Recently, I joined the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators regional group of authors as one of the exhibitors at the library conference hosted by the Maryland Library Association and the Delaware Library Association.
It was a wonderful opportunity for all the authors in our region to participate in this event. The theme of the conference was “Our Stories, Our Shelves,” and it was held at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa and Marina in Cambridge.
It was my first time attending such an event, and I was delighted to meet the leaders of our SCBWI region, Dr. Miral Khalil and Mirka Hokkanen. They were both very supportive and helpful in making it possible for us to represent our region.
There were fifteen of us who signed up for the event, and I had the privilege of meeting Laura Parnum, a bestselling middle-grade author, and Dr. Doreen Hamilton, a self-published author like myself, who happened to be my partner during the exhibit.
I had the pleasure of reading Dr. Doreen Hamilton’s debut picture book, Scrub-a-Noodle Starts School, which has a very catchy title. The story was inspired by her son, who gave her the idea for writing this interactive book that children will surely enjoy.
Scrub-a-Noodle Starts School tells the story of a five-year-old boy’s experience on his first day of school. The challenges of being different, trying to build friendships, and learning new social skills and knowledge can feel overwhelming on the first day. Dr. Hamilton created a brilliant way to help prepare children for what to expect when starting school through this book.
I highly recommend this book for five-year-old children who are about to begin their school journey. This picture book can also help children improve their hand-eye coordination through drawing and coloring activities while developing their creativity and imagination.
At the conference, we interacted with many wonderful school librarians who shared stories about their experiences and their love for their careers. Some of them also showed their support by purchasing our books.
Book Hound also joined us in showcasing many of the authors’ books. I had the opportunity to visit their quaint bookstore in St. Michaels as well. Their cozy and welcoming bookstore is beautiful and has an extensive collection of books from different genres. They also offer unique gifts for sale in their shop. Book Hound is definitely worth visiting if you happen to be in St. Michaels for a day trip or vacation.
Through this library conference, I felt encouraged and inspired to continue pursuing my passion for writing. I learned from the stories of traditionally published authors that, despite facing rejections, they persevered and continued honing their skills while querying literary agents. I also discovered more opportunities to grow as a professional children’s book author. Above all, I will continue to have faith in God, for all things are possible through His grace.
Thank you for reading!
