I was invited to party in Austin, Texas on Friday in celebration of Cynthia Leitich Smith's new book,
Tantalize. I was telling Treebeard about Cynthia and Greg on the way to the capitol city Friday afternoon. After listening to my mini lecture, he commented that they sounded like extremely generous people.
Generous is the perfect word to describe them.
Their home was the setting for the party, the food was beautiful and delicious (very important.) There were these beautiful melt in your mouth roasted tomatoes and salmon and wraps and this amazing Italian cream cake.
I should have taken a picture.
Greg describes
the menu at his blog.
There were so many people there and I was secure in the knowledge that I didn't know
a soul besides Cynthia and Greg.
Aaacckk ...
Then I saw Julie Lake, author of the historical fiction novel,
Galveston: Summer of the Storm about the 1900 Galveston hurricane. I hosted Julie at my library for an author visit a few years ago. She is so nice and rounded up people to meet me.
I should have taken a picture.
Brian Anderson writes the
Adventures of Commander Zack Proton series. His series echoes the light hearted spirit of comic books (not
Graphic Novels) of old. I met YA author
Brian Yanksy (need to read his books) and
Jo Whittemore author of
The Silverskin Legacy.
I should have taken a picture.
Even though the party was in honor of
Tantalize, Cynthia used the opportunity to introduce and showcase books by other Austin writers (generous, remember?)
Kathi Appelt (I've cataloged and shared so many of her books with kids,)
Helen Hemphill (I just received a copy of
Runaround but did not get to talk to her,)
Brian Yanksy,
Jo Whittemore and
April Lurie.
Then I got to meet
Don Tate and his wife!!! It is sort of surreal and wonderful to meet people-you-
feel-like-you-know-because-you- read-their-blog-but-you-
don't-really-know-them but then they turn out to be even nicer and kinder than you could have ever imagined.
I was dazzled by the company and impressed by the community of writers in Austin, Texas. Their support and enthusiasm for each others' work is inspiring. It was an honor to be included Friday and I marvel again at the blessings the kidlitosphere has brought me.
