Decatur has certainly become a destination for all authors in recent years.  But there’s something about this city that children’s authors can’t get enough of…even the most popular of the bunch!

Dave over at the Little Shop blog crows modestly about the murder of children’s book authors that have flocked into the city limits in the past couple years, beckoned by our self-described “little” bookshop.  It’s an impressive list.

In the category of picture books, we have hosted Greg Mortenson (#1), Jon Scieszka (#10), and Loren Long (also #10) this year. Greg was here in January after the release of Listen to the Wind: The Story of Dr. Greg and “Three Cups of Tea.” Jon was here in 2008 and just back for the Decatur Book Festival. He is the author of Truckery Rhymes, co-illustrated by Loren Long, who lead this year’s DBF children’s parade.

As for chapter books, Maggie Stiefvater, author of Shiver (#6), was in for DBF. We hosted the great Sarah Dessen (Along for the Ride is at #9) a couple of years ago.

Think he’s finished?  He’s just gettin’ started.