Next up was the Agent Panel: Selling Your Work in These Economic Times.  That last picture has absolutely nothing to do with the panel, it was my view of Grand Central from my hotel room window.  The truth is that I forgot to take a picture of the panel!  This was not because they lacked interest, just the opposite.   I'm preparing my YA novel for the world of submission and I was sitting in the audience like a deer in headlights repeating the mantra that everyone tells you..."agents are looking for you!"   If you are an agent and you are looking for me....I'M RIGHT HERE!!!!!!!  If I'm still a bit elusive, I'll be sending you my work soon LOL!

OK-Back to the awesome panel and their thoughts on selling in this economy...

Michael Stearns, Agent,  Firebrand Literary
     -it's a market correction and some positive things  will come out of that correction.
     -the economy always rebounds and changes, but they are still buying books.
     -quality will  sell

Alyssa Eisner Henkin, Literary Agent, Trident Media Group
     -we are lucky to be in children's writing because adults are reluctant to skimp on children.
     -she also gave a shout out to her client Jessica Burkhart, author of the Canterwood Crest series.      www.jessicaburkhart.com/
     -recommends writing through the highs and lows.

Michael Bourret, VP & Literary Agent, Dystel & Goderich Literary Management
     -remember the market has always been difficult
     -Get on TWITTER!

Edward Necarsulmer IV, Director, Children's Department, McIntosh & Otis, Inc
     -times of crisis are great times of opportunity.
     -it's important that agents be selective-the goal is for editors to be fighting over what the agent brings to the table.
     -don't write for market trends.

All four agents reminded everyone to be clear in stating whether your submission is an exclusive or simultaneous submission. The most important foundation between an agent and writer being honesty.

Next up we had the Red Carpet Premiere of the SCBWI Master Class Videos. The illustrators video was with Tomie dePaola who was unable to be there due to illness (he's on the mend and we heard from him via phone). The author's video was with Richard Peck...swoon! I have yet to be able to take a single note when this elegant man opens his mouth. I sit there mesmerized, being rained on by his words. Both videos looked exceptional and I bought a copy of each. (For those days when I have lost the conference high.)  I also purchased copies for my children's school. So now you are thinking that this conference is way to unbelievably good-Kim must be exaggerating. Hold on tight because I still have more. I was so disappointed to learn that Julius Lester would not be attending due to health reasons. I was blown away by his book Guardian and can only hope that the opportunity to hear him speak will present itself again some time.
Enter Jack Gantos...WOW! Jack took us through a condensed version of a child becoming a reader, starting with their first board book and moving through time until they stood at the thresh hold of the library. I could picture that child as they looked around and knew with certainty that they owned every book on those shelves. I remember that moment very clearly, traipsing through the stacks and understanding there was nothing I could not read...the world was mine. Jack also gave us the Strong Basic Bones of Writing

1. Characters
     -characters must change over time
     -Pony Boy from the Outsiders ends up having feelings for people on both sides of the tracks-powerful!

2. Settings
     -Terrabithia
     -My Side of the Mountain
     -The Borrowers

3. Problems
     -the arc of the story should have both physical and emotional endings.

 At the end Jack left me with another powerful visual. He said that you have to go back to the books you love to read and write a book that you would have loved to read. Then your book will stand on the shoulders of all the great books you read before...a link in a chain.

No I didn't win a door prize, but I did leave a winner..
.
Kim and Jay Asher- author of Thirteen Reasons Why

Kim and Robert Sabuda-this is an artist who is definitely working out of the box LOL! Richard Peck and Kim...I Love this man. I thanked him profusely for saying that he refuses to write with an outline. He told me to stick to my guns because characters don't live in outlines they live somewhere bigger and more unexpected than that. My new claim to fame in life...I've kissed Richard Peck twice!
Kim and Bruce Hale-I took this opportunity to warn Bruce that I would see him on Monday when he visited my children's school. I also gave him all the ammunition he needed to mess with my girlfriend Ida who was picking him up. LOL!
This is a picture of Jack Gantos and Linda. I picked this picture because Linda is telling Jack all about Michelle Mead. Michelle is in our writing group and is best friends with Linda. She was unable to attend the conference. Linda walked into the SCBWI bookstore and saw the display of Jack's books and couldn't figure out what was going on. I filled her in on the switch between Julius Lester and Jack. Linda was almost in tears-Jack is Michelle's all time favorite author. Linda spent the whole time with Jack talking about Michelle...I snuck a few pictures. Did I mention that I really feel blessed to hang out with children's writers. They have heart and soul. Last but not least, Linda and I got to hang out with Jarrett Krosoczka who's graphic novel Lunch Lady was certainly written with my mom in mind LOL!  He was also kind enough to dedicate Punk Farm to the Sabatini Brothers Band and their first single "The Kitty Dance".

It's that time....time to put THE END at the bottom of the page. I'm reluctant to do it, so I won't because ends are really only beginnings. One thing leading to the next...
After a weekend of exposing myself to the great names in the business...sometimes you gotta go where everybody knows your name...The Sabatini Brothers Band and their favorite groupie LOL!