This past week, July 12-18, I

7/21/08 -- This past week, July 12-18, I had the good fortune to be on the teaching staff at the Oregon Coast Children's Book Writer's Workshop. As if the beautiful setting weren't enough (see pic below, taken from the classroom window, no kidding), I got to rub elbows with writer-conference director-gourmet cook David Greenberg, writers Mel Boring, Esther Hersherhorn, and David Gifaldi, as well as editors Harold Underdown and Stacy O'connell, agent Susan Cohen, and our ever-handy assistants, Susan Andrew and Teresa Lane. Great people, each and every one.

Add to that 50 eager students, and the workshop was bound to be a success. Info packed presentations (such as Harold's shown below) were spaced with first page critiques and one-on-one manuscript consults. I learned much, and from the evaluations the attendees filled out at the end of the week it was clear they did, too.

All of which reminded me once again how important it is to get together as writers and grow.