We’ve just returned from AWP, North America’s largest Conference & Bookfair for writers and writing programs. It took place in Baltimore March 4-7, 2026. We saw a lot of friends. There was comedy at our little corner of the book fair, as usual. It seems there was a rogue electric mobility device that was assigned to two of our friends on different days. Of course, both friends tried to stop by to see us. Tried is the operative word here because the evil blue cart had other ideas! I won’t mention names, but one friend plowed through on Friday, and another did the same on Saturday!!! It was good for a laugh, but I did mention it to the security staff, since we are pretty sure the same cart was involved in both accidents.
A feeling of solidarity
The feel of this conference was one of solidarity. Everyone seemed to recognize that our role has become more important over recent months. The books we write and publish and the younger writers and editors we teach have greater value than ever in this time of book banning and media consolidation. We seem all to be holding the weight of responsibility to maintain literacy itself.
The electricity of enthusiasm
We say this every year, but the really good part… The best part of the whole event is seeing our friends. And making new ones! We got a lot of compliments on our books. We sold a lot of books. We took too many anyway, and didn’t have enough of the ones everyone wanted… (Twenty Years of Poem of the Week . com, Momma May Be Mad, The Hummingbird War, and Signed, Sealed, Delivered).
There was a little surprise for Patricia Clark while we were there. She got word that her O Lucky Day has been named a Forward Indies finalist. So we got to share that news with people stopping by the booth.
