Some of the 2,498 authors and illustrators I ran into (in no particular order)...
This year's Newbery winner (When You Reach Me), Rebecca Stead:
Paul Zelinsky was wearing a vest made from fabric that has his artwork on it. Totally cool.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCNTU6bCn3fX-chyphenhyphenHcLVNsRu2MFcMavp2rCEwa4263GFxaKznAl4NvnSqYrs4jYBmFYkiGzWPfMYUNNlE415n-_HxZUIdXPZUJpjCia7J7A_SphC_ThHDoB2CA8tj8JvpWrIqKbWwjpgw/s400/paul.jpg)
I finally got to meet author Sara Lewis Holmes. She gave out little plastic army guys at her signing for Operation Yes, is uber cute, and has a darling little Southern accent. How could I not love her?
I was so glad to meet agent Linda Pratt, of Fogelman Agency. She represents my good friend, Augusta Scattergood:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUaM_voG284V2qdOan2A1K_4p7g5dr8YJUbSIJ2zrfX6BJe2LqNu2d4aExezRVwAhNochMPf-1eUeNbVTkY7lR36x5XoYbQGYZBGEkElBrmlhiyuNctWFu3x0KBU5RdskmooTvhc8yVvU/s400/lindapratt.jpg)
Another online pal I finally got to meet was Kim Norman. Kim makes you want to hug her immediately (which I did):
A highlight for me was chatting with the amazing Karen Cushman. I don't think I've raved about her latest book nearly enough. I'm a big big big big Karen Cushman fan. (And she gave me the scoop on how to score Kirby Larson's arc.)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYMs6Ut5yMi8WvLryZVwUtk0fRvipCjHy9-ScCmF6mneLgIZBYt4zi35hDzxutCoIWGdqQdcTQ7wrZAVWvYKKg6u_w8Vg0M8MrZKGIdeuvjPUv5T-bQHOqYRhPCuwDWNdQGTSXfICFivY/s400/karen.jpg)
Another highlight? Getting to hug my friend, Grace Lin, this year's Newbery Honor winner, on one of the most exciting days ever. The Newbery banquet was that evening (alas, I did not attend). She is beautiful through and through. (And I guessed correctly which dress she was going to wear to the banquet.)
Eric Rohmann was at the Macmillan dessert party with Candace Fleming (who said I could call her Candy cause we're good friends, like that, now) and is kind of hilarious.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpvdW5xiUWeGQ-97fXbZ6iAdq_W3q9MnSq-a7_QI0tmxTqVV8OuFJ2_y0lu4AXlJyl1v1NGZ2KhpdEKnEZZAiI3czDUeJoTKRO2o7CwbgWoe0_M66HjsG6udcncH20YnKLkIn9c9pU9zQ/s400/eric.jpg)
And last, here is a giant wreath of bar stools. Just cause I like it (and no, I wasn't trying to sit on them and order a Cosmo):
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2wTEmesVFDQ3HGejqAKLbm2LnDH7DJy8tNl8eKwGE-vQQ39upMEHRxRlbmVK-sF83Ye78NXHzzXy8gOd4SF9WhYjz53BLBdshmNymC51DEMB4pTIRk7sknOIE9EoNclO1xh9NuThOxbE/s400/stools.jpg)