Keller is a Killer

but he is very lovable.  I can't help it, I really like Keller. And I really liked Keller in Dallas.   He isn't a bad guy.  He has a wife and a baby and regular job, and he collects stamps.  It's just that he is a hired killer.  And this time his job is in Dallas.  There will be a full novel coming out that will start with this story.  Great, quick read.

City of Plano Libraries

Today after watching the ALA Youth Media Awards and meeting some folks from Beaver, PA who are authors and illustrators and who I am totally going to have at my library, I visited the City of Plano Libraries...all of them!

First about the folks I met. They are from Midlandia Press and the guys are Michael Scotto (he's holding Lobster) and Dion Williams; Michael is an author and Dion is an illustrator. The young lady is Evette Gabriel Villella. They were incredibly nice and kind and I am looking forward to reading their books! The book Postcards from Pismo, written by Scotto and illustrated by Williams, had its debut release at The Penguin Bookshop in Sewickley.

On to Plano....Plano seems to take very good care of its libraries. They are all open seven days a week and I witnessed a lot of great patron service there. Good times!

DENIED at CVS

So today I went to the CVS on Mockingbird Lane in Highland Park, TX. I tried to pay with a five dollar bill and was told it was counterfeit! The woman said that there should have been a "face" on it. I was very sad. So I paid her with ones. The thing was my five is a newer five and I guess it doesn't have a "face" on it- well, besides the regular face that you can see all the time. You know, the Lincoln guy. Anyway, it was embarrassing! But I wasn't mad at the lady behind the counter, because if she is told that she can't take five without a "face" what can she do, right?

Oscar

So today I met Oscar. As you can see, Lobster met him as well. I don't care what Turkle says, I want to marry Oscar! Emery-Pratt says that they are "the nicest people in the book business" and Oscar is the nicest robot in this business. He is wonderful. Here's a nice video of him at a conference last year.

Dallas

Today I visited many libraries before the Midwinter Conference officially started. My first stop was the Central Library in downtown Dallas. I went to the Highland Hills Branch, Oak Lawn and Lakewood Branches, too. I also went to the Highland Park Library, as well. It is always really interesting to see different libraries. One thing that surprised me about the libraries here, the ones I saw so far, there doesn't seem to be a big ereader push or presence. At my libraries back home, downloadable ebooks are all the rage. Folks got them for Christmas and now everyone is in, wanting to download books from the library. We're working our way through this new world. I saw new world because there's a lot of change still going on. Publishers and libraries aren't really sure yet how we're all going to work together and things change weekly. Maybe a lot of people want to wait until things get settled a little more before addressing it. Not sure, but it was really neat to see different libraries today!

My Hero!

So today I got to meet Lauren Myracle! I can't believe it! She was so super nice! I had missed getting a book signed by her in New Orleans and was quite sad! But there she was at ALA Midwinter! I bought a copy of Shine and she signed it for Lobster and me. I think that is pretty amazing that such a gifted and talented author, who I am sure is really busy would take the time to talk with so many people. Way, way cool.

Goin' through the Big D and I do mean Dallas

So tomorrow I'm headed to Dallas. I will be playing the song, of course. This is a great song, too. And Mark Chesnutt's song is awesome, too. ALA is holding their Mid-Winter Meeting there and I am so blessed to be going. Lobster is coming as well and our traveling companion is the lovely Kelly R. who is serving on the Amelia Bloomer Project this year. I'm packed up and ready to go, but nervous as always and praying for a good, safe and productive trip!