Scared Silly

Texas Library Association Conference, Austin – April 12-15, 2011

by Dianne on April 20, 2011

4-14-11 Dianne de Las Casas at TLA with Dewey the Dragon from There's A Dragon in the Library

Friends:

Last week, I signed books at the Texas Library Association conference with my children’s book publisher, Pelican Publishing Company, and my professional book publisher, Libraries Unlimited, an imprint of ABC-Clio.

4-13-11 Dianne de Las Casas signs books at ABC-Clio Libraries Unlimited at TLA

I went to the conference with Marita Gentry, illustrator of several of my children’s books. We have a new book out this Spring, There’s A Dragon in the Library, and it went over very well at the conference!

4-13-11 Marita Gentry and Dianne de Las Casas pose with TX librarians at the Pelican Publishing Booth at TLA

I didn’t get to do as much as I wanted to at the conference because I was constantly signing books. I had a back-to-back, packed schedule with both of my publishers. :)

4-13-11 Dianne de Las Casas, Dewey the Dragon and Nina Fancher at TLA

Marita and I had a fabulous time. I love the fact that our new book gave us an excuse to wear tiaras because of its fairytale theme. The tiaras and Dewey the Dragon stole the show!

4-13-11 Marita Gentry and Dianne de Las Casas signing books at the Pelican Publishing Booth at TLA

This year I didn’t get many pictures with author friends! I got to hug Phil Bildner and say hi to my Texas storytelling friends. Lucky me, when I went to dinner at Guero’s with my phenomenal team at Pelican Publishing (thank you Caitlin and John), I also got to dine with the fabulous children’s book team of Jan Peck and David Davis. We ran into Jeanette Larson and Melanie Hope Greenberg and they joined us. On another night, I had dinner at Moonshine with my incredible team at Libraries Unlimited (much love to Sharon, Debby, Blanche, Shannon). Kristin Fontichiaro and Alexey Root, both Libraries Unlimited authors, are sweet as pie, and I hung out with them at dinner with the LU team.

4-14-11 Dianne de Las Casas and Melanie Hope Greenberg taken at Guero's Restaurant in Austin, TX (iPhone pic)

I managed a bit of shopping and met a wonderful husband and wife team at GSH Designs, where I bought lots of great jewelry for my daughters and for friends. Thank you Rosa and Johnny!

4-15-11 Rosa and Johnny of GSH Designs jewelry. Such nice people!

It was a wonderful conference and I love the city of Austin. I wish I could have seen more of it! A big hug to Marita Gentry for making my TLA conference such a special one.

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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Eastside Elementary Visit, Lancaster, CA; Monday, October 12, 2009

by Dianne on October 19, 2009

10-12-09 Dianne and lower grade students on stage

10-12-09 Dianne and lower grade students on stage

Friends:

On Monday, October 12, 2009, I visited Eastside Elementary School in Lancaster, California. My best friend, Fe Del Rosario, a 5th grade teacher, helped to make the arrangements. What a fantastic school. The principal, Margo Deal, was a gracious hostess and the vice principal, Santos Decasas, was such a nice man. The teachers were also amazing and the students were phenomenal. They all made me feel welcome and special.

10-12-09 Grades 5 and 6 at Eastside

10-12-09 Grades 5 and 6 at Eastside

I did three 45 minute assemblies for grades K-6. I performed my “Scared Silly” program for all the grades, adjusting the tales to fit the ages of the audience.

10-12-09 Dianne telling a spooky story

10-12-09 Dianne telling a spooky story

I even had students come on stage to perform a song with me. It was so much fun!

10-12-09 Dianne and students on stage

10-12-09 Dianne and students on stage

Here is a picture of me with Fe (on the far left) and her sister, Merlynn (on the far right). We are with their children following my last afternoon performance.

10-12-09 Fe, Nicholas, Isaac, Dianne, Meryssa & Merlynn

10-12-09 Fe, Nicholas, Isaac, Dianne, Meryssa & Merlynn

In the evening, I did a family literacy night for the school. I talked about the importance of reading together, reading out loud, and reading for 20 minutes a day, exercising that “thinking muscle” called the “brain.” Afterwards, I performed “Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach.”

10-12-09 Dianne and roaches dance on stage at Literacy Night

10-12-09 Dianne and roaches dance on stage at Literacy Night

It was a fantastic visit. Thank you to everyone who made my visit special especially, Nikki Schoenfelt, Nilafe Del Rosario, Margo Deal, Santos Decasas, Jimmy Mora, Travis Wilson, and the incredible office and cafeteria staff! The school has invited me back for October 2010! I can’t wait!!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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