Write Mind

I was a guest speaker at the Tennessee Association of School Librarians this past Friday and Saturday and now I’m ruined.

Ruined because this will be the conference that I measure all others against. Partly because it was held in lovely Chattanooga with enchanting fall colors I don’t see in Houston. Partly because it was the conference debut of my first children’s book, Substitute Groundhog, and it sold out.

But mostly because I was treated even better than royalty–I was treated like family. I was picked up by Deborah Neighbors at the airport. She has a neon smile and came with cold water, trail mix, and a bag of assorted bakery cookies. Nancy Dickinson, programming chair, made sure I had lunch and checked in with me often. In fact, someone was always looking out for me. A trio of librarians took me to their room for Chinese food; a librarian dragged an easy chair into a full session so I could sit;  a blacksmith made me a unique gift from a Chattanooga Railroad spike. Even the many who visited with me after my sessions and during autographing were unfailingly kind.

There was reserved seating at the front tables for meals, piles of my books at the ready, all needed equipment set up and working, handouts crisp and waiting. The visit was absolutely perfect. Yes, TASL in Tennessee has ruined me. And I’ll be forever grateful.

A few days ago, I spent a beautiful Saturday indoors sitting in the hard chairs of a 25-year old middle school auditorium, learning about What’s New in Children’s Literature from Dr. Peggy Sharp. Peg is the consummate professional speaker, delivering the entire workshop, (which she already seems to have memorized), without an “um” or a snafu with her huge pile of transparencies. She led us through her 152 page handout, touching on a title here and a title there. SO MANY GOOD BOOKS! I already have close to 500 of the 2006 titles upstairs in my writing room, and it was interesting for me to see what she left out as well as what was included.

 I’m reading the front of Books Kids Will Sit Still For 3, by Judy Freeman. The book is weighty with its 916 pages and terrific titles and book connections. Judy has a breezy but incisive writing style, and has recommendations for more than 1700 books! Her house must be edged with book cases the way a bird lines its nest with feathers. In fact, Judy would probably agree with the quote that Peggy headed her handout with:

“I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves.” Anna Quindlen, author