Picture Book Retreat

Oh, what a weekend it was! I attended the Ventura/Santa Barbara SCBWI Picture Book Revision retreat last weekend and wow, did I have a great time! I met four fabulous editors (stay tuned for Mini-Views in the next few weeks) from Peachtree Publishing, Candlewick, FS & G, and Balzer & Bray. My head is still spinning from input on my work, writing in general, creativity, socializing and making general merriment (our regional advisor likes to keep us busy and aren’t writers and illustrators fun folks to hang out with?).

I even learned a new word, I’m a bit shy to admit. “Meta-fictional: fiction which refers to or takes as its subject fictional writing and its conventions” (Webster). In other words, when one of my characters is blown out of the book, THAT’S metafictional. I had no idea, but gosh, I love it when I learn something new!

Here’s a photo of me with two of my favorite blog buddies, Tina Nichols Coury and Jill Corcoran. Please check out their blogs. I’m sure Tina will have a video of the retreat posted on hers soon and Jill always has terrific, informative posts on writing.