Ugh I typed this all out once and none of it saved for some reason. I'll do a shorter version here sorry.
I went to Texas last week. I spent the first part of the trip in Houston, promoting my new book World Without Birds at the Texas Library Association conference.
Up here where I live, I can't think of a conversation about Texan librarians that isn't about how they're facing book bans and other harassment. I guess if you had asked me what I'd expect out of the Texas Library Association I'd say that it'd be a pretty demoralized group of folks. I'd have severely underestimated them. Looking out onto the massive conference floor, it was incredible to see thousands of brave folks defiantly but quietly doing what they'd always done and what they love to do: educating kids. It was emotional, if I'm being honest. I was proud to be a part of it.
I was on a panel about non-fiction books alongside a set of talented writers (Katie Kennedy [also repped by Kate McKean!]; Lesa Cline-Ransome; Sharon McMahon; and Tami Charles). It went OK, I think--I wish I had better answers to some of the questions--and the book signing afterwards was really lovely and humbling. I really appreciate my great editors and media folks at Hachette and Workman Kids, including Amanda, Laura, Karen, and many more. It's a genuine pleasure to work with these folks.
Plus, I have to say, I really love World Without Birds. Writing about extinction for a young audience is really hard, and I put a lot of thought and effort alongside my editors into how I could write something so heavy without it being too much. I'm proud of the result, and am glad that some reviewers recognize and agree with the approach I took.
OK, so, a really nice couple of days in Houston, and then my friend Brendan flew down to meet me for some serious, serious, serious, serious birding. That'll be in Part 2.
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| Part of the Hachette booth at the TLA Conference. World Without Birds is up there on the left, alongside a tons of other great books (including, just below mine, The Forest Revealed by Maine's own Jada Fitch) |