Following my visit to the SCBWI New York Writers’ conference, I’ve been quite busy lately preparing for school visits and other presentations/events. I feel honored when asked to do this so I take pride and care in preparing the best I know how. Whether it’s a few dozen children or a hundred, I feel my audience deserves the best.

The Texas Book Festival is again bringing Reading Rock Stars to the schools. I’ve been part of this before and have thoroughly enjoyed it. Here is a link showing the latest list of authors and illustrators who will be doing RRS down in the Rio Grande Valley in March. Congratulations, authors and illustrators!!

2014 Reading Rock Stars in the Rio Grande Valley

And here is an article on Publishers Weekly with a panel of authors, illustrators, and editors discussing the topic of diversity in books.

This is a good time to submit that story for kids that you have been working on. The funforkizmagazines have posted their upcoming themes for the year. The magazines include Hopscotch, Boys’ Quest, and Fun for Kidz. Follow their guidelines and good luck!

Byline: Name of the author appearing with the published piece.—Writers’ Digest Weekly Planner

I just returned from the annual Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI) conference in New York City. Brrrr… It was cold. But the cold did not dampen the enthusiasm and spirit of the attendees. There were over 1,000 attendees from 47 states and 16 other countries. This was indeed a global conference. Here’s a link to the SCBWI conference blog.

Me and Newbery Medalist Kwame Alexander

The keynote speakers were so inspirational and the editor and agent panels brought us up to speed on the latest publishing trends. There is so much that was covered that I need a few days to decipher my notes and digest the information. One of the highlights of the conference was meeting 2015 Newbery Medalist Kwame Alexander. The line to have his book, The Crossover, autographed was sooooo long. But I waited patiently. He graciously autographed my copy and allowed for a picture together.

Grand Central Station

Attendees mingling in hotel lobby

My flight coming home was cancelled because of the bad weather in that part of the country, but I still made it home, although much, much later than I had anticipated. The SCBWI staff and personnel who put the conference together are to be commended for their awesome work behind the scenes.

New York City

Synopsis: A brief summary of a story, novel, or play. As part of a book proposal, it is a comprehensive summary condensed n a page or page and a half, single-spaced.—Writer’s Digest Weekly Planner