Book Signing by Lisa Madigan - FLASH BURNOUT

Lisa Madigan had her debut book release at Powell's Books in Beaverton.

First a group of writers, like Jone MacCulloch, Suzanne Young, Laini Taylor, Lisa Schroeder, Suz Blackaby, Carmen Bernier-Grand, Matt Holm and others got together at Panera to share a cup of coffee and a pastry before we went over to Powell's Books to get our copies of Flash Burnout.

Lisa had Nathan, a young adult from Wilson High School, read excerpts from her story.

Then she talked about how she finds time to write by getting up early, even on the weekends, and gives up opportunities to watch t.v. and go to movies or parties but she said, "Writing is my passion." And we all find time to do the things we love.

Lisa also threw out candy to the audience:

What a great way to spend an afternoon, celebrating a book opening, eating pastry and chocolate and talking with old friends and making new friends. No better way to spend a Sunday.

I hope you all had a great weekend too.

Bridget Zinn's Silent Auction was Friday 5/29

It was a great night. Bridget looked beautiful standing here with Jone.

And I finally got a chance to sit down and chat with Suzanne Young, who I met at a conference a year ago but have never been lucky enough to spend any time with. She's a bubbly bundle of energy and she ran around selling raffle tickets for the cause.

I also got a chance to sit between the two wonderful writers who both go by the same name: Lisa, Schroeder and Madigan.

Plus, the great illustrater Matt Holme from Baby Mouse was there.
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My husband and I were checking out the items up for bid, when I pointed out a pet message that I thought would be fun to bid on.

He said, "Are you crazy? If anyone's getting a message, it's going to be me."

So we ended up winning a Thai message for my hubby. It sounds heavenly.

I was lucky enough to win a critique from Margot Finke. There were other great prizes and other great people there. Check out the links to read more.

A special Thank-You! to Jone MacCulloch for all her hard work putting the event together and Lisa Nowak!!!

(Two of these photos were taken by Suzanne Young - I only had my cellphone with me - so I'm sure you can guess which ones those are. ;-)

Day 2- Kidlitosphere Blogging Conference in Portland, Oregon

I have so much information I want to share with all of you. I can't possibly get it into one or even two posts. I feel like I was bombarded with information - which is GREAT but there's so much. I want to start by sharing just a few photos and then I will begin uploading podcasts I took of the guest speakers, who were all amazing!

Here is Newberry Prize winning author Kirby Larson, check out Newbery Honor Book, Hattie Big Sky. Kirby Larson is pictured with Michele Kophs.




I've also included a few other photos. Author Eric Kimmel, is shown.









Here is Lisa Schroeder of I Heart You, You Haunt Me, with Lisa Madigan and another photo of
Roseanne Parry, Lisa Schroeder and Zu Vincent.










Mother Reader was there too.

And these are only a few of the photos I took. I'll post more later. But there was Mark Blevis of Just One More Book, Alice Pope of CWIM, Dia Calhoun, Lori Ann Grover and Betsy Bird. You'll have to check out Readergirlz. But that's just the beginning. Jackie Parker, Colleen Mondor, Anastasia Suen Laini Taylor, Jen Robinson, and Sara Zarr were all there.

Now, that I've bombarded you with photos and links to check out, I'm sure you'll be busy for a bit but pop back over later and check out more.

It was an amazing conference and I still have more to go.