Our local chapter wants to help you succeed; it’s what we’re here for.  The Mentor Program was born of the desire among our members for intensive one-on-one craft focus.  It’s designed for the unpublished writer or illustrator who feels their work is possibly-perhaps-maybe close to ready for submissions to editors and agents.  Or maybe you’ve already submitted heavily but receive those so-called “positive” rejections.  Or perhaps your critique group is stumped why you’re not published already.  If any of this sounds familiar, the Mentor Program may be for you.

The mentors we’ve selected are all as generous as they are talented.  They, too, want to help you succeed in the crazy, frustrating, and wonderful world of writing and illustrating for children.  They’ve been through the rigors of revision and rejection.  They know the frustrations you face.  And in spite of their busy schedules and deadlines, these people want help you through some hard spots in your journey of honing your craft.

This program is not a promise you’ll be published.  But if you work hard and give the mentorship all of your best effort, your craft will improve.

Please take the time to visit each mentor’s website.  With your application, you must select one or two mentors to whom your work will be submitted. Use the tabs above to read about the mentors and find the best fit for you and your work.

ELIGIBILITY: RMC-SCBWI Full members (includes self-published, POD, etc), Associate members, and PAL members who are not yet published in the genre in which they wish to be  mentored (e.g., a PAL author who has picture books published, but would like help working on a novel or a PAL author who has published novels, but would like to learn to write picture books. PAL authors cannot be published or under contract for the genre in which they would like to be mentored).

What to Expect
The actual mentorship lasts six months (see timeline at right), beginning with your original submission directly to your mentor once you’ve been accepted.  During the mentorship, you communicate with your mentor at least once per month via e-mail, phone, or in-person if you and your mentor so choose.
Expect to work hard on your manuscript(s) with the goal of revision completion by the end of the mentorship. Be open to constructive criticism and be prepared for intensive critique.

COST: $400, with a $100 deposit.  The deposit is refundable if you are not accepted.

NOTE: This is a blind application process; mentors will not know whose work they’re reading. Your name will appear ONLY on your application form, and you will be assigned a number for your work sample, synopsis, and artist statement. Mentors select mentees based on the application, artist statement, and manuscripts or illustrations they have received.

QUESTIONS?
Email our Mentor Program Coordinator Michelle Pumphrey
Or if you have many questions, an old-fashioned phone call:  303-465-2380.

Use this list to help determine the mentor that will be the best fit for you, but also check out the author's website and read his/her books!

Hilari Bell
www.sfwa.org/members/bell/
Hilari Bell calls herself the poster child for persistence.  After seventeen years of writing novels, she was finally published.  Now she has fourteen novels to her credit with more to come.  Hilari donates her time regularly to our chapter by co-hosting the Denver schmooze meetings with Anna-Maria Crum, and conducting other learning workshops.  And no matter what you write, Hilari has some great writing tips on her website.
Science Fiction and Fantasy, Middle Grade through Young Adult

Anna-Maria Crum
www.annamariacrum.com
Anna-Maria Crum has twenty years of experience in children's book publishing. She's written 18 books for grade school reading series (fiction and nonfiction), and illustrated 35 books. Since 1999, she has been a judge for the Pikes Peak Writers conference in the children's, YA, and Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror categories.  She currently hosts the RM-SCBWI schmooze meetings with Hilari Bell.
Middle Grade, Young Adult

Lindsay Eland
http://lindsayeland.com/
Middle Grade Author, Lindsay Eland is the mother of four young kids, writing her first published novel, Scones and Sensibility (Egmont USA), in the midst of potty training, naps, cooking, and oh yeah, attempting to keep her house clean. She is represented by Rebecca Sherman of Writer's House and her next middle grade novel will hopefully be published in 2012. Before being agented or published, Lindsay was a mentee in the SCBWI Nevada Chapter Mentor Program and is so excited to now be a Mentor with RMC-SCBWI.
Middle Grade

Pam Mingle
www.pammingle.com
Formerly a teacher and reference librarian, Pam has been writing for ten years. With her fourth novel, she landed a great agent, Steven Chudney of The Chudney Agency, and her young adult novel Kissing Shakespeare sold to Delacorte Press. It will debut in Summer of 2012. Over the years, Pam has been active in RMC-SCBWI. She’s won or placed in the Pikes Peak Writers Contest three times, in three different categories: Children’s, YA, and Romance. And she’s a Jane Austen nut. Pam lives in Lakewood with her husband. They love living in Colorado, where they can enjoy the outdoors year round.
Young Adult

Linda Arms-White 
www.lindaarmswhite.com  
Linda Arms White began writing the day her youngest child began school.  Since then, she has published nine books of fiction and non-fiction.  Her book I Could Do That: Esther Morris Gets Women the Vote won the Christopher Award, and her books have won too many awards and recognitions to list here.  She also speaks at various conferences, workshops, schools and libraries.  As co-owner of Children's Authors' Bootcamp, she travels the country helping children’s book writers improve their skills, and is generous to do the same for our local chapter.
Picture Books

Natasha Wing
www.natashawing.com
Natasha Wing is a bestselling author of children's picture books. She has been writing for 20 years and has 20 published books. Her paperback series with Grosset & Dunlap is based on The Night Before Christmas and has sold more than 3 million copies. She has also published a multi-cultural trade book, a biography, a fiction book about dinosaurs, and a bedtime story. She is a believer in including back matter in non-fiction book submissions.
Picture Books

Bobbi Collier-Morales
www.robertacolliermorales.com
Bobbi has been an illustrator since 1980, and earned her Master’s Degree in Studio Arts from Marywood University in 1999.  Bobbi spent 16 years in New York City studying her craft and learning art design for children’s books.  She has illustrated for the mass market, educational, and trade book markets, and her collection of work can be viewed on her website.  Bobbi has certain requirements for her illustrator submissions, so please see the information for illustrators.

Select the appropriate documents to apply for a mentor.  These documents include the introduction from the Mentor website page and bios of the mentors, in addition to the instructions and application form.

WRITER Information and Application

ILLUSTRATOR Information and Application

 THINGS TO NOTE

• Only RMC-SCBWI members are eligible to apply
• Writers: Select two mentors with whom you’d like to work, in order of preference
• Illustrators will be paired with Bobbi Collier-Morales, who prefers that you meet at least twice in person if possible.

APPLICATION CHECKLIST
Make sure you include the following:

• Completed application form
• Manuscript pages or illustration samples
• $100 deposit check
• Self-addressed, stamped postcard if you cannot receive confirmation via email

Look what others have said about the mentor program!

"...this program changed my writing life.  I'm a better writer because of [it.]"

"I am so grateful this opportunity came along.  Before the Mentor Program, I was contemplating giving up.  Now I'm excited about writing again."

"The most amazing opportunity!"

"This was an AMAZING program.  I feel privileged to have participated in it."