Richard Peck is everywhere, but I always seem to miss him. 

Peck was at a Sarasota book store in February. My birth month. I learned about that appearance the day before he spoke, but had already promised a friend a ride to and from a doctor's appointment.  Of course, that was a no-brainer. But it's been that way a few times,  missed opportunities to hear Peck speak about writing children's literature. 

In the wee hours of this morning I clicked on Augusta Scattergood's blog, http://ascattergood.blogspot.com/ and she had wished him a belated birthday. 

So, I even missed wishing him a proper Happy Birthday on his special day. Yeah, I know, he must have been heartbroken, right?

On I move to Irene Latham's post.  http://irenelatham.blogspot.com/2010/04/ode-to-richard-peck.html about Peck. Okay, Mississippi isn't that that far from Florida. Why didn't I go?

Today I declare that --as a gift for my next birthday, God willing -- I will hear Richard Peck speak in person. Not as part of a bucket list. Heck no. I don't have one of those. Nope. I own a scroll etched with hopes of finding new adventures and treasures.  Hearing Richard Peck speak will mean I can slip a jewel inside a  personal treasure chest. 

Until then, I'll continue to write stories and like the other bloggers,  share my favorite Richard Peck quotes.

                        "We write by the light of every book we've ever read."                            

                                                       and                                                         

             "Kids are not looking for authors in books: they are looking for themselves."


Aren't those cool quotes? Who wouldn't want to hear more from an author who thinks that way. I'm just saying...