Don’t see us at Warrensburg Literature Festival? Here’s how to find us.

Hi everyone,

The annual Children’s Literature Festival held in Warrensburg, Missouri each year is coming up on March 17-19. Participating in the festival has been one of the highlights in my year since 1978.

I won’t be back this year and will miss seeing old friends and of course all those kids. The festival is under new leadership and nothing stays the same forever. Changes are made for various reasons. In the present situation, a high priority placed on diversity is one of them. In any case several of us will no longer be part of the event, at least not on a regular base.

Following is a list of authors and illustrators who have participated in the festival over the years. Some stopped coming before the transition while others have participated until quite recently. We hope teachers and others continue to support the festival, now in it’s 51st year, and enjoy meeting authors they may not be as familiar with. There is a lot of great talent out there.

At the same time, we would be sad to think we might lose contact with you if you miss seeing us at the Warrensburg’s Children’s Literature Festival. We’ve loved being with the kids, teachers, and parents who attend that wonderful event. As we move on to make room for other authors and artists, we want to make it easy to stay in touch! Here’s who we are and how you can continue to follow us and our work or get in touch for conference appearances and school visits. In my case I have two school visits scheduled during the March 17-19 dates. I know that Bill Anderson does, too, and quite likely others on the list are booked for other events as well. We’re a busy bunch.

As a group we’ve written or illustrated hundreds of your favorite books and visited with young people all over the United States and beyond. Although some of our out of print books are hard to find these days, they are worth the effort! The list of honors our work has received would fill pages, but our purpose here is to make it easier for you to find us. You are an important part of our lives. We look forward to staying in touch. If you are inclined to share the list with others, we’ll be grateful.

Alexandria LaFaye
a@alafaye.com
501-259-9982
http://www.alafaye.com
a link to my school visit video: https://youtu.be/7KZFNdo44i8
On Facebook
@alafayeauthor
On Instagram and Twitter
@artlafaye
Brenda Seabrooke:
brendaseabrooke@aol.com
http://www.childrensbookguild.org/brenda-seabrooke
Cheryl Harness
cheryl@cherylharness.com
816.461.4034
Claudia Mills:
cmills@colorado.edu
http://www.claudiamillsauthor.com
Carole Adler:
csawrite@comcast.net
David L Harrison:
DavidLHarrison1@att.net
http://davidharrison.com
http://davidharrison.wordpress.com
Dean Hughes:
deanhugh@gmail.com
Dean Hughes, Author, Facebook Page
Gloria Skurzynski
notification+zo2a90t6@facebookmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/gloria.skurzynski
Jane Kurtz
jane@janekurtz.com
http://www.janekurtz.com
@janekurtz
Janie (J.B.) Cheaney
jbcheaney@windstream.net
P.O. Box 634, Bolivar MO 65613
Facebook: J.B. Cheaney
Jan Greenberg
jngreenb@aol.com
Joan Carris
1318 Pendleton Ct., Charlottesville, VA 22901
joancarris@gmail.com
http://www.joancarrisbooks.com
Judy Fradin
yudiff@aol.com
website: http://fradinbooks.com
Kristi Holl
https://www.kristiholl.com
https://www.kristiholl.com/blog/
Lois Ruby
loisruby@comcast.net
8223 Grape View Ct. NE
Albuquerque, NM 87122
505-293-5478 (home)
505-288-2194 (cell)
http://www.loisruby.com
Marsha Diane Arnold
marshaoak@mac.com
707-292-1171
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/marshadianearnold
Twitter – https://twitter.com/MarshaDArnold%5D
Website (currently being updated) – marshadianearnold@mac.com
Mary Downing Hahn
mdhwrites@verizon.net
Mary Jane Auch
mjauch@rochester.rr.com
Website: auchbooks.com
Michael Spradlin
michael@michaelspradlin.com
Naomi Williamson:
Naomi Williamson, Professor Emeritus, Library Services
Warrensburg, MO 64093
Telephone: 660-238-8784
Sandy Asher:
sandyasher@gmail.com
http://sandyasher.com
http://usawrites4kids.blogspot.com
http://americatheownersmanual.wordpress.com
Stephanie Tolan
steftolan@gmail.com
http://www.stephanietolan.com/
Teri Sloat
tsloat@sonic.net
Website for books: terisloat.com
Website for art: terisloatfineart.com
Phone: 707-823-4256
Veda Boyd Jones
veda@vedaboydjones.com
Website: vedaboydjones.com
Vicki Grove
vikgrove@gmail.com
Vivian Vande Velde:
VivianV@Rochester.rr.com
http://www.VivianVandeVelde.com
https://www.facebook.com/VivianVandeVeldeBooks
William Anderson
Phone: 810 667 2012
billtander@att.net
http://www.williamandersonbooks.com
Fb: William Anderson Author

Warrensburg Children’s Literature Festival

Hi everyone,

I’m on my way to Warrensburg, Missouri to be one of the participating authors and artists in this, the 50th annual Children’s Literature Festival. Seeing thousands of kids excited to be coming to meet the people who create the books they like is a scene to remember.

The picture is from the year I had my gallbladder removed at the last minute and couldn’t attend. Some of my buds raised a glass to me to cheer me through my pity party. I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve gone to this event since 1978. I hold the record for most years but many others have also come for decades.

Annual Children’s Literature Festival of the Ozarks

Hi everyone,

I should have mentioned this yesterday but vanity got in the way so I showed off my anthology list instead. Anyway, yesterday was the annual Children’s Literature Festival of the Ozarks here. Lots of kids and plenty of gifted writers and illustrators. I always enjoy these opportunities to catch up on news with friends in the business and, of course, to visit with students who come to hear us and ask their questions.

This year’s roster included Obert Skye, Jackson Pearce, Bill Anderson, J.B. Cheaney, Cheryl Harness, Dorinda Nicholson, Kate Klise, Antony John, David Patneaude, and Brad Sneed. How’s that for a lineup? I think I’ve attended every year. It’s always a highlight in my year.

The wonderful committee of dedicated women who create this event year after year should all be crowned. They go about their business quietly, making small miracles happen when children hear someone who has written and/or illustrated a favorite book. Some kids nearly dance from the room with excitement after such meetings. Thank you committee!

Archived

Hi everyone,

Yesterday I was filling out a questionnaire for a promotions manager regarding a book coming out in the spring — a tedious but necessary task to be done now and then. In looking up the address for Maya Kucij, director of the Children’s Literature Festival held annually on the UCMO campus in Warrensburg, MO, I ran across the listings of authors who have donated papers to the university’s archival collection.

Next year will mark the festival’s 50th anniversary. It was started by teacher Phil Sadler and librarian Ophelia Gilbert.

When Phil and Ophelia retired, the festival continued to flourish under the great leadership of Naomi Williamson, and when Naomi retired not long ago, the reins were handed to Maya. We who write or illustrate books for kids count our blessings for this wonderful event and the folks who make it all happen.

You can go to the link provided to see how large the collection of donated manuscripts has grown in the university library over the years. I’m proud to have many of my things in it. They fill three dozen boxes or more. I have a lot more in my basement that I need to place before the humidity ruins them. http://guides.library.ucmo.edu/harrisond1

To show how times have changed, my original donation included over 1,100 letters to and from editors, fans, and others involved in my efforts. Today? Letters? Really?

Off to visit with kids

Hi everyone,

I’m in Warrensburg, Missouri today for my 36th time to participate in the Children’s Literature Festival. Last year I had to cancel to have my gallbladder removed and a hernia repaired. I’m glad to be going back this year!

As always I look forward to talking to the latest groups of children. More than 150 schools will be represented. I love seeing so many author and illustrator friends as well as teachers who come each year to bring their classes. I’m sorry to say that my good friend Susan Hutchens and her hubby Danny can’t make it this year but hope for better luck in 2018.