The Kennesaw State University Literature Conference- March 20 and 21, 2017
Registration closes March 1 and the Call for Proposals closes February 15. We would love to see you in Kennesaw! Register at http://lcya.kennesaw.edu
This conference is a great event. Bryan Gillis and his colleagues, Dr. Sanjuana Rodriguez and Natasha Thornton, put together two days that offer teachers, librarians, and academics a good introduction to Children's and Young Adult Literature. This year's event brings in some heavy hitters. You should consider attending. I will let Bryan walk you through the details.
The KSU Conference on Literature for Children and Young Adults provides teachers, preservice teachers, public and school librarians, media specialists, and school administrators with a two day experience in which they have the opportunity to listen to and interact with several highly acclaimed children's and young adult authors as well as attend presentations from master teachers and experts in the field on all facets of literacy instruction.
Laurie Halse Anderson
I first met Laurie Halse Anderson when I was pursuing my doctorate at Arizona State University, circa 2005. Dr. James Blasingame was directing his annual Arizona Young Adult Literature Conference and Laurie was scheduled to be the keynote speaker. When Dr. Blasingame introduced me to Laurie, I remember thinking, I’m about to meet this rock star of an author, the woman who wrote Speak. What will I say to her? As it turned out, I needn’t have worried. Laurie was the nicest, most down to earth person I had ever met. No surprise to those of you who have had the privilege to meet her before or since.
Twelve years later, so many awards, so many award-winning books, and so many young adult lives changed for the better, Laurie hasn’t changed one little bit. Since 2005, I have worked with so many wonderful authors in my role as Director of the Kennesaw State University Literature Conference, and Laurie is not just one of the greatest authors of our generation, period, she is one of the kindest, most giving people I have ever met.
Laurie will be spending the day with us on March 20th at the KSU Literature Conference. This is a rare treat as Laurie rarely does all day events like this anymore unless they are associated with a book tour. After all, we need her to keep her writing time sacred! Laurie will give a keynote, be involved with a couple of breakout sessions, and she will be signing her books (all of her books will be available on site). Best of all, due to the intimate nature of our conference, you will have the opportunity to just hang out with her and our other authors.
I first met Laurie Halse Anderson when I was pursuing my doctorate at Arizona State University, circa 2005. Dr. James Blasingame was directing his annual Arizona Young Adult Literature Conference and Laurie was scheduled to be the keynote speaker. When Dr. Blasingame introduced me to Laurie, I remember thinking, I’m about to meet this rock star of an author, the woman who wrote Speak. What will I say to her? As it turned out, I needn’t have worried. Laurie was the nicest, most down to earth person I had ever met. No surprise to those of you who have had the privilege to meet her before or since.
Twelve years later, so many awards, so many award-winning books, and so many young adult lives changed for the better, Laurie hasn’t changed one little bit. Since 2005, I have worked with so many wonderful authors in my role as Director of the Kennesaw State University Literature Conference, and Laurie is not just one of the greatest authors of our generation, period, she is one of the kindest, most giving people I have ever met.
Laurie will be spending the day with us on March 20th at the KSU Literature Conference. This is a rare treat as Laurie rarely does all day events like this anymore unless they are associated with a book tour. After all, we need her to keep her writing time sacred! Laurie will give a keynote, be involved with a couple of breakout sessions, and she will be signing her books (all of her books will be available on site). Best of all, due to the intimate nature of our conference, you will have the opportunity to just hang out with her and our other authors.
Ashley Hope Perez
Ashley Hope Perez was a finalist for the Walden Award this year for Out of Darkness. As soon as I read this amazing book, I contacted Ashley and asked her if she would please come to our conference. I had the opportunity to hang out with Ashley at NCTE this year, and what a fascinating person she is. In addition to being an all-around lovely individual and fantastic writer, she is an assistant professor of comparative studies at Ohio State University. As a literacy advocate, her goal is to foster meaningful reading and writing experiences, especially among Latina/o children and teenagers. Her writing on young adult literature reframes recent discussions of “dark” and “edgy” fiction to emphasize how real readers negotiate encounters with challenging stylistic and thematic elements. Ashley will also be with us on March 20.
Ashley Hope Perez was a finalist for the Walden Award this year for Out of Darkness. As soon as I read this amazing book, I contacted Ashley and asked her if she would please come to our conference. I had the opportunity to hang out with Ashley at NCTE this year, and what a fascinating person she is. In addition to being an all-around lovely individual and fantastic writer, she is an assistant professor of comparative studies at Ohio State University. As a literacy advocate, her goal is to foster meaningful reading and writing experiences, especially among Latina/o children and teenagers. Her writing on young adult literature reframes recent discussions of “dark” and “edgy” fiction to emphasize how real readers negotiate encounters with challenging stylistic and thematic elements. Ashley will also be with us on March 20.
On March 21, we welcome Deborah Wiles, author of Each Little Bird that Sings, Countdown, and Revolution. Also joining us on the 21st will be award-winning children’s author Carole Boston Weatherford, whose works include Before John was a Jazz Giant and Freedom in Congo Square.
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