I’ve attended the past 4 or 5 (I can’t remember) SCBWI conferences in the Rocky Mountain Region. Each time I go, it gets better and better. It’s been amazing in the past few years to watch my friends publish their books, get agents, finish that book - and it’s at this conference that we celebrate the hard and fun work we all love to do. This year we had amazing faculty (we have amazing faculty every year, btw)! In the past I’ve learned from Laurie Halse Anderson, Judith Byron Schachner, even Lin Oliver. This year we were blown away by the crazy talent of Elana Arnold (Damsel), - literally blown away. She said she has synesthesia and it was amazing to listen to her speak about building tension. We also had fabulous and smart agents Kate Testerman (KT) and Molly O’Neill (Root) and editors Sylvie Frank and Tiffany Liao. What a lineup. Anyway, I’ll be in a quiet room just letting the ideas settle as I move from conference life to IRL. Until next year — or the next conference!
Olivia Chadha, this year’s Crystal Kite winner Kim Tomsic (11:11 & 12th Wish), and Sara Jade Alan (Messy, Beautiful Life)