When I showed up for my first school visit this past Wednesday, I don’t think I’d even shut my car door before I heard that holler of recognition. There was a class and their teacher sitting outside reading The Day-Glo Brothers, and my daylight-fluorescent green tie gave me away as the author. What a welcome! And what an omen for the great day that lay ahead.

I delivered a brand-new presentation — Me? Write Science? — to three groups of seventh-graders who had just begun their own writing projects for an upcoming science fair, and it was easily the highlight of my week. (The highlight of the highlight? Hearing my tie described as “beast.”) But there’s been other good stuff lately, too:

The 2009 Teddy Award nominees have been announced by the Writers League of Texas. Congratulations to Dotti, Jenny, Kathi, and Xavier!

  • Cynthia Leitich Smith posted this IndieBound list of books by Austin authors and illustrators for young readers.
  • I heard from a friend that my recent SCBWI presentation on biography writing inspired her to get going on one of her own. I had hoped to have that effect on at least one person who was there, but you just never know.
  • The publication date for Shark Vs. Train has been moved up, from June 2010 to next April. In a business where things always seem to take longer and move more slowly than you hope and expect, this is especially nice.
  • I’ve seen several roundups of 2009 titles receiving multiple starred reviews, but this particularly well-organized post from The Librariest is my favorite.
  • Speaking of reviews, Colleen Mondor’s enthusiastic words about The Day-Glo Brothers at Eclectica made my jaw drop — and made me eager to get my hands on the other five nonfiction titles she recommends.
  • Finally, the Cybils are back! Those are the Childrens and Young Adult Bloggers’ Literary Awards, and they’re taking nominations in several categories through this Thursday.