Adventures at Wilder Farm

I just got back from ALA, and it was fantastic! It was not only my first time at ALA, but an extra special year since our friend and neighbor, Beth Krommes received the Caldecott medal for her book The House in the Night.

My conference began with my participation in the panel discussion — Inspiring Young Citizens: The Library as a Forum for Engagement. It was a great morning. We’re thankful to all those who attended and contributed to the discussion. I was honored to speak with my fellow panel members: authors Anne Sibley O’Brien and Phillip Hoose, librarian, Kelley McDaniel and children’s book advocate, Kirsten Cappy . Please refer to this link if you’d like to learn more about the discussion.

I then zipped over to the Penguin/Viking booth to sign the first F&G copies of my book Yellowstone Moran!

How exciting to have this book soon to be released (September). I’ve literally been working on this idea since I was 4 years old, when I first saw and fell in love with Yellowstone National Park. Over the years, I returned dozens and dozens of times, photographing wildlife with my parents and plein-air painting when I was a landscape painter. All together, I’ve spent over a year’s worth of nights camping and exploring the region, so the release of this book is an extra special moment for me.

My conference continued with a signing at the Disney-Hyperion booth, celebrating the fact that Pennies for Elephants was just released a few weeks ago. Then I rushed back to the hotel to change for the Caldecott banquet. What a thrill to hear Beth accept her award, as well as Neil Gaiman and Ashley Bryan!

I’m savoring the experience now and for the next couple of days before heading out again, this time to the MD/DE/VW SCBWI conference at McDaniel College, where I’ll be speaking with my editor of One Thousand Tracings and Pennies for Elephants, Namrata Tripathi. It’s been a busy summer, and I apologize for not writing more “process” entries lately. But quiet days at the easel will soon return and I’ll share work on the current book!

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