Rocky Mountain Kidlit Conf Rocked

Well, thank you Colorado!

The conference was one of the best I’ve ever had the good luck to attend. The organizers were organized (yay!) and the conference-goers enthusiastic and really nice, in a Mid-West kind of way, but this was Colorado, so they were nice and ecologically sound all at the same time.

Along with my pal Kimberly Willis Holt, I got to hang out with Chris Raschka, Jaime Adoff, his dad, the poet Arnold Adoff, and illustrator Steve Jenkins. They are all funny, fascinating people and we had a great time. It felt more like sleepaway camp than a conference.

They do things in a very hip way in Colorado. The food for example: chicken fajita wraps and black beans for lunch. One of the author signings/receptions was a cookies and milk reception. (I kid you not.)

And then there was this.

Image hosted by TinyPic.com The dessert spread for the other author signing. But check out the close-up.

Image hosted by TinyPic.com That is a CHOCOLATE FOUNTAIN!!!! They had bowls of fruit and cookies to dip in it.

I wanted to put my whole face in it. But that would have rude, so I didn’t. But I sure thought about it long and hard.

Image hosted by TinyPic.com Me and Hilary, my author wrangler for the weekend.

If you get the chance to go to next year’s conference you should. Rumor has it that Richard Peck will be there. I don’t know about the chocolate fountain, but you should go just for that alone, if you ask me. It is held in Greeley, CO, which is up near Wyoming and Nebraska, and only an hour away from Denver.

This is a short week for me because I leave Friday for Orlando, for the Florida English Teacher’s Conference. (No, this is not autumn, this is Conference Season.) I spent most of the day catching up on paperwork. Tomorrow I dive back into the next round of revisions of my WIP. My editor liked what I sent her, and we agreed on which areas need expanding to even out the pacing issues. We’ll be making some website updates, stay tuned for those.

BH is calling… the chili is ready.

42 Replies to “Rocky Mountain Kidlit Conf Rocked”

  1. Hello, my name is Hailey. I am a 7th grader at Brush Middle School. Just this previous Friday my language teacher Mrs. Sanders was at the Rocky Mountain kidlit (I think thats what you call it) She got you to sign two of her books and some books that a couple of her students wanted to have you sign. I wasn’t one of those students but I read your book Fever and I absolutely loved it! I am looking forward to reading Speak as soon as I get the book from the book order. If there is any way you can email me, that would be awesome!! My email address is lcraton@hotmail.com. Better be off. Bye.

  2. Hello, my name is Hailey. I am a 7th grader at Brush Middle School. Just this previous Friday my language teacher Mrs. Sanders was at the Rocky Mountain kidlit (I think thats what you call it) She got you to sign two of her books and some books that a couple of her students wanted to have you sign. I wasn’t one of those students but I read your book Fever and I absolutely loved it! I am looking forward to reading Speak as soon as I get the book from the book order. If there is any way you can email me, that would be awesome!! My email address is lcraton@hotmail.com. Better be off. Bye.

  3. Hello, my name is Hailey. I am a 7th grader at Brush Middle School. Just this previous Friday my language teacher Mrs. Sanders was at the Rocky Mountain kidlit (I think thats what you call it) She got you to sign two of her books and some books that a couple of her students wanted to have you sign. I wasn’t one of those students but I read your book Fever and I absolutely loved it! I am looking forward to reading Speak as soon as I get the book from the book order. If there is any way you can email me, that would be awesome!! My email address is lcraton@hotmail.com. Better be off. Bye.

  4. I hope this is as good as an email, Hailey. I had so much fun with the teachers and the students who came to the conference. And I am really glad you liked FEVER 1793. Keep reading!!!

  5. I hope this is as good as an email, Hailey. I had so much fun with the teachers and the students who came to the conference. And I am really glad you liked FEVER 1793. Keep reading!!!

  6. I hope this is as good as an email, Hailey. I had so much fun with the teachers and the students who came to the conference. And I am really glad you liked FEVER 1793. Keep reading!!!

  7. Chocolate Fountain = Charlie & The Chocolate Factory = Chocolate River = Augustus Gloop = Clog = Wow.

    OK I’m spent. Glad you had a great time!

  8. Chocolate Fountain = Charlie & The Chocolate Factory = Chocolate River = Augustus Gloop = Clog = Wow.

    OK I’m spent. Glad you had a great time!

  9. Chocolate Fountain = Charlie & The Chocolate Factory = Chocolate River = Augustus Gloop = Clog = Wow.

    OK I’m spent. Glad you had a great time!

  10. Yeah, when i was thinking of putting my face in the fountain, I def had an Augustus Gloop visual. It may have been the only thing that held me back.

  11. Yeah, when i was thinking of putting my face in the fountain, I def had an Augustus Gloop visual. It may have been the only thing that held me back.

  12. Yeah, when i was thinking of putting my face in the fountain, I def had an Augustus Gloop visual. It may have been the only thing that held me back.

  13. wow… that chocolate fountain is just about the most awesome thing ever. You have more self control than I do. I don’t think I would’ve been able to hold myself back from sticking my head in there, lol

  14. wow… that chocolate fountain is just about the most awesome thing ever. You have more self control than I do. I don’t think I would’ve been able to hold myself back from sticking my head in there, lol

  15. wow… that chocolate fountain is just about the most awesome thing ever. You have more self control than I do. I don’t think I would’ve been able to hold myself back from sticking my head in there, lol

  16. look at all that chocolate!!!!!!

    ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh……the chocolate fountian looks really good….and all the other munchies on that table….but the chocolate fountian…….think i’m going to have a heartattack.

  17. look at all that chocolate!!!!!!

    ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh……the chocolate fountian looks really good….and all the other munchies on that table….but the chocolate fountian…….think i’m going to have a heartattack.

  18. look at all that chocolate!!!!!!

    ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh……the chocolate fountian looks really good….and all the other munchies on that table….but the chocolate fountian…….think i’m going to have a heartattack.

  19. YA Author

    Laurie, I love your website! I’m a new author myself, and my YA novel, “The Cloud Factory,” will by published by Bloomsbury Childrens in Spring 2007 (after my revisions, of course…arghh!). I adore your books, and I find you utterly inspiring. Thank you!
    Jeannine Garsee

  20. YA Author

    Laurie, I love your website! I’m a new author myself, and my YA novel, “The Cloud Factory,” will by published by Bloomsbury Childrens in Spring 2007 (after my revisions, of course…arghh!). I adore your books, and I find you utterly inspiring. Thank you!
    Jeannine Garsee

  21. YA Author

    Laurie, I love your website! I’m a new author myself, and my YA novel, “The Cloud Factory,” will by published by Bloomsbury Childrens in Spring 2007 (after my revisions, of course…arghh!). I adore your books, and I find you utterly inspiring. Thank you!
    Jeannine Garsee

  22. 🙂

    hey:-)! i love those pictures especially the chocolate fountain:-)! and know that i’d be right there next to you putting my face in there too:-)! LOL. we could be the chocolate hogs LOL. anyway hope you have a safe trip to florida and whatnot:-)! good luck w/everything:-)! <3 you! -ash :)

  23. 🙂

    hey:-)! i love those pictures especially the chocolate fountain:-)! and know that i’d be right there next to you putting my face in there too:-)! LOL. we could be the chocolate hogs LOL. anyway hope you have a safe trip to florida and whatnot:-)! good luck w/everything:-)! <3 you! -ash :)

  24. 🙂

    hey:-)! i love those pictures especially the chocolate fountain:-)! and know that i’d be right there next to you putting my face in there too:-)! LOL. we could be the chocolate hogs LOL. anyway hope you have a safe trip to florida and whatnot:-)! good luck w/everything:-)! <3 you! -ash :)

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