A Dozen Ways to Enhance Your Writing Career Today

I began this blog in July 2007.  Hard to believe it's been six years! 

Blogging takes time and energy, and this year finds me with MANY contracted commitments, including teaching creative writing to high school students, working on my next funny MG novel (Death by Toilet Paper comes out August 2014), etc.  I need to harness as much creative energy as possible for these commitments.

So, while Wild About Words is on hiatus, I leave you with a dozen blog posts that I hope will help your writing career reach new heights.

Thanks for making this endeavor such a joy!

HELPFUL LINKS FOR WRITERS . . .

1.  Links to interviews with industry professionals, including Wendelin Van Draanen, April Henry, Cynthia Leitich Smith, Kate Messner, Tina Wexler, Cynthia Lord and others about a variety of writing topics.

2.  Sites and resources for young writers, especially helpful for those who teach writing.

3.  40 Reasons I love S.C.B.W.I.  (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators)

4.  Marion Dane Bauer offers wise words in her blog about writerly issues.

5.  April Henry's mystery novels keep me riveted as does her excellent blog.  Here's a post she created about jobs for our characters and/or their parents.

6.  Laurie Halse Anderson has done this wonderful annual Write Fifteen Minutes a Day Challenge each day in the month of August.  Here's a link to the first challenge post on August 1, 2012.

7.  Writer Unboxed is a must for highly professional, intelligent thoughts about all aspects of writing.

8.  Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi are the powerhouses behind The Bookshelf Muse, where you will find tools to help you with character traits, emotions and much, much more!

9.  Every summer, Kate Messner, creates a free on-line writing workshop.  Each day is a gold mine of ideas, lessons and insights about the writing biz.

10.  Cynthia Leitich Smith publishes the most comprehensive blog on the net about everything to do with children's publishing, including interviews, giveaways and more.  Take a peek at CYNSATIONS.

11.  Barbara O'Connor has a great blog about children's book publishing.  Here's her post about setting up your novel.

12.  I end every day looking at Cynthia Lord's thoughtful blog because it makes me feel good -- even when it makes me cry.   

Enjoy these links and feel free to add your favorites in the comment section below.

THE NAKED POST

What does "NAKED" have to do with writing for children?

Apparently, a lot . .

1.  Let's start with Robin LaFever's post, "Embrace the Naked" for Writer Unboxed. 

Here's a peek from her excellent essay:  "Writing is about being brave, taking risks, accepting and embracing our essential humanness; it is not about being comfortable or safe or a way to stay invisible.  Accept that."

Robin Lafevers

  
2.  While you're reading Robin's wise words, enjoy a few handfuls of BEAR NAKED GRANOLA.  Seriously, this stuff is delicious!

Bear Naked Granola

3.  Check out this kerfuffle as Maurice Sendak tells Martha Stewart how IN THE NIGHT KITCHEN shocked people because of the illustration of a naked boy.  Seriously?!

In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak

4.  There's more NAKED news in the world of children's books.

Michael Ian Black teams up with Debbie Ridpath Ohi for a new picture book called:  NAKED!  It tells the story of a young boy who refuses to wear clothes after his bath.  You can read more about it here. 

Why is this exciting news?  Have you read their recent collaboration, I'M BORED?  If not, I'll wait.



Done yet? 

It's great, right?  How could it be bad when it involves a potato, a girl and a flamingo? 

Simply brilliant!

I'M BORED BY MICHAEL IAN BLACK, ILLUSTRATED BY DEBBIE RIDPATH OHI

Debbie Ridpath Ohi created one of the first e-zines for writers in early '95.  I wrote for her e-zine, INKSPOT, about creating greeting cards.  I connected with the awesome Lee Wardlaw, who was writing for INKSPOT about writing for children.

It's with great pleasure that I watched Debbie's career morph into one of a successful illustrator of picture books, thanks in part to opportunities provided by S.C.B.W.I.  (Yay, S.C.B.W.I.!)

5.   Too much NAKED talk?  Do you want to wash your hands of it all?

Go right ahead . . .  with NAKED LADY NATURAL SOAPS, a great local company that has a fascinating story about how they began in their kitchen with a science project. 

NAKED LADY -- Lavender Mint Oatmeal -- my favorite

Being a Golden Kite Award Judge

The e-mail asking me to be a Golden Kite Award judge included this sentence:  "This year we expect approximately 200- 300 books in the Fiction category."

I felt honored to be asked.

Then I thought:  200-300 books!!!

Who could I talk to who has read lots of books?  Hmm.  Author and book reviewer Sue Corbett.  Sue generously suggested how I might organize so many books.  Then she said these seven words:  "For what it's worth, I'd say yes!"

I said YES!

Then I spent the early part of the summer giving away my own books.  I emptied a floor to ceiling bookcase to hold the expected Golden Kite books.

Then I waited for the avalanche of books to arrive.

And waited.

About a dozen books came in.  I read them.  Then a dozen more.   I read them, too.

The deadline to receive books was in December, so by early November I was sure there would be fewer than 200 books to go through.  I can definitely do this, I thought.

Then the books came.

And came . . .

I realized I had to stop reading any other books.  In fact, the people who work at our local public library asked my husband, "I haven't seen Donna in here.  Is she okay?"


I was okay.  Just a little booked up . . .

Buddha sits atop the pile of books to be read.

It became clear I not only needed to stop reading other books, I needed to stop writing them.  That was hard.  No writing.  Just reading.

And reading . . . 

Be careful what you wish for . . .

This process gave me an appreciation for what editors and agents do all day, every day.  My only requirement when I opened a book was that it demanded that I keep reading.  If it did, I kept reading.  If not, well . . .

It helped to know I wasn't alone in this Herculean task.

One of the greatest parts of this experience was working with the other judges in the fiction category -- Julia Durango and Steve Watkins, each of whom have won the Golden Kite Fiction Award for their books.  

I can't say enough good things about these talented, thoughtful, hard-working, fun people.  We'd send e-mails to encourage each other through the process.   And sometimes, I'd get an e-mail like this: "Did you get the Random House books?  Mine arrived today!!!"

Living in South Florida, I always got the books a day later than the other judges, so I appreciated the heads up about what would land on my doorstep.  We judges had thought we were nearly done reading when the 70 plus Random House books arrived . . .

Here's our oldest son schlepping in the boxes before his shift at Best Buy.

That floor to ceiling bookshelf quickly filled, and books began piling up everywhere.  Our kids would show their friends when they came over.  I would show my friends.  It was fun to watch their eyes bulge as they looked at the sheer volume of books.

I kept reading.

Eventually, the pile of completed books far outnumbered the to-be-read pile.

 
Julia, Steve and I worked hard to select the winners -- sharing our top three books with each other and working from there.  We've each been on the receiving end of that wonderful phone call -- them for winning the Golden Kite Fiction Awards, me for winning the Sid Fleischman Humor Award -- and we were so excited for the winning and honor book recipients to receive those magical phone calls. 

We wished we could give out several awards.  But we had to make hard choices.  Ultimately, we were proud to send in our selections.

Congratulations to the Golden Kite Fiction Award winner -- Ruta Sepetys for her gripping novel, Between Shades of Gray.  And congratulations to Trent Reedy for winning the Golden Kite Fiction Honor Award for sensitively portraying a young girl in war-torn Afghanistan in his deeply touching novel, Words in the Dust.  We are thrilled for all Golden Kite and Sid Fleischman Award winners!

So, it's over.  Except for the books.  About  450 in all.  

I kept some for my home library . . .

I gave several to delighted young friends.

And I was able to donate about 400 brand new books to the Palm Beach County School system.  That felt good -- not just being able to see our floor again, but knowing good books will get into the hands of kids who need them.  Thanks, Janeen Pelser, for picking them up!

Thanks Sue Corbett for encouraging me to say, "Yes!"  Thanks Julia Durango and Steve Watkins for sharing this amazing experience with me.  Couldn't have asked for two better cohorts.  Thanks to my family for putting up with all the books and all the reading.  And thanks SCBWI for honoring me with this request and for the wonderful, wonderful work you do!

6-1/2 Ways to Unravel That Story Problem by Becca Puglisi . . .

It's not Halloween, but I've got a treat for you! 

The amazing Becca Puglisi (part of the dynamic duo that includes Angela Ackerman) creates a fantastic resource for writers -- The Bookshelf Muse.  If you ever get stuck for new ways to show character traits, emotion, setting, etc., get thee to The Bookshelf Muse!  Among other goodies, you'll find an extensive thesaurus (including weather, setting, symbolism, etc.) that is one of the best tools I've found to have beside me while writing.

Becca is also the master of mood in her writing.  Her fiction grips you by the throat and doesn't let go.  How do I know this?  Well, dear reader, I'm fortunate to have Becca in the SCBWI critique group I run with Linda Marlow.

Today, Becca shares 6-1/2 savvy tips for unraveling a story problem. 

And because it's so much fun to share:  You'll find my 6-1/2 tips about promoting like a pro without driving yourself crazy over at their blog today! 

BECCA PUGLISI

Becca Puglisi is an SCBWI member and co-host of The Bookshelf Muse, an on-line resource for writers. She also has a number of magazine publications under her belt. Her biggest writing problem so far is landing an agent. If any agents are interested in helping out with that, she’s open to discussion.

6-1/2 WAYS TO UNRAVEL THAT STORY PROBLEM . . .

Whether we’re published or unpublished, newbie or veteran writers--all our stories have issues. Sometimes it’s hard to even know what the problem is, much less how to fix it. Here are some methods that have helped me get to the root of my story’s issue:

1. Skip it. Don’t obsess over that opening, scene, or sub plot. Just keep writing. Finish the draft, work on what you do know, and by that point, you’ll most likely have a better idea of what to do.

2. Read about the craft of writing. If you know what the problem is, consult some of the excellent non-fiction resources out there. Fine-tuning the voice, writing emotion effectively, tying together plots and sub-plots--every tricky trick of the trade has been covered at some point. So if you’re out of ideas, borrow a few from people who share them.

3. Phone a friend. I don’t know how many times I’ve written Angela (my critique partner, Bookshelf Muse co-host, and writing hero) an epistle-ish email asking her opinion about something I’m struggling with. She’s a gifted writer and her advice is spot-on, but a lot of the time, I end up sending her another message before she gets back to me--a much shorter message, something along the lines of “Nevermind”. There’s something about talking (or writing) a problem out that rearranges things in our brains and brings the solution into focus.

4. Write something else. Work on a new project for awhile, or better yet, write something completely different--poetry, writing exercises, a picture book, something outside of your preferred genre or audience. Like switching up your exercise routine when you hit a plateau, switching up your writing may give you new insight into that problem area.

5. Do something else completely. Take a walk, go to the gym, watch a movie, play Diablo III--oh wait, you can’t play Diablo III because the release date has been pushed back YET AGAIN. Ahem. The point is, sometimes a short break from writing is all that’s needed to gain some perspective in order to see things clearly.

6. Consult the experts. If you know your struggle is in a certain area, think of books you’ve read that handle the issue well. Re-read them with an analyzing eye. Make notes of phrasings that work, what techniques are used, etc. Even if it takes you awhile to figure out how to apply what you see, it’s encouraging to know that what you’re trying to do is do-able, that others have achieved the seemingly impossible.

6-1/2. Sleep on it. Seriously. I don’t know how many times I’ve gone to bed thinking about a problem in my book only to be surprised with the answer the next day while I’m showering, cooking dinner, or vacuuming Cheerios from under the dining room table. If your conscious brain can’t figure it out, let your subconscious have a go at it. That way, you’re free to do other things, anyway.

Thank you, Becca, for sharing your tips!

6-1/2 Tips to Help You Create Picture Books with HeART by Author/Illustrator Janeen Mason

I've had the pleasure of knowing Janeen Mason, artist and friend extraordinaire, for more than a decade. Janeen has a remarkable spirit of giving, and today, she's sharing her favorite quotes, a peek behind the scenes at the making of a picture book, a precious photo and wise words.

As if that weren't enough, please enter for a chance to win Janeen's brand new book -- GIFT OF THE MAGPIE. (Details at the end.)

"Look at a child's face as you read an illustrated book to him. He is utterly lost in the pictures, his mouth is open, his eyes are wide, it's as if his mind has left his body. It's as complete an immersion into a work of art as a human being can ever hope for. It is pure seeing." - Zora Charles

Janeen Mason writes and illustrates award-winning children's picture books. She uses her brilliant sense of color to transport us through each one, and she's now on her fourteenth. Mason says "Children's picture books are a primary source of inspiration which have enormous consequence in our culture. They provide the introduction to a lifetime of creative imagination and appreciation for the arts. This is powerful juju in a landscape of ever accelerating technology."

Janeen is a popular speaker on radio, at schools, libraries and in workshops. Awards for her books include the Ben Franklin Award (silver), the U.S. Maritime Literature Award (gold), the Moonbeam Children's Book Award (gold), the Mom's Choice Award, the iParenting Award, and in 2010 she was a finalist in the Book of the Year Award. Mason has received a Lifetime Achievement in the Arts Award. Her large scale fine art hangs in the collections of Burt Reynolds, Reba McEntire, Evan Lloyd and S. Kent Rockwell. Ms. Mason was recently featured with the MacArthur Award Winner, Dr. Edith Widder, on NOVA Science Now.

Ms. Mason is active in the arts. Appointed by two senate presidents, she is serving her second term as a member of the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, currently as the vice chairman. Memberships include the board of directors for the Arts Council of Stuart and Martin County, the board of directors of The Friends of the Blake Library of Stuart, Inc., the Florida Association of Public Art Administrators, the Florida Reading Association, the Children's Book Council, and SCBWI. As the Illustrator Coordinator for the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators in Florida for the last five years, she produced annual "Illustrator Intensives" where she hosted well-known contemporary children's book illustrators as guest instructors in retreat settings.

A solo exhibition of 100 original picture book illustrations from her books visited six Florida museums and galleries and is scheduled for three more in 2011. In 2010, her art celebrated a one-woman exhibit for three months in the 22nd floor gallery of the Capitol Building in Tallahassee, Florida.

6-1/2 Tips to Help You Create Picture Books with HeART

by Janeen Mason

"Artists effortlessly speak across time because the technology of the human soul does not change." -Wynton Marsalis

Truer words have never been spoken. But creating a beloved children's picture book that will be enjoyed over and over again requires sophisticated tools, tinkering and tenacity.

1) Start with a story idea that you love, love, love. "Gift of the Magpie" presented itself as an idea when I worked in a studio that was built in 1926. It was near the Manatee Pocket on the Atlantic Coast of Florida, where the wind whistled through the high windows and through the 20' door in the back. At a certain time of year crows would flock to the power lines that stretched across the courtyard in the back. Their cacophony every evening made me stand at the door and wonder "WHAT?" Clearly they were reporting the results of their daily quests... and I wondered, what if you were a crow whose wings didn't flap to the same drummer? What if you were interested in... say... shoes instead of green beans?Would you tell your best friend? Would he understand?

2) Sketch thumbnails with joy and abandon. Remember when you were a child who was too innocent to fear failure and brave enough to feel emotions?

3) Take your story to your writer's group. Don't have one? Join SCBWI and find one. Workshop your material with other children's writers and illustrators. Attend conferences. Meet people who can help you polish your work to perfection. Be open to suggestions that resonate. This particular story was originally titled "Max and Regina", but when one of my brilliant writer friends, Jill Nadler, read it and whispered, "It's like Gift of the Magi", I thought she said "Magpie", and a whole new vista opened! Max and Regina turned from crows into their corvid cousins, and "Gift of the Magpie" was born. Magpies, by the way, with their white breasts and white striped wings are much more graphically interesting on the page.

4) When your work is ready and the members of your critique group smile and nod and offer up their blessings, it's time to submit. I recommend buying the Annual Exhibition Catalog of the Original Children's Picture Book Art Exhibit at the Society of Illustrators in NYC. You'll find the names of the editors and the art directors who worked on every book in the exhibit. It is a concentrated way to shop for who might be interested in your style, your sense of humor.

5) A contract arrives, you've read it carefully, sought counsel if you were sans agent and found yourself confused... (I type every contract into my computer. It is the only way I can "read" legalese. When I find something that confuses me, I highlight it and bring that up with my attorney.) When my sketches are approved, the work on final art begins... In my studio everything goes up on the wall in front of my drafting table where I can watch the whole book come together like a puzzle. It will never be seen this way again, but I am comfortable weighing it as a whole composition, darkening - lightening, working on balance.

6) "The best picture books are more than text and art bound together. They are small movable sculptures: a combination of kinetic art and performance art." - Lolly Robinson.

Let me introduce you to my boss . . .

(This is Keira, one of Janeen's grandchildren.)

1/2) Back to work! You've gotten this far, surely there is another idea that is scratching at the door now... whining to get out.

To win a copy of Janeen's delightful new book, GIFT OF THE MAGPIE, about which Kirkus says, ". . . the artwork is an impressive display, as riotously colorful as a bowlful of jelly beans," simply click the follow button on the right and leave a comment below.

The winner of the autographed book will be announced Thursday, March 3rd, so please check back to see if you've won.

Thank you, Janeen, for sharing your art and heartfelt words with us.

Top 6-1/2 List: Finding a Publisher Is a Lot Like Dating . . .

TOP 6-1/2 LIST: FINDING A PUBLISHER IS A LOT LIKE DATING By LISA BULLARD AND LAURA PURDIE SALAS

I met Lisa Bullard years ago at an SCBWI conference in L.A. We sat in the hotel's hot tub, eavesdropping on the faculty dinner conversation. What fun!

Lisa has written more books than I've probably read! And she teaches, too.

A member of my critique group took her online course and GUSHED about how much time, energy and practical advice Lisa offers.

Here's what a student had to say about the online course: “This class has been incredible—challenging, inspiring, chock full of so much information.” —Ellen

Lisa teamed up with Laura Purdie Salas to team-teach two terrific on-line courses. (Details at the end.)

They've taken the time to share a fun/practical 6-1/2 list with us today.

Without further ado, here are Lisa Bullard and Laura Purdie Salas and their fab 6-1/2 list . . .

Lisa

Laura

TOP 6-1/2 LIST: FINDING A PUBLISHER IS A LOT LIKE DATING By LISA BULLARD AND LAURA PURDIE SALAS

1. Learn to truly know yourself before you go looking for a partner. The more you understand about your manuscript and how it fits into the publishing landscape, the better job you’ll do of matching it with the right editor or agent. One of the best ways to understand where you fit is to read as many other writers’ current kid’s books as you can—and take note of who published them.
2. Screening your dates ahead of time can help you avoid heartache. Learn everything you can about an editor or agent before you submit your work to them. Examine their catalog and/or website—it’s like looking through the yearbook or Facebook page of a potential date. You can see where they’re going, their history, and the kinds of authors they’ve “dated” before. Equally important, you can find out if they’re looking for somebody who’s your type, or if they’re likely to reject you sight unseen.
3. Don’t give up after one failed relationship. Giving up after being rejected by just one editor or agent—however much you thought they were your perfect match—would be like giving up on marriage after you break up with your middle school crush. Allow some time for wallowing, and then figure out what you’ve learned from the rejection and move on.
4. The more connections you have, the easier it is to get set up with the right person. Go to writer’s conferences, join a critique group, read blogs, post in chat rooms, attend author readings. The wider your personal circle of fellow children’s book lovers, the more likely you’ll find somebody who is willing to help you make a connection with the right editor or agent. And once you’ve been set up, editors and agents will be delighted to find out you’re already a part of the children’s book world, and not just a wallflower who sits home alone on Saturday nights.
5. Avoid earning a bad reputation. All the publishing professionals seem to know each other one way or another, and gossip travels fast in the “small town” of publishing. Never burn bridges—always remain professional and cordial, no matter how frustrating the process becomes.
6. Be cautious about playing the field. Many editors and agents ask authors for an “exclusive” look at a manuscript, at least for the period of time they say is their manuscript evaluation period. So if a certain “monogamous” partner is high on your hopeful list, you may want to avoid playing the field rather than risk a damaged relationship.

6-1/2. Trying to place your manuscript is a lot like first love. There are the same huge hopes, the same butterflies-in-the-belly moments, the same sense of crushing defeat when you’ve been rejected. But when you finally make that first publishing match, there’s nothing else quite like it—it’s something you’ll remember for the rest of your life!

Lisa Bullard and Laura Purdie Salas are children’s books writers who team-teach online classes on a regular basis, including two popular offerings that focus on how to find the right publisher for your manuscript: Matchmaking Your Manuscript: Finding the Children’s Book Publisher that Is Right for You and Love at First Sight: How to Write a Cover Letter that Makes Editors “Swoon.” Registration for the next round of classes ends January 10, 2011, so check out this link soon! http://www.childrensliteraturenetwork.org/events/workshops/matchmaking.php.

Lisa Bullard is the author of more than fifty books for young readers, including the award-winning Trick-or-Treat on Milton Street and You Can Write a Story! A Story-Writing Recipe for Kids. Lisa regularly teaches children’s book writing at the Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis and online. Her background includes sixteen years working as a publishing professional. You can learn more about Lisa by visiting her website at http://www.lisabullard.com, where you can also access her “Writing Road Trip” blog that features tips for teaching writing to kids.

Laura Purdie Salas started out writing for adults, but she soon discovered that kids were her favorite audience. Her books include Stampede! Poems to Celebrate the Wild Side of School and Bookspeak: Poems About Books (forthcoming), both with Clarion. Laura teaches writing for children through the Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis and online and is a former instructor for the Institute of Children’s Literature. You can learn more about Laura at her website http://www.laurasalas.com and her blog http://laurasalas.livejournal.com.

Happy New Year!

It's been an awesome year here at Wild About Words.

How to Survive Middle School came out April 13th, 2010, received two starred reviews and landed on the Texas Lone Star State Reading List. Yehaw!

I had the great pleasure of speaking to students at middle schools near and far, chatting with young fans at book signings, speaking at several conferences, Skyping with book club members both in the United States and in Canada, enjoying fun events at several wonderful independent bookstores and speaking at a bookfair hosted by the amazingly generous Arthur Levine.

2011 already looks exciting.

I start the year as a faculty member at the 10th annual Florida SCBWI Conference in Miami.

The new year will also find me speaking at SCBWI conferences in New England and Pennsylvania, as well as participating in a number of exciting book-related events here in Florida.

I have a couple new writing projects going out, and the blog will be exploding with new content in 2011.

Next week, look for a brand new 6-1/2 list from a dynamic writing/teaching duo.

And, of course, the annual list of books I read/listened to this past year will be posted. (Care to hazard a guess at the number?)

Wishing you a happy, HEALTHY new year filled with delightful surprises and exquisite moments.

With all good wishes,
Donna

The Blog is Back!

SCBWI 38TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE IN L.A.

Also known as the best weekend ever!!!

I'm incredibly grateful to Lin Oliver, Steve Mooser, Sid Fleischman and all the wonderful SCBWI peeps involved in bringing me to this amazing conference. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

First on the schedule was a faculty dinner outside the Hyatt hotel. I walked up to the first person I saw, thrust out my hand and said, "Hi, my name is Donna." The woman shook my hand. "Hi, I'm Karen." I asked, "So, what do you write?"

It was Karen Cushman. Um, I know what she writes -- Catherine, Called Birdy, The Midwife's Apprentice, etc.

Donna and Karen Cushman

At the party, I met Jay Asher, Lisa Yee, Alice Pope, Melinda Long and hubby Thom, Paula Yoo, Jenn Baily and many other cool, funny people.

The next morning, Sherman Alexie kicked off the conference with a fabulous speech. I figured I could go home at that point and I'd have gotten enough from the conference.

But there were other wonderful speakers and workshops. Details here.

Then it was off to a wine and cheese reception, where I had neither wine nor cheese, but lots of fun.

Buddy, Jill, agent, Tina Wexler and Donna

I met Delacorte author, Varian Johnson, from Austin, TX. His new book, Saving Maddie, comes out a month before mine. Varian and I share an editor at Delacorte Press -- Stephanie Elliott. Varian and I have so much in common, I'll bet you won't be able to tell us apart . . .

He's the one with the great laugh. Donna and Varian Johnson.

More great speeches and workshops on Saturday. I had the pleasure of hearing Karen Cushman, Ellen Hopkins, Eve Bunting, Arthur Levine, Kadir Nelson, Melinda Long, etc.

Then it was time for the Blue Moon Ball Saturday night by the pool . . .

Here's Jill in her blue hat.

People dressed as The Blue Man Group, a blue octopus, an alien, Austin Powers, etc. Crazy, dancing, laughing fun, fun, FUN!

Sunday, after some more stellar speeches by Dan Yaccarino and Holly Black, it was time for the Golden Kite Awards luncheon with a special keynote by Richard Peck.

By this point, I'd practiced my short speech 4,783,264,096 times so I was able to enjoy the speeches of the other award recipients and the lovely lunch.

Here are Jill, Tina Wexler and Linda Bernfeld, Florida's Regional Advisor, readying their cameras for the big moment.

Really, I wasn't nervous at all. I mean, all I had to do was walk up the steps without tripping, find my way to the podium without vomiting and deliver a memorized speech with no notes in front of 1,000 people. I really wasn't that nervous, but he was . . .

Dan the Man, aka World's Best Hubby, flew in for the event and was way more nervous than I was. Next to Dan is Hyewon Yum, who won the award for picture book illustration for her book, Last Night. She told about how she had such a difficult time talking with people that she created the book, which won the award and caused her to have to, um, talk to 1,000 people.

Richard Peck's keynote rocked. He's such a smart and witty man.

Lin Oliver (co-founder of SCBWI, with Steve Mooser -- not pictured) and Richard Peck

Receiving the Sid Fleischman Humor Award was a thrill and a dream come true. You can read a bit about it here and see a photo of my face on a giant screen. The award presented to me was heavier than I imagined. To give you an idea of its size, it's beside a six-foot-tall sumo wrestler named Clem.

Sid Fleischman Award for Best Humorous Children's Book of the Year . . . and Clem

After the banquet, I had the pleasure of signing copies of my book, while sitting beneath this sign:

And who should come over, but the real life Vanessa Rothrock. (That's the name of the main character in my book.) Funny, she didn't look like a 12 3/4 year-old spelling bee whiz who lived in Florida's Governor's Mansion.

Vanessa Rothrock and Donna

Monday, I had the great pleasure of presenting a workshop, titled: 12 3/4 Ways to Tickle Young Reader's Funny Bones. I couldn't have asked for a more enthusiastic, engaged audience.

Wonderful humor writer and all around lovely and generous person, Mary Hershey, introduced herself. I owe Mary some dark chocolate because she managed to recognize me before I recognized her. We'd only connected on-line before here and here. Her books have great, long titles, like The One Where The Kid Nearly Jumps to His Death and Lands in California. Mary, the chocolate is on its way.

Mary Hershey and Donna

Dinah Stevenson gave the first speech Monday. Ingrid Law, author of Savvy, followed. My gosh, that woman can write! She created a story that was a metaphor for the trials and tribulations of the writing life. Best story ever! And her daughter is adorable! Kathleen Duey ended the day with an informative, inspiring farewell speech.

To top off the best conference ever, I was invited to the wrap party at Lin Oliver's home. Thank you, Lin! There I met more wonderful people -- regional advisors from around the globe, editors, agents, authors.

And because my niece will think I'm cool, I asked Ellen Hopkins if I could take a photo with her.
So, Nicole, this is for you . . .

Ellen Hopkins and Aunt Donna

On the flight home, I thought about the wonderful experiences during the conference and came up with reason #4,567,083 that I love Southwest Airlines. This was my seatmate . . .

A long-haired chihuahua that weighed under two pounds.