ALA Schedule for this weekend

Today is June 38th. Time is still not moving as slow as I’d like!

Yes, somehow it is time for ALA again. My speeches are almost done, but I haven’t started thinking about what I’m going to wear. This might be the year I show up in my pajamas. You have been warned.

If you are headed to Chicago for ALA this weekend, and you are curious about my attire, or have a bet with a friend about my shoes, here is where and when you can find me.


Saturday, July 11th (aka June 41st)

10:30 am AASL President’s Program: Literacy Leadership and Librarian  (McCormick Place West, W-184)

Noon – 2pm – Margaret A Edwards Award Luncheon (Hyatt Regency – Ballroom)


2:30pm – 3:30pm
Penguin Autographing  (Booth #2120)


3:30pm – 4:30pm
   Simon & Schuster Reception and Scott O’Dell Award Presentation (Booth #3326)

7pm       Anderson’s Bookstore Author Appearance w/ Sarah Dessen (yep – BOTH of us!)

                        123 West Jefferson  Naperville IL 60540  Phone: 630-355-2665


Sunday, July 12th (aka June 42nd)

8:00am – 10:00am        Amelia Bloomer Breakfast (Chicago Hilton Hotel – Boulevard C Room 720 South Michigan Avenue)

11:00am – noon 
Simon & Schuster Autographing – booth #3326

Noon – 1pm        YALSA / BBYA Teen Pizza Party (McCormick Place West (convention center) – Room W 475)

evening – super-fancy dinner

Monday, July 13th (aka June 43rd)

10:00am – 10:30am       Interview with Roger Sutton – Junior Library Guild booth #2256

afternoon – meetings

evening – fancy dinner              

For those of you playing along with your scorecards at home, there are 3 official signing times, and I’ll be giving three speeches. I’m not sure if the speeches will have audience overlap, but I am trying very hard to make sure they are distinct.

Will you be in Chicago this weekend??

Not-so-random link of the day: My daughter Stef (aka Bookavore) is interviewed at Wired.com about bookstores and e-books.

15 Replies to “ALA Schedule for this weekend”

  1. I so wish I was going, but already planned on taking my husband to San Diego Comic Con for his birthday. It looks like a lot of fun and I hope to make it some year!

  2. Love for Anderson’s Bookstore!

    We’ve already got our “place in line” ticket – my 14 year old niece and I will see you at Andersons!

    I’m planning on attending some of ALA – not sure yet how much.

    In any case, safe travels to and from the event and may you not get too drained by your schedule.

  3. Oh, thanks for posting your schedule. The Messner family (we’re all coming!) will definitely try to catch up with you at one of your signings. I’m signing at the Bloomsbury/Walker booth from 10-11 on Sunday & will try to sneak over to S&S after that.

  4. I’ll be there with spouse. Doing the YALSA preconference and the Sunday morning coffe klatch. No signings, but I’ll be hanging out at the exhibits on Saturday, so I’ll wave in passing.

  5. Thank you!

    I wish I were going to be at ALA as I would love to say a quick thank you for the great 4th of July gift you gave me as I read CHAINS. Have a super ALA, wear fun shoes- your pink gardening boots would be terrific with your pj’s!

  6. Yes, I’ll be there, although with much more free time than you. I seriously wouldn’t blame you if you wore pajamas, that’s a lot of events to think about and plan for!

  7. I’m *always* in Chicago (I live here). I wish I could go! I work all weekend anyway (alas), so I wouldn’t be able to anyway. (But its a bookshop, so, booklove!)

    Have fun, good luck! Drop me a line if you want tips on any good sights to see while you are here!

  8. I live in Chicago so IthinkIthinkIthink I might be able to attend one of the signings, granted that my mother doesn’t whisk me off to Wisconsin like she said she was planing to. *crosses fingers* Maybemaybemaybe.

  9. I’ll be there — hope I can catch you one of those times. Will be great to see you again! I promise I haven’t gotten any shorter. 🙂

    Hope to see you again too, David!

  10. I’ll be in Chicago Saturday evening…

    I, along with a librarian friend and a former student, will be driving over from Northern Indiana to meet you and Miss Dessen at Anderson’s Saturday evening. The three of us are VERY excited to meet you!

    I’ve been following your blog for a while now, and appreciate your writing tips, and especially love your comments and photos of your “creature with fangs” as I have one of my own of the black-and-silver variety.

    Looking forward to meeting you,

    Kelly D. Vorhis
    Writer/English Teacher
    Nappanee, IN

  11. ALA would be sooo much fun to go to! Sadly it takes place when children’s librarians are smack dab in the middle of the crazy fun that is summer programming. Have fun!

  12. Re: Love for Anderson’s Bookstore!

    It was great to see you at Anderson’s – and thank you for the hug and your graciousness. Us caretaker-daughters need to stick together.

    – Carol

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