The DMs in L.A. -- Robin

UPDATE: At 11:59 Tuesday night, we will stop taking entries for our ARC contest.

(Jay, Lisa Yee, Cheryl Klein, Gregory K., Robin, Eve)

Yes, we rubbed elbows with some pretty impressive people last weekend at the SCBWI Los Angeles Writer’s Day. Luckily we didn’t rub noses…cuz that would’ve been awkward.

I have to say that I was totally moved by Lisa Yee’s speech. Well, I was moved during the parts where I wasn’t actually laughing and snorting loud enough to cause Eve to elbow me in the ribs to shut me up.

What I loved most was seeing Lisa’s family there supporting her and handing out bookmarks after her speech. How cute was that!? She talked about being true to your passion and writing if that is what you’re meant to do. But more importantly, she said, if you have children, you must do your passion. Your children need to see you pursuing your dreams and doing what you love. Otherwise, what are they learning about their own futures? Oh man, my eyes got all teary at that one. Fortunately, Eve must have sensed my vulnerable moment because she finally stopped elbowing me in the ribs. (Thanks, honey.)

I learned some other things on our trip to L.A. It was a long car ride and the three of us had planned on brainstorming our writing projects together to, you know, get some work done. But instead, we ended up playing a riveting game of “If you could only smell one smell for the rest of your life, what would it be?” Yeah, we’re that dorky. I learned some interesting things about my fellow Mermaids.

If Eve could only smell one smell for the rest of her life it would be white cake (why white, I do not know). For me, it’s a newly opened can of tennis balls (please, no ball jokes…I heard enough of those from Eve and Jay). And if Jay could smell only one smell for the rest of his life it would be Jessica Alba (please, make all the jokes you want).

- Robin

P.S. While Stephen Mooser of SCBWI didn’t say much about this summer’s conference, he did tell us the theme for the after hours party: Under the August Silver Moon. And, yes, we’ve already started brainstormin’ costume ideas!