Mostly pictures from yesterday in this entry – busy, busy morning!!!!
Brian Selznik & Jackie Woodson
and Peter Sis & Christopher Myers talk.
Saw Sara Ryan and Cecil Castellucci hanging out in the hall.
Then it was to a break out session where Bonnie Kunzel, Mary Arnold (thank you for the pin!), and Daria Plumb (thank you for giving Mary the pin!) and
Teri Lesesne talked about books for kids who don’t yet love reading. Here Teri is talking about Jim Blasingame’s Books That Don’t Bore ‘Em
A quick lunch was followed by more speakers:
Ben Mikaelsen, who told incredible, haunting stories of his childhood and of listening to the stories of survivors of government violence in Central America,
Gloria Whelan, whom I could listen to for days,
Patty McCormick, author of Sold, which we all need to read.
David Gill and Teri Lesesne paid careful attention.
Then the gigunda panel of YA divas:
Sara, Cecil, Holly Black, and I think that is Garret Freymann-Weyr
Ummm… I think that might be Jo Knowles, Sara, and Ann Angel. (Someone will correct me if I am wrong, I hope).
After everyone spoke, the line for book signings was miles long.
I dashed to Simon & Schuster for a meeting with my editor Kevin Lewis. I got to see the cover sketches for CHAINS!!!!!!!!! ::dances around hotel room, stubs toe on heavy suitcase:: I will show you as soon as I am allowed – I am VERY excited.
After our meeting we headed up to the posh boardroom for a receptions with some lovely teachers (waving at the good people from Ohio, Virginia, Arizona, Louisiana, Maryland and Tennessee!). Holly was there, too – both of us are lucky enough to have Kevin as our editor.
We met Pete Hautman!
It’s time to dash back to the conference, give my presentation, then race to Penn Station in the hopes of catching my train for the journey home. Keep your fingers crossed for me!