I've spent the past week in NYC
at BEA (BookExpoAmerica)
a conference of booksellers and publishers
with authors, teachers and librarians
rounding out the mix.
High energy!
Loads of dedicated book people!
Above is my long-time editor, Joanna Cotler.
One day I'll also get pics of the beautiful, dedicated teams
that also support authors:
marketing, publicity, sales, editorial, art.
So very much goes into the making of a beautiful book.
Another highlight of these big conferences
is the chance to see and hear colleagues:
Me with Neil Gaiman
He told me that he and I are the
"only two people in the world who have received
both the Newbery (USA) and Carnegie (UK) Medals."
We toasted ourselves.
He has a beautiful way about him.
and then . . .
I shared some laughs with
Daniel Handler (aka Lemony Snickett)
a funny, funny man.
Another funny man
was/is Eoin Colfer
but I don't have a photo of that encounter
alas.
Some other great authors whose air I shared on panels:
Rebecca Stead, Joan Bauer, James Dashner,
Lauren Oliver, Judith Viorst, Shannon Messenger
and whose inspiring words I heard:
Walter Dean Myers, Lois Lowry, Chris Colfer, John Green and Kadir Nelson
and now I'm back home
and there is work to be done
after
a
nap
xx
