ALA Report #2

I have pictures to share and stories to tell and authors to gush over. I'm very, very behind, as the pictures keep piling up.

But I just got back from listening to Neil Gaiman's speech (thank you to the people who put chairs in the back for people to come and listen who can't/don't attend the banquet!!). And so I must spend a few moments before my head hits the pillow sharing what I can with you in a very small way.

Here is Neil. He has a very nice, British accent. You can listen to him read THE GRAVEYARD BOOK if you'd like. He does the audio version himself. (BTW, he was dressed differently than this for accepting the award, but I was sitting far away and didn't get a good picture. So this will have to do)



I really wish you all could have been there to listen.

He made me laugh.

He made me cry.

And deep in my heart, even though I am such a tiny fish in the vast, amazing ocean, he made me feel like what I do as a writer matters. I thank you, Mr. Gaiman, especially for that.

A few quotes for you to ponder:

While talking about the Newbery discussions last year about popular books vs books that are good for you, he said something like, it became apparent I was supposed to choose sides. And then he said:

"But I always have been and always will be on the side of books that you love."

Other notable quotes:

"Sometimes fiction is a way of dealing with the poison of the world."

"Children's fiction is the most important fiction of all."

Wow. Just wow.