Over the weekend, I was in LA for the annual summer conference of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and can I just say that I had an absolute blast! Seriously, I love writers. And I believe that as solitary an activity as writing is, writers need other writers. We learn from each other, and encourage each other, and share a community I am proud to be a part of. Especially writers for children.
The first day was great. I was invited for lunch with some of the 10ers, including Bree Despain, Lindsey Leavitt, Kim Derting (thanks for setting the whole thing up!), Christy Raedeke, Jennifer Cervantes, Denise Jaden, and Suzanne Young. Holly Black, Jay Asher, Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl were there as well, as were bloggers Khy (The Frenetic Reader), Catt (The Dreamer Reader), and Vania (Reverie Book Reviews). Oh, and Magic Johnson was there in the restaurant, but I think it goes without saying that he wasn’t a part of our group.
The first day also featured a speech by Sherman Alexie. That man is brilliant, inspiring, hilarious, and so down to earth. He had the whole room laughing and on their feet by the end for a standing ovation. Later in the weekend, I was a total fanboy and got to shake his hand and tell him how cool it was that he rendered Stephen Colbert speechless. Have you seen that video? Here it is. And here’s a picture of me fanboying it up (as you’ll see, I did that a lot).
The other keynote addresses were incredible. Richard Peck blew the roof off at the Golden Kite Luncheon, and Ingrid Law charmed the whole room with a speech that felt more like a spell. I went to lots of different break-out sessions, and met lots of great people. My agent was there and we went to dinner and had some great discussions about books, writers, movies, theater, and religion. He read the first half of my new novel during the conference and was enthusiastic about it (huge sigh of relief). Later, Elena Jube and I had dinner with him, and I got to know Elena a little better. Steve is her agent too, and she’s a wonderful person and a fantastic writer with a book out on submission right now. I’ve read it, and I loved it. I know an editor will too.
On the second night, the poolside Blue Moon Ball was great fun. I got to hang out with some writers from Utah, and meet Richard Peck and Ingrid Law. I also chatted with Ed Masessa from the Scholastic Book Fairs about the title of my debut novel. Or lack thereof. Still don’t have one. Here are some pics.
On Sunday night we had our regional get-together, and all us Utah and Idaho writers had a fun time.
That night, I also got a chance to talk with Ellen Hopkins. I truly admire her for making poetry so vital and accessible to teens, and for bringing attention to some of the dangers they face each day.
On Monday I had lunch with Kimball Fisher and Fran Slayton, both great people. Kimball is a writer I met at last year’s summer conference, and it was great to see him again. Fran is the author of When the Whistle Blows, which I have not read yet, but I plan to correct that oversight at the earliest opportunity. From the reviews and the buzz, a wonderful middle-grade debut. It turns out the three of us had some things in common, and I deeply appreciated the time I spent with them.
Also on the last day, I waited in line to meet all the writers I hadn’t been able to talk to throughout the conference. More fanboy stuff follows.
And then Lin Oliver, the president of SCBWI, introduced me to Henry Winkler. I’d been talking with her during the conference, and I told her that the Hank Zipzer books that she writes with Mr. Winkler are a favorite among the kids I work with. She said I had to tell Henry Winkler myself, so I did. It was awesome.
Among the other awesomenesses of the weekend, two fellow writers got enthusiastic shoutouts from their agent and editor. In the main ballroom, with the whole conference listening, agent Sarah Davies talked about how amazing Lindsey Leavitt is. Be sure and watch for Sean Griswold’s Head and Princess for Hire in 2010! And then, Egmont editor Elizabeth Law not once, but twice raved about Bree Despain’s The Dark Divine, out in stores this December! Congrats you two!
All in all, an amazing weekend.
8 responses to “SCBWI 2009”
Matt- Great conference recap. I loved the pictures. It was so good to meet you and, like you said, just plain be with fellow writers. Do you mind if I link you on my blog?
Can’t wait for your book to come out, whatever it’s titled.
bro
It was good to meet you too, Brodi. And of course you can link to me! I’ll do the same.
The conference was so fun!! I can’t wait to go back again. Great pictures! And btw, will you send me pics, please, please please??
I was telling Brodi, I’m going to try to get them online somehow – maybe a Picasa album – because they’re too big to email.
It was great to see you in LA!
I’m a bit verkelpmt at the moment! Give me a second to collect myself.
(Deep breath) My mistake was the scroll through of the “art” before I read your text. Good thing I was sitting down. I got a bit dizzy. (Shouldn’t check Matt’s show-off blog immediately after giving blood) Spotted Alexi right off, wasn’t too startled as I you had given me fair warning, but ooooh-my great-aunt-Gertie, he is lovely. But then Richard “I-gave-the-world-Grandma-Dowdel” Peck, with my dear Ms. Law, who is all things gracious and lovely – Holy Hallelujah!
Park! Cushman! the Fonz! – the degrees of separation from myself and all this droolable talent has shrunk down to little old you. You are going to be way too cool for my guacamole now. I’m trying to restrain myself from accosting you and stealing your glasses, that gave you first hand viewing, right off your face.
Yes! You do need to read Fran Slayton’s When the Whistle Blows very reminiscent of Peck’s, Long Way From Chicago.
Thanks Matt, for posting all the pictures.
I hope to get to SCBWI someday. It would be great to see all of you again (from the workshop we were in a couple years ago.)
I agree about Bree’s and Lindsey’s books. Both are amazing.
Thanks for posting all the pictures, Matt. I forgot my camera, of course, so these are all the photo evidence that I was really there. I can’t believe you got a picture with you and practically everybody famous at that conference–except me. Oh, yeah, I’m not famous. Just as well, but we definitely should have taken one shot with us and Steve. And maybe next time we’re all together I’ll have my own camera. It was fun getting together, especially that dinner with Steve, which was the best part of the trip for me.
It really was great, Elena. I came away feeling so lucky to have Steve, and glad you and I are agent siblings!