One month to go before the 2013 AFCC!

In one month, it'll be the 2013 Asian Festival of Children's Content (AFCC) in Singapore! The 2013 AFCC is:

The Preschool & Primary Teachers Congress
Date: May 25 (Saturday)
For: Primary, preschool, and kindergarten teachers; parents; librarians; and language specialists

The Parents Forum
Date: May 26 (Sunday)
For: Parents and children; primary, preschool, and kindergarten teachers; and librarians

Seminars
Date: May 27 (Monday)
For: Writers, illustrators, translators, BLOGGERS (!!!), and industry professionals

The Writers & Illustrators Conference
Date: May 28-29 (Tuesday-Wednesday)
For: Writers, illustrators, publishers, librarians, literary agents, distributors and retailers, translators, teachers, and other professionals related to children’s content

The Media Summit
Date: May 29 (Wednesday)
For: Producers, television and film executives, commissioning editors, comic artists, screenwriters, authors, publishers, app developers, animators, filmmakers, and content creators

Plus many more classes, programs, and events!

I attend the AFCC every year, and I always try to convince my friends to attend too. (I've been successful several times!) One of the questions they ask me is, "Isn't it too expensive?" My answer: Not if you're smart about it. =D =D =D I always use a budget airline and stay at a budget hotel (some participants bunk together) or with family or friends. There are early bird rates and special discounts (for example, if you are an SCBWI member) for registration. You don't have to register for the whole festival; you can buy a half-day pass for the blogging seminars, for example. (This is what I want you to do: At the very least, please buy a half-day pass to the blogging seminars. *conspiratorial whisper*) And eating out doesn't have to be expensive because Singapore is known for its very delicious street food. (I swear, the best meal I have ever eaten in Singapore was in this unassuming eatery in the Arab District.)

Whenever I'm saving up for my yearly Singapore trip, I remember this quote from Derek Bok: "If you think education is expensive, try ignorance." The AFCC is the only place where I can learn about the children's and young adult publishing industry in other Asian countries, buy children's and young adult books from other Asian countries, and meet industry professionals from other Asian countries. Ultimately, that's why I save up and go every year. I'm in love with Asian children's and young adult literature and I'm terrified of missing out on a lecture, panel discussion, or author appearance or book signing. I'm terrified of falling behind and not being able to provide good content for readers of this blog.

So . . . See you at the 2013 AFCC? =D