ALAN: panel! signing! movie time!

A belated and brief report on the blast I had at the ALAN conference just before Thanksgiving:

• Through devoted practice, was able to explain what ALAN stood for at any time, any place (the Assembly on Literature for Adolescents)!
• Met lots of very dedicated teachers, professors and librarians who reminded me that writing for teens is one very cool job
• Spoke on a panel with the talented Matt de la Pena, Maureen Johnson and Paula Jolin. Managed to include talk of pastries. Perhaps incited apple pie hunger in all attendees. Or at least one.
• Signed lots of copies of CANDOR, may they bring joy to all their future readers and owners (pic at right)
• Snuck away for a near-midnight screening of NEW MOON, made doubly fun by my brave companions... learned that apparently it is Philly tradition to talk to the movie without shame (fun! but my relatively staid upstate NY upbringing only allowed me to mutter into my giant bottle of Aquafina)
• Listened to, and was inspired by, lots of authors on panels... I think my favorite was Sharon M. Draper, whose passion and focus blew me away.
• Slept like the dead after my whirlwind ALAN tour!

A big hello to everyone I met while in Philly! And a special thanks to Karin for the pic.