KEYNOTE: Loren Long

More from Loren:

• His  first publishing assignment was the jacket art for DAVE AT NIGHT, by Gail Carson Levine (HarperCollins).
• He didn't do his first picture book until he was in his late 30s.
• He claimes Madonna is one of Jon Scieszka's favorite authors (this is not confirmed), and he says working on her book was a great experience.
• Mood and emotions--and choosing the right one (the highs, the low)--is key in art.
• He wants reader to feel his art, not just look at it.
• Loren sang us a resounding version of "All by Myself" to demonstrate how he feels the emotions of his characters.