The Southern Utah Book Festival is back! Check it out this week with the main event on Saturday, September 20th. Plenty of author panels, book signings, and activities to delight readers of all ages. I’ll be on a picture book panel from 11 – 11:45 am with kidlit friends. Be sure not to miss the DRAW-OFF at 2pm! Hope to see you there!
Last Saturday was the Las Vegas Book Festival! I went for the first time and helped host the Nevada SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) information booth with other volunteer members. I was so impressed with the amount of vendors, speakers, and activities. The Historic 5th Street School makes for a lovely venue with its Spanish architectural details.
I think we recruited a dozen or so new members; networked with booksellers, librarians, and teachers; and I even booked a school visit! We were encouraging visitors to “READ LOCAL!” and support Nevada authors and illustrators. It was also the most beautiful fall day we’ve had after a long and dreadfully hot summer.
There was even a special appearance by Mo Willems’ Elephant and Piggie. At our booth we had activity sheets from my book Nudi Gill and I taught kids how to make a zine from one piece of paper.
All in all it was a great experience and I look forward to attending again next year. I highly recommend checking it out. In my humble opinion, the nicest people in the world seem to be book people!
See you at the Las Vegas Book Festival next year!
Bonnie Kelso writes and illustrates books for children and adults that encourage individualism and brave self-expression. She facilitates art workshops for her local community and beyond. Her debut picture book, NUDI GILL, released April 4, 2023. SEA SMILES, the first of a three-part series, released February 20, 2024. Coming soon: WONDER OF THE WOODS and QUAIL TRAIL, releasing this fall. A lover of nature and travel, she often wanders about outside with her family whenever an excellent opportunity to do so presents itself.
I have exciting news! I’m going to be on an author panel on Thursday, May 2nd for the School Library Journal and Library Journal virtual event, “Open Books, Open Minds.” The event is free and anyone who registers may attend, although the target audience is educators and librarians.
I’ll be discussing why I write for young people with fabulous authors, Vera Ahiyya, Jarrett Lerner, Rashin Kheiriyeh, and Kaz Windness. I love the dynamics when creatives get together and talk about the things they love most, so I’m really looking forward to this. We will be speaking from 9:55am PT / 12:55pm ET – 10:40am PT / 1:40pm ET.
There will be lots of other great speakers during the event including Kate Messner, Dan Santat, and Minh Lê. Children’s book publishers will be in attendance as well, including Gnome Road. I hope to represent them well.
Hoping you discover wonderful new books to read,
Bonnie Kelso writes and illustrates books for children and adults that encourage individualism and brave self-expression. She facilitates art workshops for her local community and beyond. Her debut picture book, NUDI GILL, released April 4, 2023. SEA SMILES, the first of a three-part series, released February 20, 2024. Coming soon: WONDER OF THE WOODS and QUAIL TRAIL, releasing this fall. A lover of nature and travel, she often wanders about outside with her family whenever an excellent opportunity to do so presents itself.
Bonnie Kelso 