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August 08, 2007
A Voice from the Past
Remember me? I'm supposed to be writing this blog. Evidently, I forgot about that.
Honestly, I haven't posted for a variety of good reasons. Being the forgiving sorts that you are, I know you will graciously accept my humble apology. One of the main reasons I haven't posted is that I wanted to post some Newbery photos but I seem to have lost the CD and no matter how much I hint, I can't seem to get my daughter to get her photos to me. So just imagine me looking stunning (picture Julia Roberts. Only shorter. And with smaller lips) and stunned. It was the most amazing weekend of my life and I am very touched by the comments and emails you've sent saying you enjoyed your trip to D.C. through my blog.
I am reeling, once again, this time from my trip to the national SCBWI conference in LA. If you've never gone, start saving your pennies. Where else can you hear Sid Fleischman, Sara Pennypacker, Susan Patron and John Green speak? Both Marla Frazee and Linda Sue Park did presentations with their editors, Allyn Johnston and Dinah Stevenson, respectively. If any of these women ever get tired of the book biz, they have great careers in stand-up comedy.
Walter Dean Myers kicked off the conference with a thoughtfully exquisite talk on how details make the story. He got us all thinking about craft and the conference program kept us on that high-ground throughout. Not that we didn't get into the nitty-gritty of marketing: Rubin Pfeffer, Senior VP and Publisher at Simon and Schuster, was brutally honest about the book biz and still offered hope. Agents Kate Schafer and Tracey Adams offered a unique side-by-side perspective of the worlds of small and large agencies.
We were enthralled by the art of Peter Brown, Kadir Nelson and, already mentioned, Marla Frazee in visually stimulating sessions. We laughed (and cried) with John Green, Ellen Wittlinger, Lisa Yee and Lee Bennett Hopkins. And those are just the keynoters! I can't begin to do justice to the different workshops/breakout sessions I attended.
I had a terrific time presenting one of my fav workshops on Voice and doing a joint workshop on making connections (aka, networking) with Write Sister, Ann Whitford Paul. My least favorite time of the whole conference was Monday morning between 5 am and 10:45 - before I gave my keynote. I was so nervous; I could hardly remember my own name. And then darling Write Sister, Tricia Gardella (who isn't even writing anymore!) drove seven hours (well, the way she drives, probably only five) from Jamestown, CA, just to be there for me as I gave my keynote. Of course, I burst into tears the minute I saw her. But that tells you what it means when you have true friends. Jeff Patneaude, son of Dave Patneaude, who's in my Seattle critique group, helped me (okay, he did 99.9 % of the work) me make a short film which I used to kick off my keynote. I wish he could have been there to hear the lively audience reaction! I'm hoping to get it posted on my website so stay tuned.
We heard a Mongolian throat-singer Friday night, wore our silvery best and danced till dawn (okay: 10:30) on Saturday night, were moved and inspired by Sunday's Golden Kite acceptance speeches and devoured cupcakes on Monday at the wrap-up autograph party.
I've missed huge chunks of the conference here. Check out the blogs of Alice Pope, Lisa Yee or Sara Holmes for more detail.
Heartfelt thanks to Lin Oliver, Stephen Mooser and the SCBWI "dream team" for the best conference ever. I may even think about going to New York in February! Maybe I'll see you there.
Posted by kirby at August 8, 2007 06:41 PM
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