Kaigler Festival

My friend Shannon Hitchcock and I had such fun presenting together at OUR second University of Southern Mississippi's Kaigler Children's Book Festival. 
It's the Festival's 50th anniversary. Wow!

As promised, here are a few links from our workshop:

WRITING BRAVELY: Tackling Tough Topics With Books

Our info:

Shannon Hitchcock

twitter: @ShanonHitchcock

http://www.shannonhitchcock.com/

Augusta Scattergood

twitter: @ARScattergood

http://ascattergood.com/

Fellow writers' links we shared for learning more:

Middle Grade Books on TOUGH TOPICS

http://www.kerryomalleycerra.com/mggetsreal/

Kate Messner’s blog:

http://www.katemessner.com/remember-who-we-serve-some-thought-on-book-selection-and-omission/

Nerdy Book Club blogs:

https://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/2017/03/23/please-dont-talk-about-your-book-by-barbara-dee/

And finally, not to make light of this topic, but sharing- from my smart, funny educator friend Patty, prettied up by my artist friend Eileen- this thought.

And that's pretty much the truth, isn't it?

Friends, Friday and Otherwise

Do you keep up with Kirby Larson's FRIEND FRIDAY blogposts?

You should.
You meet the most interesting folks over there.

Recently, Kirby hosted a friend of mine. Linda Jackson grew up right near me, in the heart of the Mississippi Delta. Until I heard about her novel, our paths never crossed.
But I met her at a book event last year. Her middle-grade novel, historical fiction set in Mississippi, was coming soon.
I already had the Advanced Reader Copy. Lucky me!

Now everyone can read it.

And I get to see Linda again this spring, at the fabulous Kaigler Festival at the University of Southern Mississippi, where we'll both be presenting.

HERE'S KIRBY'S FRIEND FRIDAY POST WITH LINDA.

Bottom line? Never give up. If your book is revised and you know it's worthy and you care deeply about it, that book will find a home!

(It only took Linda six years. It took me almost ten. Did I say Never Give Up?)

Kaigler Festival

A few observations and photos from my weekend in Hattiesburg.

The Kaigler Book Festival is a place to make new friends
 and see old ones.

 

The ever-lovely and brilliant Ellen Ruffin.
Sarah Frances Hardy, who signed her new picture book next to me!

Clara Martin, there from Lemuria to chat about new books with one of my favorite authors, Deborah Wiles.

See how fabulous their lineup is?

Shannon Hitchcock and I presented a workshop: 

PUTTING THE PERSONAL IN HISTORY, 

about writing novels using family stories, memory, and research.

Gene Yang. 
Amazing presentation about his  journey from comic book kid to artist and writer.

I was taking notes fast and furiously!












I was too mesmerized by Nikki Grimes' talk to take a single picture. But she was there. Among many others.

And the food. Oh the food.

Celebrating the Ezra Jack Keats Award
With Caramel Cake, of course.

If you have an opportunity to attend the Fay B. Kaigler Children's Book Festival at the University of Southern Mississippi, 
just say yes.