Little Flower Teen Writing Festival: what a day it was

Two friends meet for lunch and say, What if? What if we have a writing festival for the girls of Little Flower Catholic High? What if we invite 20 authors, offer the girls a chance to learn and workshop , have Kate Walton give the keynote, invite Children's Book World to sell books, and (simply, but never simply) bring this whole publishing thing back to where it belongs: readers connecting with writers connecting with readers.

Book joy.

This, above, is the day that was at the Little Flower Teen Writing Festival. Kate Walton giving the keynote and thanking the tremendous Sister Kim (whose vision this was). Girls in the gym cradling newly bought books as if they were gemstones. The uber talented and radiantly positive girls of my two workshops; some of the props that got us writing; Judy Schachner and me; campus blossoms.

I began this day writing this poem for the girls as they adopt Going Over as a summer read. I spent the rest of it smiling. This, my friends, is what writing is about. Creating stories for, and spending time with, readers who have been given a love for books by a teacher whose heart is huge.