Last Saturday I had the privilege of serving on a panel with my fellow “DDDs” (April Lurie, Shana Burg, Margo Rabb, and Varian Johnson) entitled Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About YA Books … But Were Afraid to Ask.  Adding to the honor was the fact that our moderator was none other than the award-winning and much beloved Austin-based author Sarah Bird.

During the hour we touched on such topics as how we got started, why we write for teens, the differences between YA and adult fiction, and the frustration we feel when some people insinuate that YA novels are “lesser” literature.

I’m lousy at judging crowd size, but I was told it was around 100 – including several under the age of 18.  A great mix of booklovers, aspiring writers, teens, educators, and the simply curious.  After the panel we had the opportunity to meet people and sign books.  I’m still amazed when someone comes up to me at an event and tells me they loved my book – and they’re not a cousin!  Before I was published, I was always too shy to go up to authors and tell them how much I enjoyed their work.  But now that I know how good it feels to hear such things, I do it every chance I get.  It’s not just validation.  It’s like … you’ve given birth to these stories and let them out into the world … and they never call.  It’s wonderful to hear people praise these things you hold so dear.

I opted to dress up for a change in order to feel smart and professional.  My “author costume” consisted of a teal dress and silver sandals (if I were to wear what I typically have on while writing it would be yoga pants and tank top – both coffee stained).  I was going for simple and classy, but when Cynthia Leitich Smith saw me, she exclaimed “My my!  Will we be turning letters on Wheel of Fortune later?” which cracked me up.  It’s amazing how friends react whenever they see me with makeup on and my hair brushed.  Perhaps I should be less of a grunge in real life.

Margo, who is always effortlessly fashionable, looked adorable in a black and white dress and the most amazing red wedges.  Even Sarah had her hold them up for all to see.  Here we were being all literary and we sidestepped into talk about Marc Jacobs shoe wear.  Love it!  This was the first time I’d seen Margo since I’d read her book, and I had to fight the urge to bombard her with questions.  The story was so masterful and moving – and because I knew it was based on personal experience, I kept picturing her as the protagonist.  It broke my heart and made me want to protect this 15-year-old version of Margo forever. 

Margo might make me feel like a protective slob, but it’s Varian who makes me feel lazy.  Dude works over 50 hours a week at his engineering job, writes brilliant novels in his spare time, AND STILL finds time to finish up his MFA studies (*sounds of crowd roaring*).  He officially graduates in July, but I do believe the hard work is done.  We must now refer to him as Dude Master.  Or Master Dude.

Shana always cracks me up.  The lady is so brilliant and yet so self-deprecating.  She was the one with the bright idea for the panel.  She was the one who had the insight and guts to ask Sarah to moderate.  She has an amazing, multi award-winning novel out there and the first thing she says when it’s her turn on the panel is, “Okay, so I just want to say that I’m allergic to mangoes …”  Apparently she was concerned because her eyes were still a bit puffy after an unfortunate tropical fruit incident.  But I couldn’t tell – honest!  To me she just looked a little sleepy.

April was also recovering from a health issue.  Poor dear was getting over laryngitis, which made her sound husky.  So basically she was her same beautiful, wise self – only with a sexy Demi Moore voice.  During the panel she referred to her background as a nurse and mentioned that she has never met another nurse-turned-YA-author.  I find that fascinating.  Not only does April have her medical career experiences to draw on, but she has four brilliant kids.  No wonder her stories are so funny, so unique, and so emotionally real.

The panel went very well – due in large part to our multitalented moderator.  I’m still in awe over Sarah.  Her novel Alamo House came out when I was 18 years old and living in a women’s cooperative at UT.  It was a pivotal read for me.  I loved her voice and completely understood the characters – hell, I was practically living the book as I read it!  Since then I have followed her career closely.  Whenever I meet someone I admire, I’m always shocked that they aren’t supernatural diva-like creatures.  I don’t know why, but I am.  Sarah is so unpretentious.  So witty and engaging and quick to laugh.  Our panel was in the best hands.  And I’m so glad I’d calmed down enough from geeking out over Sarah that I could speak during it.

Big kudos also goes to the Book People people: Mandy, Emily, Alison, Meghan, Madeline and the gang.  They do so much for the literary community – writers and readers.  That store is one of the reasons I love my city so.  In fact, I should probably have my advance money converted into an account there … such much of it ends up there anyway.

Big hugs to pals who came out to cheer us on! The ones I’ve known and loved for a while; the ones I’d only conversed with electronically and finally had the honor of seeing in person; and the ones I met that very day.  Especially our teen supporters.

It was so wonderful to unshackle myself from the computer and go have fun for a while.  Now I can return to my cave, inspired and refueled.