Speaking at the 2019 Charlotte Huck Children’s Literature Festival

I had a great time attending the 2019 Charlotte Huck Children’s Literature Festival at the University of Redlands. I saw friends Joe Cepeda, Dianne White, and Carmen Oliver, and met new friends:

Joyce Sidman is the Newbery Honor-winning poet/author of Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night, and two Caldecott Honor books: Song of the Water Boatman and Other Pond Poems (also a Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award winner) and Red Sings from Treetops: A Year in Colors (which won the Claudia Lewis Poetry Award).

Bethany Hegedus is the award-winning author of Grandfather Gandhi, co-written with Arun Gandhi, grandson to the Mahatma.

Mrs. Nelson’s Book Fair sold books. Mine had very nice company from Doreen Cronin’s classic.

Richard Michelson is the poet/author of The Language of Angels, which won the National Jewish Book Award, the Junior Library Guild Gold Medal, and the
2018 Sydney Taylor Gold Medal.

Doreen Rappaport is the award-winning author of 48 children’s books, including BEYOND COURAGE: The Untold Story of Jewish Resistance During the Holocaust.

Good Times at San Diego Comic-Con 2018

1. Arriving at the Convention Center
   
2. Horrific tooth creature from Channel Zero: Candle Cove
   
3. Amazing Lord of the Rings models from Weta
   
4. A stylized Gandalf
   
5. The Moose from Chappie resin kit by Weta
   
6. Alita Battle Angel
   
7. One man’s interpretation of Edna Mode
   
8. Cuphead figures
   
9. Star Wars trooper
   
10. Scary creatures from Sideshow Collectibles
    
11. Warhammer Space Marine Blood Raven
    
12. Terrifying evil Batman and Robins
    
13. Alien vs. Predator
    
14. With NY Times bestselling fantasy author Todd McCaffrey
    
15. Bioware power armor suits
    
16. With children’s authors M.T. Anderson and Eugene Yelchin
    
17. With children’s editor/author Ed Masessa
    
18. Author collaboration panel with Jenni Holm, Matt Holm, M.T. Anderson, Eugene Yelchin
    
19. Mars panel with astronaut Leland Melvin and The Martian author Andy Weir
    
20. Stargate cosplay
    
21. Cosplay knights
    
22. Comics panel with Stan Sakai, Cecil Castelucci, and Sergio Aragones
    
23. YA/MG Fantasy panel with authors Tomi Adeyemi, Daniel Jose Older, Victoria Schwab, Kiersten White, and Maggie Steifvater
    
24. Apocalypse panel with authors Cory Doctorow, Scott Westerfeld, and Andrew Smith
    
25. Flame Princess cosplay
    
26. With NY Times bestselling authors Peter Clines and Jonathan Maberry
    
27. Fearless women author panel with NY Times bestselling fantasy authors Rachel Caine, Seanan McGuire, Susan Dennard, Victoria Schwab, and Laini Taylor
    
28. With NY Times bestselling author Nancy Holder
    
29. Star Wars cosplay
    
30. Giant Boba Fett display
    
31. Animatronic Deadpool’s Super Duper Dance Party
    
32. South Park characters. Kenny lives!
    
33. Pacific Rim
    
34. Dragonball Z
    
35. Dragon cosplay
    
36. Self-deprecating Deadpool advertising on toilet seat covers
    
37. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein panel with Jonathan Maberry, Kiersten White, and Merrie DeStefano
    
38. Frankenstein takes the cake
    
39. Academy Award winner Sir Richard Taylor (The Lord of the Rings) sculpting in clay.
    
40. With co-panelist and NY Times bestselling fantasy author Laini Taylor
    
41. With co-panelist and NY Times bestselling fantasy author Livia Blackburne
    
42. With co-panelist and NY Times bestselling fantasy author Maggie Stiefvater
    
43. With co-panelist and NY Times bestselling fantasy author Kevin Hearne
    
44. Our fantasy literature panel packed the room
    
45. Huge Hot Wheels cars
    
46. Life-sized LEGO Aquaman
    
47. Life-sized LEGO Thanos
    
48. Mantis photobombing the Power Rangers
    
49. Personalized Magic the Gathering cards
    
50. Dungeons & Dragons panel with Naomi Novik, Delilah Dawson, Kevin Hearne, Ray Feist and R.A. Salvatore
    
51. Trump’s Titanz standee
    
52. Game of Thrones cosplay Iron Throne wheelchair
    

53. Children’s Literary Agent panel with Taylor Martindale Kean, Tim Travaglini, Jen Baxter, Kari Sutherland, Thao Le

54. Fantasy Literature panel with Victoria Schwab, Livia Blackburne, Maggie Stiefvater, and Kevin Hearne (Laini Taylor not shown)

At the 2018 Charlotte Huck Children’s Literature Festival

I had a wonderful time at the 2018 Charlotte Huck Children’s Literature Festival. I presented “Using Fiction to Interest Young Readers in Nonfiction”, and got to meet some amazing authors.

With literary agency sister Erin Dealey, author of K IS FOR KINDERGARTEN.

With Marc Tyler Nobleman, author of BOYS OF STEEL.

With Janay Brown, author of IMANI’S MOON.

With Karen Jameson, author of the upcoming MOON BABIES, and Dianne White, author of BLUE ON BLUE.

With Newbery Honoree Kathi Appelt, author of MAYBE A FOX.

With Coretta Scott King Medalist illustrator James Ransome and his equally talented wife author Lesa Cline-Ransome.

Closing session speaker Georgia Heard presented “Seeing the World with a Poet’s Eye.” I loved the following slide that said poets…

• Observe the small moments around us
• Find poetry in the ordinary
• See beauty in the ugly
• Are curious and filled with wonder
• Look at the world in a new way
• Pay attention to and write from all our feelings
• Love the meaning the sounds of words
• Give voice to the unspeakable
• Are empathetic

California School Librarian Association Conference – Feb 2018

I had a fantastic time at the California School Librarian Association Conference, held in Yosemite, CA.

I was on a picture book panel with fellow authors (l. to r.) Marcia Berneger, Linda Joy Singleton, and Erin Dealey.

Erin moderated, so I introduced her.

As the panel progressed, audience member (and author-illustrator) Ashley Wolff sketched us!

Life imitates art.

My literary agency, East-West Literary was well-represented by fellow authors (l. to r.) Patricia Newman, Erin Dealey, and Gayle Pitman.

Our dinner centerpieces honored SAM AND DAVE DIG A HOLE by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen.

Got to say hi to Mac.

The next morning, my wife and I went for a walk in the woods. Here’s a pair of trees hugging.

Here is one determined little sapling.

And here I am, bold outdoorsman with a dorky hat.

Photos from San Diego Comic-Con 2017

Here, in no particular order, are photos from San Diego Comic-Con 2017

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Only D&D fans will get that pun.

A classic Comic-Con mashup. Elvis Boba Fett!

Cabbage merchant: An obscure, but lovable character from Avatar: The Last Airbender

A huge dragon you could ride. Stuffed animal sold separately.

D.VA’s mech video game character from Overwatch

A flying (thanks to magnetic repulsion) Iron Man and friends.

NY Times bestselling fantasy author Gail Carriger

Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy from Batman

NY Times bestselling fantasy author Ilona Andrews

Life-sized Iron Man model

Pint-sized General Grievous and Boba Fett

The eloquent First Second editorial director Mark Seigel

NY Times bestselling fantasy author Mary Pearson

Megaman video game character

My fantasy novel panel with Seanan McGuire, Robin Hobb, Gail Carriger & Mary Pearson

The authors of my panel packed the room!

Authors Todd McCaffrey, the Winner twins, and Seanan McGuire

The world’s largest Pikachu (from Pokemon)

Two fun posters. “Gandalf Airlines. Fly you fools! Our planes are never late. Nor are they early.
They arrive precisely when they mean to. You shall not need a boarding pass!” and
BatPug: “I am the night… but mostly I just piddle on stuff”)

Three princesses, or perhaps two princes and a Mother of Dragons

NY Times bestselling fantasy author Robin Hobb

Even the animals get in on the cosplay action. Ye scurvy dog!

Does this Skyrim helmet make me look fat?

Super Saiyan Blue from Dragon Ball Z

Some fun toothy artwork I bought.

Fantasy/sci-fi authors Bryan Thomas Schmidt, Jonathan Maberry, Seanan McGuire and Scott Sigler.

And, of course, Wonder Woman.

Good Times at WonderCon 2017

My sons and I had a great time attending WonderCon yesterday.

We had beautiful SoCal weather.

Comic conventions always boast entertaining food trucks.

A well-designed Gen. Grievous costume from Star Wars.

With author/illustrator Will Terry at his booth.

With NY Times bestseller and Caldecott honoree, John Rocco.

I moderated a rock star KidLit author/illustrator panel with Joe Cepeda, Stacia Deutsch, Eliza Wheeler, John Rocco and Marla Frazee.

Signing books after the panel, next to Caldecott honorees John Rocco and Marla Frazee (looking like the cat that ate the canary)

My excellent adventure at the 2017 Charlotte Huck Children’s Literature Festival

I had a terrific time at the 2017 Charlotte Huck Children’s Literature Festival.

I registered for the conference, and popped into the festival book store, run by Frugal Frigate. I look to my left, and there’s Caldecott Honoree and Pura Belpre Medalist, Yuyi Morales!

Yuyi gave the keynote address on the first day. Her description of the work involved in creating her book Viva Frida was captivating.

David Schwartz talked about helping kids wonder about what they read. Here he is unfurling a banner with one million stars on it.

I listened to the delightful George Ella Lyon speak about poem and picture books.

At the book signing, I got to meet Caldecott Medalist Brian Floca. I asked Yuyi Morales to take a photo, but she took a selfie by mistake.

Here, Yuyi’s photography skills improved. Me with Brian Floca.

The next day, I got to sit next to Brian for another book signing.

The conference attendees got a surprise song via Skype from Emily Arrow.

Then, Brian Floca presented about his writing/illustrating process.

I moderated a panel, Research for Picture Books, with David Schwartz, Brian Floca, and Lois Harris.

The conference wrapped up with a lovely presentation by Newbery Honoree Pam Munoz Ryan. Good times.

Fun at the 2016 Orange County Children’s Book Festival

I had a fun time signing books, meeting authors, and making new friends at the 2016 Orange County Children’s Book Festival.

Signing with Dan Paley at the Once Upon a Storybook booth

Author Francesca Rusackas and illustrator Priscilla Burris.

With author/illustrator Jennifer Gray Olson.

Middle grade/young adult author Shannon Messenger.

Me in front of the SCBWI booth.

Illustrator Chris Robertson and his helpful if shy son.

Author/illustrators Frans Vischer and Rodolfo Montalvo.

Picture book author Marcia Berneger.

The Cat in the Hat had Thing 1 and Thing 2. They seem to have gotten busy and created Thing 3!