conference

And the frenzy begins – Kidlitcon

Tomorrow morning I leave on an early (oh way too early) flight for Minneapolis for KidLitCon

I’m going a bit early so I can have time with my friend  and the folks over at The Children’s Literature Network where I work as a web editor. I’ve been so jealous when all my co-workers there get together each month and this month I get to join them.

I love going to conferences where I’m not speaking because there’s no pressure and I don’t feel like I’m “on” the whole time I’m there. But the down side is that I tend to pull into my introverted self and sometimes spend too much time alone which is dumb when you make the effort (and spend all that money) to travel so far. On my trip to Austin last year I did a pretty good job of connecting and made some wonderful new friends. I hope I’ll do as well this time too. It’s a small gathering of what looks like about 100 people or so. I hope to see some of you there.

So today it’s all about the craziness that is me packing and unpacking and repacking because I tend to first pack way too much and then have to edit it all down to the bare essentials, kinda like my writing.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010|Categories: Events|Tags: |2 Comments

SCBWI SUMMER CONFERENCE GRANT

EDITED – PLEASE NOTE CORRECTED ADDRESS FOR MAILING YOUR ESSAY!

(Thanks Robin!)

Yes, there is such a thing as Fairy GodSisters. Read on!

fAiRy gOdSisTeRs, iNk.
Surprising Writers & Illustrators Everywhere!

SCBWI SUMMER CONFERENCE GRANT
Announcing a $1,000 grant opportunity
for an SCBWI member to attend the
August 1-4, 2008 Summer Conference in Los Angeles

TO APPLY: Submit a 250-word double-spaced essay
describing what you hope to accomplish by attending
this year’s summer conference.

Send your essay to: fairygodsistersINK@yahoo.com

Application deadline: May 15th, 2008
Winner will be notified on June 1st, 2008

Questions about the grant may be sent to: mlhershey@aol.com

fAiRy gOdSiStErS, iNk. is a small, benevolent squadron of children’s
book authors who believe in the magic of passing forward lucky breaks, bounty and
beneficence, as so many have done for us. We are: Thalia Chaltas, Mary
Hershey, Valerie Hobbs, Robin La Fevers and Lee Wardlaw.
 

Tuesday, April 22, 2008|Categories: Writing Life|Tags: |12 Comments

Asilomar???

 Okay, this is lazy of me but I am still not 100% back to myself (and yes, I know, I promised an update and haven’t yet but I will.)

If you’re going to Asilomar tomorrow, please let me know so I know to keep a look out for you. I’m the quiet one who’s usually in the corner near the potted plant so if I’m not looking out for folks, I can sometimes come home and never connect with people I want to me.

Thursday, February 21, 2008|Categories: Writing Life|Tags: , |3 Comments

After the conference

I am home again after a wonderful weekend at our regional SCBWI conference at Asilomar. I started off by picking up Samantha McFerrin, >Harcourt Children’s Books, and Lin Oliver, co-founder of SCBWI, at the SJ airport. It was a beautiful day for driving. We stopped in Moss Landing and had a yummy lunch at The Whole Enchilada. (Note to self – must go back and try the margaritas. They looked delicious!) The weekend was jam-packed with talks by editors and talented writers and visits with friends, old and new. I had some time to chat, albeit briefly with and I can’t believe the weekend went by with only a chance hello to (why didn’t we get to know one another when you lived here in SJ?)

Cheryl Klein, Arthur A. Levine Books, used Millicent Min as a great example of voice. She won my heart when she said that plot could taught. Thank goodness! Rachel Orr, HarperCollins, struck a chord with us all with her stories of fighting for the right titles and covers for her books. Allyn Johnston, Editor-in-chief at Harcourt, had us (and herself) in hysterics when she talked about her tendency to get perhaps a bit too close to the writers she worked with. If you ever meet her, ask about her early performance reviews.

As always, the conference food left a lot to be desired but the location and the people made up for it all.

Tuesday, February 28, 2006|Categories: Events|Tags: , |14 Comments