SCBWI Austin

Let’s welcome our June Illustrator Spotlight, Jessie Romigh!

When asked about her work, Jessie said, “My imagination is always running, and I am constantly coming up with new ideas for picture books. Someone says the words ‘tea party’ and I’m thinking about an octopus hosting an underwater tea party and deciding if she should invite Jenny Jellyfish and play pin the tail on the seahorse.

I love books in which there is always something more to see within the illustrations and am constantly adding additional whimsy and elements for the reader to discover. I enjoy looking at creative ways to solve a problem, whether it is in the illustration or
the story itself.

As a traditional artist, I work predominantly in combining line ink work and watercolor paints within my illustrations. I am self-taught, having re-introduced myself to being an artist (after taking a 30-year break) in 2022.

I am currently focusing on polishing a couple manuscripts as I hope to start querying agents by this fall.

Humor and whimsy is at the core as I explore a lactose-intolerant bear with a cheese obsession, a tiny elephant who’s shyness enables her to change color when she hides, and a recess robot where demonstration turns into malfunction.”

Be sure to follow and check out Jessie’s website to keep up with her current and future projects!

It's happening! Registration is now live for our 2026 Austin SCBWI Mini MFA Conference: Community, Passion, and the Persistence of Art! Join us for:

🎤 21 sessions: keynotes, breakouts, workshops, & first looks
💡 Agent panel & editor panel
📝 Over 300 spots for critiques, pitches, portfolio reviews, AMAs
✏️ Portfolio showcase, illustrator awards, and mentorship
🏅 PB, Middle Grade, & YA year-long writing mentorships
🌮 Parking & food included (lunch, desserts, coffee, tea & more)
🍹 Guest-List only Friday Industry Mixer (FREE for PALs)
🎥 Opportunity to purchase recordings to ALL sessions!
💼 Free pre-conference preparation workshops

Register now: https://www.scbwi.org/events/2026-austin-scbwi-conference

Don't miss our June webinar series that's all about the submission process!

On Tuesday, June 16, Monica Rodriguez will present "Beyond "X Meets Y": Crafting Effective Comp Titles." Then on Thursday, June 18, Shanna Upchurch will present "Query Wrangling 101: A Systematic Approach to Submission Sanity."

Whether you've been in the query trenches for a while or are just dipping your toes in, this webinar series will tell you what you need to know! Registration closes on Monday, so don't delay!

https://www.scbwi.org/events/atx-webinars-comp-titles-query-wrangling-101

Thank you Glenn Hightower for your talk today at our Monthly Meeting. We had a packed house!

Reminder: Tomorrow registration opens up for the Austin Conference!

The countdown is on! In just 24 hours, you can register for our upcoming 2026 Austin SCBWI Mini MFA Conference: Community, Passion, and the Persistence of Art! You don’t want to miss:

🎤 21 sessions: keynotes, breakouts, workshops, & first looks
💡 Agent panel & editor panel
📝 Over 300 spots for critiques, pitches, portfolio reviews, AMAs
✏️ Portfolio showcase, illustrator awards, and mentorship
🏅 PB, Middle Grade, & YA year-long writing mentorships
🌮 Parking & food included (lunch, desserts, coffee, tea & more)
🍹 Guest-List only Friday Industry Mixer (FREE for PALs)
🎥 Opportunity to purchase recordings to ALL sessions!
💼 Free pre-conference preparation workshops

Early bird registration opens TOMORROW, June 14 at 9 a.m. CT. Learn more and register for updates here: https://www.scbwi.org/events/2026-austin-scbwi-conference

Only two more days until early bird registration opens for our upcoming 2026 Austin SCBWI Mini MFA Conference: Community, Passion, and the Persistence of Art. Trust us, you don't want to miss this opportunity. Learn more and register for updates here: https://www.scbwi.org/events/2026-austin-scbwi-conference

Join us this Saturday, June 16 at 10 a.m. for our FREE monthly meeting at Bookpeople! We're excited to welcome Glenn Hightower, who will be sharing "Things I Wish I Knew from Day One." Glenn will share the lessons, missteps, and hard-earned insights he wishes he’d had at the start of his writing journey.

Glenn will demystifies the picture book process while emphasizing perseverance, purpose, and passion. You'll leave inspired, informed, and better equipped to navigate their own creative paths.

https://www.scbwi.org/events/atx-june-mm-things-i-wish-i-knew-from-day-one

Three days left until early bird registration opens! You don't want to miss everything we have in store for you. Be ready to click "register" on June 14 at 9 a.m. CT. Learn more and register for updates here: https://www.scbwi.org/events/2026-austin-scbwi-conference

Are you ready for our upcoming 2026 Austin SCBWI Mini MFA Conference: Community, Passion, and the Persistence of Art? Registration opens in just FOUR DAYS!

Mark you calendar for June 14 at 9 a.m. CT sharp! Learn more and register for updates here: https://www.scbwi.org/events/2026-austin-scbwi-conference