The 3rd Kidlitosphere Conference - You Really Should Go

The 3rd Kidlitosphere Conference is fast approaching - it's October 17th in Washington D.C., and you can check the information about it here. The reduced hotel rate at the Sheraton ends on Wednesday (NOTE: it's been extended!), so now is really the time to make your reservations. And why should you go?

Because, if you are someone who blogs about children's literature, be you author, illustrator, editor, agent, librarian, parent, reviewer, fan, or whomever, you will be among your people - learning more than you expect, creating and cementing friendships and relationships that (at least for me) enrich life, and understanding how we collectively and individually can help ourselves and children's literature via what we do online. Plus there'll probably be cookies!

Not enough? Why not read what Betsy (aka Fuse#8), Jen, Colleen, Sarah, Pam (aka MotherReader), Jules and Eisha and Lee Wind have to say about the Conference (and why you should go).

Kidlit08 (quickly)

Kidlit08 was faboo. I'll have more to say this week, as right now I gotta type and fly, but I just wanted to say what a blast it was and how grateful I am to Jone and Laini for all their work.

There will, I suspect, be a lot of posts about the conference, and to find them you can head here.

My brother popped in and live-blogged my session. (thanks, bro!). That post is on his blog. It's remarkably thorough, considering how fast I talk! Also thanks to Jon, we've gotten a fresh copy of the Book Promotion Wiki up for all to read, use, and add to. Come on by!

My first impression of this year vs. last year is that the community continues to grow (and be populated by wonderful people) and that we're all still learning our way to some extent or another. The potential reach and upside and options for bloggers, individually and collectively, truly is astounding.

More later, but I gotta book!

Bigger picture stuff....

Jen Robinson has a great post up recapping a session at the recent Kidlitosphere Conference. We, as an online community, have a great chance to help promote children's literature, since we're a wonderfully wide, eclectic, verbal group who all share a united passion.

Go check her post and see what ideas you might be able to toss into the pot....

Chicago. Chicago....

Say it with me: Chicago. Friday, I'll be heading off to the city of the big shoulders (that'd be Chicago) for the 1st Annual Kidlitosphere Conference. Thanks to the remarkable efforts of Robin Brande, a potluck dinner has morphed into a full day event. I'm looking forward to meeting soooooo many folks, I can't even try to list them all.

And if anyone wants a date to a possible game 4 on Sunday at Wrigley, well, feel free to drop me a line!