I attended the Kansas SCBWI Conference this past weekend and it's amazing how inspirational these events are.  What a great collection of guest speakers and writers.  I wish for more time in the day to get all of my new ideas on paper. 

Bruce Coville started off the event on Friday night.  He is quite the dynamic speaker!   I don't know if he got me more excited about writing or saving the world!  His closing speech made me feel as if I had been "churched!" 

"Voice" was Coville's first topic and no surprise even someone as brilliant as he can't teach or describe "voice" effectively.  I think if someone could come up with the recipe for "voice," they should immediately get an agent and a book deal.

Eve Adler, an Associate Editor with Henry Holt Books for Young Readers, gave many helpful pointers on how to avoid scaring off an editor.  She says they are looking for educational books primarily.

Ruta Rimas was enjoyable, but didn't feel she has much interest in picture books.  If you have a MG or YA about a cat or doughnuts, you might be in!

The big talk was about the agent, Ted Malawer who left Firebrand Literary Agency since it shut its doors a few weeks prior to this conference.  Everyone was abuzz about the "dirt" before his talk!  He put it all to rest when he announced he joined up with Upstart Crow Literary with his old co