1 | Cathy C. Hall Writes

Now, I know that as a children’s writer, you’re probably a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. (If you haven’t quite got round to joining, then off you go to pay your dues. We”ll wait.)

Okay, then. As you also know, with SCBWI, you’re getting a huge writing bang for your buck, what with all the online resources available to you. But there’s another resource for you, one that’s a ton of fun to attend, and where you’ll have the opportunity to meet and mingle with children’s writers just like you. Oh! And you’ll learn a ton about children’s writing, too! And did I mention it’s free?

I’m talking about a SCBWI schmooze, or maybe a workshop. They usually last a couple hours, and often, there will be a wonderful speaker (and refreshments!). There’s always time to ask questions, and if you’re lucky, there’s an opportunity for critique. And best of all, you’ll have a chance to meet with other writers that live close by.

You see, these events are brought to members by their Local Liaisons, people just like you who volunteered for the position. If you live in a large, metro area, there may be a dozen LL’s around you. A small, rural area may have only one LL. But whether there are 3 or 4 yearly events within an hour’s drive of you, or only one, I hope you’ll jump on the opportunity to go. Because that’s how you connect with SCBWI members, making friendships, making writing gains. When you finally get to a big conference, you’ll wave across a crowded room and say, “Hey! I know that person!” Or when you finish your manuscript, you may hear from a published friend, “Send this to my agent. Tell her I sent you!”

You may even meet someone at a schmooze who’ll become a mentor, a critique partner, or a lifelong friend. It could happen. So check out what’s happening in your SCBWI neighborhood and get your money’s worth!

(And if you live in the metro Atlanta area, join us Saturday, September 17th at the Collins Hill Library in Lawrenceville, Georgia. Vicky Shecter (CLEOPATRA’S MOON) will be our speaker, and we’ll have a First Pages mini-panel for critique. It’s 10:30 to 12:30 and rumor has it, the treats will be delicious! At least, that’s what my Co-Local Liaison Debra Mayhew reported. I’m just the LL in charge of ice!)

Holy whack-a-moley! I had to rush to get to the Decatur Book Festival in time to see Libba Bray on Saturday because a. I’d never seen her but heard tons of wonderful things about her presentation and b. Cathy-on-a-Stick wanted her picture with her.

I’m always amazed at how nice authors are when it comes to Cathy-on-a-Stick. In Ms. Bray’s case, the woman talked for about an hour– (And she was really funny and entertaining so if you ever get a chance to see her, you should go and experience for yourself how 45 minutes can go by in 13 minutes. I’ve never really understood that whole time/space continuum thing. And it’s not any clearer now.)and she had to catch a plane a couple hours later. But she sat out there for TWO hours and signed books and answered questions and posed for pics up till the very last minute.

I mean the VERY LAST MINUTE. A DBF helper let the few us at the very back of the line know that Ms. Bray may not be able to stay (I made a poem!). She HAD to catch that plane. So when I got up there, and she was still signing, I just said, “Here! Hold this, please! It’s Cathy-on-a-Stick and I have a blog and really, I’m a very nice person but I never know what Cathy-on-a-Stick might say.”

Good, old (not that old, really more like middle-aged) Libba Bray. She laughed, grabbed the stick, and I clicked and dashed so the next person could get her book signed.

So she’s my new favorite YA author. At least until the next one comes along to hold Cathy-on-a-Stick.

(P.S. Here’s her latest awesome book (BEAUTY QUEENS) which I bought and had signed. I may give it away in some sort of contest where you, the entrant, have to do somthing awesome. Because seriously, I stood in line for ~~TWO HOURS~~ ~~an hour and a half~~ ~~almost an hour~~ okay 28 minutes. See, I left the line after 12 minutes because I HAD to see Adam Gidwitz (A TALE DARK AND GRIMM). And he was pretty awesome, too, even if I didn’t catch up with him later for a pic with Cathy-on-a-Stick. But then I came back and stood in Ms. Bray’s line again for 16 minutes. She was there the whole time, so you know, that has to count for a lot of awesomeness.)