Thanks SCBWI-IL!
November 16, 2009 
Had a really nice day attending Prairie Writer's Day this Saturday!
Just have to say that I loved Yolanda LeRoy's presentation. (She's from Charlesbridge Publishing.) What a sweetheart! She made sure to mention books published by Illinois authors and illustrators, her talk was well-thought through, and she sang and danced! ("There's no business like the book business.") Standing ovation? Absolutely. I thought, Man, I gotta take some risks! So thanks Yolanda! (That's Yolanda in the photo above.)
For me, the conference was wonderful because I got to see people I don't see often. Some of these folks are people I think about year round, but only get to see at this conference, and so it's a real treat to see them and have an opportunity to chat a little. These are folks who are brave, working toward their dreams, and also, living life all the way down to their fingertips (meaning, they're feeling life through every nerve-ending, they're being in life and not running from it). I like getting even small tastes of their stories and what's happened since the last time we've met. It's inspiring.
One of the things I thought about on the drive home was how important community is for me. Without it, I'm diminished. Thanks guys!