Willamette Writers Conference

with my agent, Sandra Bishop.

See the glazed look in my eyes? I gave two presentations, a book signing and six critiques in two days, and loved every minute of it–really! Okay, I don’t love the roar of the planes at PDX starting at 6 AM, but other than that… There’s something about the Willamette Conference that feels comfortable. You know writing conferences can be intimidating, all those NY people dazzling us with their professionalism, and that feeling of competition–so, just how many books have you sold? But I never feel those things at Willamette. Everyone seems to be in your corner cheering for you. No wonder I come back every year.

Presented: “Scene By Scene, Writing the YA Novel” with my good friend Renee Riva and “Fantasy, Myth and the Reluctant Hero” on my own.

Heard:Virginia Euwer Wolf read the opening paragraph of Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt. Doesn’t get any better than that! Yes, there really is literary YA fiction, despite much evidence to the contrary. And every time I read or hear that description of August days like the slow climb of a ferris wheel I am reminded of why I wanted to become a writer.