Previous Mentorship Winners Reflect on the Experience

The SCBWI-MI mentorship program began in 2000. The application period for the 2026 novel mentorship with author Sheela Chari opens January 2, 2026 (with the winner announced in April). Today we hear from two previous novel mentorship winners about the experience. Joan Donaldson won the 2022-2023 mentorship and Kristin Bartley Lenz won a mentorship in 2018-2019.

1. How was the experience applying (were you nervous? had you applied before?)?

Joan Donaldson

Joan Donaldson: I had never applied before and didn't expect to win, so I was surprised and thrilled.

Kristin Bartley Lenz: The application process was easy because I already had a finished/revised manuscript that was ready to go, and it was my third time applying for the mentorship with various manuscripts over the years. I was probably quite nervous the first time I applied when I was new to SCBWI, but with each entry, I received encouraging, helpful feedback. I knew that even if I didn’t win the competition, my writing would benefit.

2. How was the mentorship experience itself?

JD: Because I had earned a MFA in creative writing, I had experience working with a mentor. Kelly [J. Baptist] was a terrific critique partner and could also act as a sensitivity reader for my manuscript. She had insightful comments, suggested books I should read, and asked several times if I wanted her to provide even more information.

Kristin Bartley Lenz

KBL: What a wonderful experience! Leslie Connor was my mentor, and she was so friendly and encouraging. The mentorship program has some guidelines, but it’s very flexible, and we set up a routine for critiquing/revising that worked for our schedules. This mentorship came at a difficult time in my writing career. I already had one published novel, but I had recently lost my agent who’d been unable to sell my next novel. Not only did Leslie help with revising my manuscript, but we also talked about school visits and speaking/teaching opportunities, and she was there to cheer me on when I began querying for a new agent. She was open about her own challenges too and gave me a glimpse into the life of a multi-published author, including the ups and downs.

3. How did the mentorship impact/affect your writing/career?

JD: Working with Kelly gave me more faith in my story involving a friendship between a white boy and an African American boy living on a cotton farm. Their families are share cropping. My agent loves my story, but so far no editor has snatched it up.

KBL: My writing career has been bumpy, and I’m still in touch with Leslie who’s been so supportive. I’ll fast-forward to today. I have a new agent and a new publishing contract! The Door Swings Open, my YA novel that won the mentorship competition way back in 2018-19 will finally be published in March 2026.

4. Is there any advice or encouragement you would offer to people applying?

JD: Put your work out there and see what happens. Even if you do not win the mentorship, you can always try again. Plus each time you polish a piece before submitting it, the manuscript sparkles even more.

KBL: Submit your best work that you love and be patient. If you don’t win, you’ll still receive valuable feedback and encouragement from the judges. If you do win, you’ll be spending many months working on your manuscript with no promise of publication, but you’ll grow as a writer and expand your community.

Looking for more information about the mentorship program to help you decide whether to apply? Here's some recent posts on the Mitten that may help: 

Mentorship coordinator Jessica Zimmerman explains the program and what you will receive (even if you don't win) 

Learn more about 2026 mentor Sheela Chari 

2018-2019 mentee Danielle DeFauw gives more reasons to apply

Remember, spots are limited and registration opens January 2. Good luck!

Questions? Email Jessica at scbwi.mi.mentorship@gmail.com

2026 Novel Mentorship

With January right around the corner, I’ve been thinking a lot about New Year’s Resolutions. For those of you out there who are Middle Grade and Young Adult novel writers, boy do I have a suggestion for you!!

Hi! 

I’m Jessica Zimmerman, and I’m the new(ish) Mentorship Coordinator for SCBWI-MI. I took the reins from the incredible Jay Whistler, and am so grateful for the guidance and materials that she left for me as I transitioned into her former role! This year I’ve learned so much about the uniqueness of our Michigan mentoring program, and I’m so excited to share everything I’ve learned with you…right here in this blog! 

First, let’s talk about how the mentorship program works. 

The program is on a three year rotation for genre: picture books, illustration, MG/YA novels. 2025 was an illustration year, with the incredible Penelope Dullaghan serving as the mentor to Marisa Korovesis. The program runs from April to November, so the two of them worked over eight months exchanging materials and feedback four times. 

As Marisa says, “This has been an absolutely thrilling experience. I have learned so much and gained a lot of knowledge and confidence from Penny. It's truly been one of the best experiences of my life.”

   

The 2026 mentorship will be a MG/YA novel mentorship with Sheela Chari! Sheela is the award winning author of several critically acclaimed novels, including KARTHIK DELIVERS, THE UNEXPLAINABLE DISAPPEARANCE OF MARS PATEL series, FINDING MIGHTY, and VANISHED! She holds an MFA from New York University and is a faculty member at the Vermont College of Fine Arts' MFA Program in Writing for Children and Young Adults. You can read more about Sheela right here on the Mitten, where she describes more about her work and background. 

In October I attended her SCBWI-MI webinar on Points of View and I must say, whoever gets to work with her is going to be sooooooo lucky. Sheela’s pretty awesome. 

So now, let’s talk about what you need to do to apply to work with her!

The mentorship website has TONS of information to help you get ready, including formatting details, an example submission, and a robust FAQ, plus my email if you have lingering questions. I’ll put it at the bottom of this post, too, for good measure🙂. 

One of my favorite things about the mentorship program is that EVERYONE gets SOMETHING!

So, here are the prize opportunities:

The winner receives the mentorship, plus a golden ticket submission to an agent or editor. The first and second runners up both receive gold form feedback from the mentor. In addition: The first-place runner-up will receive one free entry to our annual Critique Carousel for any project and the second-place runner-up will receive one $25 gift card for the SCBWI Member Bookstore. But even if you aren’t one of the top three, YOU STILL GET FEEDBACK!

Each submitted manuscript will be judged by three super-secret, super-awesome, anonymous judges. Every single person who registers will receive a paragraph of feedback from each judge, related specifically to the judging criteria: Appropriateness of Style, Development of Plot, Character Development, Pacing, and Overall impression/Originality. 

You read that right: three, unique, specific reviews of your work. What a great chance to improve your writing! Seriously, you don’t want to miss this.

I’m so excited to be coordinating this program and can’t wait to see the manuscripts that come in! Registration for the mentorship opens on January 2nd, 2026 and closes on January 11th. There are only 20 spots, so get those manuscripts ready!!!

See you soon, and Happy New Writing Year! Let’s help you reach your goals!

Questions? Email Jessica at scbwi.mi.mentorship@gmail.com

Jessica Zimmerman (she/her) is a mom, author, educator, and empowerment coach. She loves reading, writing, running (or walking), hugging trees and being in the sunshine. She holds degrees in education from Central Michigan University and the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and has been a public school teacher for twelve years. She was the Michigan World Language Elementary Teacher of the Year in 2024, and currently serves as the Mentorship Coordinator for SCBWI-Michigan.

Jessica’s first book, Drinking from the Fire Hose: A Survival Guide for First Year Teachers was independently published in 2024 and is available on Amazon. She recently completed a project with the Cereal City Sunrise Rotary Club, writing a picture book called Ben’s Diabetes Journey to raise awareness about childhood diabetes, which will be independently published soon. You can join her monthly at Willard Public Library in Battle Creek, Michigan for Bilingual Storytime with “Maestra Zim.”

Jessica’s life goal is to help everyone love themselves, love their people, and love the planet. You can learn more about her at jessicazimmermanbooks.com.

Writer Spotlight: Cindy Williams Schrauben

Pep Talk, illustrating, editor, THIS COULD BE YOU, Hank, and miniature horses: author Cindy Williams Schrauben

Charlie Barshaw coordinates our regular Writer Spotlight feature and interviews writers of SCBWI-MI. In this piece, meet author Cindy Williams Schrauben.

Author Pep Talk YouTube@Cindy-Williams-Schrauben. What kind of peptalk do authors need? What’s it like being on YouTube?

My YouTube channel, Author Pep Talk, is just a few weeks old, so right now I am in the learning/development stage. When I began my quest to become a traditionally published author, I promised myself that I would give back to the kidlit community once I was in a position to do so. That time is now. 

There are already a wealth of wonderful people offering webinars, classes, organizing conferences, etc. to help with writing craft. I decided that my focus would, instead, be encouraging writers to persevere. This is driven by my passion for growth mindset. 

Publishing is a tough business and we all need camaraderie, support, and reminders to keep pushing. That is where Author Pep Talk comes in. I provide daily inspirational posts as well as chats with others in the industry including authors, illustrators, agents, editors, publishers, etc. I hope this will become a thriving community of publishing folks supporting one another.

Diving into YouTube feels a lot like the early days of writing. I have a lot to learn and progress is slow, so it would be easy to give up. This is perfect though, because new writers are experiencing similar emotions and we can go through it together. Win-win. I hope readers will subscribe and tell me what they would like to hear on the channel. https://www.youtube.com/@Cindy-Williams-Schrauben

 I write books for kids ranging from truly serious to seriously silly. As a former teacher, administrator, and children’s museum developer, empowering kids has always been my thing. Tell us about being a children’s museum developer, please.

About ten years ago, I worked with a group of individuals to start a children’s museum in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. I was the assistant development director and worked to procure local support for the initiative as well as plan the new building, exhibits and programs. It was an exciting time and the museum is thriving.

I look forward to Illustrating my own picture book someday… so, come along and dream with me! Are you illustrating? Care to share any samples?

This is scary for me, because I definitely feel like an imposter when it comes to art (POV - me cringing). But, I always tell people they have to ‘put themselves out there’, so here goes. When I’m stuck on a manuscript I often turn to writing and drawing fun ridiculous poems about growing older. Here is a silly example.

Illustration by Cindy

Illustrating might never happen for me, but playing around with different creative forms helps to inspire me, especially when I get stuck.

 

CindyWilliams Schrauben is an educator and former magazine editor who is working tofulfill the lifelong dream of becoming a published author for children. What was your experience being a magazine editor?

I loved editing a magazine! It was my first “professional” writing experience. I launched the Central Michigan Edition of Healthy & Fit Magazine out of Lansing. 

These issues served the upper lower peninsula. I wrote articles, selected Health and Wellness topics, recruited other writers, secured advertising, etc. These were all new roles for me, but it was exciting and I learned a great deal. It’s funny how one step in our lives leads us to the next.

 

And for some reason, I always seem to get my best ideas while riding in the car. TIP: I keep a text message open and send myself voice recordings. By the end of the trip, I often have a full-blown idea ready to go. If I can decipher my ramblings, that is.
How has your car dictation changed with technology?

It has changed! I still get lots of ideas while I drive, but now I can just tell my phone to ‘take a memo’ as if I am talking to my real-life assistant.

 

Her latest book “This Could Be You” is her first picture book and features themes such as activism, diversity, andschool graduation throughout the book. Your first published book, after how long you’d been working on writing? What hoops did you have to jump through to get paid and published?

I ‘aspired’ to publish picture books for about 8 years before my offer from Cardinal Rule Press. As a retiree, I treated it like a full-time job. 

But, it took me a while to admit to anyone what I was doing. It was more of a silent goal (because I didn’t believe in myself). I took classes, went to conferences, and devoured everything I could find online. 

THIS COULD BE YOU was plucked out of the slush pile, so no hoops. Cardinal Rule Press was wonderful to work with and I think we changed one word from the initial submission.

 As an editor, can you answer me this? Which is the correct title format: Italic Name, or ITALIC SHOUT NAME, or PLAIN SHOUT NAME? With or without quote marks?

Do you mean for listing the title of the book? I have seen/heard differing opinions, For me it is THIS COULD BE YOU - no italics or quotes.

 

My journey has definitely been winding and sweet and I’d say… longish. All thecredit for my perseverance goes to the amazing kidlit community – what agenerous group of people. From websites and blogs like this, to contests,critique groups, twitter parties, etc. children’s book authors have lifted meup and propelled me forward.  When was this quote written?

That was an interview in Kidlit411 the year my first book came out.

Since then, you’ve published two books. What’s changed in the intervening years?

Not much has changed in the past few years with the kidlit community. The generosity and team attitude still amazes me. Changes in the publishing industry are a given, but having others to lean on makes all the difference.

 

From an interview:

Really??! That is so cool! *runs off to find that page*

Picking my favorite is tough, but I think it is this:

Who has keen-design flair,

an artist’s time-to-shine flair,

a sketch-and-then-refine flair?

Create. It could be you!

Why? It shows a character who tries and fails, but doesn’t give up.

Anything to add nowadays? 

This is the one illustration for which I offered input. I suggested that the illustrator, Julia Seal, add the crumpled up pieces of paper to emphasize the fact that the character’s drawings weren’t perfect the first time. Just like the writing process, right?

 

Hank’s Change of Heart! Hank’s Change of Heart! HANK’S CHANGE OF HEART! HANK’S CHANGE OF HEART! Tell us about Hank’s heart.

My new book HANK’S CHANGE OF HEART, was released November 4, 2025. The book features a boy who loves hearts of all kinds. He makes, collects, and hoards them until he discovers that they have a more important purpose.

I have lots of fun events planned including a big launch party and setting a Kid’s World Record with a local elementary school entitled “The Longest Chain of Children Sharing their Hearts”. It should be great fun.

Planning events reminds me of one of my favorite cheers for authors…’ If you don’t ask, the answer will always be no’. I have benefitted from many great opportunities because of that mindset.

(Read about Hank's Book Birthday HERE.)

 

What’s next for Cindy Williams Schrauben?

I always have a few manuscripts in the works. Right now I am also working on a chapter book series about my sister’s rescue farm for miniature horses. (Fanciful Farms in Eaton Rapids, Mi).  I hope I have many more opportunities to inspire kids with books and empower other writers to do the same.

 

List any social media you care to share:

https://www.youtube.com/@Cindy-Williams-Schrauben

https://www.facebook.com/cindy.w.schrauben

https://www.instagram.com/cindyschrauben/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Studio Tour with Trena Brannon

Trena's Illinois Studio

As a child growing up in Michigan, I have always loved drawing and coloring. As much joy as I found in art, when it was time for me to decide on a career direction, I did not even consider it. I did not know any artists, and I did not know what career types were possible. I took the technical route and ended up in Illinois after graduation. I continued to doodle and color on my meeting notes, the grocery list,  and with my children.  In 2004, my dear friend Marge introduced me to rubber stamping and card making, which was the beginning of my art (supplies) obsession. I started with a shoebox of stamping supplies and a spot at the kitchen table to do my art. Eventually, I moved to an area in our basement and bought one of those plastic drawer organizers to hold my supplies. From there, it was just a colorful explosion. I spent all my allowance on art supplies and storage for art supplies. Over time, I acquired a hodgepodge of containers, bins, baskets, cabinets, and shelves. Michaels, Joanne’s, and Hobby Lobby were my favorite places to go on the weekend. All I needed was a coupon.  As with many artists, my creativity evolved. Over time, I expanded my art supplies beyond rubber stamps, ink pads, pencils, and markers. I started drawing more and building my confidence. The Donnas’ - Dewberry and Downey, helped me get comfortable with acrylic paint. Carol DuVall found her way to my TV, and TiVo captured every episode. With encouragement from my family and friends, I started a business selling my greeting cards at art fairs and in local shops.

Trena's studio at her 2015 Michigan apartment

Fast forward to 2015, I moved back to Michigan to work.  We lived in an apartment for two years until we found a house.  I shared the small dining area with my husband. I had about 75% of the room, and he had 25%. It was working for me, but I needed a better storage solution. A trip to IKEA was necessary.  My creativity expanded to digital art - a new rabbit hole of exploration and fun!

Welcome to the studio

When we moved into our house, we continued sharing a common space - about twice the size of the area in our apartment. I maintained my 75%, but it wasn't enough, and my husband needed his own larger space, so he moved out. He found another spot in the house.  Soon after, we moved all of our belongings to Michigan. The art supplies I had in boxes, just waiting for me, were ready to be put in their own spot in our home. Over the years, my creativity has changed, and my style has evolved. I ended up giving away a lot of my supplies which at first was hard, but I found it freed me up to move in new directions. Organizing my creative space is a cycle. I embrace it. 

Trena's studio in her Michigan home

 

Trena Brannon advocates kindness, inclusion, and positivity.

She is an engineer by education, a project manager by experience, and an artist by joy.

Trena has various identities, including illustrator, surface designer, and freelance artist. She finds inspiration everywhere and develops her artwork using a variety of art supplies, found objects, and digital tools. Trena’s illustrations and designs show up in The Brannon Factory® greeting cards, children's books, via licensing, and in teaching. Trena has served on various art and craft design teams and has been published in art and craft magazines.

One of her favorite things to do is talk about possibilities! Trena lives in Southeast Michigan with her husband and art supplies.

Book Birthday Blog with Steve and Beth Boughton

 

Welcome to SCBWI-MI's Book Birthday Blog!

Where we celebrate new books from Michigan's authors, illustrators and translators.

 

Congratulations to Steve and Beth Boughton on the release of Emus on the Loose

 

How did you come up with the idea for your book? 

This is a fictional work inspired by a true story. On November 30, 2022, a windstorm swept through Oshtemo Township- just a few miles from Kalamazoo, Michigan. At the Llama Woods Farm, while Christee and Randy Dyk were away at work, a strong gust blew open the gate to the emu enclosure and a crashing tree branch gave the six emus just the scare they needed to make a break for it.
 
Soon, a Kalamazoo County sheriff’s deputy spotted one of the giant birds strolling down the road. The chase was on! With help from the Dyk family, they were able to round up the feathered fugitives.

 News outlets around the world pounced on the peculiar story, and it went viral on social media, with people marking themselves safe from stampeding emus.  One of those people was Steve's aunt (Mary Lou Boughton, a lifelong Kalamazoo resident). Beth saw the post and commented, "Is this your next book?"
 
Turns out, it was.

Steve's aunt introduced Steve to Christee Dyk, and even though the real emus didn’t make it all the way to downtown Kalamazoo, they decided it would make the perfect setting for a wild and whimsical “what-if” adventure.  

 

 

What is something you hope your readers will take away from your book? 

We wanted this to be a fun story that shows off some of our favorite spots in Kalamazoo, but also demonstrates the importance of compromise and working together to solve problems.

What was the most difficult part of writing this book? 

Steve: The most difficult part of writing the book was finding the time to write it! Working full-time as a television producer, along with other side jobs, I found that the only time I could really write is when I had insomnia. I would often lie awake late at night, trying not to wake Beth up while I searched the internet for fun emu facts. 
 
Beth: For me, the difficulty was in the editing portion. Steve has a lot of brilliant and creative ideas, but much like an emu, he is prone to flights of fancy. Corralling those flights of fancy can present a unique challenge, but the end product typically strikes a balance that seems to resonate with kids. 

What are your marketing plans for the book and where can we find it?

We are going to be working with the Kalamazoo Public Library and bookstores in the area to get it on the shelves, and hopefully putting together some events. The book is available right now through our website: https://franciscoandfriends.com/

What's next for you?

We’re currently in the middle of working on a sequel to our first book Francisco Takes Flight, which is about a flamingo at the Detroit Zoo who wants to learn to fly. In the sequel, Francisco Flies Home, the reader will follow Francisco’s journey to Chile for a family reunion. This project is currently in the illustration phase. We have many other ideas in various stages of development for Two Ton Press, many which center around animals, since we are big animal lovers! 

More about the book . . .  

Emus on the Loose is a fun and beautiful children’s book about six self-involved emus who get loose from their farm and go on a thrilling adventure in Kalamazoo, Michigan. They visit some of the city’s most iconic locations all while doing their best to avoid capture by the local Sheriff. In order to get back home to their family, they will need to learn to work together. Emus on the Loose is beautifully illustrated by our friend Marissa Tawney Thaler, an absolute rock star of an artist here in Lansing.

Published by: Two Ton Press, LLC (self-published) 

More about the authors . . . 

Steve Boughton grew up in the small, western Michigan town of Whitehall, and as the son of two teachers, creativity was always encouraged. He studied film at Michigan State University, where he also played trombone in the marching band.
 
After a few years of working in Iowa in film and as a television producer, he was able to move back to Michigan and put his story-telling chops to work at MSU for more than ten years, producing award-winning content for the MSU Alumni Association, College of Music and WKAR television.
 
He has always loved to create, whether making films and videos, drawing, or writing fun stories! 
 
Beth Boughton grew up in Brooklyn, Michigan, and was also the child of two teachers.  Reading was always encouraged in her household, and weekly trips to the Carnegie library were some of her favorite days. 
 
She studied English with a focus on Creative Writing at Michigan State University, where she was also in the Spartan Marching Band Color Guard.  During her time there, she was published in several editions of The Offbeat, and held an editorial internship at a regionally distributed magazine spanning 10 Michigan counties. Upon graduation, she began writing weekly features for The Exponent, located in Brooklyn, Michigan. 
 
She currently works for the Library of Michigan, and enjoys writing poetry, short stories, and putting her editing skills to work.