It was a zero-entry experience. Beyond actually just doing it and signing up, which was only a small risk since it was held in my home state of Texas, it was not the kind of new thing that I had to dive in and get it over with. It was easy and natural. I “knew” some of the people from years of reading their blogs and serving on Cybils’ committees together, and friendships that had already started a bit via Facebook, but other than Sherry, who I met once at a Houston book blogger meetup, I didn’t really know anyone. But I didn’t have to.
People who have attended the previous six conferences reunited gleefully, but those of us who were new were welcomed readily.
Why? There is a difference between this and other blogging conferences because it really is about a common love — books. Other events in which participants share a common love of blogging is broader and leaves participants with not much to discuss other than stats, and it often feels like a popularity contest. At Kid Lit Con (and in the Kidlitosphere in general), people just want to share their love of books and their desire to get the right books into the right kids’ hands. It’s easy. It’s enjoyable. It’s edifying.
It was a lot of fun, and I highly recommend that you attend next year if you have any desire at all. I think they try to rotate from central to west to east geographically, so look out West coast in 2014!
- Allie Jones of In Bed with Books
- Camille Powell of BookMoot
- Charlotte Taylor of Charlotte’s Library
- Chris Barton of Bartography
- Holly of Book Harbinger
- Jen Bigheart of I Read Banned Books
- Jen Robinson of Jen Robinson’s Book Page
- Jennifer Donovan of 5 Minutes for Books
- Julia Garza of January Day
- Katy Manck of BooksYALove
- Kelly Jensen and Kim Frazier of STACKED
- Lee Wind of I’m Here. I’m Queer. What The Hell Do I Read?
- Leila Roy of Bookshelves of Doom
- Maria Burel of Once Upon A Story
- Maureen Kearney of Confessions of a Bibliovore and Kid Tested, Librarian Approved
- Melissa Fox of Book Nut
- Pam Coughlan of MotherReader
- Paula Willey of Pink Me
- Rosemond Cates of Big Hair and Books
- Sarah Stevenson of Finding Wonderland
- Sheila Ruth of Wands and Worlds
- Sherry Early of Semicolon
There may be a few more who weren’t on this list, but this is most of the people who attended and those who were published previously.
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I love this post. It was great to finally meet you!
Thanks, Sheila. You too.
Kidlit lovers unite! 🙂
Yep, we did!
It was nice meeting you and everyone else at Kidlitcon!
You too! Let me know if you need some Houston kidlit love!
I’m so glad you came–it was lovely to meet you!
You too, Charlotte! I hope to see you again and keep in better touch in cyberspace.
The first time I went, I came away thinking “THESE ARE MY PEOPLE.” And that is why I go back every year. It’s so nice to talk about things I’m passionate about with other people who are passionate about them.
And it was lovely to meet you (finally!).
That’s exactly what I said when I shared a post on FB. Thanks for being so welcoming. The common interests and passion help, but everyone being so inclusive made it easy and fun.
I think you captured it in a nutshell, Jennifer. I’m glad (of course not surprised) that you found people welcoming. This is our tribe – we’re all thrilled to meet another member. And personally, after knowing you via blogs for years, it was especially a treat to meet in person. Hope to see you next time, too 🙂
You too! You were MY gateway into the kidlitosphere, and I appreciate that, so it was great to meet you personally. I do hope to make it back next year.
So glad that you could join us – and that we’ve brought another kid lit book lover into our real life world. Great time!
It was great. I really appreciate all the work that you and others did behind the scenes to make it happen, especially since it was easy for me to check it out this year.
Jennifer, it was great to meet you in person after reading your reviews posted to the Cybils blog! Hope you can make it next year. It was great talking books and just chatting. 🙂
Thanks, Sarah. You too!