With a tear in the eye & a heavy heart.

Here it is. The final day of the National writing conference and I find myself with a heavy heart and a tear in my eye.

What an amazing four days. I learned a lot through fantastic seminars about the craft of writing as well as the business side and the research it takes to get some stories done.

There were workshops on queries and pitching, finding agents and editors, how to make those sex scenes pop and sizzle, panel discussions, how to craft the breakout novel, and what to do if you have a great idea but aren't sure where to start.

Some people are published. A lot of people are not. But overall published or unpublished didn't matter, everyone was there because of an intense love of writing . It was the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pens. Or, sometimes the traveling computer.

I made new friends and met with some old ones, which was the cherry on the monster of all sundaes. The entire weekend infused every cell in my body with electricity and setting my creative soul on fire.

I had my pitch meetings and was asked to send more material. Keep in mind though that most people were asked for something so I am not putting all my eggs in one basket per say. It's not worth getting all giddy over until there is a signed contract. It was a nice boost to the ego in any case.

The last night was the awards ceremony which was the Oscars of the romance world. It was incredible. You can't help but feel proud of what these women have accomplished and strive to be there one day. And I will. In due time.

I can't wait to get home and use some of the invaluable information I've learned over the last few days and make my writing even better.

It's A Small World After All

So, I made it!

I am at the once a year, big brew-ha-ha, writing conference. Since we are at the Swan and Dolphin hotel in Orlando the title of this blog has a hidden meaning. Get it?

Actually I'm not just referencing the theme park ride with lots of cherubic faced little people singing the same verse over, and over, and over again. You know the one.

I was referencing my own experience as I ran to get checked in as soon as possible, then ran to my room, dumped off my belongings, and ran to find where the registration and first timers meeting was.

You see, my flights were delayed. Both flights. And I ran the risk of being late. I already missed the literacy signings where you could get books signed by your favorite authors. By the way that was a serious bummer. But, I decided to not to let that get me down before I even really made it to the hotel.

So, here's the small world part. And seriously, fate works in wonderful ways. So, I'm running through the lobby and into the hot, sticky and very humid breezeway that connects the swan side of the hotel to the dolphin side and I saw another attendee going the same way and asked if she knew where registration was. She was super nice and once I got my bearings down I introduced myself.

Turns out her name was also Stacy. Actually Anastasia, which is so royal sounding, but she goes by Stacy. Just like me, although I guess you can say I'm just plain, Stacy.

It turns out she's from Arizona but we both grew up in Virginia, went to colleges only an hour apart and both write paranormal romance. We each have finished our first books and are working on the next while trying to figure out the publishing world and find representation. As it turns out we each work our forty-hour-week jobs and like what we do but seriously, it just pays the bills. We love writing.

So how amazing is that? A chance encounter with someone that may not have happened if my flights weren't delayed. I'm not complaining. I got a new friend out of it and that is priceless in my book.

Not in my actual book, you know I mean figuratively.

I have no new posts for rejections or pages but I can give you a bug bite report.

As of today the south mosquito troops have descended and attacked me on 12 occasions. I'm just praying that none of them were carrying the west Nile.

Viva La Raide.

A Yellow Dress & a Powder Blue Vespa.

So, I was driving into work on Thursday this week and found myself surrounded by interesting sights.

As I was dropping into Hollywood on Cahuenga Blvd. I realized that the truck in front of me was loaded with toilets. I'm talking all sizes and shapes. Some were broken, but all were white. And thankfully they looked clean. I couldn't help but wonder what the man driving the truck would call himself? Commode Commando? Potty Paramour? Toilet Taker?

And where did he get such an abundance of toilets? Home Depot cast off sale?

It got me thinking about how everyday brings new surprises and if you just stop to observe what's going on around you your mind can really concoct some pretty amazing stories. It's inspiration at it's best. And lets face it; sometimes our own imagination is a hundred times more interesting than the actual truth.

This same day of the potty parade brought another interesting sight and POOF! a character was born. Not to long after the truck o'toilets, I came across a woman wearing a bright yellow dress and riding a powder blue Vespa. It was a completely retro color scheme and she pulled it off beautifully. Not only was her Vespa powder blue but her helmet was a perfect match.

I found myself contemplating what her job was, where she would go later that day, and what made her decide on her fashion choice and scooter color?

What I came up with was: By day she is a mild mannered elementary school teacher who leaves work in the afternoons to do performance art at an underground artist studio. Then by night she is a crime fighter who jumps on her flying Vespa and battles evil in an effort to rid the world of violence.

What can I say? I get bored driving to work and with so many fun sights around me the writer brain turns on.

Rejections: 20

Queries in the ethernet: 8

I'll take a Cafe mocha, vodka, valium, latte to go Please!

I don't know how to describe how I'm feeling except if you gave me a main line drip of coffee into my veins, that might describe the crazy energy coursing through my body.

I am getting ready to go to my first National writing conference in Orlando, Florida at the end of the month. And no matter how prepared I try to make myself, I just can't shake the nervous anticipation that is currently plaguing me.

Will I make new writing friends? Will I remember my pitch if asked what my book is about? How many names will I be bombarded with, only to forget them when I see the same people the next day walking around? I'm really bad about that by the way. Great with faces. Crappy with names.

I know I will probably get myself all psyched out about the whole thing and be extremely overwhelmed. So how do you calm yourself?

I was thinking about it as I sat at a table during our monthly writing meeting and listened to others pitch their books. The one thing I realized is that we are all human. We all handle public speaking differently. Whether it's to a room with over a hundred people or if it's just a small intimate one-on-one meeting, we all get some form of "the nerves".

I believe some people are better equipped to deal with it, but for me, I might as well be back in high school with a case of the shakes and cold sweats. I hate that my voice trembles slightly so that people wonder if I'm going to burst into a fit of laughter or a fit of tears. And I always try not to hold anything because that's the one dead give away to my nerves. You'd think there was an earthquake happening with how much my paper shakes.

So should I do yoga? Cut out coffee? (Seriously, not advised) Or try some form of meditation?

I don't know? I guess I'll just close my eyes and dive into the shark tank in a few weeks and pray that I'm a strong enough swimmer.

Rejections: 20

Queries Out: 7