I love getting feedback about my work from like-minded peers and my critique groups. I am in more than one, because it helps me grow as a children's book writer /illustrator. I know the creative process comes with lots of ups and downs, so why take the journey to publication alone? Last fall, I took a road trip with one of my groups to the 2013 IOWA-SCBWI Conference in Des Moines, IA.

We had a blast! The night before, we kept it nerdy by writing and rehearsing our one-line elevator pitch synopsis in our motel room in preparation for the "Finding Your Voice" event led by Michelle Poploff, Vice President and Executive Director of Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers. At the event, names were drawn from a hat (I was one of them) for participants to read the first page of their manuscript.

Honestly, if it weren't for the encouragement of the three incredible gals I critique with, I would have not been as confident to deliver my synopsis and read aloud my picture book. The crowd loved the humor and the pacing of my story. Michelle Poploff reviewed everyone's first pages and even had nice to things to say about my story. I was ecstatic! I am so grateful for this experience. Thank you, Marlys, Elise, Louise, Michelle Poploff and SCBWI.