Announcing our Keynote Speaker

If the chance to visit the Twin Cities wasn't enough...

If the opportunity to meet face to face with fellow kidlit bloggers didn't immediately grab your interest...

If being part of one of the largest growing blogcons* in the world didn't trip your trigger...

...then you're sure to get your registration form sent in pronto when you hear that our keynote speaker for KidlitCon 2010 will be Blogger and New York Times Bestselling Author Maggie Stiefvater!

As an accomplished painter and musician as well as a writer, Maggie Stiefvater has been involved in art on the Internet since well before she hit number one on the New York Times Bestseller list. As one of the three Merry Sisters of Fate, she’s been channeling her creative writing into a critique group blog that’s gained legions of devoted followers. She’s also the creator of her own highly innovative and highly viral book trailers. Maggie will reflect on what she’s learned as a blogging artist. She blogs at maggiestiefvater.blogspot.com and http://www.merryfates.com/. Follow her on Twitter at @mstiefvater.

Maggie will kick things off first thing Saturday morning, followed by a full day of what promises to be innovative and informative sessions (judging from the fine proposals we've seen come in so far....but don't let that stop you from submitting a proposal; plenty of room for more!).

Stay tuned to the blog for more exciting announcements as we continue to firm up details for KidlitCon 2010!

*=No data exists to back up this "fact." I just like the way it sounds. And now it's on the internet so it must be true.

Proposals!

Greetings bloggers!

We've received requests from people needing additional time to prepare their workshop proposals so we're extending the deadline to August 15. You can learn all about how to submit a proposal here. Put on your thinking caps and send us your best ideas.

It's that or you sit through Brian's three hour lecture entitled, "The History of a Paperclip," performed entirely in semaphore.

Registration and Hotel Information

Pre-registration is now closed and it's time to register for KidlitCon 2010!

To register:

1) Download and fill out the registration form.

2) Mail with a check for $45 ($40 if you qualify for the pre-reg discount) to:

Brian Farrey
Flux
2143 Wooddale Dr.
Woodbury, MN 55125
(Please make the check out to Brian Farrey.)

3) We’ll confirm via e-mail and you're all set.

A block of hotel rooms has been set aside for the conference at:

Holiday Inn--Mineapolis Metrodome
1500 Washington Ave. South
Minneapolis, MN 55454
Click here to print out a hotel fact sheet.
Front Desk: 1-612-333-4646 Hotel Fax: 1-612-333-7910

Conference rate is $109 per night, which includes a free shuttle to and from Open Book (although, many will find the walk between the two more than manageable) and free WiFi.

Click here to book your hotel room online. If booking by phone, mention “Children’s Writing Event” to access the block and the rate.

Information on how to get to Open Book (the conference site) is located on the above "Getting Around" tab.

Find a conference buddy! Share a room! Most important: SPREAD THE WORD! This conference belongs to bloggers and will only be as strong as those who make it happen.

As always, shoot questions to kidlitcon2010@gmail.com. And keep an eye on the blog for other exciting announcements in the coming days.

Sunday is the last day to pre-register!

We will be posting registration and accommodation information on Monday, which makes Sunday the last day to pre-register and get a $5.00 discount on the registration fee. If you've been hemming and hawing, now's the time to tell us you're coming and save a little moolah. You can still register after Sunday, but you'll pay full price.

Thurston says: "Full price? Good heavens, you sound like a Yale man!"

ALA bound?

For those attending the ALA conference in Washington DC this weekend, Andrew and Brian will be manning our respective booths and we'd love it if you stopped by to say hello. The deets:

Andrew
Carolrhoda/Lerner Booth #2311
Monday

Brian
Flux/Llewellyn Booth #2940
Saturday and Sunday

Call for submissions!

The Kidlitosphere 2010 Conference is now accepting proposals for workshops and panel discussions for the conference in October.

We’re looking for a range of topics aimed at both beginning and experienced bloggers. While we’ll consider all submissions and ideas, we are most interested in seeing sessions that address:

· Issues of diversity in reviewing/blogging
· Effective marketing/networking
· Ethics of book reviews
· Beyond the blog (vlogs, etc.)

Remember: this is YOUR conference! If there is a topic that you’d like to see addressed but don’t feel you’re able to present on, please shoot us an e-mail at kidlitcon2010@gmail.com with your suggestion. In a later post, we’ll list the topics that people would like to see covered and solicit proposals based on the requested list.

Please download and fill out the submission proposal form, then e-mail it back to us at the above address. Deadline for submissions is August 1, 2010. Our goal is to reply to all submissions by mid to late August.

Mark your calendars!

Greetings, Kidlit Blogdom!

Welcome to the first informational post for the Kidlitosphere 2010 Conference!

This year's conference will be hosted by Andrew Karre (Carolrhoda), Ben Barnhart (Milkweed Editions) and Brian Farrey (Flux) in beautiful downtown Minneapolis.

Let's start with the basics:

Where: Open Book, Minneapolis, MN
When: Saturday, October 23, 2010

The rough schedule calls for a wine and cheese reception on the night of Friday the 22nd, a day of workshops and panels on the 23rd, followed by a closing conference dinner in the evening.

We're still working out the details of cost for the conference and hotel; we hope to have all the particulars very soon. Our goal is to make the cost comparable to past conferences. Once we've finished getting bids, we'll post registration information. BUT, if you send an e-mail right now to kidlitcon2010@gmail.com with the subject line "Intent to Register," you will receive $5.00 off the cost of registration.

Later this week, we'll be posting a call for submissions. This is your chance to submit ideas for workshops/panels that you'd like to present or organize.

Follow us on Twitter here: www.twitter.com/kidlitcon2010
And here's the Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kidlitcon-2010/137299689614524?ref=ts

Please note that THIS BLOG will be your BEST source for up to date information.

Lots more info to come in the next few weeks. (We're working on a few fun surprises...) For now, start spreading the word! Be a fan on Facebook! Follow us on Twitter! Let people know when the conference is and to start their plans to attend/present/support!