This past weekend I went to the Emerald City Writer’s Conference for the second year in a row.

I love this conference. It’s got the agents/editors, prizes, workshops, big authors, and mostly it’s got great people working both behind the scenes and in front to make it one of the best damn conferences I’ve been to.

This year was no exception. I got to moderate Cherry Adair (bwahaha – no one really moderates Cherry – if you’ve met her you understand) and particpated in her Finish the Damn Book challenge, where I was lucky enough to win my RWA membership fees paid for the year. Thank you so much, Cherry. Your generousity of heart knows no bounds.

I was also the backup moderator for Allison Brennan, who I frequently stalk, because I love her books so much. At the book fair, I bought a signed copy of Playing Dead (her latest release and the last in the prison break series) and ended up reading it all on Saturday (because, unfortunately, I was kept in my room do to food poisoning from some food I had in the bar). Great book. Interesting lady. She was also our closing speaker for the conference and it is amazing to think all she has done with five children. I only have three and I’m overwhelmed! The bottom line is she decided to take herself and her career seriously and here she is. It was very inspiring to me.

The agents and editors were very informative, although the one I really wanted to pitch to doesn’t represent my stuff (which we only discovered during the pitch panel). Thankfully she recommended the one agent that I already love (and have met and had a great conversation with), but have been to chicken to actually query. Because she was so fantastic when I met her and didn’t know that she was an agent. It was just great, easy conversation. I don’t want to screw it up with actual work stuff… do I? LOL Yes, I do. I will do it. I will… um, soon.

So the fact is, I wouldn’t have even been able to go to this conference this year, as my husband injured his back and missed work. He’s self-employed and missed work means missed paychecks. We’d already done that when I was at Nationals and it was nerve-wracking. Then, as I was sitting on the fence going back and forth re my decision to cancel on the ECWC this year, I received an email telling me that I had won Susan Mallery’s PRO drawing and my conference fee had been paid. Unbelievable. I’d only just received my PRO designation two weeks before, because I’d been putting it off for a year (wondering what it would really do for me). Wow. Although I thanked Susan at conference, I need to thank her again here. Thank you for making it possible for me to go to ECWC this year – it meant more to me than you will ever know.

Susan and Cherry show us what it’s like to help other writer’s continue working towards their dream. Some day I want to be just like them, and I definitely plan on paying it forward.

The GSRWA chapter does a fantastic job and it’s members are warm and welcoming.