I spent the last couple of days in Houston for TLA (Texas Library Assoc annual conference). I love Texans and love librarians, so obviously this is an excellent conference. (and they gave us cowboy hats and fake mustaches!) I kept meeting people there who said, "I met you last time you were here two years ago." And I thought, I was here two years ago?
And then I did the math--I would have been preggo. With twins. Nauseated to my eyeballs. And I have no memory of attending TLA. Nothing. I couldn't drag up a single image. Someone said there was a dinner I was supposed to attend but didn't go (probably vomiting in the hotel) where I would have shared a table with those librarians and Suzanne Collins.
Yesterday I was on a panel about graphic novels with an excellent group of lads: Gareth Hinds (The Odyssey, King Lear...), Ben Hatke (Zita the Space Girl), Orson Scott Card (Ender's Game, Laddertop...). Near the end, we were asked a question about something, Gareth answered, it was my turn, and I started to pontificate on how important GNs are for kids and especially certain kinds of readers, and how difficult it would be to find or even publish GNs for young readers without the awesome support of libraries. And I started to cry. Blubber, really, getting embarrassingly emotional, because as much as I yearn to be in total control of my face at all moments, I do that. Mom thing? Me thing?
When I was done, I think there was an awkward silence, and the moderator went to the next person down the line, OSC, repeating what had apparently been the question: "What are you working on now?"
Yep. That had been the question. Not, "Can you sum up why GNs matter, who is to thank for their existence, and why you want to mouth kiss every librarian you meet, and toss in some tears while you're at it?" Nope, I was just supposed to talk about my current project.
OSC said gamely, "I'm not following that."
Afterward, it all started to feel awfully familiar. I looked back on my blog and found my post after last TLA. You guys, I did it there too! The very same speech probably, oozing very similar and equally damp emotions!
I wonder if I'm getting a reputation. If when I show up to conferences, my fellow panelists look at each other and think, oh great, we got the blubberer.
Awkward tears aside, let me just say again, THANK YOU, LIBRARIANS. Thank you.
You are so funny (and amazingly honest!)
Posted by: Shelly Brown | April 20, 2012 at 10:20 AM
This post just made my morning. You have to have moments like that, because otherwise your Mythical Fabulous Writer status would just be too much for us mere mortals!
Posted by: Cindy Baldwin | April 20, 2012 at 10:24 AM
Aww! Cute picture! I was at the Texas Tea also. What a fun event! So great meeting you yesterday, and thank you for the encouragement with my querying!
Thanks so much for making the trip to Houston. We appreciate it! :)
Posted by: Kristin Rae | April 20, 2012 at 10:27 AM
Love it! Wish I was a librarian in Texas, we need a meeting in AZ where you can blubber all you like.
Posted by: melissa @ 1lbr | April 20, 2012 at 10:27 AM
I went to elementary school in Texas and I still remember my librarian. She was fantastic!
Posted by: Heather | April 20, 2012 at 10:42 AM
You're welcome! (we love you, too)
Posted by: Robin | April 20, 2012 at 10:51 AM
You know Shannon, even when you're human, you kind of do it better than most. :)
Posted by: kristen chandler | April 20, 2012 at 11:09 AM
This just makes me want to get to TLA even more! We librarians love you right back, and we can get teary over graphic novels too.
Posted by: A Facebook User | April 20, 2012 at 11:18 AM
That is eerie and a little bit funny. I hope it wasn't too embarrassing. At least you have the good sense to laugh about it! Because seriously, librarians are AWESOME. :)
Posted by: Christen | April 20, 2012 at 11:45 AM
I think it is a mom thing. I cry more now than I did when I was a teenager!
I finished reading MIA and LOVED it! Thank you so much for writing that book and giving me a few hours of escape. I was literally smiling the whole time, and I laughed quite a bit too. I've discovered something about when I read: I feel a certain kinship with the author. Usually, I people feel it with the characters, but for me, I feel it with the author. So although we may never meet, thank you for you "friendship." I love your books. Every one of them. :)
Posted by: SarahJennette | April 20, 2012 at 12:10 PM
LOL, what a great memory you now have! It's good to believe in something so completely. :)
Posted by: Amie | April 20, 2012 at 12:52 PM
It was awesome, Shannon. I didn't want to follow that any more than OSC! (also it was nice meeting you).
Posted by: Ben Hatke | April 20, 2012 at 01:29 PM
We love you, especially because you're a blubberer! Thanks for being gracious about being pulled from your YART dinner so I could squeal like a third grade girl in your presence and letting me take a picture to send home proving that I was hob-nobbing with literary greatness!
Posted by: laura | April 20, 2012 at 02:19 PM
Shannon, we all love you whether you're blubbering and tearful or not. You're inspirational and amazing and a zillion kinds of awesome. (Only wish I'd been there to see you in person!)
Posted by: Heather Scott | April 20, 2012 at 02:27 PM
Whoa, Ben Hatke is a friend of mine! And Orson Scott Card? Sounds like an awesome panel!
Posted by: Elenatintil | April 20, 2012 at 02:37 PM
Librarians love you, too, Shannon! Come to our conference in GA and blubber anytime!
Posted by: Beth G. | April 20, 2012 at 03:22 PM
Shannon, we are so glad you were able to join all the festivities this year. We loved having you at TLA!
Posted by: Readjunkee | April 20, 2012 at 04:40 PM
and THAT's why you're the coolest.
Posted by: Alysa (Ruby Diamond) | April 20, 2012 at 06:23 PM
LOVE the photo...I agree with the need for graphic novels and would have been blubbering right along side you. Librarians are truly amazing people!
Posted by: Amelia Loken | April 20, 2012 at 08:03 PM
Thanks for loving me-I'm a Texan! YAY!
Posted by: Julia | April 20, 2012 at 08:10 PM
I was In the front row and started blubbering (and I don't have kids do it's not just a mom thing!)too. You were not alone! Thanks for writing great GNs for us to support!
Posted by: Christina | April 20, 2012 at 08:24 PM
I wish you would come to Texas and actually do a public event that I could come to because that would be awesome.
Posted by: melody | April 20, 2012 at 10:52 PM
I ran into OSC at the airport, and asked him how the panel went. He said you were delightful (or some similar positive word). I'd have to concur.
Posted by: David Lubar | April 21, 2012 at 06:50 AM
Thank you so much for coming back to TLA!
Posted by: Jen Bigheart | April 21, 2012 at 08:56 AM
It was so great meeting you at the Texas Tea! Even though I was probably the only non-librarian there. But that's okay, because you're right, librarians are awesome people to hang out with :)
Posted by: Laura Mills | April 21, 2012 at 02:49 PM
Shannon, I just love you. The end. :)
Posted by: Rachel C | April 21, 2012 at 03:57 PM
Here's another pic of you at the Tea: http://www.flickr.com/photos/55846418@N05/7102426439/
Posted by: Readjunkee | April 22, 2012 at 11:12 AM
Maybe this is just me, but I think I would be most upset about not getting to meet Suzanne Collins...but then if I had been at that table and you had been there too, I would have been spectacularly happy to be sitting and talking to two of my favorite authors...But the crying story is so sweet. I love your passion for writing, reading, writers, and readers! Thanks for everything you write and are :)
Posted by: Alison | April 22, 2012 at 04:10 PM
Ha, ha. Your story made me laugh. I'm glad I'm not the only one who does this! Last year I was at a writer's conference and I happened to find myself walking down the hall next to one of the picture book authors who had done a workshop at the conference. I began telling her about how my son loves her book, and then the tears were flowing and I became a blubbering fool. When I was done I walked away, mortified, wondering why I couldn't simply carry on a conversation like normal people.
Anyway, thanks for sharing! (And, for the record, I totally agree with you about GNs.)
Posted by: Andrea | April 24, 2012 at 03:51 PM