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It's a face-freezing cold kind of day in New York City, but that's not keeping anyone from basking in the warmth of this thrilling event, the 16th of its kind in the Big Apple.

We're looking forward to keynotes by Newbery Medal winner Kwame Alexander; bestsellers James Dasher, Anthony Horowitz, and Kami Garcia; and picture book revolutionaries Herve Tullet and Laura Vaccaro Seeger, as well as breakout sessions by top editors, agents, and art directors.

SCBWI Co-Founder Steve Mooser welcomed a record number of attendees:

"It's no mystery why you did make the decision to come. A conference on an iPad is never the same as in person. What makes the difference here are the friendships you make, the personal connections, some of which last a lifetime."

Lin Oliver reminded us that we're here to practice our work, to network, and to make friends. She asked us to turn to the person on the right and get acquainted—and the volume in the room went to 11.

There are 1,133 people at this conference, coming from 47 states in the U.S., and 16 additional countries, including Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Hong Kong, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Portugal, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, and the U.K.

No one is here from Kansas, Wyoming, Oklahoma.

"This is the 12th year that we've had no one from North Dakota here, so I propose a constitutional amendment to eliminate North Dakota from the union," Lin said.

The best represented state is New York, followed by California and Massachusetts. She gave New Jersey a break on account of their bridge-closing governor (zing!).

Thirty-two percent of attendees are published authors and illustrators, and more than 375 illustrators are here—a new record. There is also a clown, a bartender, and a writer-dentist. (A clown, a bartender, and a writer-dentist walk into a conference...)

And away we go!

SCBWI Steve Mooser opens the conference talking about starting SCBWI 40 years ago and encourages attendees to be friendly and meet other conference-goers, as you are sure to make lifelong writing friends as he has.

Lin Oliver gives stats on attendees:

• 1,342 people are attending the event--the most ever!
• More than 150 men are attending--also the most ever
• 42% of attendees are published
• There are attendees from 49 states (get on it South Dakota!)
• Attendees are here from 20 countries

• 40 perfect pages.
• 40 is the new 30.
• It took me 40 hours to get here.
• I was on the far side of 40 when I published my first book--it's never too late for success.
• Moses wandered the desert for 40 year looking for the promised land--this is it!
• An editor's work week is not 40 hours.
• In 40 years the Kindle will probably be what the victrola is today.

The Conference ended and I was exhausted, exhilerated and sad to leave a conference that was stimulating, dynamic, offered so much information and so many friends.  Loved every minute - thankyou so much to Lin Oliver and Steve Mooser for the conference, friendship, the hospitality at their homes and taking Youth Literature to the world.

Ellen Hopkins and a crowd of authors are coming to The Hughenden in Sydney to party next year. Fabulous.