TWEENS READ, Houston

I offer you a quick photo tour of this amazing event. I mingled, I learned, I ate, I talked.
Highlights? Too many to list?
But meeting and sharing the panel with my fellow Debut Writers was up there.
Lynne Kelly, W.H. Beck, Deron Hicks, and me.

Here are our books:

All the authors gathered at the Bobby Shaw Middle School in Pasadena, TX for a full day of kids and books. What could be better.

Here we are being briefed by the amazing Cathy Berner, bookseller extraordinaire, of Blue Willow Books in Houston.

This was where we ate and hung out between sessions. (Did I mention the fabulous food?)

That's Cathy on the right, in blue. Trent Reedy's the tall guy in the back. (Oh, and Cynthia Leitich Smith and her husband Greg- who presented on the Guys Write panel- were also there. Every aspiring author needs to know about Cynthia. Her connectivity is phenomenal. Her advice exhaustive and totally professional.)

But more about the food.

A librarian and her husband made these precious things.

 (for all 21 authors!)

This was in our goody bag. Yes, not really food. 

But it reminded me so much of the little holders my grandmother and her friends slipped over their "co-cola" bottles that I had to share.

Hand knit by a volunteer. 

For a list of all the authors attending TWEENS READ, click here.

Tons of Tweens!

Maybe my favorite quote of the day? Keynote speaker Heather Brewer, on being bullied and finding a safe place in school:
 "Libraries are lined with bully kryptonite!"

I loved the large, spacious, new, heavenly library.

I especially adored this mural's poetry.

I really intended to save my cupcake forever. Really, I did.
I'm glad I took the picture. After going through airport security, it was flattened. But it still tasted amazing. I tried to save the book, at least. However, it also was squished. So of course I had to taste it. (Fondant.)

The cake was Red Velvet. The icing creamy and light. 

I'm sure they made the cupcakes with Emma and Glory in mind...

THANK YOU Blue Willow Books and Tweens Read. An amazing group of volunteer librarians and teachers and booksellers. 

Word to my fellow authors. If anybody ever invites you to a book event in Texas, say yes. 

Don't even bother to ask questions. 

Just go.