The SCBWI summer conference

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So, I was winding down after the gigantic schmoozefest that was Comic-Con, when I realized that the SCBWI (Society of Children's Books Writers and Illustrators) summer conference was starting on Friday.  Two consecutive weekends of professional conferences/conventions... oh boy!  I girded my loins, gathered my remaining samples, and bolted off to the Hyatt Regency in Century City, ready to remind the children's publishing world of my existence.

Generally, I think I did a pretty good job of that, and a number of people provided some really good leads for me.  I met a few new friends, and renewed my friendship with several folks (including the amazing Bruce Coville, who, during the big "Red" masquerade party, high five'd me when I told him about the "Honey Cake" cover for Random House). www.randomhouse.com/catalog/di… In a way, I guess I've sort of arrived on the publishing scene already, though it's hard to remember that sometimes while I'm slaving away over my desk or opening bills.  Today I met Adam Rex (illustrator of "The Dirty Cowboy" and "Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich") looked at my portfolio, and told me I was on my way.  We talked shop for the most part.  (i.e. "Hey, what about Wizards of the Coast?" or, "Man, that contract was strange.")  I'm sure such a conversation would be pretty boring to anyone who's not an illustrator, but I thought it was very cool.   

What was especially cool that when he autographed "Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich," he happily drew Cthulu when I asked him to.  I was buying it for my roomie B., who is a ginormous Lovecraft fan.  After he drew the tentacles, A. added the bat wings, saying that he needed to make it appropriately "non-Euclidean."  When he finished, he eyed it appreciatively and said it was his best Cthulu ever.

BEHOLD THE INDESCRIBABLE HORROR!



I so need to get a Cthulu plushie now.