New England SCBWI Conference 2015

This year's annual New England SCBWI conference in MA has to rate as one of the best I've ever attended. Come on - keynote speakers included this year's Caldecott winner Dan Santat and Newbery winner, Kwame Alexander! Kudos to the committee on their choices PRE ALA award announcements! (Someone should have taken a photo of me and Marlo Garnsworthy in floods of tears during Kwame's poetry reading ... that man ... wow).

My first conference in New England was back in 2010. Now it's a home coming. So many friends, old and new, laughs to be had and pervading everything a great feeling of community. In a working life that sees most of us spread around the country, beavering away in lofts, back bedrooms and garden sheds, the camaraderie strikes me afresh at every gathering together of children's book creators.

My workshop on building a career in children's illustration seemed to go down well. (Believe it or not I am always very nervous before presenting!). I do worry about attendees missing info because of my English accent ... so I made a transcript available this year. Speaking in a foreign language can be hard ;-).

I was fortunate during my stay to be invited to the Eric Carle Museum, Amherst to celebrate  Dan Santat's Caldecott medal win , what a wonderful afternoon! We were taken behind the scenes to view rarely seen archives - including the dummy for William Steig's 'Sylvester and the Magic Pebble'. This was a dream time for me - looking at the well known images and listening to the thoughts of Tony DiTerlizzi , Dan Santat and Mo Willems as we poured over the art - precious. 

These moments of community are our own 'magic pebbles'. We take them back with us to our solitary time in the studio and turn them over and over in our minds for inspiration.

Thanks to all the organizers of this year's conference! Looking forward to 2016.

Toodles
Hazel

Cape Elizabeth AuthorFest

It takes a lot of planning to hold a book festival as good as the one I attended this weekend at Cape Elizabeth, South Portland, Maine. The attention to detail made it a great experience for those promoting their books and for readers eager to meet creators and buy books. In the preceding week authors and illustrators visited schools, libraries and other venues, giving presentations and raising awareness for the event. At the Authorfest itself thoughtful table layout, bright table coverings, bobbing balloons and hand drawn name signs gave the hall a lively air. Sixty or so authors and illustrators kept busy all day talking to the public, with plenty of presentations going on to keep the crowds entertained.

Volunteers kept us hydrated with bottles of water and staved off the legendary hunger that comes from selling  books with little snacks in baskets plied by happy kids. After the crowds drifted away the booksellers tackled the mounds of boxes and packages, and we were treated to a wonderful lobster bake! Doesn't get better than that ... ah-yuh.

Thank you for a lovely day, Cape Elizabeth! See you next year!

Toodles!
Hazel
 

Spring - in with the new

We still have snow on the ground here in Maine. Nevertheless, spring is officially here! I felt it was time I gave my blog (and website) a spring clean. Welcome to my new online home.

This is also Toby's first visit to my blog. He's been grumbling that he doesn't have an official blog yet, despite having his own Facebook Kennel ... https://www.facebook.com/meettoby.

I have a feeling in my bones that this won't be Toby's last appearance here. 

Now, I have to go and clean him up - he just found a stray Easter egg! TOBY!!!!
 

Toodles!
Hazel