On Wednesday morning I board a plane for Los Angeles for the 40^th Anniversary SCBWI Summer conference! Let the countdown begin. I’ve printed out my schedule, wrote down my Regional Advisor duties, jotted down meetings with friends, looked at pictures of the pool and printed out the running directions from the hotel. (Have to keep up with the triathlon training, right? I hope so.)

 

While I’ve attended the New York City national conference, this is my first time at the West Coast event. As many of you know, I’m not a shrinking violet and I’m no stranger to the grip and grin. However, there are a thousand people registered for this event not including all the staff and faculty! I’m sure there will be moments that I’ll be overwhelmed.

 

Nevertheless, there are some things about conferences that just don’t change– the schedule (you got your workshops and your keynote addresses), the food (you can bank on some chicken dish), and most important when you go to an SCBWI event you will be surrounded by people who are kind, by people who are committed to making great literature and connecting children with books.

 

If you’re going to the conference there will be a published list of meet-ups with Regional Advisors in the States and Internationally. I’ll be meeting with New England members in the Belair Room on Friday evening between 8 and 8:30. If you see me working the registration table on Friday morning, please introduce yourself.

 

Also, don’t forget the Guidebook App for the conference. You can find it in the Apple or Android Apps store.

Stay tuned for an RA perspective of the conference.