This past weekend I attended the SCBWI Carolinas Annual Fall Conference, 2010.
It was great to catch up with many old friends and meet some great up-and-coming new children's and YA book authors. Here are a few photos from Friday through Sunday's, action-packed, info-filled event:
Janet and Jo demonstrated the essential items to bring to a conference.
Dial Editor Liz Waniewski signed my old galley copy of Incarceron, a book she brought to the U.S., and a book I highly recommend for those who like steam-punkish YA novels. Thanks Liz! It's brilliantly plotted and written by Catherine Fisher, a multi-published author out of Great Britain.
Liz also taught a great writing intensive on pitching your book to an editor. It was helpful to all and got rave reviews. A job well done!
My friend Alan Gratz (top photo, in suit), author of great books like "Samurai Shortstop," "Something Rotten," "The Brooklyn Nine," and the soon to be released "Fantasy Baseball," gave a great presentation on plotting. I'm sitting at my desk right now Alan, trying to figure out where the "tent pole" is in "Act 2" of my current manuscript. Thanks for all the great tips and examples!
There were great presentations by Nonfiction writer Heather L Montgomery, Agent Chris Richman of Upstart Crow Literary, and many more.Little Brown Editor Alvina Ling spoke to the Large group about the differences between literary and commercial fiction.
Five members of my critique group, the Goalies, chatted over wine and diet coke at the Gala on Saturday night.
Many Carolina Children's Authors from our region signed their books and chatted at the book tables Sunday morning.
Then, in 
an effort to make the conference last just one hour longer, a random group of writer friends met up for lunch at Chilis, Sunday afternoon, after the conference ended and it was time to go home. The chips and salsa were great. The company and conversation even better! We even had a few minutes between ordering and eating to check out Maggie's Kindle -- a very educational moment after the waiter took our photo and brought the chips.
an effort to make the conference last just one hour longer, a random group of writer friends met up for lunch at Chilis, Sunday afternoon, after the conference ended and it was time to go home. The chips and salsa were great. The company and conversation even better! We even had a few minutes between ordering and eating to check out Maggie's Kindle -- a very educational moment after the waiter took our photo and brought the chips.Huge thanks to Teresa, Jo, and the entire Conference Committee for planning an amazing event again this year! I thought the presenters were even better than usual. And now... it's back to our manuscripts. Keep in touch, ya'll!
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