around the world with scbwi





Have you ever wondered what SCBWI members are up to across the world? Each month we will be globe-trotting to take a look. This is a perfect chance for us to keep in touch with our SCBWI neighbours. First stop: Miri & her team in ISRAEL





How many members do you have and how often do you meet?

We have a small chapter of SCBWI here in Israel, with around 35 members.

Among them are published and unpublished (yet!) authors and illustrators. We have 3-4 events every year.

We also have within our group, a group for English speakers, of around 15 members who meet once a month. This group meets each time in another member's home and each meeting has a theme, related to writing and illustrating, and each member has to bring something to contribute to the discussion.

We also have a critique group for writers, called The Red Pencil.



Tell us about your latest event...

We just had an exciting event at the Jerusalem International Book Fair. This book fair is always a chance for us to meet with publishing professionals from around the world. This time we met with a publisher from the U.S.A. - Joni Sussman from Kar-Ben Publishing, which publishes Jewish-theme children books. 



We met at the Kar-Ben booth, where Joni showed some of their books and talked about the kind of books they are looking for. Then we all sat at a café, for a set of personal meetings with Joni! Each meeting was 5 minutes, in which writers could pitch a manuscript they would like to submit, and illustrators could show their portfolios. The meetings were free of charge, and this opportunity was open only for SCBWI members. We had 13 meetings and they were a huge success, according to the feedbacks, both from our members and from the publisher.


Have there been any author successes in your area recently?

Sure! You can take a look at our website: Israel.scbwi.org and see the success stories of our members during 2014 (Click on the picture of 'Members' Good News'). And our latest good news is our member Devra Lehman who was announced as a winner of the prestige American prize of The National Jewish Book Award for her YA biography of Spienoza.


How would a visiting SCBWI member get in touch with your network?

We LOVE meeting SCBWI friends from around the world! If you plan a visit to Israel, please contact me (Miri Leshem-Pelly, SCBWI Israel RA) at: studio@mirileshem.com







Sarah Broadley joined SCBWI BI in July 2013 and has taken on the role of picture book Eyes and Ears for British Isles South East Scotland.
Sarah mainly writes children's rhyming stories but you may find her from time to time dipping her literary toes into the waters of other genres while sipping coffee and eating chocolate. 

You can read more about Sarah here: www.greatbigjar.com 


11 comments:

  1. I love this feature - what a great idea! :)

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  2. great feature. I always forget SCBWI is International

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  3. Fascinating - as a new member I hadn't really taken in how huge the organisation is, so thank you. And this makes me want to visit!

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  4. I am a member of SCBWI Israel and always happy to meet new members.
    The meeting in Jerusalem was pleasant as we gathered after the book fair at the cafe and had been interviewed by Joni.
    I would like to thank Miri Leshem-Peli for her continuous activity and care to keep our meetings so practical and diverse.

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  5. As another member of SCBWI Israel, as well as a new Israeli (we've been here < 2 years), I can't tell you how helpful Miri and the SCBWI group here has been in helping me meet other people who are just as in love as I am with kids' books.
    Added you to my blogroll. I'm always encouraging people to join, even if they're not in the middle of the U.S. or even an English-speaking country. :-)

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  6. It was a wonderful meeting! Due to SCBWI I have met many interesting people - writers and illustrators. Great thank Miri Leshem-Peli for organization and promotion of our group in International Market.

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  7. Love this sneek peek into another SCBWI region. I also had the pleasure of meeting Miri at LA SCBWI last year.

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  8. Great idea for a feature. Hi to all our SCBWI friends in Israel x

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  9. Thanks Sarah what a great idea. as an international member of the SCBWI in Malta with as far as I know 1 one member it can be very lonely here.

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  10. This is Wonderful, Sarah! And Hellloooo! Miri! so lovely to hear about what your doing:)

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  11. Thank you everyone for your lovely comments! Thanks also to Miri and the wonderful members of SCBWI Israel!

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