YA Fresh

Greetings from the SCBWI!

We sure enjoyed seeing Kelly’s pictures from the RWA. Now it’s my turn, posting pictures of the great times and great friends I met at the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrator’s conference in Century City, California last weekend.

I want to start with a fantastic surprise that Children’s Writers and Illustrator’s Market editor, Alice Pope, bestowed on Kelly and me. Alice had been kind enough to feature me as a First Book Author in her 2007 edition, so I went up and introduced myself before her session, only to have her tell me that she included YA FRESH in her list of recommended author’s blogs and group blogs!

Here we are, meeting up later in the lobby. Be sure to check out her very informative blog, CWIM .


That night was the author signing, and wandering past me at one point was the sweet, lovely, Miss (a-hem) two-book-deal-at-pre-empt-last-week, Holly Cupala !


I was thrilled to get to share in the warmth of her first sale glow, and to realize that the reason I recognized her name was because she had been the winner of one of our YA FRESH contests last year!

That next afternoon, I had the pleasure of dropping in on a readergirlz event and meeting up with more bright, interesting people. Like:


Sonya Sones and Justina Chen Headley .


Me, Lisa Yee , reviewer Little Willow , Justina and Joyce Lee Wong .

And how cute is:



Paula Yoo ?

And here's Little Willow chatting with Jay Asher .


Okay, that’s it for today, but look for more in the near future...