Login  |  Register          Free Newsletter Subscription
Subscribe to SLJ Magazine
A Fuse #8 Production   


Recent Posts

Recent Comments

Most Commented On

Archives

Blog

Link This | Email this | Blog This | Comments (10)


Raiding Target
October 8, 2007




(CONTINUED FROM PART THREE)

The tables were rearranged after this and each author in attendance (including quite a few Chicago writers who lived in the area but didn't attend the rest of the conference) sat down.  Then, like a glorious receiving line, everyone took a poster (as donated by the mucho generoso Esme Raji Codell) and worked their way down the authorial path.  I got signatures from everyone in attendance, free books, gumballs, a flyer on the Class of 2K8 (veeeeery interesting stuff), bookmarks, magnets, you name it.  RE: Class of 2K8... I don't know if they're still taking submissions, but if you're a first-time middle grade or YA author with a book coming out in 2008, I suggest you jump on that bandwagon pronto.

And speaking of Esme Raji Codell, I must apologize to her publicly for not attending her brunch the following day.  I had every intention of going but my wine-soaked, sleep deprived, gumball-addled body had other far less pleasant plans in mind.  Sorry, Esme! 

Cocktails came next with my cozying up to various people I'd always wanted to talk to.  I even pulled out my little microphone in the hopes of capturing some goodies for my next podcast, but I've a distinct feeling that this plan failed magnificently.  Ah well.  That's why you leave podcasting to the professionals.  Dinner was  tasty and at some point some of the blokes at my table (I was in Snarky Central, which is where you want to be at the end of an evening) popped over to the nearby Target to buy more wine.  Prizes were given out.  These consisted of huge stacks of books and t-shirts.  I had won a lovely little picture book earlier in the day, so I wasn't too disappointed not to partake of the YA novels being handed out.  Then eventually I started to crash and headed on home via a cab at the EXACT moment that the Cubs game (where they were slaughtered) got out and onto the freeway.  Suffice it to say, I have had shorter car rides in my day.

In all, it is rare to encouter this many people and then find that they are, in fact, the kinds of folks you enjoy hanging out with.  There is none of the stereotypical social awkwardness one associates with people who work on the Internet.  Even odder still is the fact that no one, to the best of my knowledge, was a jerk.  It's a relief and a bit weird, but I for one am not objecting. 

If I did not mention your name on my postings, you'll have to forgive me.  There was an abundance of attendees.

Misc:



Posted by Elizabeth Bird on October 8, 2007 | Comments (10)


October 8, 2007
In response to: Raiding Target
Sarah Miller commented:

So I read all four parts, and you know what my final comment is? Gee, you're tall. (I'm always a front-row girl in a group photo.)Inane? Yes, but it's better than listening to me seethe with jealousy....




October 8, 2007
In response to: Raiding Target
celerysoda commented:

I, too, was so gratified that everyone was super-nice. Beforehand I was terrified of being an oddball because of not being a published author or public blogger at this time. But everyone was sooo friendly and sociable! I've gotta update my RSS reader with all these feeds now. And I've been inspired to actually start a public kidlit-related blog... registered a domain name yesterday and everything. Stay tuned...




October 8, 2007
In response to: Raiding Target
Fuse #8 commented:

Woo-hoo! Let me know what it is once you've gotten off the ground. And Sarah, I only appear tall because I made a decision to wear some significantly high-heeled black leather boots. Trust me when I say that tall is not my real style.




October 8, 2007
In response to: Raiding Target
Gwenda commented:

Was so very fabulous meeting (and snarking) with you. Even if Target did leave me with one giant headache yesterday morning.




October 8, 2007
In response to: Raiding Target
Susan T. commented:

Thanks for writing up the conference so thoroughly!




October 8, 2007
In response to: Raiding Target
Esme Raji Codell commented:

So much fun, so little time! You were missed on Sunday, Elizabeth...next time around! It was a pleasure to meet you in person, and thank you so much for this wonderful and thorough account.




October 9, 2007
In response to: Raiding Target
Three Silly Chicks commented:

What a great weekend! Glad to meet you! Andrea Beaty www.threesillychicks.com




October 10, 2007
In response to: Raiding Target
Jody Feldman commented:

Thanks for the mention! Just to let you know, the Class of 2k8 is at capacity with 28 debut novelists, split equally between MG and YA. We do maintain a wait list. The talent here is incredible. So is the energy. We'd love to be "out there" right now, but we're patiently waiting for the Class of 2k7 to end its splendid run before we make our official splash. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us: authors (at) classof2k8 (dot) com. Jody Feldman, MG president Marissa Doyle, YA president




October 10, 2007
In response to: Raiding Target
Fuse #8 commented:

You clever thing. You figured out how to post a URL without making my crazy SLJ site reject it. I would have posted this info myself but I couldn't find a working website for you guys yet. I can't wait for your debut.




October 10, 2007
In response to: Raiding Target
Jenny Meyerhoff commented:

It was great meeting you at the conference, and thanks for letting everyone know about class of 2k8. It was such fun getting to see behind the (blogger) scenes, and getting to shout about the 27 other amazing 2k8 authors. Only a few short months until "our year" begins! Jenny





POST A COMMENT
Display Name or Registered Users Login Here.
Please restrict submissions to less than 7,000 characters (including any HTML formatting).

Before submitting this form, please type the characters displayed above. Note the letters are case sensitive:


Advertisement

Advertisements





©2008 Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
All rights reserved.
Use of this Web site is subject to its Terms of Use | Privacy Policy
Please visit these other Reed Business sites