Coyahoga Retreat

So I just finished a writing retreat in Cuyahoga Valley National Park with six amazing kid lit authors: Cinda Chima, Tricia Springstubb, R.J. Anderson, Megan Whalen Turner, and Shelley Pearsall. Megan Whelan Turner is one of my writing heros, who I had never had the chance to meet. She has the exact "not telling" smile that you would think she'd have, and this is a case where meeting your heroes is an excellent idea.

I wrote 7000 words in four days, turning the magic rush of words from December into the solid first half of a book.

But also we talked and learned from each other and told secrets and drank wine and got caught hailstorms and saw a whole bunch of mice. When words didn't flow the talk did. And when the talk didn't flow there was always the scotch. And life was good.