CSI: Newbery
Went to hear Linda Sue Park lsparkreader (A SINGLE SHARD) give a lecture at UCLA. It was funny, fabulous and freaky. (Okay, it wasn't freaky, but I was going for an alliteration string.) Sitting next to me was Stephen Mooser co-czar of the SCBWI. In front of me was magic man Sid Fleischman.

After her speech, as Linda Sue signed books, I marveled at her autographing gear. She wore a stretchy-looking wrist/hand thingy. The kind Olympic athletes sport. Seems it's to ward off the carpal-tunnel-wrist-lock-hand-cramp-finger-frozeees that once afflicted her when she signed twelve million books in one sitting. But to heck with why she was wearing it, it looked cool and I wondered if she was starting a new trend.

After the last autograph seeker's book was signed, I managed to scare Linda Sue with my obvious lack of directional capabilities. Sid Fleischman (THE WHIPPING BOY) had graciously invited us to dinner and no fewer that four people attempted to give me directions AT THE SAME TIME. One person actually came up with a map. HA! Like I can really read one of those.

With me as driver, and Linda Sue as navigator, we managed to make it to dinner, which was a miracle because she was having trouble deciphering my handwriting. Throughout, Linda Sue was so wonderful and witty and kind. This was especially nice since not only was it the first time we had met, but also because I had attempted to kill her (decapitation) in the parking lot.

I have a minivan. Not quite the vehicle that I lusted after when I was younger, nor the sexy two-seater sports car that Susan-the-librarian-from-Riverside-who-graced-us-with-her-company was driving. Nope. Regular old minivan. However, it has that magic button on the key where you can open and shut the side doors from miles away. One of my favorite things to do is to see how far away I can be from the car and open the doors. I really like scaring people by doing this. (Yes, sad, I know. I need a hobby.)

Anyway, how was I to know that Linda Sue was going to dive back into the back seat to retrieve something? Plus, it was dark. And she was stealth. So I hit the close button and almost became known as the woman who killed a Newbery winner as another Newbery winner watched. Luckily for all, Linda Sue not only is a brilliant writer, she's fast. (I'm sure it has something to do with the Olympic carpal-tunnel-wrist-lock-hand-cramp-finger-frozeees thingy she wears.) Linda Sue managed to yelp and remove herself before any body parts were lost.

Dinner with Linda Sue and Sid and Susan was such fun. We discussed literature and reality shows and magicians. (Sid has a Houdini book coming out this summer and the ARC looked magnificent.) The surprising thing about Newbery winners is that they are normal people. Well, normal people with extra, extra, extra special storytelling powers and a nice award somewhere in their homes. And as you can probably guess, they are great conversationalists.

How lucky I was to have had such a lovely evening! (And what a relief to not have to go to prison on manslaughter charges.)