Fun at the Thurber House . . .

Today, I met the young campers.

Can you say, "Enthusiastic?"

I call this one:  "Pick me!"

There were eager to write their six-words biographies and their character profiles.

 And when I was told a camper would "absolutely die" if he didn't get to share his writing with me, I did this . . .

I made it just in time.  Whew!

Favorite part?  When the last camper was leaving, she ran back and gave me a big hug.

In the evening, there was a reception to welcome me.  I met the coolest people:  Librarians.  A principal.  Teachers.  Corporate communicators.  A bookstore owner.  One woman was on the Newbery committee the year Karen Hesse's Out of the Dust won.

And I finally got to meet Pat Shannon, who recently retired from the Thurber House.  Pat was the one who originally interviewed me for the residency.  It was so good to finally meet her! 

Pat Shannon

The people who work and volunteer here and are on the board here are some of the nicest people I've ever met!

When the reception ended, Meg Brown and I sat under a huge, leafy tree and enjoyed the cool, breezy weather. 

Here's Meg playing piano in the Thurber House sitting room . . .

When everyone was gone, I sat on a lawn chair and ate an ice cream bar for dinner.  This was my view . . .

There will be a literary picnic here Wednesday evening with author, Karen Harper.  Can't wait!

Tomorrow evening, I will spend time with the teen writers.  

And if my agent is reading this:  Tina, I'm writing and re-writing and . . . HAVING FUN!