KidLitCon 2012

Your KidLitCon 2012 Greeter, Patience

KidLitCon is the annual conference for people who blog about children's literature.

This year the conference will be held on September 28 and 29 at the main branch of the New York Public Library in New York city, and it's being put together by School Library Journal Fuse #8 blogger Elizabeth Bird, who is also an author and the New York Public Library's Youth Materials Collections Specialist. 

The schedule for the Saturday conference has been released, and I chatted (via instant messaging) with my friend, social media expert, author, and conference faculty member Greg Pincus to find out more...

Lee:  Hi Greg! Tell us about Kidlitcon!

Greg: Hi Lee!  It's a great conference (now in its 6th year) about blogging and children's literature. But it's also about social media, books, writing, book reviewing, promotion, libraries, and much more... all with a children's and YA lit focus.

Lee: I saw on the schedule that Maureen Johnson will be giving the closing Keynote!

Greg: Yes! I can't wait to hear her. She's one of my favorite Twitter folk to follow. Oh, and she can write a little, too :-)

Lee: For authors and illustrators of books for kids, it sounds like there's a lot of sessions focused on platform, marketing and the benefits of being an online presence.

Greg: There are, indeed. And I think the panels on book reviewing - why bloggers do it, how they do it, how they want (or don't) to interact with authors and illustrators - are really valuable, too.

Lee: I thought the title of your session was really intriguing: Avoiding the Echo Chamber. Tell us more about what you're going to address.

Greg: I love folks in children's literature. A lot. I'm flying to New York to hang out with some, in fact. That said, when we're talking about "spreading the word" about books, whether our own or children's literature related in general, I often feel that we spend a lot of time preaching to the converted and not much time talking to the rest of the world. And I think that's a missed opportunity online. Folks are many things - that standup comedian or social media strategist online is also very likely a parent or aunt or uncle or or or. They can become champions and word-spreaders and buyers. But not if we don't include them in the conversation.

Lee: And you'll be sharing the things authors and illustrators can do to get past that echo chamber of other authors and illustrators (and our families and friends?)

Greg: I will! And they are magical secrets! Or, really, some basic ways of thinking about what we do online as well as tips and ideas and actions to take.

Lee: Love leaving a session with a plan of action! Any more thoughts to share about KidLitCon?

Greg: The conference itself is free this year - always a plus. And if it's like prior years, the attendees are wonderful, passionate, children's lit loving folks, and hanging out with them for a day is inspiring. And it's a great way to forge new relationships. (And, as an aside, I hope publishers take advantage of the con being in NYC and send some folks to check out the kidlitosphere space....)

Lee: The day does end with a New York City kid lit drink night!

Greg: It does, indeed.

Lee: Have a great time, and thanks for telling us about Kidlitcon 2012!

Greg: Thanks for asking, Lee!

You can find out more about KidLitCon 2012 here.

Greg Pincus blogs about children's literature and poetry at GottaBook and social media at The Happy Accident. He is the author of a poetry collection, The Late Bird, and his debut novel, The 14 Fabulous Fibs of Gregory K., is due out from Arthur A. Levine Books. 

And here's Maureen Johnson's twitter feed.

Illustrate and Write On,
Lee