Just blew in...

...from the Windy City. I got in last night, went to bed as soon as Max did, and got up when he did. So, slept like a toddler. It felt great. Maybe I'm a wimp, but those trips exhaust me! It was so wonderful to see Max. I just held him and kissed his cheeks for some time, then we sang songs and played with puppets (his favorite game). He's bigger than he was five days ago! And smarter, too. It's amazing.

Despite missing my boys, Chicago was fantastic. I got to be with so many cool people! It's hard at signings when there's a line and I'd like to chat for an hour with each person but we have to move it along. Monday I was lucky enough to have breakfast with Linda Sue Park (she won the Newbery for the marvelous A Single Shard), and just basked in her beauty and wisdom. She has a helpful website, which I've visited many times. I did joint author presentations with K.M. Grant, author of the sweeping historical drama, Blood Red Horse. She was hysterical. I'd love to do more joint touring with other authors, especially if they're as fun and entertaining and funny as Katie Grant.

Janette Rallison was great fun, as always, and all the Bloomsbury ladies, and I was so happy to run into Holly Black. On my last night I somehow tricked Holly, Tony and Angela DiTerlizzi, and Eric Rohmann into thinking that I was cool enough to have dinner with them. The suckers. It was probably good that I went home the next day because I don't think I could have laughed any more. Children's and YA lit is filled to brimming with fun, great people. So cool.

One funny moment--I stressed with much anxiety about the talk I would be giving at the IRA Convention, the whole reason for the trip. I worked on it for hours, rehearsed it for my husband. Wednesday, I walked into my assigned room, finding an enormous, cavernous space with about 2000 empty seats. 15 very kind people did trek the 2 miles through convention center corridors to come and listen. Bless them.