Words of Wisdom from the National Book Festival

Couldn't travel to DC to attend the most amazing celebration of books in the world? Have no fear! I took some notes for you.

"You might be writing about what you know, but in a very alien context... It's more about the truth you know."

—M.T. Anderson
author of Feed and The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing

"This is for all the boys out there: It doesn't matter how terrible you are, how gross you are. You'll meet a woman, and she'll fix you."

—Michael Buckley
author of NERDS and The Sisters Grimm

"It's odd for me to be considered a writer. In fact, people used to go the other way and think comics cause illiteracy."

—Jeff Smith
author of BONE and Little Mouse Gets Ready

"They're usually not reluctant to read but reluctant to read the books we push on them... Remember the mantra 'The right book for the right child at the right time.'"

—Anita Silvey
former editor of Horn Book and author of 100 Best Books for Children

"How long does it take me to write a book? I wrote a book in the shower once, and that was a record... It just came to me all at once."

—Katherine Paterson
author of Bridge to Terabithia and The Day of the Pelican

What a great way to spend the very first day of Banned Book Week. As Antia Silvey said, it truly was a "joie de livres."

Katherine Paterson Have I Loved

I was very excited to find out Katherine Paterson was named the new National Ambassador for Young People's Literature by the Library of Congress. It's been a lot of fun following Jon Scieszka for the past two years, and now I'm excited to see where Paterson's theme "Read for Your Life" will take us in the coming two years.

I remember reading Jacob Have I Loved for the first time when I was in sixth grade. I remember crying and laughing and being able to connect with history in a way I never had before. I saw myself as Sara Louise because I had an older sister whom, like Sara Louise's sister Caroline, I thought was prettier, smarter and had more to offer the world than I ever could. And for the first time, I realized that I didn't have to be defined by my relationship with my sister. I was the one who was forcing myself to live in my sister's shadow. I could be whatever I wanted to be, and the only person who could stop me was me.

Fifteen years later, I have realized that my sister probably felt much the same way about me. Sisterhood is the most delicate of family relationships, especially when you are so close in age. (My sister is only 19 months older than me.) Now I hope our relationship is more about supporting and encouraging each other rather than comparing ones failures to the others successes.

If one book, read so many years ago, could teach me such a great lesson that still affects me today, can you imagine what Paterson will be able to accomplish in her new position?

P.S. The SCBWI WIP Grant process is upon us. If you are a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators or have ever considered becoming a member, now is a great time to get a writing sample together and ready for submission. I'll be applying for the Grant for a Contemporary Novel for Young Readers this year, which is a total departure for me.