About the dust in my house...

Stopping over at Dizneeee's World of Books today to chat THE SOUND OF LETTING GO and my shortcomings as a cook and housekeeper. Also, about swag and prizes.

Dizneeee's is co-hosting the 2014
STANDALONE READING CHALLENGE!

Update: Things Burned While Writing

Lest you think having a second book in the pipeline has improved any of my neurotic writing behaviors, herewith evidence that I am unchanged. I call this photograph: YES, YOU CAN BURN CHOCOLATE IN THE MICROWAVE.

All you have to do is accidentally enter 3 minutes instead of 30 seconds and put a few chocolate chips into a small bowl. Voila! Inedible author surprise! 

If the above illustration makes you feel a bit less lonely in your writing universe, here are links to a few previous culinary failures in the service of literary art. I bring you FAILURE A and FAILURE B. Enjoy!

 

 

 

Back to Business: Singing the Praises of SCBWI - Part I

It's April again. You know, time for those proverbial "showers" (actually we've been having April showers since November here in Washington and the forecast has 'em happening through July). The kids are just starting to count down the days until school's out. But for me, the BEST thing about April is the SCBWI Western Washington Chapters Annual Conference of Awesome. And I'm not just saying that because I'll be giving a presentation with my amazing editor, Kendra Levin. I'll also be fangirling Robin LaFevers and Mac Barnett; learning from amazing agents like Joanna Volpe and Ammi-Joan Paquette; and hangin' with writer friends at all stages of the process from published wordsmith wonders to just-you-wait-cuz-when-they-get-published-they're-gonna-get-a-Kirkus-star friends who have beta read, encouraged and, er, drunk a lot of wine and coffee with me.

HERE IS THE LINK:

http://www.scbwi-washington.org/20/annual-conference.html

HERE IS THE UBER PRETTY LOGO:

Not to get repetive but attending SCBWI meetings and conferences was an essential part of my education in the craft and corporate aspects of children's literature.  So...

It you're anywhere near. I mean ANYWHERE. Idaho? Yeah. British Columbia? Drive on down. San Francisco? Get your arse on a plane.

You will not regret it.

Click. Register. Leave a comment so I can find you and buy you a coffee. Actually, they give it out for free at the conference. Plus there's yummy lunch. But I would love to chat with you all the same :)