July, 2002

Sunday, June 16, part 1

Breakfast (grits, of course -- what did you expect??) with Kimberly Willis Holt, author of the Boston Globe/Horn Book Honor title My Louisiana Sky and National Book Award winner When Zachary Beaver Came to Town. Kimberly was one of the very first people I 'met' online five years ago, and she has been unfailingly kind and helpful ever since. We had a lovely visit, but drat, I didn't have a photo taken with her. Hopefully we'll meet up again soon so I can remedy that.

My first signing in the exhibit hall, for Listening Library. It was fun meeting so many people who love books! The highlight: Meeting the members of the Eva Perry Newbery Club from North Carolina -- thirty-five kids on a field trip to ALA, what a terrific idea!

I stole a few moments late that morning with a group of old friends-Tedd Arnold, Vivian VandeVelde, Bruce Coville (and MJ Auch, who took the photo) and some new ones -- Betsy Arnold and the Klapps. John Klapp did the lovely illustrations for Bruce's new book The Prince of Butterflies.

Meanwhile, my family was having fun in Atlanta without me:

My dad, Anna, and my mom after church with Katherine Paterson.

Lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe. Niece Emma has her back to the camera, and then (from left) Anna, nephew Craig, sister-in-law Melanie, my husband Ben, brother Fred and my dad.

Then it was off to a lunch arranged by my agent Ginger Knowlton with authors Susan Campbell Bartoletti (winner of this year's Sibert nonfiction award for Black Potatoes), Nancy Werlin (Black Mirror and many others), and Dian Curtis Regan (Princess Nevermore and many others!), at a place called South City Kitchen. A salad and chicken livers (yum) and great conversation.

Sunday, June 16, part 2