If you're anywhere near Golden, Colorado (and even if you're not!) on October 8-9, 2005, mark your calendar and plan to attend the RMC-SCBWI Fall Conference. Donna Jo Napoli is coming. The Rocky Mountain Chapter of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators has posted the online brochure announcing the 2005 Fall Conference.

In the words of National Book Award Finalist Julie Anne Peters,

"The fall conference looks to be packed with inspirational and educational sessions. What a coup to get Claudia Mills, Donna Jo Napoli, Wendell Minor, and three editors, not to mention all our fab local authors, editors and illustrators. I'd encourage people to go, and especially to take advantage of the Vickie Ferguson scholarship opportunity. If you're a member of RMC-SCBWI, you should be receiving information about it. If you're not a member, join. In honor of Vickie, we established a scholarship fund this year to send one (or more) participants to the fall conference. It was always one of Vickie's favorite events and we plan to make sure her spirit lives on."

The featured speakers at the RMC-SCBWI 2005 Fall Conference include:

• Michele Burke, Assistant Editor at Alfred A. Knopf & Crown Books for Young Readers, Random House
• Cheryl Klein, Associate Editor at Arthur A. Levine Books
• Yolanda LeRoy, Editorial Director at Charlesbridge

Fall Conference is a two-day event. Saturday's schedule packed with awesome speakers/workshops. Sunday's events are powerful, intensive, inspiring, energizing... it might seem as if we're using too many superlatives but that's just not the case with the events the RMC-SCBWI chapter sponsors -- can you tell we're totally biased here?

On Sunday, October 9th, they're offering three tracks: A "Pre-Published Workshop" with Donna Jo Napoli, an "Author's Professional Forum," with Michele Burke, Yolanda LeRoy and Cheryl Klein and an "Illustrator's Day" with Wendell Minor. Click to see a description of Sunday's workshops at the RMC-SCBWI website.

The conference is priced reasonably. Participants may access the online registration form and even use PayPal to pay online if they so desire.