In 2003, I attended the annual spring conference of the New England chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Within days of returning home I came across the newspaper article that would become, in time, the subject of my first published book for children. Was there a connection between the two events? Positively. There is something about being in the company of other creative people that sparks the imagination. Whenever I attend this conference I come home inspired … and good things follow.
This year I enjoyed keynote addresses from Laurie Halse Anderson and Keven Hawkes, and soaked up wisdom from these talented New Englanders:
Mitali Perkins on Pajama Promotion;
Lou Waryncia, Editorial Director for Cobblestone magazine group on Writing for Themed Magazines;
Yolanda LeRoy, Editorial Director at Charlesbridge Publishing and Tanya Lee Stone on Noteworthy Nonfiction;
Toni Buzzeo on Self Promotion.
As if all this professional wisdom wasn’t enough, I also shared good times with writer friends (check out the first picture in this Jo Knowles post for proof. Nice shot, Jo!). This year more than any other, I left Nashua feeling part of a community of writers … and that is a very good feeling.
All this positive energy has been put to good use here at home. I am making final preparations for a HIVE DETECTIVES research trip, and soon I’ll be cavorting, once again, with honey bees and honey bee scientists. Good thing I now own one of these:
Me in my bee suit!
