Advisory Committee

Co-Regional Advisor and Conference Directors

Jaime Temairik
Jaime is Co-Regional Advisor with Kim Baker. She has illustrated LIGHTS, CAMERA, FASHION!, written by Sara Easterly, as well as fellow AdCommer Martha Brockenbrough’s THINGS THAT MAKE US (SIC). She’s part of SCBWI’s TEAM BLOG, which covers SCBWI International Conferences, as well as a blogger for MSN Entertainment’s Bound blog. When Jaime’s not drawing, she’s driving visiting authors around town with First Edition Media Services. She recently taught her favorite class in the whole world, Illustrating Children's Picture Books, for the University of Washington Extension. Jaime is embarrassed by the number of web links she has, but would like to point you to  www.cocoastomp.blogspot.com for starters.

Kim Baker
Kim's debut middle grade novel, PICKLE*, is out September 2012 from Roaring Brook Press/Macmillan Children’s. Kim's second grade teacher said she'd be a writer someday, and by the time she figured out that the nun probably told everyone that, her heart was set. She lives in Seattle with her husband, two kids, and a few furry creatures. See more at www.kimberlycbaker.com.

Assistant Regional Advisor, Conference Coordinator, Chairperson

Brenda Winter Hansen
Brenda set aside her grueling volunteer duties hosting the monthly Kid Lit Drink Nights as Social Coordinator in order to take on more relaxing duties as the ARA and Conference Coordinator. She also volunteers at 826 Seattle, writes YA novels, and co-captains a houseful of lovable and often hilarious misfits. Check out her blog at www.winterhansen.com.

Art and Design Editor

Kevan Atteberry
Kevan is an illustrator of several award-winning books and a writer of future award-winning books, including FRANKIE STEIN, by Lola Schaefer, and TICKLE MONSTER, by Josie Bissett. He is frantically finishing the illustrations for a 2013 release of HALLOWEEN HUSTLE,  by Charlotte Gunnufson. He also is a graphic designer, Flash animator, and birdwatcher.

Attendance Coordinator

Chadwick Gillenwater
Chadwick greets and signs in attendees at our Professional Series Meetings, as well as keeping track of meeting attendance. Otherwise known as Professor Watermelon, he’s a school librarian and creative writing instructor recently named Teacher of the Year by the administrators of his school network. Hailing from Indianapolis, IN, Chadwick is a Hoosier at heart but is happy to call Seattle his home.

Chinook Articles Editor

J. Elizabeth Mills
Elizabeth (or Liz, as she likes to be known) was a children’s book editor at Scholastic in big, bad New York for eight years until she realized she was happier climbing mountains than the steps of the subway. She moved to Seattle and worked as toys and games editor at Cranium for two years. Now she is a freelance writer and editor, with many work-for-hire publications and a new trade picture book, THE SPOOKY WHEELS ON THE BUS, just out from Cartwheel Books. She loves hiking, rock climbing, reading anything and everything, and waking up to a view of the Cascades every morning.

Chinook Update and Good News Editor

Rebekah Jensen
Rebekah produces the Chinook Update, our blog for authors and illustrators of children's literature in our region. She is still fairly new to writing children's books, so she loves being part of SCBWI to learn and hone her writing skills. She currently lives on a little pear orchard in Zillah, WA (which is the ideal place for the ongoing writing, and revising process). She oversees an after school program with an academic enrichment focus for three sites ranging from kindergarten through high school age kids. She loves children’s literature, and always beelines to the children’s section first. With work, an upcoming August wedding and a dog who demands a daily walk, she always looking for free moments to get some writing done.

Critique Coordinator

Kerri Kokias
Kerri helps writers and illustrators in our region connect with their peers to form critique groups. She also coordinates our annual Great Critique where authors and illustrators have the opportunity to critique with published professionals. Kerri began writing picture books in 2004 when she left her research job to be a stay-at-home mom. At first, it gave her something fun to focus on while using the same energy she drew from to parent. But before long she knew writing children’s books is what she wanted to do as a career. Now her idea of a vacation is attending writing conferences and retreats, and she can be found writing away at coffee shops whenever she can steal a moment to herself. In 2006 she completed an advanced education certificate program in Writing for Children at the University of Washington.

Illustration Program Coordinator

Jennifer K. Mann
Jennifer coordinates the wondrous SCBWI events and programs for illustrators. She is all about making the world of children’s book illustration accessible to those who want to inhabit it. Jennifer is an author/illustrator from Bainbridge Island. She is currently illustrating TURKEY TOT, a picture book by the world famous children’s book author George Shannon, to be published by Holiday House, and illustrating two of her own picture books, TWO SPECKLED EGGS, and I DEFINITELY WILL NEVER GET A STAR ON MRS. BENSON’S BLACKBOARD, both to be published by Candlewick Press. Visit Jennifer’s website at www.jenniferkmann.com.

Inside Story Chairperson

Martha Brockenbrough
Martha organizes the Inside Story events twice a year. She is the author of four books: DEVINE INTERVENTION, a young adult novel (Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic); THE DINOSAUR TOOTH FAIRY, a picture book (forthcoming, Arthur A. Levine Books); THINGS THAT MAKE US [SIC], published in 2008 by St. Martin's Press; and IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU, published in 2002 by Andrews McMeel Universal. She writes about pop culture, parenting, and other topics for MSN.com, Women's Health, Parenting, and other publications. She founded both National Grammar Day and SPOGG.org, the Society for the Promotion of Good Grammar.

Librarian Outreach Coordinator

J. Elizabeth Mills
Elizabeth (or Liz, as she likes to be known) was a children's book editor at Scholastic in New York for eight years until she realized she was happier climbing mountains than the steps of the subway. She moved to Seattle, worked at Cranium, and freelanced as an editor and writer. Though she is currently writing academic papers in her pursuit to become a librarian, she is the author of THE SPOOKY WHEELS ON THE BUS (Scholastic) and soon-to-be-released HORNS, TAILS, SPIKES, AND CLAWS (Scholastic). She loves hiking, rock climbing, kayaking, and waking up to a view of the Cascades on sunny mornings. Liz facilitates networking and promotional opportunities between Western Washington SCBWI members and local school and public librarians, through regular meetings and events.

Nonfiction Program Coordinator and Cvent Coordinator

Laurie Thompson
Motherhood transformed Laurie Thompson from a mild-mannered, dissatisfied software engineer into a passionate, fulfilled writer. She now strives to create nonfiction that will educate, entertain, and inspire young readers. Laurie’s articles have appeared in ParentMap, Odyssey, Faces, Know, and others, and she is currently working on several nonfiction book manuscripts for various ages. Laurie has been on SCBWI Western Washington's advisory committee since 2007, first as conference coordinator, then as co-regional advisor from 2009-2011. You can read more about Laurie and her work at lauriethompson.com.

Northern Network Coordinator

Rebecca Van Slyke
Rebecca coordinates schmoozes and other fun as the Northern Network Coordinator. She has an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She writes picture books, easy readers, nonfiction, and poetry, and she’s currently working on something she swore she would never attempt: a middle-grade novel. She also has illustrated five art books for children. Rebecca is a second-grade teacher in Lynden, where she lives with her husband, daughter, and a very spoiled dachshund. She is also a cowgirl.

Public Events Coordinator

Tina Hoggatt
Tina helps to coordinate public events and other opportunities for SCBWI to engage with our community. A writer and illustrator, she is currently working on young-adult and middle-grade fiction. In her day job she handles press and social media for 4Culture, the cultural services agency for King County. Tina has illustrated two books for adults, MY JIM by Nancy Rawles and HOME FIELD, a collection of essays on baseball edited by John Marshall. Her public artwork The Positions on the Field is permanently installed in Safeco Field. Learn more about her work at  tinahoggatt.com.

Published Member Liason

Joni Sensel
Joni helps develop programs for our region's published professionals. She's the author of a handful of fantasies for middle-grade and YA readers, most recently THE SKELETON'S KNIFE, the third book in her Farwalker Trilogy. A business freelancer and propagandist by day, Joni lives with a couple of pooches in the woods near Mt. Rainier. Read more at www.jonisensel.com.

Resources Coordinator

Erik Pulkka
Erik sells SCBWI products — including pens, book bags, t-shirts, and the Nuts & Bolts packet — at monthly meetings and our annual conference. Erik is married and a full-time dad to twin boys. Watching them interact with their environment inspires him to create adventures for his characters on paper. Erik began writing his first chapter book, WELLINGTON THE BOOT, in 2008 when he found Peggy King Anderson’s class, The Magic for Writing for Children. Starting in 2009, he started taking his writing to his core audience by reading to local school children and was recently named author of the week by students at East Ridge Elementary. Erik also feeds his creative side by hand-painting miniatures for strategy games and re-creating historical or sci-fi battles. His love of gaming has prompted him to begin writing young adult science fiction.

Retreat Director

Jolie Stekly
Jolie is responsible for pulling together and delivering our annual fall retreat for writers-Weekend on the Water. She grew up in small-town Montana before moving to the Pacific Northwest where she lives with her husband, daughters, and parents (yes, parents). After many years of teaching first and second grade, Jolie is now home with her girls and writing, writing, writing. Jolie was the co-regional advisor of the Western Washington chapter of SCBWI from 2006-2009. All these things combined have led her to require a good cup of coffee (more than one a day), a cute pair of shoes (no matter how much they hurt), and a great workout (even on the days she’s not teaching her own Bodypump class).You can read more at cuppajolie.blogspot.com/.

Secretary/Hospitality

Dana Sullivan
Also known as D2 in deference to the much senior Dana Arnim, Dana keeps lobbying to change his official title to Scooby Snackmeister. In the past he provided healthy and nutritious snacks for our meetings, but recently changed to cookies and candy, to much applause. He also takes notes for the Advisory Committee when reminded. Dana wobbles between ecstasy and paralyzing fear over his first picture book, to be published by Sleeping Bear Press, if he would ever send them final art. You can see some of his illustrations in the banners above the snack table, in the Chinook Update, and at danastickylove.blogspot.com.

Webmaster

Dana Arnim
Dana Arnim, (D1), is an illustrator and the webmaster for SCBWI Western Washington. (To be clear, she is senior in adcom years to D2, but much, much younger in all other ways.) She creates websites by day and illustrates by night—or whenever she can! Her illustrations can be seen in THE TERRIBLE TENOR, by Bev Parnell, on the iPad app Farfaria, and on her website at www.danaarnim.com. She lives in Seattle with her husband, daughter and the requisite cats and dog (who are always good for procrastination and mind-clearing breaks).