Thursday was the official beginning of the conference and I'd arranged to meet fellow Inkwell blogmate, Jennifer AlLee, for breakfast at the 24 hrs Starbucks Coffee shop down near the lobby. This would be the first of many times I'd spent in this comfortable lounge which served both the coffee shop and bar.
After a quick breakfast, Jen went to her volunteer position at the registration desk while I headed to the 8:30 Early Bird Session, Writing in Scenes, presented by Nancy Kress. This was an excellent workshop on effective scene construction. Click the link for a summary of this workshop.
The Early Bird Session ended at 12:30 and I went looking for the rest of the Inkies, texting as I went. Thank Goodness for texting! I remember my first few conferences when I could never find people, but being able to text has changed all that. So efficient.
We met at the same restaurant I ate at on my first night there - Jacob's Spring Grille and enjoyed the luncheon buffet. One thing I wasn't crazy about was our table as we sat in the corner near the door with a clear glass wall separating us from a long line of hungry people. I was very conscious of those people as I ate, but Jennifer AlLee, Dina Sleiman, and Lisa Karon Richardson enhanced the meal delightfully. I especially liked the unique coffee cup and slanted saucer. And no, the blue square is a geometric design and not a price sticker. LOL
After a quick breakfast, Jen went to her volunteer position at the registration desk while I headed to the 8:30 Early Bird Session, Writing in Scenes, presented by Nancy Kress. This was an excellent workshop on effective scene construction. Click the link for a summary of this workshop.
The Early Bird Session ended at 12:30 and I went looking for the rest of the Inkies, texting as I went. Thank Goodness for texting! I remember my first few conferences when I could never find people, but being able to text has changed all that. So efficient.
We met at the same restaurant I ate at on my first night there - Jacob's Spring Grille and enjoyed the luncheon buffet. One thing I wasn't crazy about was our table as we sat in the corner near the door with a clear glass wall separating us from a long line of hungry people. I was very conscious of those people as I ate, but Jennifer AlLee, Dina Sleiman, and Lisa Karon Richardson enhanced the meal delightfully. I especially liked the unique coffee cup and slanted saucer. And no, the blue square is a geometric design and not a price sticker. LOL
Geometric designed coffee cup and slanted saucer at Jacob's Spring Grille, DFW Hyatt Regency, Dallas, TX. (Note the blue square is part of the design and not a price sticker.)
To backtrack a bit, when I'd gone back to the room the night, there had been a message for me from Penny at Harlequin talking about a Thurs meeting. I'd been tickled pink as well as confused because I didn't have a meeting arranged with anyone from Harlequin and I didn't know a Penny who worked their, either. But I'd remembered somewhere during the morning that I had been wanting to meet up with Penn, an eHarlequin hostie. I just never knew her name was actually Penny. I met Penny and Love Inspired eHarlequin hostie, Danica Favorite, in the Lounge and shared a grand hour or so with them.
eHarlequin Host Penn, Danica Favorite, and Anita Mae Draper at DFW Hyatt Regency, Dallas, TX.
At 3 pm, everyone met for the first General Session. This is the time when Barbour Publishing surprises someone with their very first contract and I had dreamed of having my name called. Since Becky Germany wasn't able to make the event, ACFW president, Margaret Daley, did the honours, but when she read out the names, mine wasn't one of them, although I wouldn't take anything away from the people who's names were called.
I'd been waiting to hear Michael Hyatt as he was the Keynote Speaker and when he finally did, it was good. I didn't cry or get emotional like I've done while listening to other Keynote speakers, and now, weeks later I can't remember much of what he said, but I remember thinking at the time that it was good.
The best part of the assembly was the worship session. And then came our first of several sit-down meals - excellent food and inspiring people to eat it with. And the cheesecake was perfect although I ate it before I thought of taking a photo.
At 7 pm I was with Jennifer AlLee at the Spotlight on Abingdon session where I heard publicly what I always knew - that Jen is one of their best authors - Yay, Jen! - as well as a lot of other good and interesting things about Abingdon itself.
Next was a workshop from 8:30-9:30 pm on Platform Boosting E-Newsletters with Thomas Umstattd. If you've ever met Thomas, you know he's a fast talker. He knows what he talking about and he has a passion for it. I knew it was going to be a fast session, and it was jam-packed from the get-go. I was reporting on this session for the ACFW ezine, Afictionado and you can read my write-up on the ACFW website at the above link.
And the evening still wasn't over because a 9-11 pm Books & Such Agency Come and Go was happening and since it was my first Agency event, I was bound to go. Hosted by one of the B&S agents, Rachelle Gardner, the social gathering was the perfect opportunity to meet my fellow agency-mates.
I'd been waiting to hear Michael Hyatt as he was the Keynote Speaker and when he finally did, it was good. I didn't cry or get emotional like I've done while listening to other Keynote speakers, and now, weeks later I can't remember much of what he said, but I remember thinking at the time that it was good.
The best part of the assembly was the worship session. And then came our first of several sit-down meals - excellent food and inspiring people to eat it with. And the cheesecake was perfect although I ate it before I thought of taking a photo.
At 7 pm I was with Jennifer AlLee at the Spotlight on Abingdon session where I heard publicly what I always knew - that Jen is one of their best authors - Yay, Jen! - as well as a lot of other good and interesting things about Abingdon itself.
Next was a workshop from 8:30-9:30 pm on Platform Boosting E-Newsletters with Thomas Umstattd. If you've ever met Thomas, you know he's a fast talker. He knows what he talking about and he has a passion for it. I knew it was going to be a fast session, and it was jam-packed from the get-go. I was reporting on this session for the ACFW ezine, Afictionado and you can read my write-up on the ACFW website at the above link.
And the evening still wasn't over because a 9-11 pm Books & Such Agency Come and Go was happening and since it was my first Agency event, I was bound to go. Hosted by one of the B&S agents, Rachelle Gardner, the social gathering was the perfect opportunity to meet my fellow agency-mates.
 Books & Such Literary Agency |  Books & Such Literary Agency |
I walked around proudly with a Books & Such Literary Agency ribbon attached to my name tag ribbon stream for the next several days and encountered many authors who asked where I'd found the 'agent' ribbons. It was fun to reply that, as far as I knew, Books & Such was the only Literary Agency supplying them. Wanna bet we see more at the 2013 conference?
This seems like the perfect time to thank Mary Keeley and Janet Grant for taking me on as a client of Books & Such. I'm still pinching myself, and so very grateful for the vote of confidence.
This seems like the perfect time to thank Mary Keeley and Janet Grant for taking me on as a client of Books & Such. I'm still pinching myself, and so very grateful for the vote of confidence.
