NCTE - The Authors

This past weekend, I had the chance of a lifetime through my school. The entire English department of University Prep Science+Math High attended the annual National Council of Teachers of English conference in Boston. I'll give several posts to this experience, but this one had to come first -- the Authors. Through sessions, signings, and a luncheon, I was able to hear from many acclaimed authors, and sometimes got a chance to photograph them. Here they are:

First up, Ishmael Beah, author of A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier

 He was insightful, he was funny, and he was very candid and real about the incredible life he has lived, and the changes that he never expected. I managed to score an advance copy of his forthcoming book Radiance of Tomorrow, and also this photo of us:

Also amazing was hearing Temple Grandin speak on the nature of all minds in the English classroom:

No one with autism has done as much for people with autism as this woman. Seeing her live was fantastic.

I didn't her Neal Shusterman speak, but I got a snapshot of the man during a book signing. Here he is looking exactly like you expect him to look:

And finally, back to the start: the conference opened with Judy Blume. I didn't get a great shot, but her interview was a fantastic kickoff to the conference. Here she is accepting an award:

More NCTE to come! Amazing conference.