Question and Answer Day!
Happy Independence Day, Posse Readers!
As prolific a group of writers as we are, we don't have any new releases for July. We are, however, open for questions. To get the ball rolling before barbeque and fireworks, here's a question noodlers can answer: What was the best experience you've had to date at a writing conference?
Labels: best conference experience
posted by Mo H @ 10:27 AM
12 Comments:
I had a couple of books published and then went several years without a sale (editor retired, agent quit, and then I got pregnant and fell asleep for 6 months. Eek!). I was still submitting, but without success, so I was invited to speak on a panel at the Sleepless in Silverdale conference on the topic of how to keep going when your career is in the toilet (I think they had a better title than that, but I can't recall it).
So, I show up at the conference, and the new editor I'd been submitting to is there. She walks up to me, gives me a big hug and whispers, "I love your book and I want to buy it, but I don't have final okay yet, so you can't tell anyone."
So there I was, in the lobby of the hotel, with all my writer friends around me, unable to jump up and down. And there I was the next day, on a panel with several one- and two-book wonders, telling a roomful of people to persist and keep the old chin up, unable to tell them "It really does work."
It was both my best conference experience and my worst. And a totally surreal weekend.
Oh, and all those women on the panel with me? They've also gone on to publish again, too. It really does work!
It would be easy for me to say "Winning the RITA" or "Winning the Golden Heart," But the best time was in 2001 in New Orleans when I was a GH finalist for the first time and so very excited about it. I roomed with good friends and palled around with good friends (including Maryanne, the Noodler we lost a couple of years ago) and we were silly and laughed harder than I've ever laughed before. Everything was wonderful that summer of 2001.
I've had great experiences at 3 conferences....
In 2003, I fell in love with NYC. And I got to spend a lot of face time with my AOL buddies, the Hive Mind. Kris babysat for me during the ceremony, Karen and Trish presented me with a jewelry set to commemorate...I still wear them when I want to feel close to my Hive buddies.
In 2004, I almost didn't go. My grandmother was dying. But I went and my writing buddies were with me every step of the way, keeping my spirits up. My grandmother died when I was on my way home Sunday morning.
In 2006, I had a BLAST in Atlanta with my Noodler buddies, even though professionally it was a bust. My memories, though, are of walking through the book signing with my agent and having to stop every 10 feet or so to greet someone! My agent just laughed at how many people I knew! Then there was karaoke and cake and....just wonderful times.
Fun question, Maureen! Thanks!
These are great stories! Lisa I love that the editor told you even though you had to keep it to yourself! What fun!
My favorite was in New York when I finaled in the Golden Heart for the first time. What fun getting to meet the members of the wet noodle posse.
There was one conference where I chatted it up in a bar with Rachel gibson and we talked about raising boys and I have never laughed so hard.
I will also never forget my first conference in Anaheim when I met Adele Ashworth and she took me to her room to show me her beautiful gown! She looked great and ended up winning. She also sang for me in the room and she has this amazing voice!
I love hanging out with such creative amazing people at conference!
Thanks for the great question, Mo. Now I'm getting all pumped up for San Francisco! I can't wait to see everyone!!
I've enjoyed all the conferences, but last year was a new high for me. I had sold my first book, I roomed with Colleen Gleason and we were so girly together, we could barely leave our room, we primped so much. She introduced me to bunches and bunches of fab people. I can't remember the name of the writer we were talking to in the bar area of the hotel, but she was telling about the summer when she was spending all this time helping her sister through a difficult period, and she kept sending her own kids to various day-long bible camps, because they were far and away the least expensive daycare and they would take anyone. And one day the daughter (8? 10?) asked, "What do we have to believe for the Presbytarians again?" and she said, "Oh, honey...just say you love Jesus and you'll be fine." I thought I'd die, I laughed so hard.
ROFLAMO, Esri!! The Bible school story is PRICELESS! You have to use that in a book! I live in the middle of Bible school country and you would be surprised at how many women use it for just that purpose!
And Colleen Gleason? I LOVE her books!! I could kill her for the way the last one ended, but I love 'em!
Well, ladies, this is going to be my first conference ever AND I am, by some miracle of God and with a load of help from the Divine One (Diane G) a GH finalist. I am so excited to get to meet all of you! Neither my CP nor my BFF (she writes YA for guys!) will be there, but the owner of our local bookstore is coming with me. (for some reason everyone thinks I need a keeper!)
Anyway, I can hardly wait to fly out to San Francisco. I have no idea what will happen, but I am ready for anything!
I'm loving these conference stories :-). Great topic, Mo :-)!
Lisa, you're right: surreal. And congrats :-)!
Diane and Esri--special times with good writing friends are seldom mentioned but some of the best memories.
Theresa, getting a chance to visit with authors is wonderful, isn't it? I had dinner with Mary Balogh at the Emerald City conference one night--just the two of us, lingering at our table for hours.
Mary, isn't it amazing how many people we get to know after a while :-)? It makes the conference experience incredibly fun and hugely exhausting. I had a particularly excellent time in Atlanta, too, because of all the Noodler time we'd arranged before we arrived.
Louisa, I've had fabulous times at every conference I've attended, but there's nothing like the first one (Denver in '02 for me). You're going to have a blast :-)!
I can't choose just one favorite--there are too many. As I said, I enjoy each and every conference, for different reasons. Denver was probably the most fun, 'cause everything was new. NY was special, because I was a GH finalist for the first time and met the Noodlers. I have to add last year's Australia and New Zealand conferences to my list--awesome.
Mine was seeing my books in print for the first time at the book signing in Dallas. They'd just been released in print and my author copies were sent to my house, but I was already in Dallas. I told hubby he was NOT allowed to open the box until after I saw (and touched) the books. I walked into the room, found my seat, and there were my two books waiting for me.
Major goosebumps.
Terry, what a cool story! Even I have goosebumps reading it.
Thanks, Mary. That's very high on my list of 'things to remember.'
Another high point was at the Southern Lights conference when Suzanne Brockmann remembered me without reading my name tag!
SUZE BROCKMANN???
:::THUD:::
The one and only, Mary
(But I think she spells it "Suz").
One of those priceless moments.
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