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REGIONAL TEAM
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Sally Jones Rogan Sally Jones Rogan has served on the Los Angeles Region board as Registration Coordinator, Workshop Coordinator, Assistant Regional Advisor, and now Co-Regional Advisor. She was the recipient of the Sue Alexander Service and Encouragement Award in 2013. Sally currently has two novels with Alfred A. Knopf, one of which was listed in New York Public Library’s 100 Best Books for Reading and Sharing, and earned a nomination for the Arizona State Reader’s Award. After years of globetrotting, she settled in California and now shares her love of children’s literature with her students at an LAUSD Elementary School Library. |
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Nutschell Anne Windsor Nutschell Anne Windsor first joined the SCBWI-L.A. Board as the Contest Coordinator, before transitioning into the role of Assistant Regional Advisor. Now she serves as the Co-Regional Advisor alongside Sally. Nutschell is the Founder and President of the Children’s Book Writers of Los Angeles, where she co-organizes and facilitates the annual CBW-LA Writing Day Marathon; as well as edits and publishes the resulting Story Sprouts anthologies and collaborative novels. Following a BA in Psychology, she became a High School English teacher. Currently, she works at the UCLA Extension Writers’ Program as the Creative Writing (Online) and Events Program Representative. She writes Middle Grade and YA fiction and also shares writing tips and techniques, and reports on various writing events on her blog, www.thewritingnut.com. |
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Kim Wildman Kim is excited and proud to serve as ARA of SCBWI-Los Angeles. She has always loved getting lost, wandering in words. Originally from South Jersey, she graduated from UCLA with an admiration of all things improvisational, from comedy to jazz to the quilts of Gee’s Bend. She practiced law for a short time as a deputy district attorney for LA County, which helped her grow up. But her love of fiction, especially YA, drew her back to the world of imagination. Teaching middle school English and drama now keeps her laughing, humble and aware of the courage it takes to be a teen. Since attending her first summer conference in 1995, her happy association with SCBWI and its talented, generous members inspires her. |
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Lisze Bechtold Lisze Bechtold is an animator, as well as an author & illustrator of picture books and early readers. Her published works include Edna’s Tale, Sally and the Purple Socks (a Children’s Choice and Imagination Library book), and the award-winning Buster the Very Shy Dog series. She has taught workshops, reviewed portfolios, and studied writing with such luminaries as Myra Cohn Livingston and Patricia Lee Gauch. A long time member and volunteer for the SCBWI, she co-coordinated several SCBWI Illustrator Days, sat on the L.A. Regional Board, and proposed a Working Illustrators Retreat which she co-coordinated as a tri-region event. She is the 2002 recipient of the Sue Alexander Service & Encouragement award. She holds an MFA in animation from Cal Arts and directed an independent film included in the National Film Registry. liszebechtold.com |
BOARD MEMBERS
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R.S. Mellette R. S. Mellette is the author of the Billy Bobble Makes a Magic Wand series. His background is in Theatre, Film and Television – with experience from independent to studio to the Big Five. “I don’t know why every PAL member, especially the new ones, don’t fight to do this job. As the PAL rep, I get all of the inside information on School book fairs all over LA. So I am doubly blessed – I get to help other writers and authors, while also helping myself.” |
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Jessica Chrysler Jessica Chrysler is the Managing Editor for Kite Tales and has served on the SCBWI-L.A. regional board for over five years. She a recipient of the Sue Alexander Service and Encouragement Award and the T.A. Barron Fellowship for Excellence in Fantasy Writing from Hamline University, where she earned an MFA in Writing for Children. Both a writer and illustrator, her work features worlds brimming with magic and colorful characters. Follow @jesschrysler on Instagram or find out more at JessChrysler.com. |
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Karen Sampson Karen Sampson was previously a LitMingle Coordinator for the Sherman Oaks LitMingle for over six years. She just finished the coursework for the Creative Writing Certificate from the UCLA Extension program. And her past careers include the Marketing Manager for Autolife Advertising and a Manager of Series Development for USA Network. Currently, Karen is a stay-at-home parent working on her first YA novel. “I want to help keep our community writing and drawing!” |
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Brenda Scott Royce Brenda Scott Royce is a lifelong lover of books and beasts—and whenever possible her work combines the two. She wrote her first novel, Monkey Love (Penguin/NAL) while working as a chimpanzee keeper at a wildlife sanctuary. Kidlit credits include early readers and chapter books about horses, sharks, dolphins, dinosaurs, rescue pets, and service animals. In her free time, she serves as a transport volunteer for a parrot rescue organization. Connect with her on Twitter: @bsroyce “A long-time member of SCBWI-L.A., I’ve always loved attending the events and networking with fellow kidlit writers. Now, I’m excited to join the board as the Contest Coordinator. As one of the winners at the 2018 Writers Day event, I know how thrilling it is to win—and how valuable it is to receive contest feedback. I look forward to helping bring that about for other members!” |
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Jean Lizotte Grabow Jean is a marketing professional and for the past ten years, a pre-published writer of poetry and fiction. She has a certificate in Fiction Writing from UCLA Extension and is an avid reader of YA and MG novels. “SCBWI is a valuable resource for all of us in so many ways. I’m proud to help navigate the ever-changing world of social media on behalf of SCBWI-LA.” |
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Daka Hermon Daka Hermon works in the entertainment industry. She recently sold her first middle-grade novel Hide & Seeker to Scholastic. When she’s not reading or writing, she’s collecting superhero toys and other paraphernalia like any true fangirl. “Volunteering for SCBWI has been a blessing in so many ways. Not only have I met some wonderful friends and mentors, but the events and workshops have helped me hone my craft and taught me so much about the children’s publishing industry. While volunteering, I even met my future editor. I’m so grateful for this organization and I’m excited I have the opportunity to encourage and support other writers on their journey.” |
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Jill Tuckman Jill Tuckman studied Art and Literature at UC Santa Cruz and spent ten years at a multimedia company doing web design, web programming and 3D animation. She joined SCBWI in 2011 and completed UCLA Extension’s Certificate in Fiction Writing in 2014. Jill is a pre-published author and illustrator of picture books. “My membership with SCBWI has helped me not only by granting access to information about children’s publishing, but also by helping me to improve both my writing and illustrations. I am glad to be a small part in helping the organization continue to do the same for others.” |
**REGIONAL ADVISOR EMERITA LOCAL**
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Remembering Co-RA for 11 years, 10 books recently published, with another 6 under contract. “Being a midwife to so many great works is incredibly gratifying, as are the friendships. I got back much more than I ever gave, although that was never my intent. I’ve grown in craft and as a person.” |
