month period beginning January 2020 and ending May 2021. Information is presented here in the order it was received.
Look for a link in the November issue of the Wonderful Wednesday newsletter to submit your accomplishments for the second half of 2021 (June – December).
Shanda illustrated two new picture books:
FIRE TRUCK VS. DRAGON, March 2020
BEDTIME BALLET, January 2021
In addition, her book DOLL-E 1.0 had these honors:
- 2020-2021 Young Hoosier Book Award Nominee
- 2020-2021 MASL Readers Awards Nominee
- 2020-21 Arkansas Diamond Primary Book Award Nominee
Her book T-BONE THE DRONE had this honor: Sunshine State Young Readers Award Jr List 2020-21
And she received her first starred review! FIRE TRUCK VS. DRAGON received a starred review by Publishers Weekly
Congratulations, Shanda!
Candice had several magazine articles published!
Highlights Hello, “Kitchen Concert,” March 2020
Smarty Pants Magazine for Kids, “Violin Strings and Bird Songs,” December 2020
Smarty Pants Magazine for Kids, “Counting Mardi Gras,” February 2021
Plus, she placed second in the Young Adult novel category of the 2020 Southern Breeze Annual Contest!
Congratulations, Candice!
Heather had a book published!
WHO GIVES A POOP? SURPRISING SCIENCE FROM ONE END TO THE OTHER, October 2020, Heather L. Montgomery and Iris Gottlieb
Plus, her book BUGS DON’T HUG: SIX-LEGGED PARENTS AND THEIR KIDS won the Book of the Year Award (Juvenile Division) from the Alabama Library Association.
Congratulations, Heather!
Reem had two books published!
AMIRA’S PICTURE DAY (Holiday House April 2021)
UNSETTLED (HarperCollins May 2021)
Her books also won these awards:
UNSETTLED was named on the May/June 2021 Kids’ Indie Next List and got a Kirkus starred review. AMIRA’S PICTURE DAY got a starred review from Publishers Weekly, Kirkus, and School Library Journal
She adds, “Lastly I have a new picture book coming in August 2021 from Eerdmans called I CAN HELP.”
Congratulations, Reem!
Nancy had a book published!
APPLESAUCE IS FUN TO WEAR, April 6, 2021
Congratulations, Nancy!
Kristine had a book published!
CROOKED TRUTH, published by Mercer University Press, September 2020.
Kristine notes, “This manuscript received the 2018 Ferrol Sams Fiction Award from Mercer University Press and I received a contract.”
Kristine’s book has also been nominated for the Willie Morris 2021 Southern Fiction Award. The winner will be announced in October, 2021. She was also nominated for the 2021 Georgia Author of the Year Award (debut novel category).
Congratulations, Kristine!
Jodi had a book published!
THIS IS A BOOK TO READ WITH A WORM
Her book won the AAAS/Subaru prize for Excellence in Science Books, hands on category.
Congratulations, Jodi!
Robyn had two of her poems published in anthologies:
“Trail Ready” in HOP TO IT: POEMS TO GET YOU MOVING, Pomelo Books, October 2020
“Sincerely” in A WORLD FULL OF POEMS, DK Children, October 2020
Congratulations, Robyn!
Phyllis had a book published!
BUNNY’S BIG SURPRISE, January 2020, Author & Illustrator
Congratulations, Phyllis!
Danny had a book published!
GNU AND SHREW, October 2020, Author Danny Schnitzlein, Illustrator Anca Sandu
His book won these awards:
Best Stem Books 2021 – ASEE/ITEEA/NSTA/SEPA/CBC
Nominated for the Children’s Gallery Award – National Christian School Association 2021-2022.
In addition, Danny wrote four songs for an educational app for The Organwsie Guys.
Congratulations, Danny!
Kelly had two books published!
THE LITTLE BLUE COTTAGE, May 12, 2020, Page Street Kids
CHASE THE MOON, TINY TURTLE: A HATCHLING’S DARING RACE TO THE SEA, March 3, 2021, Page Street Kids
THE LITTLE BLUE COTTAGE won the SCBWI Crystal Kite Award for the Southeast region!
Congratulations, Kelly!
Shelli had three books published!
LIBBY LOVES SCIENCE (June 2020)
LIBBY LOVES SCIENCE I CAN READ (Jan 2021)
THEO THESAURUS (May 2021)
She adds, “Just sold THEO THESAURUS 2 to Penguin!”
Congratulations, Shelli!
Muriel had a book published!
NOT MYSELF TODAY, September 2020, Black Rose Writing (Muriel notes this is a young adult paranormal novel.)
Congratulations, Muriel!
Kim had a book published!
THERE’S NO HAM IN HAMBURGERS: FACTS AND FOLKLORE ABOUT OUR FAVORITE FOODS, April 2021, Author-Kim Zachman , illustrator- Peter Donnelly
Her book was named a Junior Library Guild Gold Selection.
Congratulations, Kim!
Dori’s book won this award:
MORE-IGAMI (Candlewick, 2016) was selected as the 2021 March Is Reading Month book by Hamilton Elementary School in Troy, Michigan. Every single student and teacher in the school received a copy of the book — more than 500 in all.
Congratulations, Dori!
Debbie (D.A.) had a book published!
THE SECRET NOTEBOOK, August 2020, D.A. D’Aurelio
Congratulations, Debbie!
Randi had a book published!
THE NEST THAT WREN BUILT, March 2020, Candlewick
Randi’s book won these awards:
THE NEST THAT WREN BUILT was named a Junior Library Guild Selection and made the following lists:
- Chicago Public Library’s 2020 Best Informational Books for Younger Readers
- The National Aquarium’s Favorite Aquatic and Conservation-themed Books
- Betsy’s Bird’s Top 2020 Rhyming Picture Books, Science and Nature Books, and Nonfiction Picture Books
- 2021 Capitol Choices Noteworthy Books for Children
She adds, “In March of 2020, Candlewick purchased THE LODGE THAT BEAVER BUILT, a companion to THE NEST THAT WREN BUILT. It will be released in the fall of 2022.”
Congratulations, Randi!
TeMika has been named to several influential positions in the publishing world:
- 2021 We Need Diverse Books Illustration Mentee with Higgins Bond
- 2021 Cohort for the Highlights Foundation and Brown Bookshelf Amplify Black Stories Program
- Began serving as United States Illustrator Coordinator for SCBWI
Congratulations, TeMika!
Ani published a book!
HUG, HUG, BABY BUG, November 2020, Ani with Lorraine Dey Illustrator
She adds, “The importance of hugging in verse and pictures reinforces the need for cuddles and snuggles even during a pandemic. Several libraries included it in their collection.”
Congratulations, Ani!