Wow, I just got back from an amazing and inspiring conference at the Yarrow Golf and Conference Center in Augusta, MI…a beautiful, scenic wooded lodge was just the place to begin a brisk Autumn weekend.

The conference – in a word – was fantastic. I met some wonderful contacts, heard some terrific speakers, met new friends, and reconnected with old ones. Another great connection was meeting people I sort of know – people I know only from the SCBWI-MI ListServ, and was great to put faces to names and turn imaginary friends into real friends.

I had a manuscript critique with an industry giant editor – the author of “the Complete Idiot’s Guide to Children’s Book Publishing”, Harold Underdown. In short, he told me exactly what I needed to hear to make my writing better, and I am going to make all of his suggestions happen. Editing and revision is the most important part of any manuscript.

My favorite session? Was definitely meeting, interacting, and making a new friend in author-illustrator Matt Faulkner. Matt was a down-to-earth guy and gave a session on the ins-and-outs of puting together a picture book (extremely helpful) as well as cautionary experiences with protecting your rights in a bunny-eat-bunny business of kids book publishing.

I also met a slew of industry art directors, editors, and agents, who all shared the same message of encouragement and hope.

Awesome weekend.

Next: I will be speaking at MAME 2009 in Traverse City.