I Should Not Be Posting Right Now

I shouldn't!

I have too much to do. But I can't help it.

I need to have strong beginning pages and an outline prepared for my WIP--work I’ve yet to share with anyone. Eek!

Do your new projects ever scare the crap out of you? Like...you like your idea and you're just hoping others will too? And pulling it off feels a little intimidating? (Please tell me yes and I'll feel lots better.)

I like my title. I like the idea. Now I’m afraid and hopeful of the verdict that will come back when I share it. First, I'll send it to my critique group. Then a couple other trusted writer friends. Deep breath...Cross my fingers and hope that what I’m trying to do is working for them and that they want to see more.

But...onto other things...

I'm excited for tomorrow. Not because I'll post Monday Moment #3. But the BIG award announcements are made by ALA. I love reading through the list of winners over and over again, and then I realize how much I've yet to read. sigh

Two years ago, I had the honor and pleasure of attending when Midwinter was held in Seattle. It was SCBWI's first time at ALA and we had a great time featuring local writers and illustrators in our booth, all the while looking forward to Monday morning's big announcements. I stayed with Sara for the weekend and I'll never forget our drive to the Convention Center. We were giddy girls, anticipating the excitement of it all. (I'm certain we squealed.)

It started with everyone lining up outside the ballroom, of course we got there early!

But look how far back in line we were. You should have seen how many people were behind us. (And yes, I know I look tired, because I totally was. It was a long weekend and very early in the morning.)

When the doors finally opened we got ourselves some great seats and we waited. The energy in the room was wonderful and by the time the announcements began, people were sitting on the floor.

Here I am, sitting with Meg Lippert and Sara Easterly. Later, Laura Kvasnosky slipped in and sat with us, too.

The announcements began and it was great fun to hear the room explode in cheer for the books people loved. But it became most exciting for us as the Theodor Suess Geisel Beginning Reader Award was announced and it went to Laura Kvasnosky's Zelda and Ivy: The Runaways, and she was sitting right there with us. Yahoo! Then...THEN we got to scream and whoop for Kirby Larson when Hattie Big Sky received a Newbery Honor. YES!

Here's a group of us later, gathered around Kirby, so happy to celebrate with her.

Then, immediately after, Laura was at the SCBWI booth, being interviewed and surrounded by people who were thrilled for her.

A wonderful weekend that I'm so happy I was able to be part of.

Tomorrow, others will get to experience the same in Denver, CO. The cool thing for those of us who aren't in Denver, we have the opportunity to sort-of be there. There will be a webcast starting tomorrow morning at 6:45 a.m. (pacific time) HERE. I know I'll be watching.