New York City....

I'm back from the Big Apple!  The SCBWI Winter Conference in New York was wonderful and exhausting and inspiring.

My friend (and conference roommate / critique group partner), Jessixa Bagley was a runner-up for the portfolio showcase, which is super exciting and well deserved.  Congratulations, Jessixa!!  Lori Nichols was the other runner-up and Andrea Offermann, whom I had the pleasure of meeting, was the showcase winner.  Way to go gals!! 

Jessixa, Lisa Anchin, and I had our photo taken with Tomie DePaola, who was a hoot!

Mo Willems' keynote speech was really inspiring.  I met Julie Andrews!  I caught up with old friends and made some new ones, like Sharee Miller, Jen Betton, and Suzanne Kaufman.  I had a great chat over lunch with the extremely talented Kelly Light.  Kelly introduced me to the very warm and lovely Heidi Stemple, who later introduced me to her mom, Jane Yolen.  (Jane Yolen!!!)  I'm looking forward to reading their book, "Bad Girls" which they both signed for me.  

I visited the amazing New York Public Library and the Met (one of my favorite New York places) and spent a few hours at Books of Wonder where I picked up Oliver Jeffers' "The Heart And The Bottle" and "Shadow" by Suzy Lee.  I had lunch with a good friend at a lovely spot in the West Village called Tea and Sympathy (scones with clotted cream!).  On the flight home I fell asleep before the plane even backed away from the gate.

Now that I'm back in Colorado I'm working on book projects, story ideas, and website updates.  Tomorrow I'm heading to California for a quick Hughes family vacation.  Things are feeling a bit whirlwindy these days... whirlwindy, but exciting.  Did you go to the conference, too?  How was it?  What was your favorite part?