Sharing Play at Dumas Bay SCBWI Illustrators retreat

This past weekend, illustrators from around Washington and Oregon gathered to retreat, play, and learn on the water in Dumas Bay, Washington, and I was among them. We were honored and thrilled to have illustrators Christian Robinson and Catia Chien guide us in our play. What a line up!

Indulge me a minute while I express how giddy I personally was to sign up for this retreat. I am a huge, huge, dinosaur-sized, Christian Robinson Fan. When I pour over his collages I feel the same joy and wonder as I did when I was a child pouring over THE SNOWY DAY and other books by Ezra Jack Keats, my childhood favorite author. And at the same time Christian's work is fresh and modern in a way that offers me joy in the here and now too. Plus it doesn't hurt that LAST STOP ON MARKET STREET (illustrated by Christian and written by Matt de la Peña) is probably my son Lars's favorite book.

Lars, who is 3-years-old, takes the bus in the morning several times a week with Daddy. He is especially excited when his favorite bus, the purple one, is the one that picks him up at the curb. You should see the light in his eyes. But even when it's just the regular bus he loves to climb on and sit by the window and talk about all the noises and people and moments on the bus. LAST STOP ON MARKET STREET is called THE Bus Book in our house even though we have several other bus books. Lars likes to close his little eyes the same time the main character, CJ, does. He closes his eyes and listens to the music, wherever the music is in his heart.

So this past weekend I got to go to Dumas Bay and connect with the music in my own heart. And I got to share that experience with many other illustrators. And I also got to learn from Catia Chien, whose work I was less familiar with ahead of the retreat with but now am excited to love.

I gained insights about my own work and practices as I always do at SCBWI events but the thing that probably will stick with me most was just the realization that no matter what happens externally in the world or my own life, I am an artist and I will always make art. That is the music in my own heart. I don't mean to make it sound like a new commitment, rather a quiet acknowledgement of the obvious and what is already there at a time when so many things in the greater world feel uncertain.

We children's book creators will continue to do this thing because it's what we do. And we will do it with heart and passion and even when we take years to get published, or never are published at all, or are banned, or make mistakes, or whatever, we collectively will keep working to make the world brighter and better through books.

Many thanks to my local SCBWI chapter volunteers, especially Tina Hoggatt, for all the work you did putting this retreat together. And many thanks to Catia and Christian for sharing your light with the world and with us this past weekend.

From a walk I took in the garden at Dumas Bay

From a walk I took in the garden at Dumas Bay

2016 SCBWI MOST PROMISING PICTURE BOOK AWARD!

It's an all caps kind of day here in Kjersten's studio —HIP HIP HOORAY!

Why?

Because my manuscript HOW TO BUILD A ROCKETSHIP IN 10 EASY STEPS is the official winner of the 2016 Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Most Promising Picture Book Award! HAPPY DANCE! HAPPY DANCE! Maybe just this once I can even get away with TOO MANY EXCLAMATION POINTS!!!!!

Attending SCBWI events over the many years I've been a member has been like unofficial graduate-level training, only with friends and sometimes cookies.

Thank you to the editor who nominated me and to all who were involved in choosing this piece for recognition. I'm honored and excited to receive this award and I can't wait to get going on the dummy for this piece. This boost means the world to me. Thank you for everything SCBWI!

Here's a screen shot from SCBWI's announcement:

Saving the screen shot for posterity.  Also so whenever I feel discouraged I can look back and take this as a nudge to keep going.

Saving the screen shot for posterity.  Also so whenever I feel discouraged I can look back and take this as a nudge to keep going.

My art at the convention center

On Saturday I finally got a chance to see Western Washington SCBWI's illustrator show at the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle. Here are a few pictures for show and tell.

I loved seeing my Alligator Brothers piece there.

Saturday was the day we gathered for the family Draw-Along, inviting the community to bring their kids and come make art with the illustrators.

I brought a cut-paper exercise that I've with my art students at the Montessori school where I've been teaching art. 

Here's a picture of the mess we made at my table. Fun day!

Meet the illustrators and come to our Family Draw-Along

If you are in Seattle this Saturday stop by the Washington State Convention Center anytime from 12:00 - 2:00 pm for a family Draw-Along with children's illustrators from Washington State. Bring the kids! (although you don't have to). Materials will be provided. It's the perfect time to check out the SCBWI Illustrator art show in the same space, up through Sept 29th (the poster says the 30th but that's wrong. It ends the 29th). I hope I see you there!

Pictures from The Last Bookstore in LA

I had a FABULOUS time at the recent SCBWI conference in L.A. I loved the new location, I took away great thoughts for my work, I got to see muppets in action (!) and I was nominated for the Sue Alexander award.

I've been busy busy busy fixing some work. Sometimes I need a break from the Internet when I'm hard at work/play (am I the only one that feels like the Internet can be an echo chamber?). But I felt like it was long past time I at least posted these pics

Isn't this bookstore amazing? Their art section was my favorite. Although they had a stellar comics section too.

Cheers to a playful and promising summer's last few weeks.

Whew! A whirlwind month of new work

A couple months ago I set an ambitious goal to try to nearly remake my entire portfolio for the Society of Children's Book Writer's and Illustrator's conference here in Washington State.  (Which was last weekend; it was FANTASTIC as usual!)


The last few weeks I have been working all kinds of crazy hours to meet my personal goal (which is why I haven't posted in awhile).


And I'm proud to say...

I did it!

I'll try to post some fun process pictures in the upcoming few weeks.

Meanwhile you can check out my updated portfolio here on my website.

This week I'm taking a deep breath and catching up with regular life. But I'm looking forward to sorting out what my next big goal will be too.


Cheers to working hard and making fun new art!




Some Nursery Rhyme Illustrations

Here are some new nursery rhyme illustrations (black and white!) I finished this last week just in time for the Society of Children's Book Writer's and Illustrators conference in Los Angeles this coming weekend.

Can you figure out which three popular nursery rhymes I've drawn below? (Click on each image to see a larger version).


 




If you'll be in Los Angeles look out for me and say hi! I'd love to chat.

Also, for anyone who might be interested, I just updated my online portfolio. Take a peek. Feel free to send me feedback if something comes to mind.

I look forward to catching up with all the rest of my blogesphere friends when I return from L.A. I hope wherever you are you are having a great week!

SCBWI Malaysia

I finally connected with the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) in Malaysia!
They put up a booth at the Kuala Lumpur Book Fair that I attended several weeks ago (I went knowing they would be there). The top photo is of the SCBWI booth, the next two are random pictures from the book fair.
I chatted for quite a while there with the wife of a renown Malaysian Illustrator, Yosof Gajah (fun fact: Gajah means elephant in Bahasa Malayu, the Malaysian language). Yosof's wife, Zakiah, is an artist in her own right and offers batik classes. It was lovely to chat with her. Hopefully I'll get to try one of her classes out while I live here.
 
Then, last Monday, the chapter had a special get-together (they are just starting to organize regular meetings and haven't officially started having them yet) to greet Steve Mooser, one of the co-founders of SCBWI!
It was a fun get together and I'm happy to have mingled with some other artists and writers from KL as well as Steve and Sally.
Thanks to Linda T. Lingard, the local Regional Advisor, for organizing.
Cheers to SCBWI!

The Wizard Of Oz, Kjersten-Style, From Sketch to Final Art: Dorothy meets the Cowardly Lion

This past summer I took part in the Nevada SCBWI mentor program. My assignment for the program was to illustrate three scenes from The Wizard Of Oz, interpreting the story however I wished. The program finished with a fantastic retreat in Virginia City where I had the opportunity to share my final original art with my mentor and fellow mentees (I loved that I got to see my peers' work after they had gone through the same process -- so fun and interesting!). The following is an abbreviated walk-through of parts of my process as I presented it to them. 


SCENE II

The Text:
From Chapter VI of the Wizard of Oz: The Cowardly Lion :
"Don't you dare to bite Toto! You ought to be ashamed of yourself, a big beast like you, to bite a poor little dog!"
"I didn't bite him," said the Lion, as he rubbed his nose where Dorothy had hit it.
"No, but you tried to," she retorted. "You are nothing but a big coward."
Thumbnail:
This is a revised thumbnail I based the final drawing on:

The First Drawing:
To prevent my drawings from stiffening too much along the journey from drawing to cut-out collage I piece together my drawings in photoshop.
This allows me to use the freshest sketches I can as templates when I cut my final art. It allows me to size the characters and other elements of the drawing right without redrawing or tracing them a lot.
Often I'll draw the characters first, scan them into photoshop and re-size them so they are proportional to one another. Then I draw the background separately and piece it together in photoshop.
Revision:
  • I changed the Scarecrow and tin-man's poses. While I liked their poses in my first draft, they kind of looked like they were watching a play or resting, rather than being scared of the lion or crumpled on the ground. Plus my third scene had them crumpled on the ground and I wanted variety. I decided to try more active poses. Here's a sketch of the scarecrow in a more active pose that I didn't use for the final drawing:
  • In the end I changed the poses but kept the focus of the action on the relationship between the lion and Dorothy. I thought if I got too dramatic with the tin-man and scarecrow, it would take focus away from the main characters in the scene.
The Final Drawing:
Making the Final Art:

On Risks and Revision in the final stages of work:
Notice how the greenery changes in the last couple of frames of this photo sequence. Occasionally when I "finish" a piece I decide something I did with the background (that's already glued down) needs to be changed. It can be tricky to peel up one paper in favor of a change --and scary --what if it doesn't work?

Defense one:
I've worked with paper enough making my handmade books over the course of the last decade that I generally can tell when I can get away with it or not. So knowing my medium is defense one.

And if it indeed hadn't worked?
Defense two:
Problem solving and brain-storming. Being creative does not only mean drawing pretty pictures. It also means creatively solving problems.

It's exciting (and terrifying) to take a risk when a piece is almost finished. But my job is to make my illustrations the best that they can be. Sometimes to make things the best you have to take scary risks. You have to know your medium well enough (through lots of practice) to have a good idea of when those risks are worth it. Then you have to know your medium well enough to be able to problem-solve and brainstorm when a risk goes awry and new challenges presents themselves.

Final Collage:
I listened to the audio versions of The Hunger Games, and Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins while I made this illustration. I can't look at that forest without thinking of those books. Do you ever listen to books on tape that influence your art?


P.S. I made two other Wizard of Oz illustration samples as part of the mentor program. Here are links to posts about the process for those scenes:
Scene I
Scene III

The Wizard Of Oz, Kjersten-Style, From Sketch to Final Art: Glinda and Dorothy

This past summer I took part in the Nevada SCBWI mentor program. My assignment for the program was to illustrate three scenes from The Wizard Of Oz, interpreting the story however I wished. The program finished with a fantastic retreat in Virginia City where I had the opportunity to share my final original art with my mentor and fellow mentees (I loved that I got to see my peers' work after they had gone through the same process -- so fun and interesting!). The following is an abbreviated walk-through of parts of my process as I presented it to them.

SCENE I

The Text:
From Chapter II of the Wizard of Oz: The Council With The Munchkins (edited slightly to be more picture-book friendly, or in other words, more concise)
Dorothy began to sob, at this, for she felt lonely among all these strange people. So Glinda took off her cap and balanced the point on the tip of her nose. She counted "one, two, three!" And the cap changed to a slate on which was written:
"LET DOROTHY GO TO THE CITY OF EMERALDS."
Thumbnails:
I drew many pages of thumbnails to get an idea of my composition. None of the thumbnails pictured here were ones I ended up using, but they show the process.
Detailed Roughs:
After drawing lots of thumbnails I chose two I liked best.
Both had Dorothy and Glinda in prominent places. Since they are the main characters in the scene I drew them more cleanly, scanned them into photoshop and made rough drawings based on the two thumbnails I liked to help me choose which composition I liked more.
I ended up choosing the second composition because I liked how it showed the promise of Oz in the background. I thought it captured the spirit of the moment better.

Scenes from my sketchbook:



First Full Drawing:Revisions:
  • Changed the munchkins to have more variety in their expressions. Even though the original text suggested the munchkins were all sad for Dorothy, they would react to what Glinda was doing, and I needed to show that.
  • Changed the background so it had more depth -- a foreshadowing of the journey Dorothy is about to embark on.
Final Drawing:
Notes of interest: I was at liberty to interpret the Wizard of Oz how I chose. In the book, L. Frank Baum never refers to the Witch of the North as "Glinda." But we all know her as Glinda from the movie, so I edited the text to include her name.

Making the Final Art:


Final Collage:
P.S. I made two other Wizard of Oz illustration samples as part of the mentor program. Here are links to posts about the process for those scenes:
Scene II
Scene III

Does anyone else feel tired after a great retreat?

My head and heart are still swelling with gratitude, information and illustration stuff after my SCBWI Nevada mentor retreat last weekend! It went great. One of the best SCBWI events I've been a part of. I'm so so so pleased with the program -- I can't say enough good things about it. I can't wait to post my final illustrations, and some about the process and will when I get home.

But right now I'm in southern Utah enjoying canyons and pretty things with the family this week. So I don't want to spend too much time on the internet. BUT! I must share this funny video that my mentor made with Yuyi Morales. It captures the tired and full-headed feeling we all feel at the end of a conference or retreat. To get it you have to watch this oft-watched youtube video first (DAVID AFTER THE DENTIST):



Okay, so here's the art director after the retreat. I'm glad he didn't react that way when he first saw my art! (But that is my art! Mine and Yuyi Morales')



Okay, that's enough internet for me. My head is still full.

KEEPING ALL HATS IN THE AIR FALL FRIDAY SERIES: Mornings are best for routines

There’s the researcher hat, the networking hat, the business hat, the editor hat and the art-spectator or the reader hat – whew! With so much other “work” to do, it can be difficult to find the time to actually write or do your artwork. This series talks about priorities and goal setting. How do you juggle all the aspects of your writing and/or art career? Inspired by a SCBWI WWA Bellingham Network Schmooze that took place in Sept, 2009.

THE TIP:
My friend and fellow writer Barbara Davis-Pyles used to work in psychology. She opened my eyes to the fact that mornings are generally the most habitual time of the day for people. She says that if you want to start a habit, try adding it to your morning ritual.

So, what's the first thing you do in your day?

BEFORE:
I used to start by tackling some email over breakfast. I did this because even though I love correspondence, I'm introverted -- I tend to procrastinate with it. So I figured, tackle the hard stuff first.

But the hard stuff wasn't my first priority! Starting with email used a chunk of the freshest part of the day. Also, because I procrastinate with email, I sometimes ended up surfing the internet between emails. And it set a tone for the rest of the day that didn’t energize me.

AFTER:
For the past two weeks instead of email with breakfast, I've read the paper (as I used to do later in the day) and I've spent time visioning my day out in my day-planner (as I used to after I took time to answer email).

Then after breakfast, everyday, I've spent 15 minutes doing Yoga -- centering myself -- and setting a good tone for the day (YAY! this has been my favorite change!).

Then, if it's a workday, it's art time. I've given myself permission to neglect all correspondence or business until after noon (I’ve shot off the occasional fast email that was pestering my mind, but for the most part, I’ve let it go).

This is a huge deal. I don't procrastinate on my art. Art is what I want to be doing. When I give myself permission to do it, it's what I do.

THE RESULTS:
WOW!
Despite having an incredibly full plate the last two weeks, I've accomplished so much of my own work. That is a good, good feeling.

So I'm curious about your morning ritual? Is there a habit you'd like to start or break? What's your morning going to look like from now on?

P.S. My friend Karen Ann Chalupnik who also attended the schmooze that inspired this series put a great post up on her blog recently about a change she's made based on the schmooze. Read about it here.

FALL FRIDAY SERIES: Keeping All Hats in the Air

How do you juggle all aspects of your art/writing career?

I've been pondering this question a lot over the last week and a half. Actually I'm going to risk sounding overly dramatic here. I feel like I've seen the light.

My life has changed in the last week and a half (in more ways than one -- but that is a teaser for a later blog post...).

The inspiration: A schmooze. No kidding! A regular old SCBWI WWA Bellingham Network Schmooze with the above question as our discussion topic. I got some of the most helpful tips for my art life that I've ever received at that schmooze.

I was about to write the remainders from the evening that still have been percolating in my head and heart but I ran out of my allowed time to finish this post (aha! An idea from the schmooze...) I still have so much to share though!

I've decided this is my cue for a new Friday series. A fall series. Welcome to Keeping All Hats In the Air! Stay tuned for a new tip every Friday throughout the fall. I'm aiming to share helpful things with all of you, AND to keep myself on track...

I'm excited to see how this works out!

The SCBWI WWA 18th annual Conference For Children's Book Writers And Illustrators.

Whew!

Okay I've been back from the SCBWI WWA Conference in Redmond for two days now. But my head is still swimming with all sorts of good stuff. And I lost a day of work yesterday due to my 2-year-old's unexplainable rash all over the back of his legs; apparently he probably got into some itchy plant over the weekend according to the Doc (I can't help but kind of love these quirks of motherhood). So I'm late to post this. But I just want to say Yay for SCBWI Western Washington! Thanks for another wonderful conference.

First off, I am lame at taking pictures. I took maybe 5 total at the conference and a few were repeats. So this is all I've got. A cheesy canned photo of some friends and the Ambassador of Children's literature himself, Mr. Jon Scieszka (rhymes with Fresca).
Highlights From The Conference:
  • Chatting and networking with so many amazing people! I got to thank Ellen Hopkins in person for the awesome conference and mentorship program in Nevada (she's a regional advisor for SCBWI there), which meant a lot to me because I'm so grateful to them for the incredible job they are doing.
  • Getting great and helpful feedback on my work through the manuscript and dummy critiques (I can't wait to get going on my dummy again).
  • George Shannon's mini session on "Writing to be heard: Sound and The Picture Book" has inspired me to go back to every picture book manuscript I have and rethink/examine the sound and rhythm in each of them to better contribute to the heart of each story. Sidenote: I finally bought, TIPPY TOE CHICK GO at the conference (one of my favorite Shannon titles I didn't already own). I think my son has only has requested it about 7 times in the last 2 days.
  • A HILARIOUS video Kim Baker made as a tribute to SCBWI. I'll post a link when it eventually is up on the internet.
  • Hearing all the amazing key-notes. Adam Rex and Jon Scieszka made me laugh so hard I wanted to cry. Ellen Hopkins' pictures of remodeling as a metaphor for revising were spot on. And I found a new hero in Grace Lin. I especially loved when Grace said, "No matter what you do in your life, no one else has done it just like you. Tell your own story."
  • During her session on what makes a great cover, Elizabeth Parisi, art director for Scholastic, showed quick mock-up covers she made for the dummies she had critiqued. It was so fun to see how she handled the different dummies!
  • I loved looking through the portfolios at the portfolio show and seeing how my fellow illustrator friends have improved their work through the years. A special congrats to my friend Jennifer Mann who won the grand prize at the portfolio show (she's an awesome illustrator and she totally deserves it).
  • And probably one of the biggest highlights for me was, no kidding, I got recognized for a picture book dummy I wrote! I was in a bit of a daze when it all happened (it was the end of a full weekend) but I think it's called a breakout writer honor. I think. [UPDATE: SEE BELOW] At the very end of the conference Joni Sensel, one of our co-regional advisors read off a short list of names. The names were given from manuscript critiquers who thought something they read by that person showed special promise. It feels so awesome to get that kind of a pat on the back! I was giddy the whole way home and drank a margarita (or two) with my hubby on Sunday night to celebrate.
  • Last but not least, I loved the carpool home with my home crew from Bellingham. It's great to meet new and exciting friends and acquaintances but it's wonderful to know that I have a supportive and talented critique group and network right in my own backyard.
Thank you so much to Joni Sensel, Laurie Thompson and Kim Baker, our co-regional advisors and assistant regional advisor, for all the hard work you put into the conference. It was a pleasure to be a part of the advisory committee this year and I look forward to more fun next year!

UPDATE: Okay, I got the official word, no official name for the honor at the end of the conference. Just a cool honor to keep us working. That it did. And it made my day! LATER UPDATE: Got word that the honor without a name now has a name: Most Promising Work-In-Progress Honor. Sweet! I suppose I can use that in query letters. One day. When the thing is ready. Motivation has stepped up a notch, for sure.

Cleaning out my portfolio and bidding adieu to some old favorites

We're in the final countdown to the SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) Western Washington 18th Annual Writing and Illustrating for Children Conference!

I'm psyched and all geared up. Or I should say I'm gearing up. As part of my prep I decided not only to update and clean out my physical portfolio but to do the same with my online portfolio.

It's always a little bittersweet to clean out my portfolio. Saying hello to new pieces is so exciting. But saying good-bye to old pieces that I still love (but perhaps have outgrown) can sometimes be hard. And then there's the doubts that inevitably creep in. What if the old pieces are better? But that is a place I cannot dwell. Sometimes the old pieces are better. Or at least still good. That being said, when my gut says it's time to move on, it probably is.

And so, I bid adieu to some old favorites by posting them on my scrappy little blog (because I can't quite let go completely).
Bunnies, you've been here a while. You've treated me well. Lots of people have enjoyed you.
Including me. But I think I'm ready to say that some of my new work is stronger. I do love that shadow piece. Maybe it can stay a little while more?
Mom and baby on a swing, I made you while my own sweet babe was about this size. Thanks for the memories.
And the self-portrait. I still love the self portrait. It looks just like I looked when I was about 8. It graced the front page of my website for an unacceptably long period of time. No matter how new pieces may tell a story better or show my technique better, I still love this self portrait.
Raccoons, raccoons. I've redone this illustration a number of times as my technique has evolved. Despite never feeling fully satisfied with this piece you always make me laugh. A lot of critiquers have named you a favorite. But I've decided the underlying drawing is something that I would and can do better now. The tent was always a little funny how it just was cut-out. I've got new ideas for a new composition. Maybe I'll redo the entire drawing and try yet again someday. But for now, it's time to let go.
And here's to the snobby dogs who turn their noses up to my scrappy little mutt relieving himself by the fire hydrant. Walk on.
Okay. I've said good-bye. Time to do some updating.

Ice Cream in Nevada

From my last post, you see that I just got back from Nevada. While I have oodles of things to share from the last few weeks (more inspiration from my recent trip to Spain, info on a cool exhibit in Seattle, and a giveaway I promise I haven't forgotten), indulge me in the moment first.
Ahhhh.

I had an awesome time in Nevada at the SCBWI conference and the beginning to the mentor program in Virginia city. And not just because of the WILD HORSES (!).

I knew my weekend in Nevada was off to a sweet start when I ate the yummy delight pictured above at Swenson's Ice Cream Parlor near the Reno airport. But the whole weekend turned out to be sweet. The conference took place here:And Here:With views like this one in the background:
Can you believe it? More like a retreat, no?

I learned a lot. Met lots of new people. Chatted kid's books with passionate people. Listened to some amazing writers and illustrators.

Like Yuyi Morales! I could listen to her speak all day for many days. Her presentations are like poetry. Plus she makes puppets. If you are an artist, go to her website and click on "Senor Tlalocan's Prayers," then enjoy.

I left the weekend with dozens of ideas for new illustration samples. I also filled up my camera collecting quirky pictures that may or may not lend to future textures in illustrations. Like this one:And this one:
Everywhere I looked I saw potential settings. Wouldn't this place be fun to illustrate in collage?
Or what about an old-looking train?
But mostly the whole town made me want to draw cowboys.
Did you know that the Virginia City High School is home of the "Muckers?"
I heart Virginia City. I'm bringing my family back when I go in October. It's a cool place. Here's the sunrise I caught on Monday morning, my last day there:Thank you so much to Suzanne Morgan Williams and Ellen Hopkins, SCBWI Nevada's Co-Regional Advisors, for putting on such a great conference!

Western Washington University's Bond Children's Literature Conference

I've got a lot of fun things to share from my trip to Spain (check back tomorrow).

But FIRST, I have to shout out a big THANK YOU to Nancy Johnson up at Western Washington University here in Bellingham for a great conference on Saturday! For the last 6 years Nancy's been organizing an amazing annual children's literature conference. This year's line up was especially fantastic.

My favorite snippets from each speaker at the conference:

Joan Bauer spoke about finding 2 quirky little lamps that she placed in dark corners of her house where she didn't even know she had space. She likened this to stories and books: they are often lights in dark corners and, especially in bad times, it's important to fill those dark corners with light. Let your light shine!

Kadir Nelson showed us photos and talked about the research that went into making WE ARE THE SHIP. The heart he put into making the book is inspiring.

Sarah Pennypacker talked about often feeling inspired to somehow right an injustice through her writing. I liked how she talked about A.D.D. kids and how they are often keenly empathetic, artistic and innovative. When she wrote CLEMENTINE, she created a book where the adults sincerely thank the A.D.D. kid for the empathy, artistic spirit and innovative nature she shares with others.

Brian Selznick pretty much made my week by talking about and showing pictures about the making of THE INVENTION OF HUGO CABRET. I loved that he showed us images from French silent movies and that he played "The Man On The Moon" for us. He also talked about a conversation he had with a friend that changed his perspective on his work. A few years ago he had been feeling kind of down because many of his books were going out of print after 4 or 5 years. His friend asked if he liked each book better than the last. While Brian liked all of his books, he couldn't honestly say that he had stepped it up a notch after each book. So he make the HUGO CABRET. Awesome.

Three other very cool things about the conference:
1. Nancy organized a very welcoming and fun "meet the author" reception the day before. Delicious food and I got a chance to say hi to the authors.
2. Nancy invited me to introduce Kadir Nelson! What an honor. I managed not to stumble on my face or cough or shake (even though I was nervous).
3. SCBWI Western Washington had an information table. A lot of the attendees at the conference are teachers and librarians so we advertised our eKite speaker directory. Of course many teachers and librarians who are literature minded also pursue writing so we chatted with lots of writers throughout the day too. Thanks to all the volunteers who helped with the table.

And Thanks again, Nancy Johnson, for a great conference. I'll be first in line to sign up for next year's.