Meet the 12 x 12 2023 Scholarship Winners!

Happy New Year! Starting a new year always feels like a fresh beginning and we can’t think of a better way to start than by congratulating our 2023 12 x 12 Picture Book Writing Challenge Scholarship winners!

The 12 x 12 Scholarship Fund started in 2014 when the 12 x 12 community generously donated funds to provide four scholarships in two categories — Diversity and Financial Need — for pre-published picture book authors. Since 2016, our members have donated enough money to fund SIX scholarships per year! The purpose behind these scholarships is to cultivate underrepresented voices in children’s picture books and to provide an opportunity for dedicated writers to join 12 x 12 who might not otherwise be able to. You can find out more details about the 12 x 12 Scholarship Fund on our Scholarship Page.

It was a strong year for submissions and our decision was very difficult. If you applied and didn’t win, we encourage you to continue working on your craft and apply again in November. Each of this year’s scholarship recipients receives a GOLD membership to the 12 x 12 Picture Book Writing Challenge and a lifetime membership to The Complete Picture Book Submissions System.

It is with great pleasure, and sincere thanks to the 12 x 12 community, that we announce the 2023 Diversity and Financial Need Scholarship winners.

2023 Scholarship Recipients

Aimee Hiura is a Korean-American picture book author from South Korea. She grew up in Seoul and is now based in the San Francisco Bay Area. She earned her B.A. in Business and initially started her career in marketing, but she decided to pursue her passion in expanding children’s art experiences. That motivated her to achieve an M.A. in Arts Management and further gain experience in cultural policy and ultimately started her writing career as a columnist, writing about children’s art education. She now lives with her husband and two little boys who inspired her to become a picture book author and enjoys the pleasure of creating a safe, imaginative world for all children.

Aimee says, “Books have always comforted me and allowed me to dream. I especially love the world in picture books—it is like soothing music, dynamic plays, and a comforting smell. I want to devote myself to bring and enhance such wonderful experiences to children through unconventional storytelling based on my multicultural background and authentic voice. Every child deserves at least one book that perfectly speaks to them. So, I write stories with humor and heart to reach that one reader.”

Alexandra Millarhouse grew up in love with the natural world. When she wasn’t outside talking to the plants and animals around her, she was inside reading about them. Eventually, this turned into a winding career as an environmental health social scientist, science communication professional, and amateur naturalist.

Becoming a parent and home-educator reignited Alexandra’s love of picture books. In a twist that surprised no one, Alexandra discovered a passion for writing her own stories blending sensory science with social emotional learning. They are a member of SCBWI and a ’22 #FWF winner. Alexandra lives in VT with her family, where you can usually find them wandering across a graveyard tracking wildlife or sitting by the lakeshore with a sketchbook.

Alexandra says, “I see picture books as critical spaces for social justice, ecological literacy, and celebrations of self. Woven into my work is a dream of a world where science embraces multiple ways of knowing and human beings joyfully participate in the well-being of our ecological communities. Focusing on the connections between and within us, I want to write wonder-full stories that are one part science, two parts magic and mystery.”

Devyn Douvier is a queer and neurodivergent writer who never grew out of her love for kid lit. She is a 2022 PBChat mentee and an active member of SCBWI, 12 x 12, and 3 critique groups. In addition to writing fiction and nonfiction across multiple age groups, Devyn is also the voice behind Mutually Inclusive, a blog dedicated to sharing and celebrating inclusive titles for young readers. When she isn’t reading or writing you can find Devyn chasing a toddler around her new hometown of St. Louis.

Devyn says, “Growing up I was always lost in stories, but I didn’t always find characters like myself in the pages of books. Not seeing the things that made me “different” represented in the stories I explored left me wondering if I was “normal”. Today, I choose to write the stories I needed back then. I write to provide queer and neurodivergent kids with the sort of representation and affirmation that we all deserve.”

Kristen Rashid is a board-certified art therapist, licensed professional counselor, and Asian-American writer from Philadelphia, PA. She’s a member of SCBWI and Storyteller Academy, leader of two critique groups for picture book creators, runner up for a #PBChat mentorship in 2020, and recipient of an Eastern PA SCBWI picture book mentorship in 2021. Kristen’s writing often has SEL components with a STEAM focus and features kids of color engaging in their everyday lives. She draws inspiration from her child art therapy work, and from her two daughters with whom she regularly enjoys bedtime read-alouds, car ride audiobooks, family critique group meetings, and library visits.

Kristen says, “Books were an important part of my childhood in the adventures and comfort they offered. For a time, you could usually find me reading a book from high in the branches of my favorite climbing tree. Now, I write because I have stories to share that I hope can offer the next generation of readers comfort, connection, opportunities for exploration, and windows or mirrors that might lead to increased empathy, understanding, and a sense of belonging.”

Madhuri Messenger enjoys all aspects of writing fiction, from choosing story ideas, to creating emotional moments, to revising repeatedly. She was selected as a 2022 PBParty Finalist and received a 2022 We Need Diverse Books Middle Grade Mentorship and a 2021 Yuyi Morales Merit Scholarship from Children’s Book Academy. She was also awarded honorable mention in the 2018 Oregon Writers Colony Writing Contest. Her work is supported by invaluable critique partners and active memberships in Inked Voices and Yale Women Writers’ Group. Madhuri writes punny picture books, magic-filled middle-grade, and light-hearted women’s fiction. She has one law degree, two master’s degrees, and three curious children.

Madhuri says, “My love for reading started with a picture book. Over the years, books have opened doors for me, comforted me, made me laugh, and inspired me to write. I enjoy finding worthy, weighty words to tell a tale that is silly or serious or somewhere in between. My stories explore the joys of my cultural traditions, encourage curiosity, and embrace making mistakes. My characters always stay true to themselves and I hope my writing will inspire readers to do the same.”

Phyllis Hemann is a published poet and journalist who adores connecting readers to stories that delight with wonder and heart. As a child, she scribbled poems and tales with crayons. Her love of writing led her to earn a M.F.A. from Antioch University Los Angeles and start a career in newspaper. After a chronic illness became disabling, she left journalism to focus on her own creative work. She has a soft spot for picture books, and the shared experience of reading. She lives in Arkansas with her family and goofy Aussie dog.

Phyllis says, “I grew up reading and telling stories. Throughout my life the power of words resonated in me. The magic that stories create in a child’s world is inspiring, and tapping into my innate sense of story magic is what brings me back to the page every time. My dream is to write stories brimming with wonder that make a difference in children’s lives – whether to make them laugh, learn, imagine or find themselves reflected in the world.”

Congratulations to this talented group of writers, and WELCOME to 12 x 12!

We’d love to welcome you to 12 x 12 in 2023, too! General registration will be open from January 9 – February 28, 2023.

Returning members, look for registration information in your inbox staring January 6th.