Reflections From #Kidlitcon and Sacramento



1.First off, it was kind of surreal to be back at my old work place, some thirty years later!

I used to work at Weinstocks in 1984 on K street.


My YA paranormal CROSSED OUT takes place in Sacramento too!



















It felt so surreal to be back 'home'. Everything has changed with the city tearing up Downtown Plaza to make room for the King's stadium. Almost everyone, including the very friendly Super Shuttle dude, told me they worry about what impact the stadium will bring with parking and just driving.

Some things didn't change:


The amazing trees!

















2. Found this awesome Temple coffee house right around the corner from Citizen's Hotel:

Loved their iced tea Chai and iced mocha drinks!


















3. Yes, here's my blog saying! I took it from Cesar Chavez's famous quote. Chavez has special meaning to me as my bisabuela's--great-grandmother's-- family were migrant workers.





4. I met tons of bloggers and also FINALLY met Sheila, who is over the YA Speculative fiction panel.

5. And these two bloggers had tons of enthusiasm and energy. Loved!


**Check out their multicultural blog too!













6. Yes, I can be a part of a panel!















7. Also I finally GOT one of those #weneeddiversebooks pins!





















8. The biggest thing I learned?

DON'T BE AFRAID TO SPEAK UP! Don't be afraid to fight for diverse books to be out there.  Preorder the books.  Ask for them at your library, bookstores.  Write them!  **Yes, my current project as a strong Latina protagonist.  And when I 'shared' I'm going to do a spin-off series with Selena from No More Goddesses?  I got a few squeals!

Remember, this: Like Shannon Hale told us on her Skype visit, that story might be for that one child.

9. Speaking of that, I totally got goosebumps hearing this trailer for SUGAR:

10. Also I faced my fear of traveling by myself!  Yes, I usually travel with family but this was the first time since college that I did it all myself!  Yay!

Which included getting on flights, getting a Super Shuttle, and checking in at the Citizen Hotel!

**Now if I'd only get over being shy on getting photo taken!

Comments

Unknown said…
It was so great to finally meet you! You did a great job with your presentation. I hope to see you again. I know Baltimore's on the opposite coast for you, but who knows?
3:57 PM
Kim Baccellia said…
It was great to finally meet you, Sheila! I heard rumor that Kidlitcon will be in Arizona in 2016? I will be there then!
4:15 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

YA Scavenger Hunt: Meet Amalie Howard

Image
Welcome to YA Scavenger Hunt! This tri-annual event was first organized by author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors...and a chance to win some awesome prizes! At this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize--one lucky winner will receive one signed book from each author on the hunt in my team! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for 72 hours! Go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page to find out all about the hunt. There are THREE contests going on simultaneously, and you can enter one or all! I am a part of the BLUE TEAM--but there is also a red team and a gold team for a chance to win a whole different set of signed books! If you'd like to find out more about the hunt, see links to all the authors participating, and see the full list o...
Read more

Week #1 Motivation

Image
“You can sit there, tense and worried, freezing the creative energies, or you can start writing something . It doesn't matter what. In five or ten minutes, the imagination will heat, the tightness will fade, and a certain spirit and rhythm will take over.” – Leonard Bernstein Welcome to: I admit it.  This last month I started off with the right intentions but my one part-time job held me back from doing all I wanted to do. I know, I know. For today I'll be using something out of THE POCKET MUSE by Monica Wood for an idea on how to help kick that muse into working. ...Set an egg timer for forty-five minutes, and don't get out of the chair until the timer dings.  Even if you sit starting at the page the entire time, you're ingraining a habit... What are some ways the rest of you help get the motivation feeling back? Remember I'm cheering for you! Also share what your weekly goals are this week.  Don't be shy! My goal is to finis...
Read more

Week #2 Revisions

Image
"I am hard at work on the second draft...Second draft is really a misnomer as there are a gazillion revisions, large and small, that go into the writing of a book." -Libba Bray Hi, everyone!  How did you do with your goals for last week?  I admit, I wasn't as good as I should have been.   But remember: Now that school and scoring tests is over, I can concentrate more on my writing. I noticed a number of you are working on revisions so I thought I'd make that our theme for this week. Is this you? Do you dread revising? Or do you have revision angst? I'm kind of in the middle.  I've been known to spend forever just on one paragraph to get it right. I love this other quote: "I've found the best way to revise your own work is to pretend that somebody else wrote it and then to rip the living sh*t out of it." -Don Roff In the book THE WRITER'S BOOK OF WISDOM 101 RULES FOR MASTERING ...
Read more