Normally this time of year, I’d be stuffing my freezer with nourishing soups to get me through the first week or so of NaNoWriMo. But October has been busier than usual, and this weekend I’m attending my first USBBY conference. That’s the International Board on Books for Young People/US group.

Alice in Wonderland (celebrating its 150th anniversary) is the conference theme, but there’s plenty else going on. Particular highlights: tonight, Kate DiCamillo gives the plenary speech; tomorrow, Gene Luen Yang joins a panel discussing graphic novels; tomorrow night, Susan Cooper (woot!); Sunday, Lois Lowry. Autograph sessions galore. Tomorrow afternoon, a discussion of disability in YA lit, including Cece Bell’s El Deafo, and a session on writing for Bookbird, IBBY’s journal.

Meanwhile, students’ papers are stacking up, I have 3 writing group submissions to read before Monday evening, and that freezer needs filling.

I love being busy.