2025 information + dates will be posted on January 2, 2025!
Interested in becoming a 2025 PB Rising Stars Mentee?
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Please watch the video below for more information.
Good News from Past Mentees
2024 Mentee Information
Please review all eligibility requirements below, FAQs, and mentee information to see if this program is a good fit for you before applying.
MENTEE ELIGIBILITY:
Must be 18 years or older.
Must be an agented or unagented picture book author, illustrator, or author-illustrator.
Everyone in our program must foster diversity, equity, and inclusion.
We encourage past PB Rising Star runner-ups and honorable mentions to apply!
You must not have any traditionally published PICTURE BOOKS or traditional PICTURE BOOK deals that were sold by or represented by an agent. Self-published creators can apply! Creators who self-represented their own book deals can apply! And creators with traditionally published books in other markets can apply!
Must not have been a mentee in another official PICTURE BOOK mentorship program anytime between January 2023-September 2024.
Must be available to participate in the full mentorship program from May 23, 2024 through September 30, 2024. The schedule and workload are flexible and is led by the mentor’s availability and a mutually agreed upon plan.
Must agree to pause (or wait on) querying for the duration of the mentorship, unless a unique opportunity arises and is agreed upon by both mentor and mentee.
Must commit to revising one or more manuscripts, portfolio pieces, and/or dummies based on you and your mentor’s agreed upon terms and schedule.
PB RISING STARS MENTORSHIP INCLUDES:
4-month long mentorship, including 3 Months of a 1-on-1 craft intensive with your mentor + 1 month of publishing business development with PBRS co-founders Ebony Lynn Mudd and Kailei Pew. The full experience runs from May 23-September 30.
Feedback and revision help on one (or more) manuscripts, dummies, or portfolio pieces that will go well beyond typical critique.
A website spotlight, showcasing your headshot, bio, and social media links.
Exclusive workshops hosted by industry professionals.
A mentee-only Discord chat group to communicate and build community with fellow mentees.
An end-of-mentorship wrap party to celebrate your accomplishments and growth.
Lifelong membership in our PB Rising Stars community which gives you access to private, in-person meetups and any private virtual events that we have for our community.
Important 2024 Dates
March 7, 2024 at 8:00-9:30 PM Eastern Time: Meet the Mentors, a Panel-Style Zoom Q&A. Potential mentees will get the chance to hear from the 2024 Mentors about what they are looking for and ask any application questions.
March 18, 2024 - April 4, 2024: Mentee applications open! Applications close on April 4, 2024 at 9:00pm Pacific Time and 12:00am EASTERN TIME. Please coordinate with your time zone and plan accordingly. APPLICATIONS ARE CLOSED.
May 23, 2024: Official 2024 Mentees, Runner Ups, and Honorable Mentions announcement! We won’t be announcing on Twitter this year, so subscribe to our newsletter to be the first to know how to tune in! www.pbrisingstars.com/subscribe
May 30, 2024 8:00pm-10:00pm EASTERN TIME: 2024 Mentee Orientation! *Mandatory to attend live or to watch the recording by June 2, 2024.)
June 3, 2024 - June 9, 2024: Your one-on-one mentorship begins! During this week, Mentors will host first meetings with their Mentees based on a mutually agreed upon date and time.
June 6, 2024 at 8:00PM Eastern Time: Honorable Mention Ask-Me-Anything Zoom Q&A with co-founders Ebony Lynn Mudd and Kailei Pew. *This will be a private event for the 2024 Honorable Mentions only.
June 13, 2024 at 8:00PM Eastern Time: PB Rising Stars Virtual Meetup with Author Kelly Starling Lyons as the Keynote Speaker.
*This is an exclusive event for PB Rising Stars Mentees and Mentors ONLY.***June 28, 2024 - July 1, 2024: PB Rising Stars IN-PERSON Meetup in San Diego, CA during the American Library Association Annual Conference. *Optional Event for 2022-2024 Mentees and Mentors ONLY. More info sent to 2024 Mentees after they apply and get selected.
August 29, 2024: This is the final day of the one-on-one mentorship with the mentors!
August 30, 2024 at 8:00-10:00PM Eastern Time: 2024 PB Rising Stars Wrap Party via Zoom to celebrate yourself, the mentors, and your fellow mentors!
September 5, 2024 - September 26, 2024: The four-week publishing business intensive with co-founders Ebony Lynn Mudd and Kailei Pew. [Workshops will tentatively be held on September 5, 10, 19, and 24 at 8:00PM Eastern Time.]
In addition to the dates above, exclusive industry workshops will take place during the mentorship. The dates and details will be released to our 2024 Mentees in May.