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So here I am, trying to think deep thoughts. (This is what always happens when I try to think deep thoughts. Notice how the page is blank? But if this really was me, that eraser would be scrubbed to a nub.)

H’m. I was surprised to learn that bloggers like to get comments even from strangers like me–as long as we contribute to the conversation. I’ve always felt weird about posting comments. I didn’t want to be the stranger on the bus who jumps into private conversations, creeping everyone out. (Who ARE you?) Still don’t want to be that person… With a better understanding of the protocal I feel equipped to participate. I understand courtesy, I like courtesy. And I like this community. Nice people. Smart people. Book people.

The kidlit08 sessions I attended were great. Wish I could have seen them all.

Mark Blevis, Alice Pope, Reader Girlz Divas Dia Calhoun and Lori Ann Grover, and Betsy Bird, talked about finding your niche in the blogging community. The whole idea of blogging as a community activity was a revelation to me. But the way they talked and laughed and considered and debated each point showed, quite clearly, that it is. A widely scattered, intensely focused community of people who love books for young humans. (The discussion of whether “kidlitosphere” implied a closed form, and therefore an exclusive group, cracked me up and made me feel strangely welcomed.)

Colleen Mondor and Jackie Parker talked about organizing blog tour events. They were very funny together, and demonstrated impressive organizational skills, which I do not share.

Pam Coughlin’s presentation offered numerous insights into the world of the busy, active, conscientious blogger. Basic courtesies. How to be a supportive and constructive member of the community. This is not all she talked about, just what struck me in particular. What I needed to hear, I guess.

Mark Blevis, who created justonemorebook.com with his wife Andrea, spoke on podcasting. He made it seem much less mysterious and much more possible.

Laini Taylor and Jen Robinson discussed the writer/reviewer relationship. Some pet peeves, so do’s and don’ts. I love this stuff. I am so tired of making every possible embarrassing mistake…

Greg Pincus boggled my brain (in a good way) with information and ideas. Luckily, he provided a fine handout, because my notes are hard to follow. (I sketch while I listen, and turn pages as they fill.) He also pointed us to his wiki article on book promotion on the web. Take a look! It’s amazing.

So much mingling, so much fun. I hope I can make it to the next one, next year.

Thanks to Jone MacCulloch and Laini Taylor for making kidlit08 happen. What a great day. Fun, friends, energy, and information galore. And jelly beans, and zombie sock puppets!

Here we are. Laini does a much better job of describing the activities and the fun than I could do on her lovely blog, Growwings. Check out the official kidlit08 blog page to see more, more,more.

I’m working on some things for a slightly older age group. Exploring a bit of menace.

I am revising a story I wrote last year. It’s a very different story populated by many of the same characters (though they’ve grown interesting new dimensions). Is it weird to pack up your characters and whisk them away to a different adventure in a new world? I am hoping that the characters were better than the story. That I am not clinging to shreds so I don’t have to admit the first story was a total flop. If that’s what’s happening, I should just get over it and move on… But I like these guys! Especially the naughty ones, and the smelly one. I don’t want to throw them out with the boring bits and give the exciting new world/story/life to strangers.

I wish my ideas arrived in a more orderly fashion. Oh well. Onward.

Something splendid is happening out back. A sad little rat-gnawed garden shed is being transformed

into a lovely cedar-sided studio.

Mark has done most of the planning and construction (what a guy!) but we’re all helping.

First there was tearing-down.

Then came the building up. St Francis looks happy…

Felicia likes it, too.

It’s a big job on a small budget, getting done as time and dollars allow. We’ve wrangled helpers from near and far. (Thanks, helpers!) We’ve swapped and scavenged and recycled materials.

The cleaning out was nasty; several truck-loads of rotten building materials and moldy insulation (spiders, rat’s-nests and all) but you’d never know. It’s open and bright and clean. It won’t really be finished for a while, but I kind of like it naked and empty inside. No clutter. No clutter at all. Just a light, a chair, and a drawing table. (Fiona approves)

and a big window facing the garden. I love it.