Teen Author Night

 

Last night I attended the final Teen Author Night of the year with my Write Nite group...

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Hello from Los Angeles

Well, I arrived safe and sound in Los Angeles for the annual summer SCBWI conference! It's been a busy day of travel and networking already...

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At My Desk

Lately all I've been doing is writing (read: I have no life).

If I'm not sitting at my halfsie-doesn't-really-count-as-a-real-desk overlooking this park, then I'm usually writing here, here or here. Writing can be a really lonely profession, so I like being around the energy of others while I'm working....

Right now I'm preparing for these meetings and this major conference. It's going to be a crazy busy summer of writing, editing, pitching and deadlines...

But there's lots of exciting things in the works *my lips are sealed* and I can't wait until I can share more details down the road.

P.S. Okay, I did carve out some time to see Super 8 with my husband. A great movie to watch in the theater.

SCBWI – NJ Conference Recap

The last three days have been a whirlwind! It was the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) New Jersey chapter annual conference in Princeton, New Jersey. Here's a few highlights...

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Wilder at WORD

The other night my friend Jay Asher invited me to a reading at WORD bookstore in Brooklyn. Truthfully, I knew nothing about this book or indie shop before the event, but I'm so glad I went!

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Kidlit Event

Unless my husband and I are catching a Broadway show, we NEVER go to midtown. But last night I walked around Times Square for a bit before Kidlit Drink Night. The area was packed as usual, but the energy is intoxicating. And despite the freezing weather, even the Naked Cowboy was out and about with his guitar!

So last night was my first time attending Kidlit Drink Night, and this one was held here in midtown. I knew some people there (from my critique group/weekly Write Nite), but also met lots of writers, students, editors, etc. It was a blast talking about craft, books and industry news. I'm really looking forward to the next one!

I absolutely love living in Manhattan. It truly feels like I'm on the pulse of the literary scene. Last week, I attended three Teen Author Festival events (voice panel, reading/performance, author signings) and found them so inspiring. If you're an NYC-based writer or illustrator, drop me a line or find me on Twitter if you hear about interesting upcoming events!

Teen Author Festival

This week is the Teen Author Festival in New York City. Last night I went to the VOICE panel, and it was really inspiring. Some of the questions addressed: How do you 'find' your character's voice? What are ways to reveal voice (both first & third person) in a manuscript? What makes a voice authentic?

Now I really want to read this.

Tonight is the Reader's Theater at Barnes & Nobles Union Square, and I'll be there... If you're a writer or reader in the NYC area, I hope you'll check out the schedule & try to attend one (or more) of the events!

My Experience Studying Wild Whale Sharks... Now Live!

I am so thankful, blessed and excited right now! My case study on wild whale sharks in the Gulf of Mexico just went live on the National Geographic Channel's GREAT MIGRATIONS website! {Have you heard about this amazing television event yet? It's premieres Sunday! It's not to be missed!!}.

Projects

{I took the photo above in Sabah, Malaysia}

It's been a really long week for me, how about you?

The highlight of my week was finding out that I'm a high school journalism project. I've never, to my knowledge, been anyone's project before. So that's pretty fun.

These stories, below, have been my recent projects. In case you'd like to check them out in your leisure time – many of these posts have videos from my recent expeditions:

Nighttime Wildlife River Safari

Whale Shark Eyes

Wildlife of Gomantong Cave

Saltwater Crocodile Breeding Ground

Tree-Dwelling Pit Viper

Orangutan Bridges

City Rats

Miami's Hidden Animal Kingdom

Bat Exodus

Tracking Wild Elephants

Stinging Invertebrates

Alien Crayfish Invasion

Cat Facts

Dogs & Dewclaws

Toxic Toadzillas

Manta Ray Transport

What are you up to this weekend? We've got to finish up the loose ends from our move and then start packing. We leave for Europe on Wednesday and we'll be gone for two weeks, so there's lots to do!

Unique Bookshelves

Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counsellors, and the most patient of teachers. 

~ Charles W. Eliot

Wouldn't you love to display your books in these shelves?

Sources: Flikr, Dwell, Fresh Home, Blog On A Bookshelf, Vbux, Google images, Domino, Web Urbanist

* © passport in my pocket *