Almost Ready for the Mid-Atlantic SCBWI Conference


I am excited to be heading to the annual Mid-Atlantic SCBWI conference tomorrow. But, as usual, I left everything to the last minute.



This is my to do list today:

  • Reprint my portfolio because I'm not happy with the paper I used before
  • Pack promotional postcards and business cards (how do you like my nifty new set above?) Here are my postcards (and the Kidlit411 bookmark):

  • Finish up an illustration (a redo of an older illustration)
  • Print out a dummy for one of my stories
  • Pack
  • Life (pick up daughter 1 from volleyball, take daughter 2 to the dentist, go to the grocery store to stock up for the family while I'm gone, order take out dinner, etc.)
I went to this same conference four years ago, and so much has changed since then. The main thing is I will know a lot more people. 
  • Three years ago, I joined Julie Hedlund's 12x12 picture book community. This weekend I get to meet a bunch of 12x12ers in person who I've only communicated with online. Julie sent a bunch of buttons so we could find each other easily:


  • I recently connected with other local children's writers and illustrators from my area through Facebook, so I'm looking forward to meeting them in person as well.
And of course, I'm psyched about this line up of:

  • editors (Kate Fletcher/Candlewick, Jeannette Larson/Houghton Mifflin, Alison Weiss/Egmont USA)
  • agents (Christa Heschke, Mary Lamba, Sarah LaPolla)
  • authors (Linda Urban, Mike Artell, Meg Medina, Stephen Mooser, Kim Norman) and 
  • illustrators (Henry Cole, Pat Cummings, Joan Waites, Shadra Strickland)
to name a few. I know I will be inspired and learn a ton from them. 

When I get back, my daughters' school is having its annual author visit with Children's Poet Laureate Kenn Nesbitt. It's a two day production, starting on Sunday, and I will be face-painting for it. All in all, a great weekend ahead.

How do you get ready for a conference?



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