Network News: South East Spotlight on Southampton

Southampton Common
It's all happening with SCBWI in Southampton...

We had our first SCBWI Southampton Goal Setting Supper  on Thursday May 16th and on Monday May 20th, the SCBWI Illustrators Juried Exhibition went up in Southampton Central Library.





SCBWI Southampton Goal Setting Supper

Following a comment from John on a Network News post a few weeks ago I thought 'ooh that's easy, I wonder if there are any more SCBWIs in Southampton?' So, I went to scbwi.org and searched for members. By only filling in the city and country search boxes I was surpised to find there are seven of us.

I contacted everyone through a combination of SCBWI messaging and email. It was lovely to have such an enthusiastic response to the idea of meeting up. I gave everyone a list of dates and venues and asked people to say what dates they absolutely couldn't do and to choose a venue. After a few people had responded,  I was left with only one date so I picked that and hoped for the best!  Most people chose The Cowherds Pub, where the food is tasty and not too expensive, and on the edge of Southampton Common, a beautiful large green space in the heart of the city.


Green and Blue
We didn't know it was going to be a goal setting supper when we arranged to meet, but over pre-supper drinks, when it was suggested, everyone enthusiastically agreed. It's a great idea because it provides a positive focus for the meeting, it works well for mixed (author/illustrator, picture book to YA)  groups, and we can do what SCBWI does best, which is support each other to reach those goals whatever they are.

And here we are...
From left to right: Lorraine Cook, Helen Dineen, Helen Bonney, Jan Carr, Ken Lymer, Veronica Cossanteli
Sadly, Sandra Horn and Holly Gatrell couldn't make that evening, we hope we'll see you next time. Next time is Thursday June 13th, 7:30pm at The Cowherds

If you're a SCBWI member and you'd like to join us, you're very welcome.
Let me know in the comments below.


The SCBWI Illustrators Juried Exhibition, Southampton Central Library 


a perfectly balanced exhibition
The Illustrations, first seen at The WInchester Conference in November, then in April at Foyles in Charing Cross Road are now in the Central Library in Southampton, until Friday June 14th.

They were very easy to transport I took them down on Monday morning on my bike, sooo glad it wasn't raining.


We're really lucky that in Southampton that we still have a good library service however in this year's round of cuts many staff were lost and the opening hours reduced. 

Southampton Central Library with Clock Tower - so Back to the Future!

Several people stopped to chat as I was putting them up and it was great to able to give them a card. If you're in Southampton over the next few weeks, do stop by and take a look.


Balance maintained.
Next stop, Norwich!


Jan Carr is the editor of Words & Pictures. Her fiction is older middle grade, she blogs occasionally and loves to write in magenta.

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