|
W H O I S K W ? S P E A K E R S |
|
| Kindling Words was everything it advertised itself to be: casual and professional, inspiring and hands-on, colloquial in its approach and inclusive in its philosophy. I had as good a time as I've ever had at a professional conference, and that's saying quite a lot. With pleasure. | < Gregory Maguire Author, Wicked; Mirror, Mirror KW Speaker 2006 |
|
My first year at KW ('93 or '94)...I met, for the first time, other people who did what I did, who sat alone in their offices dreaming up stories for children. On the day I arrived, I didn't know any of them, but after three days of talking, talking, talking, at the dining tables, around the bookshelves, in front of the bonfire, I knew I'd made friends for life. And, maybe more importantly, I knew I had colleagues, people who understood what it meant to write for children. |
< Ellen Wittlinger Author, Hard Love and Blind Faith KW Speaker 2006 |
My first year at KW was 1993 (or maybe '94). Anyway, it was the year a huge blizzard swirled around the entire northeast all weekend with temperatures in the minus degrees. I was flying to Burlington from Boston and regretting the whole idea as the small (hours delayed) plane continued to be de-iced as it slid down the runway. It was dark by the time I stepped into the knee-deep snow in Burlington, hailed a cab, and finally arrived at the retreat center.
Which was the inauspicious beginning of a wonderful weekend. I met, for the first time, other people who did what I did, who sat alone in their offices dreaming up stories for children. On the day I arrived, I didn't know any of them, but after three days of talking, talking, talking, at the dining tables, around the bookshelves, in front of the bonfire, I knew I'd made friends for life. And, maybe more importantly, I knew I had colleagues, people who understood what it meant to write for children.
nds of (very cold) weather to get there. Somehow the difficulty of the journey only reinforces its necessity. Kindling Words is, for me, the light in winter during which I define my hopes for the new year.