2011 Illinois School Library Media Association Conference

Yesterday, I participated in the Illinois School Library Media Association's annual Author Breakfast & Showcase - it was a lot of fun!  During the breakfast, I sat with a wonderful group of librarians and teachers and we talked about children's books, libraries and schools.   After we ate, we heard from Jan Thomas, author of the 2011 Monarch Award winner - Rhyming Dust Bunnies and Leslea Newman, author of the 2011 Bluestem Award winner - Hachiko Waits.


After the breakfast, there was an author showcase where the Illinois authors sat at tables around the perimeter of the room and spoke to conference attendees and signed copies of their books.

If this were a video, you'd hear the crickets chirping :-)

November 2011 - PiBoIdMo

Attention all picture book writers!!!  

2011 PiBoIdMo begins in just two days, on November 1st!  I participated last year and created a fabulous file of story ideas.  Admittedly, not all are gems but there were a bunch with a lot of potential!  

Last year I was a guest poster but Tara is full-up this year (which is awesome) so I'm just a participant.

There's a Preview Day 1 post by Mindy Alyse Weiss up right now to get you started - check it out!

All registered writers will be entered into a drawing for wonderful prizes - one of which is an autographed copy of 1 Zany Zoo and a rhyming picture book critique by yours truly.  Head over to the site and sign up - what are you waiting for?!!

Comedy of Errors #4

It's time to share another faux pas.  Here we go . . .


I wanted to get a manicure and pedicure before my LA conference in August, so I called a place my friend, Jan, suggested.  I made an appointment and a couple of weeks later, I went for my mani/pedi (see how quickly I picked up the lingo?).  


When I walked in, they asked if I was the Living Social client.  I said, no I wasn't but I could be if they wanted me to - they didn't.  During my pedicure, Jen (the woman doing my nails) tried to think of how this mistake could have been made.  I suggested the receptionist wrote it on the wrong day.  They checked - nope.  Someone had another idea - nope . . . and another - no again.  It was really bothering them.


After my pedicure, while Jen was doing my manicure, she said, "It's so strange - the four-digit Living Social number is right next to your name."  Then it hit me - I knew exactly what happened!  When I had called to make my appointment, I thought the receptionist asked for the last four digits of my social security number - apparently she asked for my 4-digit Living Social number.  I thought, "Wow, they are really cautious!"  and, even though I thought it was odd, I gave it to her.  I explained this to Jen and told her the last four digits of my SS number; she checked the book and, sure enough, they were the same - mystery solved! MORON!

(These are not my feet)  :-)