Yesterday afternoon, Greg and I were featured speakers at an Author Open House at the Howson Branch of Austin Public Library.

The program was in celebration of National Library Week. Other authors on the bill were Elizabeth Fernea, Lewis Gould, James Hornfischer, Camille Kress, J.F. Margos, Fernando Saralegui and Evan Carton.

The librarians were pitching Coretta Scott King Award Winner Bronx Masquerade by Nikki Grimes, which will be a highlighted title for their YAYA Book Club spring 2005 Series (5 p.m. Wednesday, April 27, Howson Branch, 2500 Exposition).

We were delighted to meet with so many Tarry Town readers, including writer Cynthia Levenson. Afterward, we had a pleasant surprise when we ran into author Lisa Waller Rogers at the pharmacy.

All in all, a splendid afternoon!

Cynsational News and Links

“Getting Past the Horror: The Beauty of the Synopsis” by Lisa Keeler from the Institute of Children’s Literature.

Reminder to those entering the Hyperion Books for Children’s Paul Zindel First Novel Award, the deadline is April 30.

From The Bank Street College of Education, the 2004 Irma Simonton Black and James. H. Black Award Winners are: Knuffle Bunny, A Cautionary Tale written and illustrated by Mo Willems (Hyperion). Honor Books: The Firekeeper’s Son written by Linda Sue Park, illustrated by Julie Downing (Clarion Books); Henry and the Kite Dragon written by Bruce Edward Hall, illustrated by William Low (Philomel Books)(see photos of the book signing party!); Wild About Books written by Judy Sierra, illustrated by Marc Brown (Knopf).*

A special congrats to my pal, Linda Sue!

It is also worth finding out what Greg is appalled about.

*Savvy Notice: most of these also were publisher “push” books.