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Today's Winter Blog Blast Tour stops:

Lisa Ann Sandell at Chasing Ray
Perry Moore at Interactive Reader
Christopher Barzak at Shaken & Stirred
Autumn Cornwell at The Ya Ya Yas
Jon Scieszka at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
Gabrielle Zevin at Jen Robinson's Book Page
Judy Blume at Not Your Mother's Book Club
Erik P. Kraft at Bookshelves of Doom
Clare Dunkle at Miss Erin

Fetching cover, isn't it? Simple, but there's no doubt superheroes are found within. Or possibly The Lone Ranger, but no one thinks of The Lone Ranger anymore, so it's all good. Superheroes it is.

Past that cover, though, we find a teen who wants more than anything to have a superpower, to work with the heroes he admires, and to bring his family out from under the infamous shadow his former superhero father casts. There's more though; Thom is gay. His father makes openly homophobic statements, and as Thom slowly discovers that he does have superpower, he has to hide more that just his sexuality from his dad, since heroes and power are just as forbidden as being gay.

Perry Moore enters the world of teen lit from a unique angle, his other job is as a producer on the Chronicles of Narnia movies. This of course makes me rather curious:

1. You are a first time novelist who's coming from Hollywood. Have you read much of the current fiction written for young adults? What have you especially enjoyed? As a producer, is there a teen book out there you'd love to see on the screen?

I’ve always been a rabid fan of YA literature. That’s how I came to play such a special part in getting the Chronicles of Narnia made. Sheer passion for staying true to what makes the source material special. By the way, I don’t come from Hollywood. I live in NY. Only lived in two places in my life. First Virginia, then New York. I go to Hollywood often to work, but I’ve never lived there. To be honest, I think that played a crucial difference in helping to get the rights to Narnia. I’m not very Hollywood. It’s funny because most reviews will often mention this like I’m some Hollywood producer taking luxurious baths in all my cash, but it’s not like that at all. My passion is good storytelling. Always has been. I live in a modest one-bedroom in NY. I work out at the local rec center. I play tennis on public courts. I surf waves in Montauk, not Hawaii.

At any rate, I loved so many books growing up. I never knew how much of a bookworm I really was until I started working in Hollywood where few people have time to read books. My favorites, among so many others, were The Chronicles of Narnia, Lloyd Alexander’s Prydain Chronicles, S.E. Hinton’s books, I went through a huge Lois Duncan period when I was a boy, too. I’m sure they’re so many more. Actually, I’d classify Stephen King’s Carrie as a YA book, too. I just loved that one. The movie was good to, It was such a dream to co-direct a movie with Sissy Spacek as the star. I would love to make Lloyd Alexander’s Prydain Chronicles into a movie franchise like Narnia. Same for Madeleine L’Engle’s books. Not to mention HERO! (Stan Lee is hard at work?)

(Jac says: Dude. He just listed like every book I read as a kid. 'Cept Lloyd Alexander. Haven't gotten around to him. Bad librarian. Bad.)

2. Thom is mostly unaware of the extent of the power he wields - to the point that he doesn't even take credit for what he does. Not only that, but he doesn't SEE the good he does - only the inadvertent side affects. Poor kid's got some serious self-esteem issues. Even taking away the power element, Thom's got a lot of normal-kid angst. What do you want reader's to take from Thom's experiences?

The book doesn’t feel like homework: it’s a fantastic book, full of love, hope, loss, bottoming out, seemingly insurmountable challenges, and redemption. My theme is very true: That those very things that may make you feel alienated are actually what make you unique, and once you embrace those things and integrate them into your life, well, that’s about the most powerful thing you can become!

3. There is a lot of inherent conflict with Thom's power. What stops him from getting bombarded with people wanting him to heal them?

Wait until the sequel for more on that one.

(Jac says: drat.)

4. Much relies plot-wise on Thom remaining ignorant of the extent of his power. I had difficulty believing that once he accepted that he had power that he didn't run around experimenting and familiarizing himself with it. Could you enlighten me?

Well, Thom grew up in a household where powers were strictly taboo. Much like being gay. I didn’t run around experimenting with being gay when I was young, much like Thom doesn’t run around doing that or experimenting with his powers. Plus, he doesn’t have one of those obvious powers like flying that we all want to have where you’d just love to soar the heavens if you found out you could do it.

(Jac says: touché)

5. You took a bit of a risk on page 203 in allowing Thom's first kiss to happen with a stranger who offered him a ride. Why the choice? Any worry that might incur some opposition?

You have to write the truth. This was the truth to the story. I’d been there, a lot of people have been there, and Thom went there. It happens. At a certain point the characters take over, and you just have to make sure that you, as the writer, doesn’t get in the way. As far as opposition goes, I’m not really all that bothered. Sure there will be some people who don’t want to recognize truth, there always are. But the truth will set you free!

6. In your opinion, what are some of the lamest super-powers out there? What were some of the powers you discarded?

Look at Pied Piper. One of DC’s token gay characters. Sometimes a good guy, sometimes a bad guy. Blows on a pipe to make others do his bidding. Ugh.

7. On your site you've listed gay characters in comics. Listed thusly, it becomes disturbingly clear that most of them are either evil or meet horrible ends. Why did you decide to write this as a novel, where we find many positive depictions of gays, rather than in Graphic Novel format, where you could perhaps enact some change?

First, YA books changed my life. They opened me up to a world of hope and change. It’s why I loved all the books I mentioned above. CS Lewis taught me that tapping into a young person’s mind, without condescending to them, is one of the most powerful things you can do. Don’t think young people are as stupid as what you see on MTV. They’re not. They’re imaginations are limitless. So I chose to tell the story in book form first. Would love to do a 12 part miniseries for Marvel or DC, too. About time they stepped up to the plate. They’ve never had a story starring the world’s first gay teenage superhero, and if HERO is any indication, there’s a tremendous appetite for it. With regards to the list, let’s make it better. Let’s update it. Things will get better! E-mail me!

My parents taught me two very important things. One, none of us were put on this great earth to ride on the back of the bus, and two, the pen is mightier than the sword. Write Marvel, write DC, tell them what you want!

8. Superheroes first made their indelible mark on society just before and during WWII, and have experienced a recent resurgence of mass appeal with movie after movie adaptation, when, at the same time, the world has become increasingly unstable. What do these powered heroes provide us both then and now?

What a great question. Not sure I can articulate the best answer because being a lifelong comic book fan that aspect of superheroes has always been so ingrained in me, just part of my nature. I believe there’s a HERO in all of us! There’s a tremendous appeal in that inspiration.

9. In my limited comic knowledge, I've found that alien superheroes always comment disparagingly on humans tendency to abuse our environment, and that evil alien supervillians use it as an excuse to try and destroy earth, under the famous and brilliant "you-weren't-appreciating-it-anyway" clause of argument. Since both of these things happen in HERO, what do you have to say about the trend? Is it merely an environmental message or chastisement? (p415)

I didn’t know it was a trend. As far as I know, it’s not the majority of what supervillains are after in the comics I read. I guess there are a few. Please write me about trends and things you see or things you want to see explored in the sequel. I’d love to hear more. Excellent question.

(Jac says: I was mostly thinking of Karolina's alien betrothed in Runaways & The Silver Surfer in F4. And possibly all the Captain Planet cartoons I watched as a littlie. Admittedly, this is not my area of expertise.)

10. "I had never let myself fantasize about being with someone my age, because it stopped being a fantasy at that point. It entered the realm of possibility, and that's where you can really get hurt" (p396). That? That right there? That stopped my heart. It's more than just about relationships - I think it applies to anyone who wants something but is too scared to go after it. What was your great fear that you had to overcome to get what you truly wanted?

You got it. Man, you really got it. I think anyone can relate to that unrequited crush in school that was so very real. There was a guy two years older than me on the basketball squad above mine. In many ways, he inspired Goran. Obviously I could never say anything to him. What would you say to that person now?

(Jac says: I think I'd be pretty Laissez-faire about it. If I were trapped in an elevator with that person I might bring it up, simply to start conversation. Of course, if bored and trapped in an elevator with a stranger, I might just pretend to have had an unrequited high school crush on him. You know, just to pass time. I don't do bored well.)

11. I was surprised to find myself thinking of Nick Hornby when reading HERO. Are you a fan? Would you put HERO in the category of "Lad Lit," albeit on the younger side?

I’d consider it an honor to be lumped in with Nick Hornby on any list.

12. In your interview yesterday (part 1, part 2) with the YA YA YAs, you said: "Anything Walden Media makes will be good, for instance, because they stay so true to what makes the book special in the first place. If you want to satisfy both audiences, you must stay true to that great story." Do you stand by this statement now that they've released The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising in conjunction with 20th Century Fox? Cheeky, aren’t I?

You are indeed cheeky. I wasn’t involved in that movie, so I don’t have anything to say about it. Haven’t seen it either, but I do love anything Susan Cooper writes. Moreover, I do stand by my words regarding Walden Media’s commitment. Their support of Narnia is the reason those movies exist! Same goes for Bridge to Terabithia and Holes with Shia LaBoeuf. Unless you’ve made one, you can’t imagine how hard it is to make a stellar movie. Truly it takes a miracle of commitment. And Walden has that commitment. They’ve revolutionized the industry in so many ways.

(Jac says: I was indeed very impressed with Terabithia, Holes AND Because of Winn Dixie. Walden remained so true to their source material in all of those instances. Which, I think, is why so many people were surprised and disappointed with what happened to The Dark Is Rising. It's a classic with a built-in audience from the last 40 years, and Walden had such a great track record. Someone dropped the ball, and we are all sad about that. None of this, of course, has anything to do with our dear Perry Moore. Terribly sorry to have interrupted.)

13. You've told us to wait for the sequel. Can you give us any hints (no spoilers) for what's to come?

I love this question! Yes, this will be a series. Like I said, please e-mail me about what you want to know more about, because I’m in major planning stages. Now that these characters are alive, they keep coming to me with their stories. Hmmmm? hints. Well, what do you think Thom’s mom has really been up to all these years in her absence? And how do you know the Invisible Woman is really dead if you can’t find a body? Wonder about where Thom and Goran’s relationship is headed? And what exactly are the true natures of Goran’s abilities and his background? Expect a lot more from Typhoid Larry, Scarlett, Golden Boy, and some new characters, too! Remember, as Thom learns in the first book, things aren’t always what they seem!

Thanks, Perry, for spending some time with us!

Monday, November 5th

Perry Moore at The Ya Ya Yas (Part One, Part 2)

Nick Abadzis at Chasing Ray

Carrie Jones at Hip Writer Mama

Phyllis Root at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast

Laura Amy Schlitz at Fuse Number 8

Kerry Madden at lectitans

Tom Sniegoski at Bildungsroman

Connie Willis at Finding Wonderland

Thanks to Little Willow for preparing this post & doing the code!

We are very pleased to be part of the Winter Blog Blast Tour (aka... WBBT, which is the sound a frog makes). Colleen at Chasing Ray and all the other WBBT bloggers have been working on coordinating this for months, and it is going to be really special. So look for cool interviews here in the coming days, and in the meantime, here's some other bookishly delicious stuff for you:

Monday, November 5th

Perry Moore at The Ya Ya Yas (Part One, Part 2)
Nick Abadzis at Chasing Ray
Carrie Jones at Hip Writer Mama
Phyllis Root at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
Laura Amy Schlitz at Fuse Number 8
Kerry Madden at lectitans
Tom Sniegoski at Bildungsroman
Connie Willis at Finding Wonderland

The full Winter Blog Blast Tour schedule. There will also be daily posts here with all the links; and please check out Chasing Ray each day, as Colleen highlights a bit of each interview each day. It's almost become a game to me; as I read these various interviews, I wonder, hmm....which part will Colleen quote?

MONDAY
Perry Moore at The Ya Ya Yas
Nick Abadzis at Chasing Ray
Carrie Jones at Hip Writer Mama
Phyllis Root at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
Laura Amy Schlitz at Fuse Number 8
Kerry Madden at lectitans
Tom Sniegoski at Bildungsroman
Connie Willis at Finding Wonderland

TUESDAY
Lisa Ann Sandell at Chasing Ray
Perry Moore at Interactive Reader
Christopher Barzak at Shaken & Stirred
Autumn Cornwell at The Ya Ya Yas
Jon Scieszka at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
Gabrielle Zevin at Jen Robinson's Book Page
Judy Blume at Not Your Mother's Book Club
Erik P. Kraft at Bookshelves of Doom
Clare Dunkle at Miss Erin

WEDNESDAY
Lisa Ann Sandell at Interactive Reader
Christopher Barzak at Chasing Ray
Julie Halpern at The Ya Ya Yas
Micol Ostow at Shaken & Stirred
Rick Yancey at Hip Writer Mama
Jane Yolen at Fuse Number 8
Shannon Hale at Bookshelves of Doom
Maureen Johnson at Bildungsroman
David Lubar at Writing & Ruminating
Sherman Alexie at Finding Wonderland

THURSDAY
David Mack at Chasing Ray
Paul Volponi at The Ya Ya Yas
Elizabeth Knox at Shaken & Stirred
Ellen Emerson White at A Chair, A Fireplace and A Tea Cozy
Jack Gantos at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
David Levithan at Not Your Mother's Book Club
Micol Ostow at Bildungsroman
Laura Amy Schlitz at Miss Erin
Kerry Madden at Hip Writer Mama
Sherman Alexie at Interactive Reader

FRIDAY
Loree Griffin Burns at Chasing Ray
Lily Archer at The Ya Ya Yas
Rick Riordan at Jen Robinson's Book Page
Gabrielle Zevin at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
Dia Calhoun at lectitans
Shannon Hale at Miss Erin
Jane Yolen & Adam Stemple at Shaken & Stirred
Alan Gratz at Interactive Reader
Lisa Yee at Hip Writer Mama

SATURDAY
Blake Nelson at The Ya Ya Yas

I have interviewed Tom Sniegoski a couple of times before, and I'll interview him again right now as part of the Winter Blog Blast Tour. Let's go!

First of all, how are you?

I'm good. A little bit crazed right now with deadlines, but I'm good. Thanks for asking.

Let's talk about your first published work.

The Way was my first published story, but I'd been writing stuff and telling stories for many, many years before that. I used to have all these action figures in this box was I was like seven or eight -- or maybe even older now that I'm thinking about it. How embarrassing.

Anyway, I'd use all these toys to help me tell these big elaborate stories that I would have continue day after day after day. Thinking about it, I was doing my own sort of TV series, or comic book series. I was a pretty crazy kid, lost in my head a lot.

I can also remember just sitting down at the old fashioned typewriter and just typing away, telling some insane story off the top of my head - usually having something to do with Godzilla - and it had no punctuation at all and minimal use of spacing so it would just all sort of run together. But I knew what it said.

Owlboy, your hilarious series for kids, has a little bit of everything - adventure, horror, comedy, superheroes - something for everyone. What were you like as a kid?

Like I said above, I was a little odd, into some really bizarre stuff. It's funny - I see kids today that are more like me. It's almost as if as time marched on, people became more tolerant of a little weirdness. Boy, did I get looks when I'd start to talk about dinosaurs, monsters, and superheroes. My mother used to try and bribe me with Hot Wheels cars so I wouldn't like weird stuff. She's say, "I'll buy you this Hot Wheel, but you have to stop talking about Frankenstein." I'd agree, and then that night I'd be talking about the Creature From the Black Lagoon.

You've written for many different comic lines, including Stupid, Stupid Rat Tails, Angel, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Batman. If you could write for any existing or classic comic book series, what would you pick?

I'd love to something sort of obscure and a little off-kilter. There was this comic in the 70's called DEVIL DINOSAUR that is one of the most insane things I've ever read. It only ran for nine issues and it was written and drawn by one my greatest heroes, Jack Kirby. I actually got to do a DEVIL DINOSAUR story with my Owlboy artist Eric Powell for Marvel comics about two years ago that was a blast. I think I'd like to do a regular DEVIL DINOSAUR comic. And then there's BATMAN and the FANTASTIC FOUR -- of course I'd like to do something with them, but right now, since you're asking, DEVIL DINOSAUR, please.

The Menagerie, a dark fantasy series you co-write with Christopher Golden, combines elements of mythology with recognizable characters from classic literature as well as modern-day original characters. Which character do you most resemble?

It's sad to say, but it would have to be the foul-mouthed, shadow-traveling Hobgoblin, Squire. Yep, he's short and nasty, sarcastic and has a bad attitude. I don't have all of these traits (though Chris and my wife might say differently) but I think he's the closest member of the team that thinks and reacts like me.

Tell us more about The Brimstone Network, your juvenile series due out in the fall of 2008.

The Brimstone Network is a complete blast. It takes place in this slightly off-kilter world where threats of the supernatural are kept in check by an organization called The Brimstone Network that has existed since the dawn of time. They're a crack team of special warriors and magick users who respond to a vampire attack, or zombie outbreak in a heartbeat, and deal with it.

But then something terrible happens: the Network is attacked from within, and all the agents stationed around the world killed. Suddenly, there isn't a Brimstone Network anymore, and the supernatural threats begin to gather their strength to take the world as its own.

The leader of the Network, one Elijah Stone, planned for something like this -- he had a contingency plan, a secret weapon. His thirteen-year-old son has been hidden away in a monastery in Tibet, learning everything that there is about combating the forces of darkness. His name is Abraham Stone -- Bram Stone -- and it is up to him now to put together a new Brimstone Network to defeat this new, organized, supernatural threat to the world.

His team is made up of all these people his own age that have been somehow touched by the paranormal. We have a teenage girl who is a werewolf, a handicapped boy whose brain is one of the most deadly weapons on the planet, and a guy called Mr. Stitch who is sort of like the Frankenstein monster, his body made from the best Brimstone Network agents that lived - and died.

It's pretty much the series of books that I was always looking for as a kid, but could never find. If I would have found The Brimstone Network at the bookstore or library when I was ten or twelve, I probably would have had a stroke.

I'm in the middle of writing the second book in the series right now. I had a bit of a nightmare occur last month when I accidentally (yes, I'm an idiot) deleted the entire manuscript. Close to two hundred pages gone in one deft move. Luckily, I had the first one hundred and twenty pages on my old laptop that I could recover, but there was close to a hundred pages wiped out. That's what I'm working on re-writing right now.

A Kiss Before the Apocalypse comes out in May 2008. What (or who) is at the heart of that story?

A Kiss Before the Apocalypse is my first solo adult novel. It's realy personal, and I think it's the best thing I've ever written. How's that for setting myself up for failure?

It's a supernatural/hardboiled detective/fantasy/love story about a Boston private investigator, that just so happens to be an angel that left Heaven a few millenia ago because of the whole war with Lucifer. Disheartened, he came to earth, and eventually started living like a human. He loved the hardboiled writer Raymond Chandler, and decided that maybe he'd like to try being a private eye. What the heck?

This particular book deals with a case that Remy is working on the involves him being hired by a host of angels from Heaven to find the Angel of Death who has gone missing. I really don't want to say anything more. I don't want to spoil anything.

I actually just finished the first draft of the second Remy book yesterday. It's called Dancing on the Head of a Pin, and this one is pretty special as well.

What's next for...

Owlboy?

I just finished writing the third Owlboy adventure, Tremble at the Terror of Zis-Boom-Bah. I think that will be out in October of 2008. I still need to write the fourth adventure, The Flock of Fury. If you can't tell, I really do love this series. They're a riot to write.

The Menagerie?

The fourth Menagerie book -- Crashing Paradise -- hit stores this summer, and we're still waiting to hear if we're going to do anymore. We'd love to do at least one more, just to finish off the main story that has been running through all the books. Fingers crossed.

Your dog, Mulder?

Mulder is very much looking forward to his walk in a little while, and the snack that will soon follow. He's all about the snacks.

Visit Tom at http://www.sniegoski.com (You'll see Mulder there too.)

See all Bildungsroman posts regarding Thomas E. Sniegoski.

Today's WBBT schedule:

Perry Moore at The Ya Ya Yas
Nick Abadzis at Chasing Ray
Carrie Jones at Hip Writer Mama
Phyllis Root at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
Laura Amy Schlitz at Fuse Number 8
Kerry Madden at lectitans
Tom Sniegoski at Bildungsroman
Connie Willis at Finding Wonderland

View the entire schedule. Learn more about WBBT.

I am so pleased to welcome Carrie Jones to my blog. Carrie's book, Tips on Having a Gay (ex) Boyfriend was released earlier this year. Now that I just wrote the title in this post, I hope I won't have the same problem that Carrie had...

Carrie is one of the few who made it through the slush pile, and that gives one hope...does it not? Though, I guess it helps to have a good manuscript... And the manuscript, which turned into Carrie's first published book, is good. Very good.

All the makings of a good read are in here: great characters, smart dialogue, an unexpected love triangle, a devastating breakup, hate, tension, a great best friend, new possibilities and a hopeful future. There are no stereotypes here, nor are there any lectures. These characters are simply teens who have to deal with some tough issues of being true to themselves. In the natural course of working through their problems, they deal with hate and discrimination, and ultimately find what is important--themselves.

No experience required with a gay ex-boyfriend or as a gay teen to want to read this book. Carrie Jones has a great voice that would appeal to many people. Keep in mind though that this book is recommended for older teens because of the light sexual content. Nothing offensive mind you, so keep your minds out of the gutter.

I hope you stay awhile and read Carrie's interview. I think you'll be inspired by her writing tips and stories. This is good stuff. Without further ado, please welcome Carrie Jones.
----------------------------------
HWM: What made you realize you wanted to write children’s (MG/YA) books?
Carrie: I live in Downeast Maine and it takes about 40 minutes to get to the movie theater that plays more than two movies. And driving can get terribly, terribly boring. So, I started making up a story to tell my daughter. Every time we were in the car I made more story. Eventually, it just got easier to write it down.

Then I thought, “Wow. This is so much more fun than being a newspaper editor and going to planning board meetings that last until 3 a.m. It’s way more interesting than writing an editorial about hospital regulations or a column about toothpaste. Maybe I should learn how to do this since I like it so much. And wait! You can make things up! You don’t have to put in direct quotes. Cool…”

So, basically it was because:
1. I didn’t want to have to quote people accurately any more.
2. I wanted to go to sleep before 3 a.m.
3. It was fun.

That’s not really it. I think that when we write books we can write them according to accepted forms or free style a bit.

It’s like the difference between making a really cool Playmobile castle and following every single direction or mixing up some Legos with those Playmobiles and getting something funkier. If you stick to the directions the book people read is going to be what they expect. That’s a lovely comforting thing. If you mix it up you can give people a book that’s touching at truths in a slightly unexpected way … a way that might make people question their world views.

What does this have to do with why I realized I wanted to write for kids/teens?
I want to write things that are crazy Playmobile/Lego mixes and shake up things a bit. I also want to write things that are expected and comforting. Writing for kids I can do both.

I write for teens because I want to empower them. I want to create a world they are familiar with and legitimize their world by presenting it as truth, but I also want teens to shake up that world view, wonder about it.

It’s only by wondering and searching and questioning that we can figure our way back to the truth that we can own. I think kids/teens are really tremendous searchers and truth-seekers. I like that. So I write for that.

TANGENT ALERT! I used to write poetry for adults, and I’ve been the poetry editor for the Peninsula Review and the Flying Horse Review. However, there’s something so fantastic as writing for teens and kids. People who say it’s slumming are obvious idiots. Yes, I know that’s harsh. But it drives me insane when I hear authors or critics for adults say negative things about books for teens and kids because it implies that teens and kids are sub somehow. It creates a hierarchy of importance that puts adults at the top, and you know, any time I see a hierarchy that creates an us vs. them mentality, it just gets my goat. I sound like my grandmother writing “gets my goat” but I’m trying to keep from swearing.

HWM: What inspired you to write Tips?
Carrie: I’d heard about a girl in Maine who was harassed because her boyfriend came out. Obviously, any harassment is wrong, and this made no sense at all. I started to write about it just so I could try to understand the factors involved. Plus, I’ve had a few gay ex-boyfriends so that came into it. All this really made me think about stereotypes that still exist, the harassment that still exists today.

I love it when people tell me that hate crimes because of sexuality or gender identification issues no longer exist because that means they’ve never come in contact with it. But the truth is they do still exist, not just in rural communities. Hate exists everywhere.

Just look at these statistics: 97% of students in public high schools report regularly hearing homophobic remarks from their peers; 53% of students report hearing homophobic comments made by school staff; 80% of prospective teachers report negative attitudes toward gay and lesbian people; 45% of gay males and 20% of lesbians report having experienced verbal harassment and/or physical violence as a result of their sexual orientation during high school.

When I was talking to a NY-based agent about another one of my books, he said, “Carrie, nobody has issues with gay people any more, not even in rural Maine.”

I want so badly for that to be true.

The National Violence Prevention Resource Center has a great site about what people can do to stop hate crimes.

HWM: When did you know you had the right ending for your book?
Carrie: I didn’t. I had an entirely different ending. My editor, Andrew Karre, said, “Nope. No good.”

And I said, “Oh.”

It basically ended with Belle (the main character) and her ex boyfriend, Dylan, in bed together in a VERY platonic way, of course. He was comforting her. It was all about the joy of the love of friendship and how their love for each other still existed just in a different way.

Then there was another ending and another ending. There are all these files on my computer that say, TIPS ON HAVING A GAY (ex) BOYFRIEND ALTERNATIVE ENDING #1,
TIPS ON HAVING A GAY (ex) BOYFRIEND ALTERNATIVE ENDING #2 THEY ALL DIE, and so on…
The final ending is a little melodramatic, I think, but I also think Belle deserves that melodrama.

HWM: Which character is most like you? Belle or Em?
Carrie: Wow. I’m so excited you asked that. Everyone always guesses that I’m just like Belle, but I’m really more like Em. Like Em, I have issues buying feminine hygiene products. I have a tendency to say, “Hey, who is the pwetty kitty? You;re the pwetty kitty, aren’t you?” And I’m pretty good when a friend has a crisis. Plus, my car is really messy.

HWM: What do you want people to know about epilepsy?
Carrie: Lots of things. Epilepsy is incredibly common. It’s the most common neurological condition in children. Lots of times it is treatable. Lots of times it is controllable and it comes in all different shapes and sizes.

Children need good books about epilepsy to understand that their disorder doesn’t define them or their epileptic friends. What an amazing thing that would be, not just for children who have epilepsy, but for children who don’t.

In his study, Colin Barnes wrote, “Disabling stereotypes which medicalize, patronize, criminalize and dehumanize disabled people abound in books, films, on television, and in the press. They form the bedrock on which the attitudes towards, assumptions about and expectations of disabled people encounter daily, and contribute significantly to their systematic exclusion from mainstream community life.” (“Disabling imagery and the media.” . January 17, 2006)

One reason children with epilepsy need good books about their disorder is because society needs those books, too. Society needs those books to combat discrimination and to enlighten its members.

Debra Robertson wrote in her annotated bibliography about the need for disabled children to have good books. “Not every impairment portrayed has to be critical to the action. Not every disability in a story should be a metaphor for the protagonist’s development. Juvenile fictions will feel much closer to the truth when it’s what the disabled characters think, say and do that makes them stand out, not what they can’t do.” (Portraying persons with disabilities: an annotated bibliography of fictions for children and teenagers.. New Providence, NJ: R.R. Bowler, 1992. )

This is integral to why I made Belle’s character have epilepsy but not be defined by her epilepsy. She worries about it. She is affected by it, but it doesn’t define her. That was really important to me.

So, I guess this is my RIDICULOUSLY round-about way of explaining that the one thing I want people to understand about epilepsy is that epilepsy is a condition; it does not define a person; it is not their identity; it is a condition.

HWM: I would imagine that it was tough writing about Dylan and all that resulted from his decision. What, if any, did you do to research this?
Carrie: I mud wrestled every gay guy I could find and asked them about what it was like when they told people they were gay. Then I offered them free strudel.

No. Not really.

I was a community advisor for our local middle school civil rights team. I have a few relatives who have “come out” while in college or high school or after. I have some relatives who have never officially talked about their sexual orientation. I also cruised around on some GLSEN sites and thought back a lot about when my own favorite boyfriend announced that he was gay.

HWM: Who was the toughest character to write about?
Carrie: Bob. Dylan’s boyfriend. It was really hard because I, Carrie the author person, wanted to be absolutely sympathetic to Bob, but that’s not how Belle would feel about Bob. Even though she is a really enlightened person, she’s also upset and hurt about Bob and Dylan. She sees Bob through that filter of betrayal and jealousy. Most of her anger at Dylan is reflected onto Bob. Although, to be fair, Bob does do some schmucky things.

HWM: You have quite the honor of being one of the few who made it from the slush pile. How many publishers did you send Tips to? Did any of your other books make it through the slush pile?
Carrie: Andrew Karre at Flux was the only place I sent Tips. It was kind of a whim. I know! I know! It’s so crazy. When he called about it I almost passed out. I remember gripping the edge of the little table I write on and watching my knuckles turn all white.

I’d had a middle grade fantasy that I was shopping out. Another book, GIRL, HERO was being read by an agent. Andrew bought that book as well.

HWM: Did you negotiate your own contract or did you get an agent?
Carrie: I negotiated my own contract with some advice from some very kind people.

HWM: What did you learn from this experience?
Carrie: That it’s much better with an agent you adore doing it for you. Edward Necarsulmer of McIntosh and Otis hooked up with me later that year. He’s so kind and intelligent. It’s like having a knight crusading on behalf. Plus, my contracts are much, much better. And I have a buffer in the submission process.

So for me having an agent means:
1. I don’t have to remember who I’ve submitted something to. I have someone who is organized for me.
2. I don’t have to stress so much when I talk to editors that I really, really like such as Julia Strauss Gabel or Andrea Tompa. They know I’m not just schmoozing them now. That’s because I have someone who schmoozes on my behalf.
3. I don’t have to worry about legal things like contracts.
4. I occasionally get calls on my cell phone and I get to act all la-de-da and say, “Excuse me. I have a call from my agent.”

HWM: I understand congratulations is in order…looks like 2008 is going to be an awesome year for you. Tell me about the new books.
Carrie: Love and Other Uses for Duct Tape, the sequel for Tips appears on my birthday, March 1, 2008. Belle deals with her concept of love a bit. Tom Tanner plays a major role.

Tips appears in paperback in May.

Then Girl, Hero arrives in July 2008. It’s about Lily Faltin, a high school freshman, who writes letters to John Wayne, this dead cowboy movie star. Her mother’s got a new man coming. Her real father is slowly becoming a cross dresser and Lily is struggling with her need to have a hero.

All those books are with Flux.

Then in the fall David Godine is publishing my nonfiction picture book about Moe Berg. Moe Berg was a major league baseball catcher and a spy. At the same time! Seriously. It was right before WWII. How cool is that? Barry Mosier is illustrating it.

Finally, in January 2009 Bloomsbury is releasing NEED, which is sort of an urban fantasy, only take out the urban. It’s about a girl stalked by a pixie. Bloomsbury has also contracted to publish another book. The company hasn’t determined what that book will be. I’m so psyched to be working with Michelle Nagler. I’ve loved working with Andrew, and every time I talk to Michelle Nagler of Bloomsbury I get all giddy. It’s almost as if I’ve eaten 25 strudels and am on some massive, happy sugar high.

HWM: You are quite the human rights activist on your blog and website. What was the first event that made you realize you wanted to be involved?
Carrie: It’s hard to gel it down into one thing. My Aunt Maxine came from a wealthy family that loved to argue about human rights. Every Thanksgiving my immediate family would drive up to her and my Uncle Dick’s house on the lake. I’d sit there, incredibly shy and terrified of using the wrong fork, while these brilliant, brilliant people argued about human rights. One cousin was filming a documentary about AIDS in Russia. Another was doing stuff with the World Health Organization. My uncle had desegregated the fraternity system at UNH when he was the president of the student council. It was stunning. I wanted to be like them. I still do.

When my uncle was dying we went up to the house at the lake one last time. He was too ill to socialize, light hurt his eyes. I remember going into his room and holding his hand.

“He won’t talk,” my aunt told me. “He’s been too weak.”

But he said, “Carrie? Is Carrie here?”

“Yes,” my aunt said. She stood by the door. “She’s here. I’ll leave you two alone.”

After she left my uncle and I just sat there for awhile. He held my hand. I held his hand and finally he said, “Carrie. This is important.”

So I leaned in and said, “Uh-huh.”

And he said, “I want you to take up the gauntlet. Okay? You need to take up the gauntlet.”

That was really the last thing he said to me. I’m still trying to figure out what it means.

They wheeled him out to dinner. There were about 30 people there. He didn’t say anything except, “Is Carrie here?”

Everyone started saying, “She’s here. She’s right here, Dick.”

And then he saw me. I knew that look meant that he was going to hold me to the promise.

I’m still not sure if I’m come anywhere close to picking up that gauntlet, but I think posting about human rights, writing letters, increasing awareness are terribly tiny things that are part of that. I constantly feel like I’m not doing enough. I constantly feel like I need to do a lot more.

HWM: Do you outline or free form?
Carrie: It depends on the book. Tips is so much about an internal exploration that I didn’t write it with an outline. The same goes for Love and Girl, Hero. However, NEED and some other things I’m working on are much more about external action and those have benefited by a sort-of outline thing that I do in notebooks.

HWM: Where do you like to write?
Carrie: At my table or on the back deck. I live by a little river and there are all these trees. It’s very Maine.

HWM: What is your writing process or ritual?
Carrie: I don’t really have one except that I write every weekday.
Oh! I lied. I know. When I get stuck I either walk the dog for a mile or I run on the treadmill for a mile. Okay. I walk sometimes, too, because on some days I am just lazy.

HWM: How long does it take you to write the first draft?
Carrie: Three weeks to three months, but I’m usually working on other things at the same time.

HWM: What was the most interesting comment from a fan?
Carrie: I guess the most poignant was from a woman whose boyfriend had just come out, but only to her. He's in the military. She was going through so much stuff. Her e-mail broke my heart, especially this part: "As you know My world fell apart. I read discussion boards, picked his brain, watched coming out stories, and never felt like I could relate or I would ever get everything I was feeling out in words let alone try to explain it to anyone. So after a few days I googled to see what books there were... I found an excerpt of yours. I couldn't help but cry as I read it because it was EXACTLY how I had felt when he told me. So the next day I woke up and went out and bought it. I finished it within 24 hours and I can't do anything BUT THANK YOU for writing it."

The one that made me super happy was: "I have read AND re-read Tips to having a gay ex-boyfriend and have dubbed it my all time favorite book (no lies). Besides Belle, I'd have to say Tom Tanner was my utmost fave character. He was just SO nice to Belle through out the whole book!"

Although the most interesting comment from a fan I actually have met is probably from my father who said, "I started reading your book, I never realized you were so sexual." And I gagged and explained it was FICTION. And then he repeated. "I never knew you were so..."

HWM: What has been the biggest challenge of your writing career and how did you tackle it?
Carrie: I just asked my agent what he thinks this is and I thought he’d say something like: Finding an appropriate publisher, marketing, blah, blah, blah. But he said that it’s actually that I put a lot of pressure on myself.

This is why I should install a spa downstairs in the cellar. It’s a good idea, don’t you think? It could be a writer pilgrimage place for all of us: THE WRITER SPA.

There could be really nice tea and no computers or writing pads. There could be people who fix carpal tunnel syndrome from typing too long and then others who could deal with the whole staring at the computer screen eye strain syndrome. There could be an on call therapist to help for those of us who obsess when no human has commented on our blog post that day.

HWM: What has been the biggest surprise of your writing career?
Carrie: That I’m published. That I continue to be published.

When I started at Vermont College’s MFA program I was overwhelmed by the talent and brilliance of my classmates and the teachers. I was absolutely sure I did not fit in. I felt like Grover in a room full of M. T. Andersons. Wait. M.T. Anderson was actually there but he was not cloned unfortunately. So I was really in a room of M. T. Anderson and Tim Wynne-Jones and Kathi Appelt and Margaret Bechard and Marion Dan Bauer and these great students like Kelly Bingham, Sarah Aronson, Ed Briant, Stephanie Green, Liz Gallagher. I wanted to throw myself down on the hard snowy Vermont ground and chant, “I’m not worthy. I’m not worthy.”

Lisa Jahn Clough was my saviour. She told me that lots of writers feel that way, that she feels that way, too. So, basically it’s okay to be blue and furry. Sometimes the blue and furry authors get published too.

HWM: If you could share any unique writing tip to aspiring writers, what would it be?
Carrie: Pay attention. No really. That’s the tip: Pay attention.

Author Patricia Ryan Madson wrote in her book, Improv Wisdom, “What we notice becomes our world,” Madson writes.

Attention is life, or as Madson says, “Life is attention.”

I’m going to quote her again because she says it so much better than I ever could, “What we are attending to determines to a great extent how we experience the world. We are usually focused on ourselves – our problems, desires, fears. We move through life half awake and ruminating, living in our heads – thinking, planning, worrying, imagining. The detail of each day takes place in front of us, moment by precious moment. How much are we missing? Almost everything.”

As writers we need big worlds. We need to pay attention. Of course we also need to remember that … signifies a trailing off of thought and a - signifies an interruption of thought. And things like character development and plot and stuff like that.

HWM: What was the best writing advice someone ever gave you?
Carrie: This is basically what Tim Wynne-Jones told me, “You have a remarkable sense of detail, Carrie. Now stop being clever and get to the story. The girl is about to be attacked by wolf-dogs. We do not care if her feet are naked!”

-------------------------------
HipWriterMama's Curiosities
HWM: Why do you blog?
Carrie: My editor, Andrew Karre, told me to. Plus, some of my friends from Vermont College had graduated and they were blogging. It seemed like an easy way to keep up with them.

HWM: How much time do you take to write one of your posts?
Carrie: 5-10 minutes.

HWM: What is your favorite post?
Carrie: My ridiculous post where I talk about my first phone call from Andrew. (Note: I couldn't find the actual post on Carrie's blog, so here is the description from Carrie's website.)

HWM: Why Grover?
Carrie: Well, John Wayne has always represented the meanie task master who gets on my behind whenever I wimp out or slow down or don’t want to write. I figured I needed someone nice to balance out John Wayne. Who could be nicer than Grover? Plus, there is a little bit of a sexy, naughty side to Grover and I’ve got to admit I’m into Muppets who are into that.

HWM: If you found a way to go back to your teen years, what would you do differently?
Carrie: I would date the guy who inspired Tom Tanner. And I would not have used that Sun-In that turned my hair orange.

HWM: What makes you laugh?
Carrie: Pretty much anything. I am easy. I love Stephen Colbert. I love Jon Stewart. Making fun of politics always makes me laugh. I also like it when people make fun of old Lionel Ritchie songs. This is terribly mean to poor Lionel Ritchie, I know.

HWM: If you were a superhero, what powers would you want and why?
Carrie: I would like to be the hero who absorbs everyone else’s powers when he’s near them, because how cool with that be: You could fly. You could regenerate. You could move things with your brain. You could read people’s minds. You could jump through space and time. You could fiddle with ATM machines.

Is that cheating? That’s probably cheating isn’t it? Man.

Thank you, Carrie!
-----------------------

Other places you can find Carrie Jones:
Carrie's website
Carrie's blog
Carrie's MySpace
Class of 2k7
Through the Tollbooth

Excerpt from Tips on Having a Gay (ex)Boyfriend
Excerpt from Love and Other Uses for Duct Tape (release date March 1, 2007)
Excerpt from Girl, Hero (anticipated release date July 2008)
-----------------------

Other WBBT interviews:
Perry Moore at The Ya Ya Yas (Part One, Part 2)
Nick Abadzis at Chasing Ray
Carrie Jones at HipWriterMama
Phyllis Root at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
Laura Amy Schlitz at Fuse Number 8(Part One & Part Two)
Kerry Madden at lectitans
Tom Sniegoski at Bildungsroman
Connie Willis at Finding Wonderland

Woot. Here we go again. Organized by the lovely Colleen Mondor, here you find another round of fantastic author interviews. And I'm so lucky to have 4 up this week, Tuesday-Friday. I'm very excited! Take a look at some of those author names! Holy Cow! (And yes, I totally just copy and pasted this from Colleen's site. I'm lazy like that. I'm also really, really tired. So I's going to bed now.)

MONDAY

Perry Moore at The Ya Ya Yas
Nick Abadzis at Chasing Ray
Carrie Jones at Hip Writer Mama
Phyllis Root at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
Laura Amy Schlitz at Fuse Number 8
Kerry Madden at lectitans
Tom Sniegoski at Bildungsroman
Connie Willis at Finding Wonderland

TUESDAY

Lisa Ann Sandell at Chasing Ray
Perry Moore at Interactive Reader
Christopher Barzak at Shaken & Stirred
Autumn Cornwell at The Ya Ya Yas
Jon Scieszka at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
Gabrielle Zevin at Jen Robinson's Book Page
Judy Blume at Not Your Mother's Book Club
Erik P. Kraft at Bookshelves of Doom
Clare Dunkle at Miss Erin

WEDNESDAY

Lisa Ann Sandell at Interactive Reader
Christopher Barzak at Chasing Ray
Julie Halpern at The Ya Ya Yas
Micol Ostow at Shaken & Stirred
Rick Yancey at Hip Writer Mama
Jane Yolen at Fuse Number 8
Shannon Hale at Bookshelves of Doom
Maureen Johnson at Bildungsroman
David Lubar at Writing & Ruminating
Sherman Alexie at Finding Wonderland

THURSDAY

David Mack at Chasing Ray
Paul Volponi at The Ya Ya Yas
Elizabeth Knox at Shaken & Stirred
Ellen Emerson White at A Chair, A Fireplace and A Tea Cozy
Jack Gantos at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
David Levithan at Not Your Mother's Book Club
Micol Ostow at Bildungsroman
Laura Amy Schlitz at Miss Erin
Kerry Madden at Hip Writer Mama
Sherman Alexie at Interactive Reader

FRIDAY

Loree Griffin Burns at Chasing Ray
Lily Archer at The Ya Ya Yas
Rick Riordan at Jen Robinson's Book Page
Gabrielle Zevin at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
Dia Calhoun at lectitans
Shannon Hale at Miss Erin
Jane Yolen & Adam Stemple at Shaken & Stirred
Alan Gratz at Interactive Reader
Lisa Yee at Hip Writer Mama

SATURDAY

Blake Nelson at The Ya Ya Yas

Earlier this year, Colleen from the blog Chasing Ray organized the Summer Blog Blast Tour (SBBT), a week-long series of author interviews at various blogs. The event was so successful that she planned the Winter Blog Blast Tour (WBBT) - and here we go!

I'll be posting three interviews at Bildungsroman for WBBT this week:

Tom Sniegoski (Monday, November 5th)
Maureen Johnson (Wednesday, November 7th)
Micol Ostow (Thursday, November 8th)

Here's the full WBBT schedule:

MONDAY

Perry Moore at The Ya Ya Yas
Nick Abadzis at Chasing Ray
Carrie Jones at Hip Writer Mama
Phyllis Root at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
Laura Amy Schlitz at Fuse Number 8
Kerry Madden at lectitans
Tom Sniegoski at Bildungsroman
Connie Willis at Finding Wonderland

TUESDAY

Lisa Ann Sandell at Chasing Ray
Perry Moore at Interactive Reader
Christopher Barzak at Shaken & Stirred
Autumn Cornwell at The Ya Ya Yas
Jon Scieszka at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
Gabrielle Zevin at Jen Robinson's Book Page
Judy Blume at Not Your Mother's Book Club
Erik P. Kraft at Bookshelves of Doom
Clare Dunkle at Miss Erin

WEDNESDAY

Lisa Ann Sandell at Interactive Reader
Christopher Barzak at Chasing Ray
Julie Halpern at The Ya Ya Yas
Micol Ostow at Shaken & Stirred
Rick Yancey at Hip Writer Mama
Jane Yolen at Fuse Number 8
Shannon Hale at Bookshelves of Doom
Maureen Johnson at Bildungsroman
David Lubar at Writing & Ruminating
Sherman Alexie at Finding Wonderland

THURSDAY

David Mack at Chasing Ray
Paul Volponi at The Ya Ya Yas
Elizabeth Knox at Shaken & Stirred
Ellen Emerson White at A Chair, A Fireplace and A Tea Cozy
Jack Gantos at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
David Levithan at Not Your Mother's Book Club
Micol Ostow at Bildungsroman
Laura Amy Schlitz at Miss Erin
Kerry Madden at Hip Writer Mama
Sherman Alexie at Interactive Reader

FRIDAY

Loree Griffin Burns at Chasing Ray
Lily Archer at The Ya Ya Yas
Rick Riordan at Jen Robinson's Book Page
Gabrielle Zevin at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
Dia Calhoun at lectitans
Shannon Hale at Miss Erin
Jane Yolen & Adam Stemple at Shaken & Stirred
Alan Gratz at Interactive Reader
Lisa Yee at Hip Writer Mama

SATURDAY

Blake Nelson at The Ya Ya Yas

I am so thrilled to be part of the Winter Blog Blast Tour this coming week. Remember the Summer Blog Blast Tour? And why Colleen Mondor, of Chasing Ray, organized it? Well, it was so well received, we're back again with some more incredible interviews with the Winter Blog Blast Tour. The WBBT starts tomorrow, November 5th, and ends on Saturday, November 10th.

It has been such a kick to work on this project. I have some wonderful author interviews to share with you...Carrie Jones, Rick Yancey, Kerry Madden and Lisa Yee. Come back tomorrow and be inspired by Carrie Jones!

Here is this week's WBBT schedule. I'll post the daily interviews on my sidebar along with Colleen Mondor's Master Schedule.

MONDAY, November 5th
Perry Moore at The Ya Ya Yas
Nick Abadzis at Chasing Ray
Carrie Jones at HipWriterMama
Phyllis Root at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
Laura Amy Schlitz at Fuse Number 8
Kerry Madden at lectitans
Tom Sniegoski at Bildungsroman
Connie Willis at Finding Wonderland

TUESDAY, November 6th
Lisa Ann Sandell at Chasing Ray
Perry Moore at Interactive Reader
Christopher Barzak at Shaken & Stirred
Autumn Cornwell at The Ya Ya Yas
Jon Scieszka at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
Gabrielle Zevin at Jen Robinson's Book Page
Judy Blume at Not Your Mother's Book Club
Erik P. Kraft at Bookshelves of Doom
Clare Dunkle at Miss Erin

WEDNESDAY, November 7th
Lisa Ann Sandell at Interactive Reader
Christopher Barzak at Chasing Ray
Julie Halpern at The Ya Ya Yas
Micol Ostow at Shaken & Stirred
Rick Yancey at HipWriterMama
Jane Yolen at Fuse Number 8
Shannon Hale at Bookshelves of Doom
Maureen Johnson at Bildungsroman
David Lubar at Writing & Ruminating
Sherman Alexie at Finding Wonderland

THURSDAY, November 8th
David Mack at Chasing Ray
Paul Volponi at The Ya Ya Yas
Elizabeth Knox at Shaken & Stirred
Ellen Emerson White at A Chair, A Fireplace and A Tea Cozy
Jack Gantos at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
David Levithan at Not Your Mother's Book Club
Micol Ostow at Bildungsroman
Laura Amy Schlitz at Miss Erin
Kerry Madden at HipWriterMama
Sherman Alexie at Interactive Reader

FRIDAY, November 9th
Loree Griffin Burns at Chasing Ray
Lily Archer at The Ya Ya Yas
Rick Riordan at Jen Robinson's Book Page
Gabrielle Zevin at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
Dia Calhoun at lectitans
Shannon Hale at Miss Erin
Jane Yolen & Adam Stemple at Shaken & Stirred
Alan Gratz at Interactive Reader
Lisa Yee at HipWriterMama

SATURDAY, November 10th
Blake Nelson at The Ya Ya Yas

On Friday, August 3rd, I got up bright and early - which I always do, but this time, I had a very special purpose. I had been invited to speak on a panel with four other lit-happy bloggers at The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators conference. Our panel was entitled Having Our Say: Blogging About Children's Literature. I was flattered to be in such good company and looked forward to meeting my fellow panelists - Gina from AmoXcalli, a. fortis and TadMack from Finding Wonderland and Readers' Rants, and Kelly from Big A, little a - in person.

Sadly, Gina had become ill earlier in the week and was unable to attend. However, she truly was a part of our panel, as she had created the bulk of our PowerPoint slideshow. If and when someone posts the slideshow online, I'll add a link to it in this post. Thank you so much, Gina, for all of your hard work. I hope that you are feeling better and that we do meet up in the future.

Kelly and I met up in the morning and discussed the wonders of technology and travel until TadMack and TechBoy arrived. Before we knew it, it was time for the conference to begin, and poor a. fortis was still stuck in traffic. Kelly, TadMack and I scurried into the grand ballroom, where nearly one thousand people had already gathered, and listened to the hilarious welcome speech from Lin Oliver, the SCBWI Executive Director.

The faculty members - anyone speaking on a panel - then lined up and introduced themselves one by one (or group by group - go, Class of 2k7!), with each person saying one word that represented his/her/their panel or mood. When John Green introduced himself and added, "Nerdfighters," a young woman screamed loudly to show her support.

Yes, that was me.

I apologized to Kelly and TadMack for bursting their eardrums. Shortly thereafter, we took to the stage, introduced ourselves, and said:

"Controversy . . .
" . . . conflict . . . "
" . . . and connectivity."

Oh, how I adore alliteration!

a. fortis arrived shortly after the introductions. We all headed over to the room where our panel was going to be held. While telling each other our life stories and discussing new and classic stories, we reviewed the slideshow, which ran throughout the panel.

Once our room filled up, we filled an hour with talk and laughter. I know we could have talked all day about the importance of literacy, free speech, and communication. After briefly introducing ourselves, we talked about our love of literature and of blogging while TadMack clicked through screenshots of various lit blogs and online events. We talked about The Cybils, Toon Thursday, Poetry Friday, The Edge of the Forest, readergirlz, the upcoming 1st Annual Kidlitosphere Conference as planned by Robin Brande, MotherReader's The 48 Hour Book Challenge, 7-Imp's 7 Kicks, The Carnival of Children's Literature, Chasing Ray's various events (the Summer Blog Blast Tour and Wicked Cool Overlooked Books plus the upcoming Winter Blog Blast Tour, Radar Recommendations, and One-Shot World Tour), Class of 2k7, The Longstockings, and more.

Many thanks to the bloggers, authors, and readers who attended our panel. Thanks also to those who sent us notes of support and good luck wishes.

I have an idea for next time: broadcast the panel live on the internet - podcast, anyone? - or incorporate a chat element, making it accessible to the everyone who can't attend in person and encouraging them to take part and ask questions.