Who knew being an artist included bacon?

I just got back from a whirlwind 10 days of being an writer, and just a writer. Since I normally balance being a writer with being a mother, wife, employee, and occasional (very occasional) bad plant mother, this was an unusual chance to me to soak in the creating and publishing world that I love so much.

First, I went to BEA, and I also got to visit with readers and authors at the Teen Author Carnival. It was great to meet booksellers, librarians, editors, agents, sales reps, bloggers, reviewers, and last but not least the very nice doorman at my friend Laurie's building who displayed unfounded but entirely appreciated trust and let me in at every hour. I also found out what Kringle is, at my publisher's booth, (a delicious pastry that tastes even better than it looks), and even met a bookseller who lives three blocks from my in-laws (I am surprised she hasn't already found a CANDOR flier pasted to her door! kidding.... although people in St. Louis should not be surprised if my mother-in-law thrusts a CANDOR card in their hands...).

Then I headed off to Kindling Words West, a wonderful 7-day retreat for published childrens' book writers and illustrators. We huddled up at the Mabel Dodge Luhan House in Taos, NM, which was not only gorgeous but boasted delicious and bountiful meals, including crisp hot bacon every morning. After Kathi Appelt got us going every morning with instruction and writing exercises, I pounded my way through over 21,000 words, soaked in the wonderful company of my writing colleagues, and also got to explore a bit of New Mexico. I think my favorite Taos experience was the vocal coyotes behind our room (particularly after my roommate assured me that coyotes do not leap ten feet up,  over barbed Reservation wire, and through windows to snack on bacon-fed chicks from DC).

I learned a lot from my generous colleagues at KWW. Among the lessons:

• No matter how many books you've published, or what awards you've won, the next one will tie you up in knots.
• So much of the publishing business is out of our control, no matter how hard we try to control it.
• Full-time writers are adept jugglers too, often doing school visits and editing jobs too.
• I am not a very good spoons player. Not yet, at least...

If you are a publisher childrens' book writer or illustrator, I can't recommend this retreat highly enough. I've already got the 2010 retreat on my calendar.

And now... back to my everyday reality, and the next 21K words!