SBCWI Con Day 1
WOW. What a day it has been! I am bone tired and it is just the first day! Nothing serious, though. Just the side effect of a whole day of excitement, great talks and a glass of wine.
Speaking of great talks, my favorite, favorite one was by the opening speaker, Sherman Alexie. Can I say he is brilliant? Can I say that I have a HUGE author crush on him? His speech was so full of emotion, honesty and well, love for books, for reading and writing. He spoke about his book, "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian", the parts of his life that went into the book and about the letters he received from his readers. One in particular brought tears to many an audience members eyes (including this one). It was a letter from a reader who told Sherman Alexie about being a foster child who lived in twenty different homes until he decided to run away and about how his life turned around after reading his book. Sherman Alexie was so touched by this letter. Sometime later, at a book signing event, a large Native American approached Sherman Alexie and told him he was the one who wrote that letter. The man continued to tell him how he found Sherman's book and read it again and again. About how went back to school, got his life together and continued to read books written by other Native American authors. Sherman's book changed this person's life. That was essentially Sherman Alexie's message. That YOUR book could touch someone out there, someone who NEEDS to read you book, to see that they are not alone, not the only one in pain. It gives them hope. I ran into Cynthea Liu and she told me about a similar letter she received from a fan about her book "The Great Call of China" (Great book!). A young reader loved it and told Cynthea that she was also an adopted child and about how much she identified with Cynthea's character, Cece. Pretty cool, huh?
I have some wonderful notes to share which I will post at a later date. So, ta ta for now . . .
m
Speaking of great talks, my favorite, favorite one was by the opening speaker, Sherman Alexie. Can I say he is brilliant? Can I say that I have a HUGE author crush on him? His speech was so full of emotion, honesty and well, love for books, for reading and writing. He spoke about his book, "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian", the parts of his life that went into the book and about the letters he received from his readers. One in particular brought tears to many an audience members eyes (including this one). It was a letter from a reader who told Sherman Alexie about being a foster child who lived in twenty different homes until he decided to run away and about how his life turned around after reading his book. Sherman Alexie was so touched by this letter. Sometime later, at a book signing event, a large Native American approached Sherman Alexie and told him he was the one who wrote that letter. The man continued to tell him how he found Sherman's book and read it again and again. About how went back to school, got his life together and continued to read books written by other Native American authors. Sherman's book changed this person's life. That was essentially Sherman Alexie's message. That YOUR book could touch someone out there, someone who NEEDS to read you book, to see that they are not alone, not the only one in pain. It gives them hope. I ran into Cynthea Liu and she told me about a similar letter she received from a fan about her book "The Great Call of China" (Great book!). A young reader loved it and told Cynthea that she was also an adopted child and about how much she identified with Cynthea's character, Cece. Pretty cool, huh?
I have some wonderful notes to share which I will post at a later date. So, ta ta for now . . .
m