![\"WonderCon](\"https:\/\/www.caraghobrien.com\/book\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/WonderConPanel.jpg\")
<\/a>WonderCon Building Worlds with Words Panel, March 25, 2016. L to r: Cecil Castellucci, Aditi Khorana, Margaret Stohl, Victoria Schwab, Lisa Yee, Gretchen McNeil, and Caragh O’Brien. Photo: Julia Hart<\/p><\/div>
<\/a>Approaching the Games area<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n
WonderCon<\/a> was a blast, as expected. I arrived at the L.A. Convention Center last Friday with ample time to sit in on a couple of other presentations and wander the floor. I liked how the visitors in costume totally owned the conference, like when a couple of Spidermans encountered a J. Jonah Jameson (Peter Parker\u2019s boss) and yelled at each other in character for a while before they said, \u201cHey, can we be in a picture together?\u201d<\/p>\n Caragh O’Brien and Aditi Khorana<\/p><\/div>\n Meeting Aditi Khorana<\/a> and sharing a table with her for a signing (her first ever!) was definitely a highlight. Aditi\u2019s debut YA novel Mirror in the Sky<\/a><\/em> comes out this June from Razorbill, and the first few chapters set up a compelling story. Aditi is as nice as they come, so it was great to make a new friend.<\/p>\n Afterward, Aditi and I joined Cecil Castellucci<\/a> (Tin Star<\/a><\/em>), Margaret Stohl<\/a> (Black Widow Forever Red<\/a><\/em>), Victoria\/V.E. Schwab<\/a> (A Gathering of Shadows<\/a><\/em>), Lisa Yee<\/a> (Wonder Woman at Super Hero High<\/a>), <\/em>and Gretchen McNeil<\/a> (Relic<\/a><\/em>) for the Building Worlds with Words panel. Cecil lightly captained our rowdy ship through a funny conversation. We writers have different approaches to writing, and I was shocked at how many of the others already know the ends of their books before they start<\/em>. At one point, I asked people who were writers to raise their hands, and I swear the ENTIRE audience raised their hands. It was very cool. I had much fun, and I was super inspired, too.<\/p>\n I\u2019m so thankful to Cecil for inviting me to be on the panel. Thanks, Cecil!<\/p>\n Hanging with Julia<\/p><\/div>\n Afterward, I had a chance to talk more quietly with a few people about writing, which I relish, and I hung out with my wonderful niece, Julia, who basically scatters starlight wherever she goes.<\/p>\n WonderCon is a lively, wacky experience, and if you haven\u2019t been before, I hope you get a chance to go.<\/p>\n<\/a>