What a weekend.
The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators British Isles 10th Anniversary Conference.
This was brilliant:
Jackie Marchant, Jeannie Waudby, Jeanette Towey, Nicky Schmidt,
Candy Gourlay, Ellen Renner
YOU GUYS ROCK!
Then there was this:
So many names: Mike Brownlow, Jason Chapman, Jane Clarke, Lucy Coats, Keren David ( Carnegie nominated – gasp!) Candy Gourlay (Also Carnegie nominated – gasp, gasp!), Savita Kalhan, Maxine Linnell, Anita Loughrey, Jon Mayhew, Sarah Mcintyre, Tamsyn Murray, Ellen Renner (shortlisted for West Sussex Book Award), John Shelley, Donna Vann, Lee Weatherly, Sheena Wilkinson – phew!
I was bursting with pride just being in the same room as these people.
This was great:
And this:
And:
And:
Ah! It was ALL brilliant :O)
And what did I learn?
- Combining news stories gives a great jumping off point for new ideas, thank you Keren David.
- Think about place as character. I bought a truck load of Marcus Sedgwick books after his inspiring talk.
- The pen portrait is magic. Miriam Halahmy as ever, your workshop was brilliant.
- I cannot resist fruit cake.
- I miss my kids when I’m away but, sometimes, it’s worth it.
Kathryn Evans 
It was great to see you, but it always seemed to be in passing! I blame those pesky badges. Anyway, glad you had a fab time.
Nick.
My son loved the badges!
My son loves them too!
Both mine love their badges – they’d put an order in before I left! Am a natural born dogsbody….
Glad I got you writing!
You always do – I love your workshops x
My daughter is thrilled to bits that I got The Divine Marcus to sign her copy of Revolver. She’s planning on making her English teacher green with envy. I am here to serve.
Lovely to finally meet you IRL!
You to Janey – wasn’t it a fab weekend?!
Lovely post. Thanks for sharing your photos!
It was great, wasn’t it? Lovely to see you there.
Totally!!!
I’m off to read all my Marcus Sedgwick books now too!
Thanks to my daughter, we seem to have an abundance of the purple Union Jack SCBWI badges. She took my advice to treat herself to a few Winchester souvenirs to heart.