"Swing Life Away"*

Every year at the Eastern PA SCBWI Poconos conference I learn something new. I always enjoy this conference, but there wasn't a single speaker or session I attended that disappointed. Here's some insightful nuggets that resonated with me not only as a writer but as a person (these are not written with quotation marks because I often paraphrase when I'm taking notes, but I think the ideas the speakers intended are all intact):

• Even when you think something isn't relative right now, write it down. You will change. Something extraneous now may be exactly what you need later.
• There are no secure boxes. Do whatever you want to do, and do it wildly, purely, uncensored, even regrettable. Do it as hard as you can. ~Donna Jo Napoli

• There are so many things out of our control, and we, especially children, are trying to figure things out and how to control our lives.
• Write what you want to know. You'll experience what you never imagined. If you take the chance, something will change, not just your manuscript...you! ~Suzanne Morgan Williams

• Don't worry about how long it takes, worry about making it right.
• Nothing can make you feel worse than to compare yourself to someone else. It's important not to beat ourselves up. We all have our own journey, we should celebrate our own journey.
• Never give up because you might be on the one yard line, and you just don't know it. ~Donna Gephart

• Part of the fun for me is when I get to go out with my giant turkey head and do book signings.
• They told me you probably shouldn't show so much penguin butt. ~Lee Harper

This year I also learned that no matter how childish an idea seems (like going on the swings on a lovely spring day), never be too ashamed to share it with others (especially if you are at a conference full of people who create books for children). They might just want to join in on the fun, and you might make a friend in the process.

I think the most important thing I took away from this conference was to live and write with more freedom. As an adult, I think I've gotten away from expressing my true self. There isn't one reason for this that I can pinpoint, but I blame some combination of worrying about what others think of me, trying to follow all the "rules" of society, and in general just being too self-aware.

It's time for me to let go a little. To do and not think. To write drafts with more abandon. To be more relaxed when I send query letters. To not be afraid to let my true personality show through. What have you been working on lately?

*Rise Against

"Everybody ends up here in bottles, but the name tag's the last thing you wanted"*

Another year has passed since I last marked the anniversary of my sister's death. Recently I was feeling very lonely and I couldn't quite figure out why. I have a lot of people in my life who love and care about me, but there was an emptiness inside of me that wouldn't go away.

Then I realized I missed my little sister. I wanted to talk with her, but she wasn't there to answer back. And, no matter how many friends or loves I have in my life, no one on this earth will ever be the sister or the friend she was to me.

Kylene was only here for 16 years, but she filled those years with so much life. She wrote the poem below, and though the sentiment is beautifully written, I don't think it is a true reflection of who she was. She may never have graduated high school, gotten married, or had any children, but there wasn't a wasted moment of her life here on earth.

Wasting my time
Killing my time
living this life like I should
Not like I could

I learned from a book
I learned from a teacher
but what about life
What about the Experience

I'm sitting inside
going through the motions
While life turns outside
passing me by

Tomorrow's but today
Just like any other day
I throw my life away
It slips down the drain

~Kylene Laraine Carroll

*Our Lady Peace

"In New York, concrete jungle where dreams are made"*

A few weekends ago, my twin-not-twin sister and I took a trip to the publishing capital of the world for the NYC Teen Author Festival. There was a week's worth of workshops and readings, but we were only able to go for the massive book signing that featured more than 45 authors at Books of Wonder.

My sister is an avid YA reader, so she was super-excited to meet some of her favorite authors. I was excited as not only a reader but also as a YA writer because the kidlit world is full of such generous people who are always willing to talk and offer encouragement.

Australian YA author (trust me when I say that there is some seriously awesome kidlit coming from down under) Melina Marchetta admitted that she was nervous that no one would know who she was, which was so surprising because she wrote the 2009 Michael L. Printz Award winner Jellicoe Road. I mean she has some serious U.S. fans, one of whom is my sister...I think the main reason she wanted to trek all the way into the city was to see Melina. I picked up a signed copy of her new book The Piper's Son.

Two authors who "I know" from Verla Kay's blueboards that I was looking forward to meeting were Maggie Stiefvater and Danette Vigilante. I have been dying to read the final installment of the Wolves of Mercy Falls Trilogy, which is called Forever. Unfortunately, it isn't out until July 12th (which just happens to be my b-day), so I had to settle for having two books I've already read signed: Shiver and Lament. Maggie wanted to know which one I liked better and I copped out on my answer by citing reasons why I like both...Shiver because of the fantastic love story and Lament because of all the fantastical elements.

(There's my sister, Maggie, and me...picture courtesy of the person standing behind us in line!)

Danette signed The Trouble with Half a Moon for me. She commiserated with me over the fact that I'm on the agent hunt. Surprisingly, Maggie told me that she actually like the process of subbing to agents. I don't know that I've ever heard another author say this (maybe she'll switch places with me for a little while...that way I can try my hat on as a best-selling author and she can wait on pins and needles to get e-mails--mostly rejections--from agents).

(Here's Danette and me...this one my sister took.)

I also had a really nice chat with Sarah Beth Durst, who I didn't really know that much about, except that she wrote a retelling of East of the Sun and West of the Moon called Ice. She signed my copy as my "future reader.

Finally, I met the tired-looking and prolific David Levithan (he organized the Festival) and had him sign Will Grayson, Will Grayson (now I just have to track down his co-author John Green and get him to sign it too) and Emily Lockhart, who signed The Boyfriend List (I didn't remember to bring my copy of The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks, so I'll have to catch up with her another time).

Events like this always make me dream about the day I get to do a book signing in NYC...it'll happen someday...or at least I keep telling myself that! And don't forget to check out my tsunami post and comment to help raise money for Japan.

*Jay-Z