MARILYN JOHNSON

I kicked off the tour for This Book Is Overdue! by zipping into Boston for the last two days of the American Library Association's midwinter conference. I can't get enough of librarians! I spent my free time roaming the exhibits, meeting a few of the thousands of librarians from across the country, and I signed books in the HarperCollins booth for librarians from every kind of library you can think of, from massive research libraries to tiny school libraries. Thanks to Library Journal and EarlyWord.com, the librarians turned out in force!

I ended the trip with a visit on Martin Luther King, Jr., day to the ALTAFF Gala Author tea. The Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations put on a great show. They served delicious finger food -- and tea! -- and someone from the organization introduced each of the writers who spoke with enthusiasm and appreciation. And one after another, from Janice Y.K. Lee and Karl Marlantes to Teri Woods and Holly LeCraw to me, we told these library lovers what we, too, love about libraries and librarians.

I was introduced by past president Peggy Barber, who wore a tee shirt emblazoned with the This Book Is Overdue! librarian zooming off the earth with her fist raised, her cape flying, and her e-reader firmly in hand. How cool is that?