A Look Back at LA...

It's that time of summer again! Next week I'll be in Los Angeles for the SCBWI summer conference. I've been attending this conference nearly every year since 2003. If you're a children's writer, I highly recommend the conference. If you can't swing a trip to California, be sure to check out your local scbwi chapter for regional & state conferences. Michigan has a terrific chapter. If it weren't for scbwi, I think I'd still be collecting stacks of rejection letters.

My first conference in 2003. Pictured with the legendary Tomie dePaola.

The petrified look on my face pretty much sums up how I felt that first conference: I can not believe I am here.

Feeling much more relaxed my second year!

Hangin' out with Rhea and Danny at Storyopolis.

Michael impersonator & me in front of the Kodak Theatre. 2006.


The very best part of LA...time with my girlfriends!

Left to Right: Paula Yoo, April Fritz, Lisa Wheeler, Me, Hope Vestergaard


Lisa Wheeler with SIPPING SPIDERS THROUGH A STRAW illustrator, Gris Grimly. 2007.


One of my heroes! Former Ambassador for Young People's Literature, Jon Scieszka.

New York Times bestselling author, Jay Asher. FYI: What happens in LA, doesn't always stay in LA.

Paula Yoo and former CWIM editor and current SCBWI blogger, Alice Pope.

Left to Right: Paula Yoo, Me, Lisa Wheeler, Carolyn Crimi, April Fritz, & Autumn Cornwell 2008.

Left to Right: Ben Esch, Sonya Sones, Stephanie Hemphill, Paula Yoo,

Steven Malk, Lisa Wheeler, Deanna Caswell, Me, & Donna Bray

Shiny, happy people: Me, Lisa, Agent Steve Malk, Paula

2009. In LA with my husband. That white dot above my head is the

Hollywood sign.

Check back this fall for 2010 conference pics!