Counting today, we are 22 days and a wake up from the start of the UNLV 2020 Online Summit. I know, who is counting, right? Well, I am. I hope that all of the authors and the presenters are counting, writing, preparing materials, and practicing their Zoom skills. Do we really have any Zoom skills or are many of us suffering from Zoom exhaustion? I am not sure I had any online presentation skills before March 11, 2020. That was the day I was packing to leave for a presentation at the MCTE Spring Conference. Things with the COVID19 crisis were starting to escalate and then the call that MCTE was cancelled came through. The flight was cancelled and other plans were put on hold. My wife and I were planning a Spring Break get away and, for a little bit further down the road, a trip to Scotland to see our daughter's family. Grandkids rule! All of that is just whim in the past now.
I had to start watching the news in order to evaluate how things would play out. Here at UNLV, we had to decide to cancel the conference all together or to move it online. Fortunately, we are a big GO for an online adventure.
Below you can find a flier for the summit, an introduction to all of the authors, and draft of the program. Take a look.
I had to start watching the news in order to evaluate how things would play out. Here at UNLV, we had to decide to cancel the conference all together or to move it online. Fortunately, we are a big GO for an online adventure.
Below you can find a flier for the summit, an introduction to all of the authors, and draft of the program. Take a look.
The Flier for the Summit!
The Link to the Registration
https://bit.ly/2020OnlineYALitSummit
The Keynotes
Chris Crowe
I have known about Chris Crowe long before he knew anything about me. He is a long time English educator, author, and mentor to many English teachers and teacher educators. His work has been influential and his linage in Young Adult literature goes through Alleen Nilsen and Ken Donaldson. He has a special interest in African American authors of Young Adult literature, especially Mildred Taylor. He did some of the early research around the Emmet Till murder and turned it into two books, one fiction and one nonfiction. He is a perfect keynote to talk about how YA literature can connect to other curriculum areas.
I have featured Chris in the blog a couple of time. First, when he was a keynote at YA conference I hosted at LSU. You can read about that here. (bonus, Matt was also a keynote at that conference.) Later, I was attending a YA conference and I was able to hear both Chris Crowe and Chris Lynch at the same event. What a great time.
I have featured Chris in the blog a couple of time. First, when he was a keynote at YA conference I hosted at LSU. You can read about that here. (bonus, Matt was also a keynote at that conference.) Later, I was attending a YA conference and I was able to hear both Chris Crowe and Chris Lynch at the same event. What a great time.
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Steve Sheinkin
Before I was reading a lot of YA nonfiction or historical fiction, I kept running across the name of Steve Sheinkin. His name and his books showed up time and again on award list after award list. Even though he hasn't won the National Book Award, I think he will remain a perennial favorite as long as he keeps writing. His nonfiction writing is superb. He has many more books, but I return to these three when I recommend books.
Many people love how he has dealt with the development of the Atom bomb in Bomb, but I still favor Most Dangerous. I lived through the late sixties and early seventies. The ups and downs of the Nixon administration and the Vietnam War shaped my political beliefs and my sense of right and wrong. I am excited to hear Steve talk about his research process and how that turns into such fabulous books.
A couple of years ago I featured a discussion of Most Dangerous on a Dr. Bickmore's YA Wednesday blog post. You can my discussion about this wonderful book here.
Many people love how he has dealt with the development of the Atom bomb in Bomb, but I still favor Most Dangerous. I lived through the late sixties and early seventies. The ups and downs of the Nixon administration and the Vietnam War shaped my political beliefs and my sense of right and wrong. I am excited to hear Steve talk about his research process and how that turns into such fabulous books.
A couple of years ago I featured a discussion of Most Dangerous on a Dr. Bickmore's YA Wednesday blog post. You can my discussion about this wonderful book here.
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Ashley Hope Pérez
A few years ago, I kept hear about this new book -- Out of Darkness. I try very hard to read the short list of most of the major awards. Wow! Enough said, it was exactly one of those books you should read as soon as it was recommend. I also love that when Ashley was a high school teacher her students were often her beta readers. I like to image them still reading her books as they move forward with their lives and cheering her on as she works on the next one.
I heard her speak at the same venue with Laurie Halse Anderson. What a treat. I wrote about for the blog. Take a look at this link.
I heard her speak at the same venue with Laurie Halse Anderson. What a treat. I wrote about for the blog. Take a look at this link.
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Gilly Segal and Kimberly Jones
I love attending the ALAN Workshop. It never fails to provide surprises and new discoveries. This is even true when you are involved in planning the event. At one of the first workshops I attended, I was introduced to Padma Venkatraman and my vision of the possibility of YA literature has never been the same.
Last November I meet several debut authors and I am still wading their several new books. However, discovering I'm not Dying with You Tonight and the two authors, Gilly Segal and Kimberly Jones, who wrote it as a team. I was stunned by the novels beauty. The language is wonderful and the characters well developed and a bit unpredictable. If you don't know this book, what are you waiting for?
That isn't the best part. The best part was getting to have dinner with Gilly and Kimberly. I can't remember the last time I was taken with with a pair of writer/performers. They are witty, personable, and, most importantly, their friendship and love for one another is palpable. I started figuring out how to get them to UNLV before the night was over.
Their tag team presentation will be worth the entire cost of the registration. Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of I'm not Dying with You Tonight as soon as you can.
Last November I meet several debut authors and I am still wading their several new books. However, discovering I'm not Dying with You Tonight and the two authors, Gilly Segal and Kimberly Jones, who wrote it as a team. I was stunned by the novels beauty. The language is wonderful and the characters well developed and a bit unpredictable. If you don't know this book, what are you waiting for?
That isn't the best part. The best part was getting to have dinner with Gilly and Kimberly. I can't remember the last time I was taken with with a pair of writer/performers. They are witty, personable, and, most importantly, their friendship and love for one another is palpable. I started figuring out how to get them to UNLV before the night was over.
Their tag team presentation will be worth the entire cost of the registration. Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of I'm not Dying with You Tonight as soon as you can.
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Matt De la Peña
Matt was one of the first authors I turned to when I hosted an event at LSU. His visit was amazing and his reputation has continued rise. We added Matt to the 2020 summit because we were looking to add a children's literature component to the mix. Matt's works run the gamete from children's picture books to middle grades to older realistic YA fiction.
I am still amazed at the power of Love and I keep rereading We Were Here because I find the book so nuanced and timely. Once again I look forward to what Matt has to offer.
I am still amazed at the power of Love and I keep rereading We Were Here because I find the book so nuanced and timely. Once again I look forward to what Matt has to offer.
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Other Authors Who Will be Making an Appearance
Candance Flemming
I wish I could tell you that I have been reading Candace Fleming for years. I haven't, but man am I in the club now. The theme of match YA with curricula beyond the ELA classroom. Like Matt and Steve, Candace write for reader at a range of ages. Again, it sounds repetitive, but if you don't know her work, it is time that you did. Furthermore, not only will Candace be part of a author panel, she will be presenting in a breakout session as well. Come join the fun.
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Josh Allen
Josh Allen was another find as a result of the 2019 ALAN Workshop. When you are putting together a program you want to land as many big name authors as you can. At the same time, publishing house want to pitch as many debut authors as possible. You have to find a balance. So you read and listen and listen and read.
Josh was another author who had a great debut at an ALAN Workshop. Fortunately, for me and for you, he heard about the Summit and asked if he good be a part of the fun. Well, of course that can be arranged. I am looking forward to hearing what Josh has to say this time around.
Josh was another author who had a great debut at an ALAN Workshop. Fortunately, for me and for you, he heard about the Summit and asked if he good be a part of the fun. Well, of course that can be arranged. I am looking forward to hearing what Josh has to say this time around.
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Samantha Vitale
Samantha joins several others authors who have attended a UNLV Summit courtesy of Georgia McBride and Month9Books. In past years we have hosted, Jo Schaffer, Justin Joschko, and Clare Di Liscia. Each year Georgia and her crew have added to the success of the summit. My only regret is that I won't be meeting her in person. The big news is that her debut novel, The Lady Alchemist, hits the shelves on May 26, 2020.
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Draft of the Program
| ya_virtual_summit_2020_program_only.pdf |
There is still time to register for the summit. I know it isn't a face to face event. I, like many of you, wish that we were gathering in Las Vegas to enjoy one another's company. We need to experiment with virtual conferences so that we can weigh the difference; so that we can witness to what works and what doesn't.
Until next time.
Until next time.
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