My appreciation to author-illustrator Mark G. Mitchell for his gracious introduction!
Thanks also to the Austin youth literature community, Austin SCBWI, and the Writers’ League of Texas as well as my mentor, Kathi Appelt, and my husband, Greg Leitich Smith. I was surprised and touched by how many of our children’s-YA book community members turned out–cheers to you all.
Huge congratulations! You looked resplendent. Well-deserved!