MY DINNER WITH ANDY

Having dinner at one of my favorite restaurants is great, but with a good friend is even better!

I met up with former Brooklynite/current Milwaukeean (is that a word?), brilliant author/illustrator, and dear friend, Andy Rash. We had a great time, chowing down and talking books.

And speaking of books, if you don't know Andy's books, you should!

So adios, old chum. It's back to Wisconsin for you and back up town for me.

PEQUOT LIBRARY FESTIVAL!

What an honor to be invited to the Pequot Children's Book Festival!

And what a star-studded list of authors! It was such an honor to be included in this auspicious group.

I'm not sure if the kids and parents attending knew that it was just as much fun for us as it was for them to hang out with children's books authors and illustrators. I ran into some old friends, as well as new ones.

Marc Tyler Nobleman was there.

And so was the brilliant Tony Abbott.

I got a chance to catch up with Bryan Collier.

As well as with Ann Haywood Leal.

I rode the train back to NYC with Mr. R.L. Stine! We discussed all things books, TV, film, but oddly not a single mention of monsters.

PICKLEFEST!

Why are all of these people gathered in the Lower East Side of Manhattan? The president? Free iPods?

No! It's for Picklefest! I never even knew there was such a thing. 

I'm sure I speak for most of us when I say pickles are fantastic! But they're even more fantastic when they're right out of the barrel (and free).

I couldn't help myself! I HAD to buy a jar to take home (or at least munch on as I headed home).

Something tells me I ate too many pickles. I feel kinda green.

A COMMUNITY OF ILLUSTRATORS: A CONVERSATION WITH 4 LOCAL CHILDREN'S ILLUSTRATORS

I was graciously invited to be part of a very distinguished panel of children's book author/illustrators by the Metro chapter of the SCBWI. The big event will take place on December 10 at 7:30, so mark your calendars! To order tickets, click here.

The other panelists will be:

Mr. Brett Helquist.

Mr. David Gordon.

And the lovely Ms. Kelly Light.

So please come! I'm sure it will be illuminating, enlightening, and a lot of fun.

See you there.