Sure, the schedule at the International Literacy Association 2015 Conference is busy and chockablock with useful, practical advice to transform your practice in the classroom. But did you also know there is a chance to sit down, enjoy a meal, chat with colleagues, and get inspiration from your favorite authors?
Each day of the conference, a different children’s book author will share personal stories at a ticketed luncheon. William Joyce, Nick Bruel, and Meg Cabot are all award winners and authors of hit book series but, when it comes to style, they each have a unique voice and path to success.
Joyce is the author of The Guardians of Childhood series (which inspired 2012’s Rise of the Guardians film) and Rolie Polie Olie (HarperCollins), which spawned a TV series and earned Joyce three Emmys. He also received an Academy Award for his animated short film The Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore (now a book with Atheneum Books for Young Readers, as well) and is a founder of Moonbot Studios. At lunch Saturday, July 18, he will talk about how he was able to translate his journey in publishing and production into successful collaboration at Moonbot.
Cabot, beloved for The Princess Diaries series, is a classically trained fine artist, but her summer release, From the Notebooks of a Middle School Princess (Feiwel & Friends), marks the first time she’s illustrated her own work. In her talk Sunday, July 19, she’ll share how she discovered her hidden talents and how everyone else can, too.
Bruel is certainly known for the naughty Bad Kitty, but he is also known for being active in schools, talking to students about the themes of his books, from a primer on the political process to how to treat friends. His most recent installment, Bad Kitty: Puppy’s Big Day (Roaring Brook Press), just hit shelves. 
Bruel plans to take a lighthearted look Monday, July 20, at his career and how Bad Kitty changed his life.
To get more insight into this year’s luncheon speakers, click on their names at the beginning of this story to see self-portraits they gave ILA and read their accompanying interviews. Portions of these interviews appear in the March/April issue of Reading Today magazine, which is full of conference tips and details. This issue will be offered free online, but you can join ILA today to have every issue delivered to your home.
The ILA 2015 Conference will be July 18–20 in St. Louis, MO, with more than 6,000 educators ready to transform their practice. Key topics affecting literacy featured at the conference include content literacy, children’s literature, classroom engagement, and professional development. In addition to conference favorites, including a revamped Teaching Edge series, there will be plenty of brand-new features like the Author Meetups. More than 120 exhibitors will be on hand with new tools and technologies for all manners of literacy education.
Preconference Institutes, which take place on July 17, offer an all-day deep dive into topics including culturally responsive instruction and building literacy through project-based learning. You do not need to register for the full Conference & Exhibits to take part in the Preconference Institutes.
Tickets to Author Luncheons are $65 as an add-on to ILA 2015 Conference registration. Register today to reserve your seat.
April Hall is editor of Literacy Daily. A journalist for about 20 years, she has specialized in education, writing and editing for newspapers, websites, and magazines.