TLA - Newbie View

Oh HOLY COW - I walked past Lois Lowery in person and wondered why everyone was taking photos of this sweet looking little lady.  NOW I know.  Wow!  I must thank TLA people who put the conference together because it was outstanding.  I was very impressed with the speakers and the caliber of authors attending was just shocking   I almost fell over Saturday morning when I saw Libba Bray just walking through the booths.  ARE YOU KIDDING ME!  I just missed her time for signing books. But how awesome is that.

I loved my sessions over YA Lit book battles by Dr. Lesesne and Dr. Rosemary Chance from Sam Houston State University.  My TBR list is now taller than I am, which is TALL!  I really learned a lot in the AASL Winning Websites for education. I can't wait to share those great ideas with my teachers at my school. Then the Scholastic Breakfast was awesome with my friends from Everman ISD and Susan Geye. The even served mimosa and bloody marys - unlike any Gifted & Talented conference breakfast.  Seeing Ann Martin just get up and read to us was very neat.  I always picture authors as these great individuals sitting at their typewriters or lunching with an editor as if life was so easy.  But they were just there in real life sharing ideas with us like old friends.  How cool.  So exciting.

I also am thrilled to have all the great books the publishing companies kept handing me, how cool is that.  All this great knowledge under one roof and free books... it was like Christmas for me so much I forgot food one day.  (That says a lot for those of you that know me) But I can say, I may have to attend every year. Then I turned around and Neil Gaimen is speaking Saturday.  Wow.  Who cares about sleeping late, lets go...;o) Here is a pic of the pile of books I have collected. And way cool posters about reading and of course I had to have a Keep Calm and READ on shirt just to bother my teen son who has the CHIVE sign on his Jeep. ;o)