Contemplation

(Click to enlarge)

See that lone figure

in the distance

along the uneven breakwall?

Miss your step

and down slips 

your foot

your ankle

your leg

crrrrrrack.

But see that lone figure?

She is sure-footed

wise

and 

careful.

She will not

fall.

That's

my

editor:

Joanna Cotler.

The

best.

xx

BookExpoAmerica BEA

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

My Editor

At left is my American editor, Joanna Cotler; that's me on the right. It is my great good fortune that Joanna has been my editor for most of my books, all with HarperCollins. Joanna is wise, funny, beautiful, kind, generous, and multi-talented. I rely on her to guide me from a strong draft to a great one with her astute questions and comments.

The above photo was taken when I was in New York a couple years ago, doing an interview with Joanna, conducted by Jenny Brown. Jenny's interview with us can be found at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9atmYRlEzCM

and continued at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFNI8J3IRps

Before Joanna became my editor, I was also fortunate to work with three other astute editors: Marion Dickens Lloyd (descendant of Charles Dickens); David Gale, and Nancy Siscoe.