“People say you should write what you know, and I don’t think that’s true. I think you should write what you can imagine. That ability, that’s what makes you an author.”

— Walter Dean Myers at the Texas Book Festival, Austin 2004

Had a delightful day at the Texas Book Festival with Greg.

We went to readings by Austinite Brian Yansky on My Road Trip To The Pretty Girl Capital of the World and my friend, Alex Sanchez, on So Hard To Say.

I stayed on for a panel with Sherry Garland on Voices of the Alamo, Judy Alter on Sam Houston is my Hero, Mary Penson on Billy Bardin and the Witness Tree and Julie Lake on Galveston’s Summer of the Storm. Here’s sending up a special cheer for Julie, an oh-so articulate TBF first-timer. Julie also headed up Austin SCBWI‘s first ever exhibit booth at the festival, which looked spectacular!

Last, but by no means least, we stayed on to hear a discussion with Kimberly Willis Holt, Walter Dean Myers, and (again) Alex Sanchez on YA writing. It was my first time to ever hear Myers speak, and he was every bit the gracious gentleman, genius, and living legend I expected. Kimberly is a long-time friend, and I look forward to speaking with her myself in Houston in January.

Author sightings also included Dianna Hutts Aston, Frances Hill, Mary Lankford, Diane Gonzales Bertrand, Jane Peddicord, D. Anne Love, and April Lurie.