SCBWI LA, & Misc.

Planning a trip to see 3 of my brothers and other assorted family, I heard about this Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Conference. I’m traveling with my two kids, and family get-togethers are hectic to say the least. But I had to go over and check it out.

I really can’t believe how many good things I’m missing, but at least I got to meet some people:

Rebecca Grose, kids book publicist for Cynsational Cynthia Leitich Smith and also for Brian Mandabach! Rebecca is a riot, a wellspring of detailed Seinfeld knowledge, and–you heard it here first–she confessed to an adoration of Christan Bale as seen in American Psycho. How can she get publicity for books with this image as her desktop, idfk, but maybe it inspires her!

Cynsational Cynthia Leitich Smith, who thought there would be plenty of room in her Keynote Address on blogging and such, and was surprised that people were crowded around the door. Clearly she underestimated the power of her virtual presence on the very actual conference attendees. A clue to that sort of power might have been deduced by the “face-out” placement of Tantalize on the shelves of Barnez & Nizziloblz. What do you think?

Vegetarian reviewer and aspiring novelist Melissa, who was reportedly indulging in two kinds of meat, and at the same time: Grey Goose and Red Bull–though I can’t confirm this unequivocally. Melissa’s another myspace friend, and it felt funny to be exchanging cell phone numbers–despite the safety of the writing conference, I kept remembering warnings against meeting online friends in the “actual” realm.

Possibly the most erudite of these luminaries had to be Russian lit prof and blogger Kelly Herold, who I love almost most of all because her daughter got to Or Not before her mom and read it THREE times. That girl rules, and so does her mom.

And last, but definitely not least, can anybody who meets Carrie Jones not totally adore her? I knew I loved her just from reading Tips on Having a Gay Ex-Boyfriend and from her blog. She is so clever and smart and straight from the heart (and MIND). And when you see her in person, you just want to hug her and not let go .

Oh, and though I didn’t meet Tracy Grand of Jacket flap, I did meet Paul, who was very cool and welcoming to this unofficial SCBWI conference attendee. Jacketflap called the meeting on the patio where I met these folks, and I have to say that everybody was warm and cool. I think the people involved in this biz are the best.

5 comments

Summer Reading: LOG THE HELL OFF!!

Livejournal, myspace, blogspot: they all SUCK!!!

Even as I write, indulging in this vampiric wastetime, I must briefly rail against!
Especially for an ADD person with a strong tendency towards hyper-focus, such as yours truly, it’s hard not to get sucked in. So, I have begun unplugging my wireless at 5 pm. It’s a start. While I love my internet friends, and I have fun reading interviews & book reviews by the likes of
Little Willow as well as the hilarious observations of Emma, I’m now reading like crazy.

I FINALLY finished I’m with the Band: Confessions of a Groupie, the touchingly innocent and simultaneously earthy (though never pornographic) memoir of Pamela Des Barres (who refused the advances of Mick Jagger because she was so in love with Jimmy Page!)

Then, it was Alias Grace by my favorite Canadian writer, Margaret Atwood. (The Boob Lady
is second, sorry!) She’s amazing. I’m in awe of the combination of her research and imagination into pure seamlessness. And her mastery of voice in multiple points of view–including Grace herself, who is far from reliable–helps Atwood spin a tale in which I was far from certain what the truth was or exactly what the truth meant.

On to Stephen King and the finale of The Dark Tower. In the thrall of Mr. King and his gunslingers, I’m no good to anyone. I was was told yestereve, as I read myself into another world, oblivious to the familial chaos around me, “I think Daddy’s checked out.”

So much for the idea that I’d would be a better family member after unplugging the wireless. I was no good at all this morning either, on account of being up until after one last night reading until I had not the strength to make it into bed. Waking on the couch around five, I pulled myself out from dreams of Low Men, were-spiders, and portals to other times and worlds, and managed to make into bed with a sore neck.

Next, it’s going to be one of my fellow FLUX authors Carrie Jones
or Brian Yansky, probably Carrie because now that I’m in Maine with King, I might as well stay there. Ayuh.

Escape! Isn’t it best with a book? Forget about my former righteousness in getting offline–I just needed a better way to slip out of the real world. I do say so and thank ya!

12 comments