When I first approached the public relations director at Books and Co., The Greene, in Beavercreek, Ohio, about doing a tussie-mussie demonstration and signing, she was intrigued, but hesitant. When I upped the ante and told her I could assemble a four-author panel of YA authors, she was excited.

Turns out that YA Author panel idea is a great one. Even up against a new episode of GLEE, we had over 30 people come out on a rainy Tuesday night to listen and buy our books. A lot of our books.  Woo hoo!

And we all had a fabulous time talking about our books, plotting v. pantsing, content and language in YA, and why we write YA. Here’s the gang:

As Saundra observed, we are one Elevensie (Sara Bennett Wealer), four Tenners (Julie Kagawa, me, Kay Cassidy, and Kristina McBride), and a Deb (Saundra Mitchell.) Sara and Kristina came out to meet us and cheer us on.

It was so great to meet these awesome authors, and special congrats to Saundra on the release of Shadowed Summer in paperback!

Next stop for me, Cincinnati at Joseph-Beth on Saturday, June 12th at 2 pm. It will seem a little lonely up there, as I’m flying solo this time.

My dad always thought I was a little nuts to major in “big books” as he called it.  The Program of Liberal Studies, as it is officially called, wasn’t practical enough for him. Its completion guaranteed nothing other than knowing lots of answers to obscure questions about Kant or The Bhagavad Gita. We always joked we were good at cocktail party conversation.  But I LOVED it.  I adored the range of learning and the breadth of studying human history — math, philosophy, literature — from an historical perspective. The challenging primary texts and small classes made me think and articulate and dream.

My biggest dream? Why becoming a published author, of course!

So this weekend, I am thrilled to be signing at my alma mater, the University of Notre Dame, for my reunion weekend. It feels like a homecoming and a completion. I’m so grateful for the people who taught me there, for the books I read, and for the friendships I made there, including my husband.

And my dad? He wasn’t such a curmudgeon. He’s also the one who once gave me a card of a kid fishing in a puddle on the street outside his suburban home.  He told me it reminded him of my desire to be a writer. Which might not be so great, except that the stubborn and hopeful kid has a bucket full of fish next to him. (That card is now framed and hanging next to my desk.)  So while I’m at ND, I will lift a glass to my dad who passed away too many years ago, to bottomless puddles of ideas, and to coming full circle.

It was crazy wonderful to hang out with so many amazing writers, bloggers, editors, and publicists for three whole days in NYC. Here are a few of the highlights:

Meeting up with Sharon of SharonLovesBooksandCats at the amazing Strand Bookstore. Here’s a shot of Sharon and Steph of StephSuReads next to my book on the shelves. Yay!

About an hour later and after some book scores, Sarah Darer Littman and I headed to Teen Author Carnival at the lovely Jefferson Market Branch Library. Huge thanks to the amazingly organized organizers – bloggers Mitali Dave, Devyn Burton, and Korianne Wey. I was on the “Real Life” panel with a bunch of amazing writers, including Sarah, Lauren Oliver, Barry Lyga, Jon Skovron, Sara Mylnowski, Stephanie Kuehnert, Ned Vizzini, Courtney Scheinmel, and Melissa Walker. Our panel really gelled, and I had so much fun chatting and getting to know all of them. Hope our paths cross again!

After we had three sessions of excellent Q and A’s, we went into the signing area. I left my brain somewhere and forgot to bring my lovely swag to pass out, which was doubly unfortunate, because I was standing next to Linda Gerber who had brought ARC’s to pass out and sign and had a huge line. It took me about ten minutes to figure out that they were ARC’s and free.

I was thrilled to meet Emma, a twitter buddy, aka @sekritemusister or her blog, Booking Through 365. Vania of Reverie Book Reviews and my awesome swag designer came by to say hello.  And I also got to meet Kristi, the Story Siren, and give her a big hug. Here’s a shot with Mitali, me, and Kristi. I’m the one wearing flowers — kind of a theme with me.

Other highlights included meeting my Tenner and critique buddy, Denise Jaden, author of the forthcoming Losing Faith.  Denise and I were on the same wave-length, because I seemed to run into her everywhere. I also had drinks at the literary mecca, the Algonquin Hotel, with Tenner buddies, Jen Nadol, Dia Reeves, and Jackie Dolamore. Jackie and I crossed paths frequently, and I had a great time getting to know her.  She has an amazing mermaid book coming out next spring … more later. Jackie and I parted ways on Thursday when I couldn’t resist a signed audio version of Rick Riordan’s The Red Pyramid and she went off in search of a graphic novel for her beau. It was also fabulous to see “old” blogger friends, like James aka Book Chic and Susan of WastePaperProse. I also got to meet bloggers in person, including Khy, the Frenetic Reader, and Sarah of Sarah’s Random Musings.

Here’s a shot of Denise and me at BEA.

I also spent lots of time with the wonderful Irene Latham, author of Leaving Gee’s Bend, including a visit to the American Folk Art Museum, which was very cool. Jame Richards, author of Three Rivers Rising, another Tenner buddy, joined us for the museum and lunch. Here’s Irene in front of a very cool quilt.

My signing on the last day was amazing. I had a huge line of people for Forget-Her-Nots, and it was fun to meet librarians, bloggers, and book-lovers who were all excited to meet me. Toward the end, they had to tell me to sign faster and write less so we could get to everyone, which my publicist said was a great thing.

In short, it was a whirl of friends, books, laughter, and lots of walking. I’d do it again in a heartbeat!

I just can’t believe that I’m leaving for BEA on Monday. I am so thrilled to be a part of Teen Author Carnival on Monday at 5 pm the Jefferson Market Branch Library.  I’m on the Real Teen Life panel with some amazing authors — Sarah Mylnowski, Lauren Oliver, Jon Scovron, Barry Lyga, Melissa Walker, and more!!  Wow, I can’t wait. And I have so many Tenner buddies to meet, too!

If you’re at BEA and want our schedules to intersect, please tweet me (@amybrecountwhit) or send an email to amybrecountwhite@gmail.com. I’m also planning to hang out at the New York Botanical Garden to see their exhibit on Emily Dickinson’s garden and the poetry of flowers.  Sounds right up my alley, and I’ll be sure to post about it.

On Thursday, I’ll be signing at Table #21 at 3 pm.  I’d love to see you, so please stop by.

Authors, bloggers, friends — drop by and say hi to me and Vania tonight on her Teen Author Chat. Ask me anything about flowers, my publishing journey, or life in general. Tonight at 9 pm EST here.

Hope to see you!

I’ve had a busy week playing catch up, critiquing another novelist’s WIP, and trying to plan where I’ll be when. Next week back to putting the finishing touches on String Theories.  And I had my first Skype author visit this week to my high school best friend Ellen’s reading group in Las Vegas. They were tons of fun and asked great questions.

BTW, I am offering free Skype visits to any book group who reads Forget-Her-Nots.  Something to keep in mind …

Also, if you’d like to listen to my interview with Barry at “A Book and a Chat,” you can find it here. And I did  an interview with Metro Connection, at WAMU in Washington, D.C. here.

Today I am also pleased to welcome Vania S. who is renowned in the YA world for her atmospheric trailers, awesome design work, and her blog Reverie Book Reviews. For full disclosure, Vania designed my bookmarks, postcards, book plate, and business cards. I must say they are lovely and I get compliments on them all the time.  Welcome, Vania!

What’s your favoriteflower and why?

I love Birds of paradise or Dragon Lilies! Two of the most
gorgeous flowers and exotic!

Bird of paradise means “magnificence” in the language of flowers. Is there a quotation you live by or have posted at your desk?

I’ve recently learned to keep in mind that patience is a virtue! But I love this quote:

Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt.
- William Shakespeare

Ooo, I love that one, too!  It’s from Measure For Meaure.  Which book do you wish you could live inside?

Ohhh, good question! I think I would be fascinated to live in Laini Taylor’s DreamDark world!! If you’ve read ANY of her stuff, you’d know what I mean! It’s a world filled with delicious magic!!

She is on my list! Who’s your favorite dead writer? (We don’t want to hurt the
feelings of the living here!)

I’m a huge fan of Emily Dickens and Poe! *sigh* now there is
some great writing!

I can see that from your trailers.  What three novels should people run out and buy right now if they haven’t read it yet?

Both FIRE and GRACELING of Kristin Cashore’s, Laini Taylor’s LIPS TOUCH: THREE TIMES, and WINTERGIRLS by Laurie Halse Anderson. Three of the most amazing writers I have read!
If you could make a trailer for any book ever written, what would you choose and why?

If money was no object and I had the time….I would love to do FIRE. Can you imagine all the awesome locations and Fire would be awesome to translate. Ohh and costumes!Must get hands on Fire asap ….. What do you think is the most important thing that YA bloggers contribute to the YA Lit community?

What I love about the blogging community is the tight knit association and passionate love of books.And we recommend the books we love. A LOT!

Do you want to write a novel? Why or why not?
NO! I tried at one time, but I am bad enough with words when speaking, I can’t imagine trying to write and it make sense. Plus I don’t think my visual brain mixes well with the writing brain. SO separate!

I love your photos and designs. How would you characterize your style?

I like to call my photography laid back. I’d rather shoot outside, with natural light then in studio confines. I’m more proneto be laughing hysterically with my models while we’re shooting a fight scene. But as far as designs or any project I am working on it depends on the project itself. I wouldn’t have saturated colors in a haunting book trailer or blacks in designs for a chic lit book.

What’s your dream job?

I would love to keep doing what I am doing now. Photography, book trailers, etc.

And we hope you keep doing it, too!! Check out some of Vania’s work here. Or tweet her here.

One of the most interesting and challenging aspects of publishing a novel in this day and age is the number of reader reviews and reactions an author has access to. Like most newbie authors, I have a Google Alert set for my name and for Forget-Her-Nots. So I guess I’m not missing much of what is said about my book, at least not publicly.

A few weeks ago I had two reviews back to back on two different blogs within a 24 hour period. The first review discussed how sad and moving the novel could be with Laurel mourning her mom. The blogger had lost her own mom too young and was close to tears at several points in the novel. She said it wasn’t really her type of book — she prefers paranormals – but that she really enjoyed it and connected to my main character, because of its emotional resonance.

The second review posted a picture of a sparkly pink cupcake and said my novel was just like that:  pretty, sweet, easy going down, and without much nutritional value after you read it.

Wow. I had to laugh. Here are two readers who had read my novel (for which I am grateful) but had vastly different experiences of the exact same book.

This occurrence pounded home the fact that a book is not just words on a page. It’s not just what the author intended. A book is also about the life experiences the reader brings to it. We bring so much of ourselves along as baggage when we read. Obviously, the second reader (aka cupcake) hadn’t related any of her own life losses to that of my main character.

When J.D. Salinger died, a librarian friend of mine posted a question on Facebook. She asked those of us who had read Catcher in the Rye as teens if we’d also read it as adults and whether or not our experience of the novel had changed. Mine definitely had. As a teen, I was attracted to Holden. I found him fascinating and kind of noble in his quest against phoniness and desire for something real and authentic. Later, as a mom to two teen boys, I wanted to adopt Holden and show him what was good about the adult world. I wanted to show him that just because you grow up that doesn’t mean you give up your dreams or trying to be authentically your best self. I am a very idealistic adult.

And my own baggage? Jay Asher’s novel, Thirteen Reasons Why, has been sitting on my bedstand for about 7 months now, waiting to be read. I just can’t. I know it’s masterful, I know I’ll love it on some level, but I also know I can’t put myself through that vicarious pain and loss right now. I’ve never been able to read The Lovely Bones either.  Maybe next year.

Today I am thrilled to host Kathy Erskine. In addition to being a very sweet person, Kathy is the amazing author of the novels, Quaking and Mockingbird. In March, I had great fun hanging out with Kathy at the Virginia Festival of the Book.

Her most recent novel, Mockingbird has been getting starred reviews left and right and has already been declared a “masterpiece.” Kathy does an amazing job of getting inside the head of her main character, a 10-year-old girl named Caitlin who has Asperger’s Syndrome. Caitlin’s voice is completely believable and moving. I especially liked how Kathy put the dialogue in italics with no parentheses. That stylistic trick helps the reader experience conversations in a different way, just as Caitlin does in her world. Mockingbird’s packaging is small and unassuming, but it’s a powerful book that will let you step into another mind and stretch your own.

Welcome, Kathy!

What’s your favorite flower and why?

Wisteria – does that count?

Of course! In the language of flowers, the most common meaning I found for wisteria is welcome.

Is there a quotation you live by or have posted at your desk?

Be the change you want to see in the world.

Love that one! If you don’t do it, who will?

Which book do you wish you could live inside?

Inkheart, as long as I was able to get out again!

I really enjoyed Inkheart, too, but would need a break from all those bad guys.

Who’s your favorite dead writer and what book of his/ hers would you recommend? (We don’t want to hurt the feelings of the living here!)

Now that you ask, all I can think of are living authors.  When I was a kid, I loved the Arthur Ransome series:  Swallows and Amazons, Coot Club, We Didn’t Mean to Go to Sea, etc. or anything by Enid Blyton.

What book have you read more than any other and why?

I don’t generally read books multiple times.  I guess I’ve read several of Alexander McCall Smith’s No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency books more than once because I find them calming, amusing, and reminiscent of my childhood in Africa.

Was writing Mockingbird a cathartic experience for you after the Virginia Tech tragedy?

Yes.  It was a way of both processing what happened and addressing it.  I incorporated the horrible event by having Caitlin lose her brother in a school shooting and by trying to show the impact on the community.  I’d like to think that if we address issues early in childhood and throughout school (I don’t know what the Virginia Tech shooter’s psychological issue was but, obviously, it was significant) that we might be able to prevent such tragedies.  I hate to see school funding cut and needed services denied because of the negative impact down the road.  That’s why it was important to me for Caitlin’s school to have Mrs. Brook, the counselor.

What do you hope your readers take away from your novels?

Hope, that’s the main thing.  I’d like them to think, to laugh, to learn something in a fun way (e.g., about Asperger’s, about Quakers, about South African history), but mainly I want them to feel that there’s hope in any situation.

You have a child with Asperger’s syndrome. Did that help you find the voice of Caitlyn?

Yes, although my daughter has changed noticeably over the years so I really had to think a lot about they way she thought, the kinds of things she said, and what she did.  Also, I did a lot of research to be as authentic as possible.  I always do a lot of research.

Yes, I agree. Research is essential. Your other novel, Quaking, is YA? Why did you decide to write an MG novel for this story?

It just came out that way and, actually, despite the age of the character (10 at the beginning of the book, 11 by the end), the subject matter is weighty, and many consider it to be YA.

Yes, I definitely think lots of YA readers will be moved by Mockingbird. What’s coming out next from you and what are you working on now?

The Absolute Value of Mike, the story of a boy with a math learning disability and his genius father.  Obviously, there’s conflict right there, but this novel has a lot of humor and is full of things not being what they seem on the surface.  Mike is due out next summer (2011).  Currently, I’m working on a novel set in Virginia in the early 1970’s that has a bit of mystery in it and I don’t want to say too much more or I might give it away.  I’m also working on a contemporary humorous novel and an adventure set in the Middle Ages.  And an adult novel.  And a picture book.  I just need to clone myself.

I know what you mean, and I’m excited that you have so many novels yet to come. Your topics are certainly ecletic. (I love that word.) Thanks for coming by, Kathy.

Thanks for having me, Amy!

You can find out more about Kathy and her novels on her website here, and also follow her on Twitter here.

And don’t forget that my contest to win Mistwood by Tenner Leah Cypess ends today!!

It’s been forever since I posted, because I’ve been on the road locally doing readings and some creative marketing. It’s been great fun, and I’ve met lots of wonderful people. So here are a few snapshots from last week:

On Thursday and Friday, I was at the American Horticultural Society’s annual plant sale hawking my book and signing. One of the best parts was meeting Kathleen Gagan, aka the Peony Lady, who was just on Martha Stewart’s show. Kathleen is a marketing genius and came up with a brilliant name for her business:  Peony’s Envy.

Get it?! You can find out more about Kathleen and her business here. Of course I had to buy some, especially when I heard she had shade peonies, which I didn’t know existed. I can’t wait for mine to bloom! In the language of flowers, peonies mean shame or bashfulness. However, according to Martha Stewart, they symbolize good fortune in the Chinese culture. So let’s go with the Chinese translation. Peonies are wonderfully fragrant, and the plants last forever, i.e. a hundred years. As Kathleen pointed out to Martha, a peony plant can be handed down through the generations, which is a very cool idea. FYI, peonies also take three years to establish and bloom well, but they are definitely worth the wait. My neighbor has amazing peonies and brings me a huge bouquet every year!

I also sold and signed at several Virginia Garden Week events in Ashland and Fredericksburg. Again, I met lots of wonderful people who were so excited to read FHN and give it as a gift for special occasions. Here I am in Ashland:

Very pink!! I was also asked to speak about the language of flowers to several gardening groups and garden clubs, so I’m excited about that, too.

And, lastly, here I am at Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Va., doing a tussie-mussie demonstration and catching up with some old friends who came to see me.  Thanks so much to Kelly and Tess for making me feel welcome and being patient with me! (I had some directional challenges on the way. Must buy GPS system.)

I have a few days to rest and play catch up until the huge  Friends of the National Arboretum (FONA) plant sale on Saturday, April 24th, here in D.C.! And, the best news of all last week was that my wonderful agent Steven read and loved my new novel, String Theories. It’s about a girl who gets in over her head, the physics of relationships, a stream, and getting even. Whew! I didn’t realize how nervous I was. It’s completely different from FHN, and I’m very excited about it.

Next up: an interview with the amazing and sweet novelist Kathy Erskine, author of Mockingbird and Quaking.

** And my giveaway contest for Mistwood ends this weekend. Have you entered? Find out more here.

Today we welcome Susan Kusel, a children’s librarian in the Arlington County, Va., system, and one of my local librarians. Susan is also a columnist for the PBS.org column “Booklights” and the founder of the awesome DC Kidlit Book Group. She blogs at WizardsWireless.

Although we’ve only known each other a few months, I’ve been very impressed by the breadth, width, and depth of Susan’s knowledge about kidlit and her commitment to kids and books. Welcome, Susan!

What’s your favorite flower and why?

My favorite flower is the lily, because Susan means lily in Hebrew.  If I can have a second one, it’s the hydrangea. Blue  hydrangeas were part of my wedding bouquet and they’ve always been special to my husband and I since then.

In the language of flowers, lilies have different meanings according to their colors. A white lily symbolizes purity and sweetness, while an orange one is for coquetry. This one (at right) is a stargazer, one of the most fragrant. Its perfume will fill an entire house.

Is there a quotation you live by or have posted at your desk?

Am I allowed to make up my own? If so, it would be this: “Have the courage to be the first person to stand for a standing ovation and the last person to sit down.” You can accomplish anything, you just have to have confidence in your convictions and not be swayed by the rest of the crowd.

Which book do you wish you could live inside?

Harry Potter, Harry Potter, Harry Potter. Oh, and Harry Potter. Did I mention Harry Potter? Seriously, who wouldn’t want a magic wand?

Who’s your favorite dead writer?

Children’s or adult? For children, it would be Lucy Maud Montgomery, author of
Anne of Green Gables and many more. For adults, it’s Jane Austen, a writer who
needs no introduction. And in case you’re curious, if I had chance to meet any
living author it would be J.K. Rowling, hands down. Not particularly shocking,
given my answers to the other questions.

What book have you read more than any other and why?

This will probably stun your readers, but the answer is Harry Potter. It’s not because of the hype or the popularity (like I said above, I think it’s important to like something and stand by your convictions even if no one else does.) It’s because of the excellence of the writing. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve read the books (actually, I listen to them on audio, so I have them memorized) but every single time I discover something new. There are so many levels to the books, and so much humor and complexity mixed in. Also, since J.K. Rowling plotted all seven books before the first one was even published, there are endless clues buried in the earlier books about things that happen in the later books. I always say it’s not the first reading that makes them great (although it’s wonderful to read those scenes for the first time.) It’s in the rereading (and rereading) where the brilliance comes out.

The other great thing about Harry Potter is how it became famous. It wasn’t because of the author’s reputation. Jo Rowling was a first time, completely unknown and unpublished author whose manuscript was turned down several times before being accepted. The only reason it became famous is because of the quality of the writing and storytelling. I find that incredibly inspiring, particularly in a time where it seems like talent can be overlooked in favor of fame and celebrity.

It’s no coincidence that my personal blog is named Wizards Wireless!

Name three books that are too often overlooked.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows? Seriously, though, that’s a good question and a hard one to answer succinctly because there are so many. Here are some that spring to mind: The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery, the Great Brain series by John D. Fitzgerald, and King of the Wind by Marguerite Henry (which won the 1949 Newbery medal, so it’s hard to say it’s been ignored entirely).

What do you wish you could tell writers who visit the library?

I wish I could tell them to explore the world of children’s literature… particularly their own genre but to go beyond it. If you’re a heart surgeon, I expect you to know about and be familiar with major surgical breakthroughs or new research. If you’re a children’s writer (no matter if you write full time, part time or for an hour every other week), I expect you to know, and to have read this year’s Newbery and Caldecott winners, at a bare minimum.

I get frustrated by writers that don’t know anything about the field but what they or their friends write. Find out why a book has hype around it. Why did that book win the Newbery? Find out how a book even wins a Newbery. Do you know what the process and criteria are? If you’re a YA writer, do you keep up with the genre? Do you read picture books, and chapter books and early readers too? Get to know the field, the whole field, as it is now, not just what you remember from when you were a child. Need some help? Ask a librarian.

This is one of the many reasons I enjoy the DC Children’s Literature book club that I founded a few years ago. Over fifty children’s and YA authors are members (probably more by now, I’ve lost count). I love to hear their opinions and viewpoints and think it’s wonderful to watch them be engaged and involved with books by other writers.

Are there any topics or areas you think writers are missing out on?

Sure, but it’s much more important to write what you love and what inspires you. Nobody said to Neil Gaiman, “hey, Neil, what the market is really missing is a book of short stories about a kid who is raised in a graveyard by ghosts and a vampire.” No one said to Dr. Seuss, “Ted, the world needs sneetches. There is not one sneetch-related book currently on the market. You’ve got to write one, and be sure to show the view point of the ones with stars on their bellies.”

For example, one of the things that is currently hard to find is picture books about football for the five and under crowd. But would I recommend writing one? No. By the time your football picture book was published in a few years, the market will probably be flooded with them.  However, if there’s something about football that inspires you and there’s a story, angle, biography or piece of history that you want to pursue and would be good in that format and for that age group, I say go for it.  I’ve been lucky enough to see a few Newbery and Caldecott acceptance speeches live and I’ve read countless others. And not once have I heard or read anything to this effect, “I wrote this book because there was a hole in the market.”

What can writers do to help their local libraries?

Visit your local branch often and get to know the librarians there. Not because you want them to buy or promote your book, but because you want to get to know them and listen to their advice. Few people are truly as in touch with the market and with what the public really likes and reads than a librarian or an independent bookseller. You could ask the questions in this interview to virtually any librarian and they would all have great answers.

Ask librarians for help with your book (which they’ll be happy to give) and then be sure to thank them (individually and by name) in your acknowledgements. Even if the book doesn’t get published, be sure to write a thank you note. Share the behind the scenes stories about how you wrote the book with a librarian who is interested in it, so that they can pass that story on to the readers they talk with every day.

Please don’t walk into a library or a bookstore and demand that they carry your books. Speaking a former children’s book buyer at an independent store, I can tell you that selection is an incredibly complicated thing with many facets and factors and not nearly as simple as it might appear on the surface. And usually it’s not in the hands of the person at the desk or on the floor that you’re talking to. But it is occasionally, and you don’t want to rub that person the wrong way by being pushy and making demands. If your work is published by a known publishing house, the selector is most likely aware of your book. They have probably already taken a look at your book in a catalog (far earlier than the publication date) or seen it at a trade show. Not always, but usually, especially for booksellers, they’ve talked about it with their sales reps, they’ve read a fold and gather version of a picture book, been sent an advanced reading copy or read a review. Trust their judgment. Maybe your book is a masterpiece, but it just wouldn’t work in their market or community or fit their collection plan.

The most important people to get friendly with, in terms of sales for both libraries and bookstores, are your publisher’s sales representatives. These people are the ones who read every single book in the catalog every season, and the ones who actually go on the road and sell your book. They’re also the ones who talk to hundreds of booksellers and librarians and receive valuable feedback about your book that could help you when you write your next one.

Above all, include libraries in your work. Talk about them, speak at them and promote them. Writers who do this are greatly appreciated by the library community.

Thank you so much for this opportunity, Amy. I really appreciate it!

Thanks so much for all you do for Kidlit, Susan!!!