One of my favorite parts of being a publicist is having the opportunity to interact with librarians, teachers, fans, students, authors, and illustrators at trade shows around the country. The shows are fast-paced, packed with meetings, and leave your feet aching by the end of each day, but there is nothing like hearing librarians and teachers tell you how much children love your books. Whether the kids like the cover, one picture in particular, or even something as small as the color of the end pages, it’s always nice to hear that the details we pay such close attention to are noticed by our readers.

Next week we are off to Chicago for the ALA annual conference. It’s going to be a busy week filled with author signings, a 50th anniversary celebration complete with cake, dinners, and even the Newbery-Caldecott-Wilder Banquet! I can’t wait!

If you’re coming to ALA, make sure to stop by booth #1411 to say hello and enter to win some of our new fall titles in our daily book drawings. Here are some of our other signings and celebrations:

Saturday, July 11 in booth #1411
3:00 p.m. Sally M. Walker signing Written in Bone and Druscilla’s Halloween

Sunday, July 12 in booth #1411
10:00 a.m. Vaunda Micheaux Nelson & R. Gregory Christie signing Bad News for Outlaws

12:00 p.m. Rebecca Hogue Wojahn and Donald Wojahn
signing books from the Follow That Food Chain series

12:00 p.m. Kelly Milner Halls signing Wild Horses

3:00 p.m. Bob Raczka signing The Vermeer Interviews