Did you know this year marks the 7th year for the annual KidLitCon?

As you may know, KidLitCon is my favorite conference. It’s not like other events, where you have loads of panels, exhibits, and other meetings to choose from over the course of many days. KidLitCon is one day or two days long, with a small slate of programs, all focused on blogging and children’s/teen literature. More than that, though, it’s an intimate event: between 100 and 200 people attend, making it the kind of con where you can get to talk to any and everyone you wish to. It’s laid back, and the emphasis is on making connections and conversation on the small — but mighty! — scale.

I’ve gone the last few years, and every time I come home after, I feel reengaged and energized. It gets me excited to blog again, and it gets me excited to reconnect with not just bloggers I have known a long time, but to explore the blogging world and “meet” other people and voices. The impact of this event didn’t really hit me until I went to this year’s book blogger con at BEA and realized that it wasn’t at all like KidLitCon.

KidLitCon is coordinated, developed, and run by bloggers for bloggers. That’s it. But it’s open to bloggers AND non-bloggers alike — the connecting theme among everyone who attends is a love and appreciation for kidlit. So you’ll rub shoulders with those who blog, those who write, and those who share kid lit as teachers, librarians, and more.

This year, Kimberly and I had the opportunity to be a part of the group organizing the event, and we’re excited to share what is in the works. KidLitCon will be held Saturday, November 9, down in beautiful Austin, Texas. We’re in the midst of coordinating a pre-conference event for the day before, as well, and details are coming together as we speak.

KidLitCon will be at St. David’s Episcopal Church right in downtown, and we’ve already got our keynote speaker set up — you’ll get the chance to hear Cynthia Leitich Smith. There is a lunch planned for the conference, and we’ve also got a dinner location post-event at Scholz Garten.

I’m eager to meet up with many of the people I’ve been blogging and talking with for years now (years!). I’m equally excited to meet new faces.

Want to know more about this year’s event and sign up? Registration is open, and through October 11, the cost is $55. After that, the price increases to $65 — and this is an event that is always worth every single penny. You also have a little bit of time left to propose a panel session if you want to speak at the event, as well. Details are here. Continue to keep an eye on the Kidlitosphere website, too, for more information about hotels and things to do in Austin as the event gets closer.

And because I know you want to know more about what a day at KidLitCon really looks like, here’s are my recaps from the 2012 event in New York City, the 2011 event in Seattle, and the 2010 event in Minneapolis.

I can’t wait to see everyone in early November.