Karma

At my RWA chapter's latest meeting, we finally performed the critique session won at the Spring Fling silent auction. There was a bit of shuffling to schedule our winner because the original date offered didn't work for her. A scheduling conflict, don't you know. We'd offered a date prior to the RWA national meeting with the intention of giving the winner the benefit of getting their 25 pages in front of our group so they could gather some helpful feedback beforehand. Just in case there was last minute polishing needed before any pitch sessions in Orlando. But it didn't work out like that.

Even though life gets in the way sometimes, providence has a way of helping out in the aftermath. If our winner had been able to meet our pre-nationals meeting time slot, chances are she would have read her pages to our group, a VERY sound and strong group with a plethora of published authors, soon-to-be published authors and talented unpublished authors, but maybe to a depleted group since most of our members went to Orlando and Disney World, early. They were gawking at Space Mountain and swilling booze in the bar with their friends instead of worrying about anyone's pages but their own.

As fate would have it, our winner read this past Monday night. Luck was on her side because RITA for Young Adult winner and New York Times Bestselling author, Simone Elkeles was in attendance. The critique winner writes YA and couldn't contain her excitement when she heard Simone's voice on speakerphone. She also benefited from hearing the opinions of other published authors like Marilyn Brant, Blythe Gifford, Morgan Mandel, Debra St. John, Joelle Charbonneau, Beverly Long and Maureen Lang. The rest of our Chicago North group offers equally relevant critique and everyone offered their ideas on making her manuscript shine.

Lucky indeed.

Have any of you ever had a rescheduled event work out better than you expected? Did you consider it karma?

The Best Time Ever

Is it gauche to crow about a conference I helped organize? Don't get your knickers in a twist just yet and start worrying about my ego, because I don't mean to wax poetic about my part in it. I mean the attendees, the professionals, the presenters, my co-chair June Sproat and the hotel staff in their entirety who were all in awesome squared mode the whole time. Other folks much more adept with the written word than yours truly have blogged about it here:

Pamela Cayne

Smart Bitches Trashy Books

Stacy Ahlgren

Robyn Bachar

Marilyn Brant

Some of those talented people blogged more than one post (Pamela C and Smart Bitch Sarah) so poke around their blogs to get the full shilling.

The conference gave me so many shiny, happy moments and our headliners were both as fabulous as I dreamed they would be. Cherry Adair, also known as my new BFF (her words, I swear) is as generous and funny as she was when I met her two years ago, and now lots of other folk know that about her, too. I Love spreading the word about great people and Cherry is great with a capital G. After her two hour morning workshop, she commandeered one of the planning offices and spent another THREE HOURS with anyone who wanted to continue working on their plans and storyboarding, which turned out to be fifty people. Was she exhausted by the time she was up for the Gala keynote speech? Of course she was. Did she kill? Oh yeah.

Julia Quinn, who writes those witty, side-splittingly hysterical historicals is no slouch in the funny department either. From that enormous well of talent springs the Bridgertons and Lady Whistledown so I'm just saying. And even though she's a NYT best seller, RITA-nominated and has written and sold a gajillion books, she played the assistant in the Avon spotlight, I kid you not. Who was that lady handing out books and prizes to those who asked questions? It was Julia Quinn, I swear. Talented, funny and a regular person. The most awesome takeaway for me from her lunch keynote address? Don't set your work space close enough to the refrigerator so that you don't have to get up to open it. That's got wisdom seeping from it's pores it's so spot on. How awesome would it be, if you didn't have to get up to open the refrigerator. Right? Her lists of things to do in order to stay grounded and with your eyes on the prize was serious and wondrous, too.

Now that my brain isn't sleep addled, I'm sure I'll share more of the conference from my bird's eye view over the next few posts, like when I met Sarah Wendell from Smart Bitches Trashy Books and she whipped out her lovely and SHINY iPad and told me that she'd be blogging from the conference using that device. We all know how I covet everything sparkly and the iPad is the glitteriest of the glitterati. So, once the iPad was there within my grasp all the words from those around me sounded like this:

Not me: " ...blog from the conference, blah blah blah..."

Me: ZOMG! I wonder how fast I could get back up to my room and log onto the Apple website to order the new 3G version!!

Not me: " ...see how interactive this book's illustrations are (demonstrates by making the White Rabbit's pocket watch swing back and forth like a pendulum) blah blah blah

Me: WANTS! Wonder how mad my husband would be if I ordered one?

Not me: "...you can try it if you like. Here take it..."

Me: "Uhh...." Backs away and wonders if all that glorious silky black hair of Sarah's hides horns and pointy ears.

It was really nice to finally meet all the people I'd been corresponding with these many months leading up to the conference and they were all incredible. Every one of the editors and agents were so friendly and open that I wonder why I'm so terrified of industry professionals? Oh, because they can either help or hinder my dreams of publication. Now I remember. But I forgot to be nervous or scared because they were all fabulous. And the workshop presenters? Forget about it. I was in fangirl secretly screaming and squeeing heaven.

Oh sure, a few people had some suggestions for next time, like don't make the print on the name badges so small (not June's fault but mine since I couldn't get my mail merge to work at home, so she did them in my hotel room Friday morning at the last minute), or to suggest that the hotel hire a new chef (dude, I thought the food was awesome and so did Paige Wheeler so there!) or that we should announce the pitch appointments much earlier so they could prepare (all those interviews and links on the website meant nothing?) and so on and so forth. But I promise to pass along all the comments, good or bad, to the next chair and keep my fingers crossed that they can execute a mail merge better than I.

The Final Countdown

It's finally here. Spring Fling 2010 starts tomorrow and I'm equal parts elated and terrified.

I know I've been scarce here but for good reason. I've been working like mad in hopes that all my fellow attendees enjoy themselves while meeting professionals, fellow authors and gaining footholds in the publishing industry.

I'll write a post once it's all over but the crying, outlining the fun (hopefully) had by all. Maybe I'll even have pictures.

Stay tuned!

In the Home Stretch or A Chance to Win

We're a little more than eight weeks away from Spring Fling 2010 and in typical fashion, the home stretch is where the work is hardest. Getting sponsors, goods and services donated, items for the silent auction, programs finalized and printed and menu planning are just some of the many, many things that June and I are wrapping up.

On opening night of the conference, there will be a VIP dinner attended by the headliners, the lovelies, Julia Quinn and Cherry Adair, in addition to our editors, agents and presenters. The star power--it is blinding, my friends. Because in addition to Julia and Cherry, there will be:

Selena James, editor/ Kensington Books

Amanda Bergeron, editor Avon/HarperCollins

Lindsey Faber, editor Samhain

Kat O'Shea, editor the Wild Rose Press/Leap Books

Paige Wheeler, agent Folio Literary Management

Laurie McLean, agent Larsen Pomada Literary Agency

Joanna Stampfel-Volpe, agent Nancy Coffey Literary Management

Diana Fox, agent Fox Literary

Then there's the authors who are presenting workshops too:

Elizabeth Hoyt

Jade Lee

Carrie Lofty

Courtney Milan

Blythe Gifford

Sherrill Bodine

Patricia Rosemoor

Marianna LaCroix

Annmarie Ortega

Kimberly Osborn Sullivan

Nancy Parra

Jenna Petersen

Laurie Brown

Lindsay Longford

Margaret Watson

Allie Pleiter

Pat White

Sarah Wendell

Ruth Kaufman

The reason for the laundry list? We're giving away two tickets via random generator drawing to this exclusive event. So, if you've already signed up--good for you!! To quote Tyra, 'you're still in the running for...' and if you're still on the fence about attending Spring Fling, for goodness sake, sign up already because you'll be in the running too. In other words, attend Spring Fling 2010 and get a chance to win a ticket to the VIP dinner. We're giving away two of them. Deadline is March 15, 2010 at midnight CST.

Here's your chance to meet all those industry professionals and authors without having to accidentally spill your drink on them at the bar and then slipping your manuscript in the bag when you return the dry cleaning ;-). Not that bringing your manuscript to the dinner is a good idea. NO, no, no. Please don't do that. That's why there are pitch sessions and plenty of them. But it is a good way to meet those people who might have a hand in making your hopes and dreams come true for a little while.

So, go out to the website, marvel at the awesome purple and pink fabulousity and SIGN UP!!

Oh the Weather Outside is Frightful...

Well, not really. It snowed a lot yesterday but today is overcast and promising more snow in Chicago which might turn into icy rain. Today, I'm lacing up my boots to drag the kids with me to face my own personal bete noir--a trip to the mall. Yes, it's last minute Christmas shopping and like the Cage the Elephant song says, 'oh, there ain't no rest for the wicked, money don't grow on trees..." So it's off to mingle with the other rabble who also left it till the last.

I'm behind for a myriad of reasons: Spring Fling things, clueless about what gifts to buy and recuperation from a nasty bout of the flu. But there are people in the world whose circumstances are far worse than mine and two of my favorite blog sites are hosting fundraisers for Heifer International: Patrick Rothfuss (of the awesome NAME OF THE WIND fame) and agent/ author, Nathan Bransford (JACOB WONDERBAR AND THE COSMIC SPACE KAPOW). Heifer helps communities in so many ways, so if you have a spare nickel or two, go out and donate if you can.

Okay, enough with the procrastinating. I'm off to the mall. Wish me luck and cake.

Merry Christmas.

Flinging Myself into Spring Fling

I mentioned before that the doppelganger volunteered the rest of me to help chair my local RWA chapter's upcoming writer's conference.  Amazingly, things are turning out quite well and I'm very pleased with all the progress we've made.

Finalize dates, check.  Engage hotel and set location, check.  Get headlining speakers, check.  Now the real work begins.  My co-chair, the lovely and talented June Sproat, is brimming with ideas (very good ones too!) about ways to make Spring Fling 2010 an exciting and worthwhile event.  Did I mention how awesome our headliners are?  Well without further ado, I give you:

Julia Quinn AND Cherry Adair.  Holy crap, now that is a lineup that is worth traveling to Chicago in April where it has been known to snow (!) on opening day of the baseball season.  Both ladies are writers of the highest caliber and are also presenting workshops.   But the most exciting thing for me is that they are both just as EXCITED to be attending.  Isn't that wicked cool?  I mean, instead of having to beg and plead and offer up a pound of flesh in payment, both these ladies have been nothing short of fabulous.  I met Cherry at last year's RWA national conference and I can testify firsthand to how hysterical and entertaining she is.  Julia, I suspect is equally funny because if you've read even a sample chapter of the Bridgerton series, then that dialogue could only come from a  mind possessed of a great wit.  Her blurbs don't call her the modern Jane Austen for nothing, I think.

Anyhoodle, I'm just giving everyone a bit of fair warning that it might be prudent to book yourself into the Windy City during the third week of April next year.  We're going to have a blast and it would a shame if you missed it. 

A Life filled with Purpose

The advent of the new year hasn't completely lifted my dark mood, but I've decided to learn to swim with the tide rather than against it.  It also doesn't help that I've been battling a really nasty flu for the last six days.  I say that in warning, just in case none of the rest of this post makes any sense.

  I rarely make resolutions for the new year and the ever effervescent Marilyn Brant, whose blog is listed in the blog roll, posted an excellent treatise on the proper way to deal with those--resolutions, I mean.  Marilyn also has introduced her brand new website and is hosting a contest, open until the end of this month.  If you're popping by here, take a minute to click on the link to her blog and leave a comment, please.  I'm all about the swag and she's got plenty of it.

I've recently volunteered to co-chair my RWA chapter's conference in 2010.  I'm excited about making decisions involving  which authors we'll be able to lure to Chicago to be our speakers, who'll be on the editors and agents panels, and just being involved in all of the ins and outs of running this event.   As an unpublished writer, I think the experience and exposure to all of the elements of the writing life will be exciting.  I learn something new almost everyday about the publishing industry or the writing craft, but hope that my business world experience will translate to making our Spring Fling a success.  In addition to getting the lineup for the event in order, I'll be trying my best to lure authors, aspiring or established, to come to Chicago to attend the conference.    I'll post my progress on this front as time passes, otherwise I might be asking for a tee shirt that says "STOP ME BEFORE I VOLUNTEER AGAIN."

I say that because I'm also the new program chair for my chapter.  What does that mean, you ask?  Well, I'll tell you.  It means that I'm responsible for pleading, whining, wheedling and cajoling people into attending one of our two monthly meetings to speak about things that are of interest to the writers in my chapter.  My predecessor in this role, the awesome Martha, has actually left me with a very nice cache of speakers and activities until I get on my feet.  For instance, Patricia Rosemoor of the wonderful vampire and mystery romance books, will be on deck for April.  My  dear friend Nancy, who's a professor, author and certified image consultant, has agreed to speak to our group sometimes during the year.  Nancy has a book on fashion and style debuting in February, Your Personal Style.  There's also 'hot night' where members read a steamy section from some of their writing.  Most recently, Carrie Lofty, whose book What a Scoundrel Wants , debuted in December and is justifiably getting rave reviews, offered our last program event with a seminar on writing action sequences(snakebite scenes).    I really enjoy program night, so hopefully being the program chair won't take the fun out of it for me.

So, let's hope that in addition to wrangling my family and keeping up with my own writing, that this new volunteer opportunity provides me with plenty of purpose over the months to come.  Fingers crossed.