I'm Back!

Thank you, everyone, for all the birthday wishes and hello to all my new bloggy friends! I am floored by how many people are actually entering my little contest for a critique. Thank you! And everyone who attempted to guess my age ... you did a great job. Some of you got it and everyone else was close. ;)

I'm back from the conference and just have to say how much

I LOVE SCBWI!

If you're a children's book writer of any variety (picture book, middle grade, young adult or anything in between) I hope you know about the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators.

I learned so much this weekend.

It was actually guilt-inducingly amazing to be away from my kids, to actually dress in professional-ish clothes (rather than my daily uniform of jeans and t-shirt), to carry on adult conversations for longer than two-minute intervals, and to be able to totally focus on a speaker or a presentation without distractions.

But the part of the conference I most enjoyed was that I met my personal goals while I was there.

I decided I wasn't going to be shy, that I was going to get out there and talk to the faculty and not hold back.

And I did it!

I ate lunch with agent Jenny Bent (she was so nice!) and introduced myself to agent Chris Richman (he was so nice!). I said hi to agent Tricia Lawrence (she was so nice!) from her clients who are my bloggy friends, Melodie and Adam.

I introduced myself to editors from Dial and Carolrhoda books. (They were awesome!) 

I approached Matt de la Pena (I'm a fan girl!) and told him how his book MEXICAN WHITEBOY had fooled my subconscious into thinking main character Danny was a real person. (My review >>here<<)

And I saw old friends and made new friends with fellow aspiring writers.

It was all such a treat.

How about you? Do you enjoy conferences? What's your favorite part?