Here’s my running commentary of the ALA Conference in Anaheim, along with a few snippets from other blogs.

After my last post, I meandered the labyrinth they call the ALA exhibit hall and once again, almost caved into the temptation to buy some modernesque bookshelves. They sell them in batches of 12, however, and since I only need one, I had to pass.

The bulk of my time was spent reuniting with the sales and marketing folks of sundry publishing houses. I took some photos, but they were universally useless due to my photographic dyseptitude, so I’ve stored the camera for the remainder of trip.

Anaheim weather: crips air, moderate temps, cool nights.  I can deal with this, since it was 101 degrees and 97% humidity the day before I left the east coast.  I was actually cold this AM as a I walked to breakfast.  Good thing I brought along my jacket/purse.

Last night was a lovely reception with Harper.  Saw several friends from ALAN and then went to dinner with the wonderful, wonderful, wonderful Greenwilow folks, Sid Fleischman and Kevin Henkes.  The food was to die for, and the conversation was better.  I’ve truly been blessed.  The ride home was courtesy of the most locquasious cabbie ever.  Wish I’d had a tape recorder–or less jetlag.

First order of business after the HC breakfast was the exhbit hall.  Whoa!  This thing is huge. Take a NCTE convention and at least double it, complete with interesting people selling bookshelves and furniture.  I don’t need to buy a hundred bookshevles, but they do have some nice stuff. Hmm.

Mary Pearson and Laurie Halse Anderson were signing at 10.  I snagged an autograph from Mary and took a quick (totally unstable) pic and went to find Laurie’s line.  Ha! It was andaconda-esque, thick and long enough to stretch around the corner.  Since I have line ADD, I’ll try for the next signing.

Unfortunately, I also missed a few signings I want to attend, due to jetlag and an overwhelming desire to take a nap. Once the nap was over, I trundled down to the Disney Grand Hotel, which mimics a California Arts & Crafts lodge, complete with plastic boulders in the lobby, and made my way to the Downtown Disney (where’s Uptown Disney?) for dinner with the lovely and talented folks from Candlewick. Tobin Anderson was the guest of honor, and I spent the evening in conversation with Goddess Teri Lesesne, past-Printz chair Cindy Dobrez and Candlewick publisher Karen Lotz. Conversation topics included Route 66, people in bunny suits, and snipers. The meal was, as always, terrific, and the company was unrivaled (Dr. O., I have something for you). Tobin Anderson is So. Damned. Smart.

After collecting a few galleys and signatures (including Nancy Viau’s Samantha Hansen Has Rock in Her Head. I read the first two chapters on the shuttle and am loving it.), I ventured over to the Marriott to hear the teen advisors for the BBYA Committee talk about their reading lists to a appreciative crowd (This is my first ALA, and I’ve been impressed with the way that the opinions of teens are honored. This is a very kid-friendly conference.), and I tell you what, these teens don’t hold back. If they love it, they LOOVE it. If they don’t love it, they tell you why in great detail. Though I didn’t always agree with all of their insights (’cuz, y’know, I’m not supposed to), I adored their candor. It’s great training for any YA author who wonders how teens respond to certain books and certain cover elements (hint: the cover better match the book). But don’t go if your book in on the list–unless you’re wearing body armor because a thick skin isn’t going to be enough.

Sunday ended with the huge banquet to celebrate the honor and award-winning books for the Newbery and Caldecott. I know professornana and halseanderson (who took pics of each other taking pics) will soon blog in great detail (Laurie has video), so I’ll limit my post to three things: sparkling silver shoes, moles removed by bears, and a heartfelt thank you to Greenwillow and HarperCollins for hosting me at this event for the first time. If you ever, ever get the chance to attend, take it.

Because I’m a rotten camera operator, I’m exhibiting the YouTube talents of Elizabeth Bird, who blogged ALA for SLJ.  This footage was taken before a reception for bloggers by Feiwel and Friends, followed by the Hyperion cocktail party.