SCBWI - Oregon Spring Conference Wrap Up

This was the success panel for the conference and I was sitting with Estela Bernal, Fonda Lee the author of Zero Boxer, Ray Ballantyne the author of The Last Child of Hamlin, wonderful illustrator Christa Pierce, Christy Peterson, and another wonderful illustrator Abigail Marble and Deborah Hocking.

It was so much fun to be sitting so close to people overflowing with creative energy. I'm just hoping some of it rubbed off.

There were also agents and editors hanging out with everyone. Here's a list of a few of the special guests in Oregon for the Spring SCBWI conference:

Patti Ann Harris, Executive Art Director Scholastic, Inc.
Kerry Sparks, Agent Levine, Greenberg, Rostan Literary Agnecy
Kendra Levin, Senior Editor Viking Children's Books
Paul Rodeen, agent, Rodeen Literary Management
Deirdre Jones, Associate Editor Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Lori Kilkelly, Agent, Rodeen Literary Management
Laura Whitaker, Associate Editor, Bloomsbury Children's Books

There were workshops, first page readings, critique sessions and more.

It was a weekend filled with inspiration. And the one piece of advice I could give anyone  who wants to become a children's writer is to get involved with their local chapter of the SCBWI.