This month's Featured Member is...
Monica Wesolowska
Meet Monica
Monica’s journey as a picture book author began in childhood, with a book she called THE SAB COAT (back when she still wrote the letter “b” backwards). When she finally decided as an adult to pursue writing picture books, SCBWI was crucial. Thanks to the SCBWI newsletter, she found her agent, Kelly Sonnack, who sold Monica’s first picture book LEO + LEA (Scholastic, illustrated by Kenard Pak), which went on to win an SCBWI Crystal Kite award. Since then, she has published a second picture book, ELBERT IN THE AIR (Dial, illustrated by Jerome Pumphrey). In gratitude to SCBWI, she is currently co-coordinator for SCBWI, Alameda county. She lives in her hometown of Berkeley where, in addition to doing her own writing, she teaches and edits picture books for others.
Want to be featured in the Member Spotlight?
About once a month, Member Spotlight will feature a member who is celebrating a career milestone--a launch date, a book birthday, or some other significant event! Members should apply at least a month before their special date to ensure the regional team has time to process the application and gather any needed info. (Applying does not guarantee you will be featured, but the regional team will do their absolute best to ensure fair and equitable use of the Member Spotlight space.)
Want to be featured in our Member Spotlight? Please fill out the form here.
Past Featured Members
March 2025: Teri Roche Drobnick enjoys writing for children and adults. MOVING DAY is her debut picture book. Her work as a Clinical Social Worker influences her story themes about LGBTQ, dementia, immigration, chronic illness, and dying. She hopes to instill empathy and kindness in her readers. Her memoir, A DAUGHTER’S LONG GOODBYE, a love letter to her father who died of Alzheimer’s, is currently out on submission. Teri lives in Petaluma, CA, with her husband and writing assistant, Hobie, a Goldendoodle. When she's not writing, Teri can be found hiking or rowing on the Petaluma River.
November 2024: Nadia Salomon is a #PitMad Success Story and award-winning author of GOODNIGHT GANESHA, which is a Bank Street Best Book, ALSC DIA Selection, and #NCTEWow book. Her new book, A VOICE OF HOPE: THE MYRLIE EVERS WILLIAMS STORY, released on Sept. 24, 2024! She writes on themes of South Asian and Caribbean culture, STEM, nonfiction, and humor. Nadia is an award-winning journalist and holds a journalism degree from Emerson College. When not participating in her own goodnight rituals or spinning silly yarns... you'll find her working closely with SCBWI, 12x12 Challenge, Kids Comics Unite, and Storyteller Academy.