KidLitCon Plans Are Shaping Up!
August 08, 2011
The 2011 Kidlitosphere Conference (being held at the Hotel Monaco in Seattle on September 16-17) is shaping up nicely. The multi-talented author and artist Sarah Stevenson created the beautiful logo to the left. Our hardworking co-chairs Jackie Parker and Colleen Mondor have scored a great hotel, and put together an amazing (tentative) agenda (including a keynote presentation by Scott Westerfeld). Colleen reported on Twitter that as of Friday, 68 people were registered. You can see some of them here - registration coordinator Pam Coughlan has been traveling, but should be updating the list soon.
And I'm delighted to report that I finalized my own travel plans this weekend. I'll be arriving at KidLitCon on Thursday afternoon, September 15th and leaving late Saturday night. Things won't really get started until Friday at noon, but I wanted to squeeze in an extra evening talking about everything and nothing with my KidLit peeps. For me, that's what KidLitCon is all about. But I am scheduled to present twice:
Friday 3 – 3:50 pm
One is Silver and the Other’s Gold: A Discussion on Blogging Backlist vs. New Releases, and Why It Doesn’t Have to Be Versus
Presented by Maureen Kearney, Terry Doherty, Melissa Madsen Fox, Jen Robinson
Four reviewer-bloggers will discuss the different advantages to blogging the backlist and blogging about newer titles, and how having a variety of books strengthens your blog and your voice.
Saturday 3:00 – 3:50 pm
Moving Beyond Google Reader: Taking Your Blog to Where Your Readers Are
Presented by Jen Robinson and Carol Rasco
Because of the large number of blogs in the Kidlitosphere these days, it is difficult, if not impossible, for people to follow them all, even when using a blog reader. Fortunately, a variety of tools and services, new and old, exist to help bloggers take their content to where their audience is. These include Feedblitz, Twitter, Facebook, and the new Google+ service. In this session, we will share tips for using these tools effectively, to get your blog posts into the hands of people who are interested in them, without oversaturating and turning off your audience. We’ll also include some tips for blog readers on how to use these tools to cut through the clutter, and find interesting content.
There are tons of other sessions planned, and all of them look interesting. Here is the full schedule (without session descriptions - click here for those). Note that this schedule is tentative, and likely to change a little bit. But it should give you a nice picture of what the conference will be like.
KidLitCon 2011 Schedule
Friday, September 16
12:00 – 12:50 pm
Registration begins. Regardless of whether you are attending the day’s sessions, you can register for any portion of the conference during this time.
1 – 1:50 pm
Bloggers and Writers and Pubs! Oh My!
Presented and facilitated by Pam Coughlan and Liz Burns
2 – 2:50 pm
Managing the Privacy Line: Your Blog, Your Kids, Your Readers, and You
Presented by Marcia Lerner, Andrea Lampman, Eden Kennedy
The Future of Transmedia Storytelling: Angel Punk, Pottermore, and Skeleton Creek
Presented by Amber Keyser, Devon Lyon, Matthew Wilson, and Jake Rossman
3 – 3:50 pm
One is Silver and the Other’s Gold: A Discussion on Blogging Backlist vs. New Releases, and Why It Doesn’t Have to Be Versus
Presented by Maureen Kearney, Terry Doherty, Melissa Madsen Fox, Jen Robinson
Group Blogging: Strategies for Success
Presented by Elissa Cruz, Wendy Martin, Rosanne Parry, Katherine Schlick Noe
4 – 4:50 pm
Building a Better World With Your Book Blog
Presented by Chris Singer
5 – 6 pm
Wine Reception
Hotel Monaco offers a complimentary glass of wine during their nightly wine hour. It’s another great opportunity to linger in their beautiful lobby, mingle with guests and your kidlitosphere colleagues.
7 – 10 pm
Meet and Greet
Come meet and mingle with your peers! We’ll provide light appetizers and access to a cash bar. SCBWI of Western Washington will provide entertainment in the form of a lightning-fast intro to attending and local authors. Think speed-dating, only quicker – we’re going to pack in as many authors and illustrators as possible in 30 minutes (if you are an author interesting in participating in this, contact Joni Sensel: sensel [at] earthlink.net).
Saturday, September 17th
7:15 – 7:55 am
Registration.
8 am
Keynote by Scott Westerfeld
9 – 9:50 am
Forming Author – Blogger Collectives to Support Book Promotion
Presented by Stasia Ward Kehoe
Who Are You Online? Social Media and the Professional Persona
Presented by Karen Kincy, Chelsea Campbell, Denise Jaden, and Mindi Scott
9:50 – 10:15 am
BREAK
10:15 – 11:05 am
Going Deep: The Hows and Whys of Blogging Critically
Presented by Kelly Jensen, Abby Johnson, and Janssen Brandshaw
Tears, Sweat, and True Blood: DIY Marketing in a Post-Twilight World
Presented by Holly and Shiraz Cupala
11:15 – 12:05 pm
Give Your Blog a Voice: Podcasting in the KidLitosphere
Presented by Michelle Ann Dunphy and Allison Tran
Building Your Online Brand
Presented by Amanda Hubbard
12:30 – 2 pm
LUNCH
2 – 2:50 pm
Convergence: Social Media Life, the Publishing Universe, and Everything
Presented by Greg Pincus
Finessing Your Inner Zoo
Presented by Richard Jesse Watson
3 – 3:50 pm
Moving Beyond Google Reader: Taking Your Blog to Where Your Readers Are
Presented by Jen Robinson and Carol Rasco
Teaming Up: How Authors and Bloggers Can Work Together for Successful Promotion
Presented by Suzanne Young and Sara Gundell
3:50 – 4:15 pm
BREAK
4 – 4:50 pm
The Fantastic New World of Book Apps for Children
Presented by Mary Ann Scheuer, Elizabeth Bird, and Paula Wiley
Teaming Up with S in SCBWI
Presented by Joni Sensel
5 – 5:50
Blogging Diversity: Prejudice and Pride
Presented by Lee Wind
7 pm
DINNER
The Bottom Line
It's going to be great, I tell you. Click here to register. Discounted registration has been extended to August 15th. If you're on the fence, and not sure whether or not KidLitCon is worthwhile, see my thoughts on why KidLitCon IS worthwhile here. Or search on Twitter for KidLitCon - you'll find lots of reasons to attend. I hope to see you all there. I'll be the one in the lobby with a glass of wine Thursday night, ready to talk life, blogging, and kidlit.