Blue Rose Girls Panel Discussion

Some of you may remember a previous Wild Rose Reader post, PAS North Shore Council: Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner???. Well, last Wednesday evening, the fabulous Blue Rose Girls participated in a panel discussion at the fall dinner meeting of the PAS North Shore Council. Our council had never hosted a panel discussion before…and I have to admit that I wasn’t sure how it would go over with our members and other attendees. I shouldn’t have worried. The panel discussion was a resounding success—one of the best events we’ve ever had! That’s really saying something because our council has had some mighty awesome speakers in the past: Jack Gantos, Lois Lowry, Natalie Babbitt, Joseph Bruchac, Mary Ann Hoberman, Wendell Minor, Robert San Souci, Kathryn Lasky, Anita Lobel, Natalie-Kinsey Warnock, Andrew Clements. I could go on and on and on.
Grace Lin, Anna Alter, Libby Koponen, Meghan McCarthy, and Linda Wingerter all sat on the panel. I served as moderator. The “girls” told the audience how they met each other; how they got started in publishing children’s books; why they formed the Blue Rose Girls; how they help, support, and advise each other about their creative processes and works-in-progress; and about books and projects that they are currently working on. Of course, the name of fellow Blue Rose Girl Alvina Ling came up in the conversation a number of times.

The panel discussion was over much too soon! Lucy Pikul, our council treasurer, told me she had only one complaint: “It wasn’t long enough!”

Which panelist is missing from this picture?

On Friday, my friend Pat Purdy, owner of the Banbury Cross Children’s Book Shop, left a message on my answering machine. She told me that two reading teachers had been in her shop absolutely raving about the panel discussion. This positive response has me wondering if I should arrange for more panel discussions for our council dinner meetings.

Now you see the missing BRG: Meghan McCarthy

For me, last Wednesday was a special—and an especially enjoyable—evening. Having my friends speaking and sharing their experiences with a group of teachers and school librarians with whom I have been affiliated for many years was a memorable occasion. It was also great to have my daughter Sara and her good friend Elaine there with me.

My daughter Sara & her friend Elaine

(I'm sorry that most of my photos came out so dark.)

Dates of upcoming events in the 2007-2008 Speaker Series of the PAS North Shore Council:
March 5, 2007 at the Hawthorne Hotel in Salem, Massachusetts
May 21, 2007 at the Corinthian Yacht Club in Marblehead, Massachusetts