Successful Teen Lit Con 2016

MELSA Teen Lit Con 2016Teen Lit Con 2016: A Huge Success   With an endorsement as the “best event of its kind in the US” from none other than National Book Award Winner Neal Shusterman, Teen Lit Con 2016 closed another chapter on this widely anticipated annual event.

More than 1,000 teens & other YA readers descended on Sibley High School for a day of author talks, breakout sessions, and literary fun. Readers came from as far away as Moorhead, Marshall, and Cedar Rapids, as all parts of the MELSA region. 12 Twin Cities schools received transportation awards to bring students to the event.

The national authors Neal Shusterman, Faith Erin Hicks, Jason Reynolds, and Leigh Bardugo filled the Sibley HS auditorium for their keynotes. Local authors drew enthusiastic readers at their panels. Other breakout sessions on writing & publishing also were packed.

A shout out to the more than 70 Ambassadors from all types of libraries, schools, and ”just people who like books” who helped make this Legacy-funded event a success. Partners Sibley High Sschool and ISD 197 (West St. Paul-Mendoota Heights-Eagen) were also vital to making it happen.

Ambassador Susan Bernstein, Carver County Library, was a champion Tweeter before, during, and after the event. You can see the fun by browsing the Twitter hashtag #teenlitcon for lots of pictures & comments.

As the happy readers streamed out their biggest question was, “When is Teen Lit Con 2017?”

News posting from Ann Walker-Smalley, Metronet