Write From the Soul

Atlanta Kidlit Drink Night                              

Now what doesn't sound fun about that, I ask you! Combining children's literature writers, illustrators, librarians- all things kidlit- with a little libation... can I get an amen for that!


This all started when Laurel Snyder (Baxter the Pig Who Wanted to be Kosher) decided Georgia folks needed a gathering like the one in New York City. I think it might have been an excuse to convince buddies living outside the Perimeter to come inside the Perimeter! [translation: people living in the burbs needed to venture intown].

I was psyched to go to it and grabbed a ride from a blogger buddy going. My "goals" in my head were to:
     * talk with at least two new people
     * maybe give some folks my blog address, after all, we love to have others reading our posts, right?
     * enjoy some libation- couldn't list this one first!

Why, you're saying to yourself, is this fool setting goals for a social event? Fair question. The truth is as much as I wanted to go, I was very nervous about actually going through with it. I'm not always comfortable around strangers or new places since I have vision issues. I can be introduced to someone but due to the dim lighting, I might not recognize them 10 minutes later. I also knew I'd need to take a taxi home. Every try telling a dispatcher where you're located when you've never been in the neighborhood? Or try telling them to have the cabbie find you, a woman with a white cane. Just a tad anxiety-provoking, so giving myself "goals" is a way to encourage me to follow through.

Anyway.......
I was delighted to see writer buddies , Vicky A. Shecter, , and Cathy Hall , and Elizabeth Dulemba there, soooo much easier when you know people! I met Laurel Snyder, her friend Kathy, a librarian, Tanya, Tony, Lauren, Mark,and Sally, while in dim lighting and a small space. Yeah, first goal accomplished. I even managed to share my blog and web site - goal #2, go Gail. And that beer helped ease the nerves. Three for three, yay me!

Here are a few snaps I took too.

You know, it was actually fun. Maybe I'll go to next month's gathering too!