And the Mentorship Goes to…

This year we had 18 incredible submissions of Middle Grade and Young Adult novels. Our panel of judges explained that there were some really great stories in the mix, and they had quite a time narrowing down the list. 

Sheela Chari, our mentor, was given the top three applicants and explained that it was hard choosing, as all three were strong and held merit. 

With that, a drumroll please…

Heather Shumaker is this year’s mentorship winner! 

Heather is a Traverse City-based author and proud member of SCBWI. She writes books for both children and adults, concentrating on Middle Grade. Her books include: THE GRIFFINS OF CASTLE CARY (Simon & Schuster BFYR, 2019), a slightly spooky MG adventure, and SAVING ARCADIA, a Michigan Notable Book about Great Lakes land conservation. She’s also the author of two early education books IT’S OK NOT TO SHARE and IT’S OK TO GO UP THE SLIDE. Heather co-coordinates the Up North Shop Talk and is a staunch defender of books, children, nature, and libraries.

As Heather said in her application, “I’ve come to realize that every critique and reader reaction is a gift. I appreciate frank feedback and serious brainstorming. I’d like to work with someone who understands the tender responsibility that comes with kidlit, and seeks to push a story until it’s worthy of a child’s time.”

Heather will work with Sheela from April 10th to November 20, 2026. After their time together, she will have an opportunity to submit to an acquiring editor using one of SCBWI-MI's "golden tickets," which means no slush pile! 

The first-place runner up is Kelsey Gross, who will receive one free entry to the 2026 Critique Carousel. 

Anita Fitch Pazner is the second-place runner up, who has won a $25 gift card to the SCBWI bookstore. 

Thank you so much for our incredible judges for their hard work, and congratulations to all of our applicants! It was a tough competition this year!

Picture book authors get ready - submissions for the 2027 Picture Book Mentorship will open in January, 2027!

Jessica Zimmerman

SCBWI-MI Mentorship Coordinator 

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.

And the Mentorship Goes to...!!!

For everyone who has patiently waited for the results of the 2025 Illustration Mentorship, I am thrilled to announce that Penny Dullaghan, our mentor, has chosen to work with Melissa Bailey. 

Of the top three submissions, Penny said, "It was much harder than expected to narrow them down! Each artist brought wonderful strengths to the table, and I truly enjoyed sitting with their work to make my final decision. I’d love the opportunity to work with all of them, as they each have so much to offer and ways to continue growing."

Melissa Bailey

Melissa will work with Penny from April 1 to November 21, 2025. After their time together, Melissa will have an opportunity to submit to an acquiring editor or art director using one of SCBWI-MI's "golden tickets," which means no slush pile! Be sure to read Melissa's bio below.

Penny's first-place runner up is Maria Korovesis, who has one a one free entry to the 2025 Critique Carousel. 

The second-place runner up is Ken Eaton, who has won a $25 gift card to the SCBWI bookstore. 

Congratulations to all three winners! For all the other illustrators who submitted (including our two runners-up), we haven't forgotten about you. I will be sending you feedback on your submissions from all three judges before April 30. 

Middle-grade and young-adult novelists, get ready because you're up next for our 2026 mentorship!

Jay Whistler

Outgoing 2025 Mentorship Coordinator

Jessica Zimmerman

Incoming 2026 Mentorship Coordinator 

Melissa Bailey is an award-winning illustrator, author, and smiley person. She has illustrated over 60 children’s books (including bestselling Steve the Dung Beetle: On a Roll, recent release The Horse Who Wanted to Fly, and upcoming Mara Plants a Seed) and is the author-illustrator of two (Imara’s Tiara, cowritten with Susan R. Stoltz, and Pug is Happy). A member of SCBWI since 2013, she volunteers as a self-publishing advisor for SCBWI-Michigan.

 

When she’s not in her studio splashing paint or typing away at her keyboard, she’s probably outside taking a walk. If it’s too dark for walks, she might be cooking (and eating), bingeing old TV shows, drawing, or avoiding doing the dishes.