If you’re like me, you have people who you consider friends but have never met in real life. I’ve seen other bloggers say they consider their followers and bloggers they interact with real friends. This seemed to be especially true since March 2020 when … well we all know what happened.
In the world of Children’s authors, this is also commonplace. We used to be able to travel to conferences, book launches, and other events to meet in real life, and that’s slowly happening again!
Last weekend I *finally* was able to spend time with Sophia Gholz and hear her latest book, BUG ON THE RUG, illustrated by Susan Batori. We were in a debut picture book group in 2019 when our books THE BOY WAS WHO GREW A FOREST, illustrated by Kayla Harren and ALIANA REACHES FOR THE MOON, illustrated by Ariel Boroff released. Soon I’ll have an announcement of my next book, coming in 2023!
Sophia and I have stayed in touch and when I knew she was traveling to Colorado, I put her name on my calendar. And we made it happen!
Last July Sophia Gholz and I celebrated her book, JACK HORNER, DINOSAUR HUNTER
Events are still split between virtual and in person. Yesterday I presented in a large virtual conference https://lauraroettigerbooks.com/2022/07/12/nerd-camp-pa-7-15-22/ which was a wonderful experience and I also registered for my first in person conference coming in September.
Laura Roettiger Books 
I couldn’t help smiling at the picture of you and Sophia…two of my online friends who I WILL meet in IRL sometime! Enjoy all the wonderful things happening with you now.
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Thanks, Ellen! The last time Sophia was here doing an event in Denver was the same day I came home after almost 3 weeks away and I was exhausted. I had planned to go, but my energy level was too low to wait in Denver for the hours between landing and seeing her. I can now stop beating myself up about it!
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