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April 30, 2008
Oldberies
Here are Cindy, Susan and I at the end of one very full weekend. All four of us "Oldberies" were together on Sunday morning, when Jenni was patched in via phone for the Newbery Dream Team panel, moderated by the charming and inimitable New York Public children's librarian, Betsy Bird.
Now, I have told the story of "the call" many times since January 07, but never with my Newbery comrades at my side, and never to 400-plus of my writing friends. I'm going to blame Susan, who went first, for triggering the first tears when she confessed to having given up her writing career the night before the announcement. Then Cindy shared stories she'd heard from children who connected with Catherine in Rules because they, too, have autistic siblings. By the time it was my turn to speak, my nose was red and all my mascara was completely washed off. Some kind audience member finally handed up a box of Kleenex to help staunch the floods. We all laughed through our tears as Jennifer Holm, two time honoree, shared her stories of missing getting the call -- both with Our Only May Amelia and with Penny from Heaven -- in person. I'm sure the third time will be the charm for her!
I am so grateful to the Western Washington SCBWI for bringing the four of us together. I'm not sure if all Newbery "classes" bond the way we have but my heart is full that I can count these three strong, honest, dear women -- who aren't too bad at writing, either -- among my life-long friends.
Posted by kirby at April 30, 2008 11:32 AM