I should add that Boot Camp is great for middle school AND high school.

Our middle schools just hosted author Todd Strasser for an author visit. His books range from elementary level to middle school and his newest book Boot Camp would be great for high school. He was a fantastic speaker. Adults and kids loved him.

I heard Laurie Halse Anderson in another state. She was phenomenal.

Many folks are not aware of how expensive some of these well-known authors are! Marie Sabol, our conference chair, has a limited budget. I echo, though, the Scott Westerfeld wish & Laurie Halse Anderson. Laurie does do some books for elementary students. We need authors who can address a whole range of interests to get the most bang for our bucks!

It seems we usually have a majority of elementary authors so I would like to see more authors who write for upper high school students. I second the vote for Sharon Draper, Scott Westerfeld, Laurie Hulse Anderson, and Stephanie Meyer. Also Sarah Dessen.

I would be thrilled to hear Khaled Hosseini! I think we might also benefit and enjoy hearing from someone like Samantha Abeel (My Thirteenth Winter) who writes and speaks about her experience living and coping with a disability. The students would be amazed if they knew I met Stephanie Meyer. I guess I would most like to see an author who writes for adults/upper high school students.

I suggest Jim Weiss, professional storyteller.

I would like to see more emphasis on media literacy since that is one of our library guidelines. Lessons that librarians and teachers are using. Speakers such as Chris Sperry from Project LookSmart at Ithaca College, David Considine from Appalachian College, Kathleen Jamison Hall who co-wrote Unspun and her colleague who administers factcheck.org.

I’d love to see some authors that haven’t been to OELMA in the last 7 years. How about Khaled Hosseini? I heard him speak (part of a free CPL authors event) and he was incredible with a standing-room audience. The Kite Runner is required summer reading and he might pull in teachers as well during an author-pallooza type of event? Also, am thinking of Stephenie Meyer (Twilight, Newmoon, Ecplise), Laurie Halse Anderson, and Alice Sebold (I bet she’d be interesting).

Chris Crutcher is such a good speaker…Scott Westerfeld would be great (the kids would be so impressed!)…does Neal Shusterman do conferences? His books are popular at my school…How about Angela Johnson?… Jaime Adoff was fun!