This past Saturday, I attended Packaging Your Imagination (PYI). In its 32nd year, this is the first time I attended the conference.
Not long ago, I approached Sharon Jennings, the president of Canscaip (Canadian Society of Children’s Authors, Illustrators, and Performers) to ask what I could do to become established as a children’s author. She recommended PYI, organized annually around this time of year by Canscaip.
I signed up and was not disappointed.
PYI is an all-day workshop in which children’s authors receive advice and words of wisdom from fellow children’s authors, publishers, and others involved in the production of quality children’s literature.
This year, Ashley Spires, author of such books as The Most Magnificent Thing and Small Saul, gave the opening keynote address. Ashley’s book, Small Saul, will be the TD Grade One Book Giveaway this year, presented to every grade one student in Canada.
Ashley spoke to the audience about how much rejection she had to face before eventually perfecting her illustrations and getting her work published. She very graciously comforted those of us unpublished writers that all authors, including the greatest, go through rejections at some point. We must persevere, she assured everyone.
There are so many facets of PYI that I could reflect on but I certainly must acknowledge the closing keynote address by David Booth, author and teacher.
Mr. Booth is a well-known name recognized in the field of education but this was my first time hearing him speak to a captivated audience.
His words were, at times, humorous and, at times, extremely moving, especially when he stressed how very important reading is to children and how we, as children’s authors, are needed.
Mr. Booth made us all feel courageous and steadfast in our beliefs.
Not surprisingly, the audience gave him a standing ovation.
Not long ago, I approached Sharon Jennings, the president of Canscaip (Canadian Society of Children’s Authors, Illustrators, and Performers) to ask what I could do to become established as a children’s author. She recommended PYI, organized annually around this time of year by Canscaip.
I signed up and was not disappointed.
PYI is an all-day workshop in which children’s authors receive advice and words of wisdom from fellow children’s authors, publishers, and others involved in the production of quality children’s literature.
This year, Ashley Spires, author of such books as The Most Magnificent Thing and Small Saul, gave the opening keynote address. Ashley’s book, Small Saul, will be the TD Grade One Book Giveaway this year, presented to every grade one student in Canada.
Ashley spoke to the audience about how much rejection she had to face before eventually perfecting her illustrations and getting her work published. She very graciously comforted those of us unpublished writers that all authors, including the greatest, go through rejections at some point. We must persevere, she assured everyone.
There are so many facets of PYI that I could reflect on but I certainly must acknowledge the closing keynote address by David Booth, author and teacher.
Mr. Booth is a well-known name recognized in the field of education but this was my first time hearing him speak to a captivated audience.
His words were, at times, humorous and, at times, extremely moving, especially when he stressed how very important reading is to children and how we, as children’s authors, are needed.
Mr. Booth made us all feel courageous and steadfast in our beliefs.
Not surprisingly, the audience gave him a standing ovation.