So as you know, I just got back from Italy and the Bologna Children's Book Fair.

Here are the pictures that prove it:

Hanging out in Venice with Natasha, my agent Kristin Nelson, and super author Sarah Rees Brennan.

Venice is an incredible city that is really unlike any other place in the world.

And, of course, while we were there we had to take a (very short and probably over-priced) gondola ride.

But it was fun seeing the back alleys of Venice (that are, by the way, water.)

And then it was on to Bologna!

I spent most of my time at the fair in and around the Literary Agents' Center where my agent and I had meetings with the various editors who publish the Gallagher Girls and Heist Society around the world.

Luckily, there was still a lot of time for walking the beautiful (and covered!) sidewalks of Bologna.

One of the absolute highlights of the trip was visiting the Kinder College outside of town for one of the most amazing school visits ever!

And not just because the school was in an old monastery and this was the view out the windows!

Finally, my last official stop was the first ever Bolibri book event that was designed to--for the first time ever--allow the people of Bologna to get a taste of this world-famous book festival.

So I guess the moral of the story is that I had a great time on my first trip to Italy.

I sincerely hope it won't be my last!

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--Ally

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