Thank you, RACWI!

It has been an absolute honor to serve as President of RACWI this past year. The Rochester Area Children’s Writers and Illustrators is a group of kidlit creators living in the Rochester, NY area. Thank you to all of you who made me feel welcome and capable in this new leadership position. I had a blast preparing our monthly meetings and lining up guest presenters. 

This year we were treated to presentations by Heather L Montgomery, Kekla Magoon, Mindy Yuksel, Keely Hutton, Achut Deng, Jackie Yeager, Marsha Hayles and Jen Rofé.

We ended the year on a high note with the incredibly talented London Ladd who presented to the group and showed us his art studio.

More highlights from the year:

Peggy Thomas, Andrea Page, Susannah Buhrman-Deever, Keely Hutton, Sarah Mead, Vivian Vande Velde at School No 12
  • I spent a day reading to the amazing second graders at Rochester’s Anna Murray-Douglass Academy No.12 and sharing my writing process.

Kekla Magoon, Sarah Mead, Yuko Jones, Bruce Coville

  • I got to perform in a ridiculous musical with Kekla Magoon, Yuko Jones, Bruce Coville and many more at our annual post-festival dinner!

  • I found an amazing critique partner.

Our group has so much to look forward to…

RACWI meetings are about to start up again at Writers and Books. We have a writers retreat coming up at the Gell Center in Naples with guest speakers Linda Sue Park and Dee Romito. Festival to Go is happening again in October. Here’s how to donate a book to an RCSD student. And planning is heavily underway for the Rochester Book Festival in November!

I have been a member of this group of local authors and illustrators for fifteen years. Being immersed in their talent, love and generosity has improved my craft, enriched my life and given me beautiful friendships. I am so grateful for each and every one of you.

If you live in the Rochester area and you love to write or illustrate for children, send me a message. You belong here. Come and check us out!

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Kathleen Blasi 1 year ago

RACWI has reached new heights with you, Sarah! Thank you for all you do to keep things fun, interesting, and inspiring!

Jim Chaize 1 year ago

RACWI under your leadership this past year has been wonderful. Thanks so much, Sarah. I'm excited for year two with you.

About Me

Sarah Mead grew up reading anything she could get her hands on and her stories won her the future author award in elementary school. As a fourth-grade teacher, she earned a master's degree in writing curriculum, but decided that writing children’s books was much more fun! She regularly publishes magazine articles and leads a group of children's authors and illustrators in Rochester, NY. When she isn’t writing or reading, you can find her belting showtunes in the carpool or playing board games with her husband and three kids. She has a mini-goldendoodle named Oliver who likes to sleep on her feet while she writes.

© Sarah Mead 2025