Okay, admit it – you’re totally jealous of all those super cool New Yorkers who get together for monthly YA-licious book chat + tasty adult beverages. The one time I was able to join them (lucky me being in town for the SCBWI Winter Conference), I spent the entire evening in blissful, awestruck rapture. I may not even have finished my drink, being as buzzed on the bookly camaraderie as I was.
That was a few years ago, though, and since our fellow writers around the country have been busy setting up local KidLit Drink Nights of their own (we’re looking at you, Atlanta, Nashville, Boston, D.C., et al.), Heather, Laura and I hereby declare it’s time for one right here in Tallahassee! All we need now are some peeps to swing by our shindig.
Not sure you qualify? No prob – just peruse this handy dandy self-assessment to see if you might be one of our long-lost literary soulmates.
Are you an adult reader, writer, illustrator, librarian, bookseller or just plain fan of any kind of children’s lit from picture books to YA, non-fiction to graphic novels?
Do you consider Katniss, Clementine, Coraline, Wilbur the Pig or even Snape practically part of the family?
Do you worship at the altar of Laurie Halse Anderson, Meg Cabot, Scott Westerfeld, Kate Messner, Ally Carter, Kevin Henkes, Kate DiCamillo, Sara Zarr, Sarah Dessen, Anne Mazer, Deborah Wiles, John Green, Ellen Potter, Lisa Yee, David Levithan, Maureen Johnson, or Cecil Castellucci?
Have you ever hid the cover of a book because you were afraid of being mocked by friends or co-workers for liking “that silly kids’ stuff”?
If any of these questions leave you feeling a little concerned that maybe we’ve been poking through your bookshelves while you’ve been out walking the dogs, don’t worry – we’re no stalkers. Nope, we’re the KidLit friends you didn’t even know you had, so clear your calendar and come get to know us the first Wednesday of every month starting at 6:30 p.m. We pinky-swear we’ll never, ever taunt you for rereading your childhood copy of Little House in the Big Woods or The Westing Game whenever you’re stuck in bed with the flu (though we reserve the right to tease just a little if you purposely hang out with the infected hoping you’ll catch something).
Because we’re never ones to delay some good KidLit talk (or tasty beverages), we’ve already set the date for our first get-together:
KidLit Drink Night Tallahassee: Wednesday, February 2, 6:30 p.m. – ??? at the Midtown Filling Station (in the Manor@Midtown center, right next to RedEye Coffee), 1122 Thomasville Road, Tallahassee, FL.
We’ll be in the bar, not the restaurant next door. If you can’t come ’til later, come later! If you have to leave early, leave early! There’s no agenda besides getting to know some of your fellow KidLit fans and enjoying a lovely, lovely evening of book chatter. For your gustatory convenience, the Filling Station offers both yummy food and a wide variety of beverages (both adult and not).
Sound good to you? We kinda thought it might. If you want the scoop on where we’ll be meeting up each month, join our group on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and we’ll keep you updated with all the deets.
Questions? Shoot an email to KidLitTallyFL@gmail.com or ask away on the KidLit Tallahassee Facebook wall.
Whew, I think that’s it. Until we can meet in person and compare notes on our bookish crushes, keep turning (or writing!) those pages, oh ye of discerning literary taste! We can’t wait to compare notes…
Have a drink for me!