Off to the WFC

I’ve barely recovered from the Writer’s Conference last weekend, but later this morning I’m off to the World Fantasy Convention in San Jose.

I’m going by myself, don’t know many people, so if you’re going to be there, and you happen to see me wallflowering off in a corner, come say "hello"!

Looks like a great line up of panels and readings. I’ll also be helping out at the Edge booth. Should be a great weekend, I’ll try to take pictures and report when I get back. 

Photo Evidence

Here it is, photo evidence that I had a WONDERFUL time at the Surrey International Writers Conference. I do recommend it, if you ever get the chance. I didn’t stay in the hotel so I missed out on some of the late night things that sounded like a lot of fun…if I go again, I’ll probably stay in the hotel so I can take advantage of all the stuff going on.

Here’s my photographic evidence that I indeed was there..and you can just SEE how much I’m loving it..LOL.

Here I am with CC Humphreys, author of Vlad, True Confessions. (geez, I hope I got that title right. My mom and I heard him read at Word on the Street in Vancouver and she bought his book here at the book fair.)

With Richelle Mead. I went to her session called Serious Serials, she was great. I wanted to buy the first book in either of her adult series..and they wereall sold out!!

Here with Lorna Suzuki, an author I met on Twitter. (she’s a facinating lady!!) She was at the book fair selling her Imago books.

This is Robert Dugoni, author of the Cianide Canary (spelling?) and three law thrillers. He is an EXCELLENT speaker. His session was my favourite of the entire weekend and I’m going to see if I can do any of his other workshops. AND I bought one of his books!!

Here I am with one of my favourite authors of all time, Terry Brooks. I’ve read his book on writing and relate to him the most of any author. He’s so nice!! His appearance at the conference was the deciding factor for me attending.

And the man who needs no introduction…and who I’ve run into so much lately I’m pretty sure he thinks I’m stalking him..Robert J Sawyer.

SiWC

I’m midway through the Surrey International Writer’s Conference and so far it’s been terrific.

Today the first panel I’ll be going to is "Best Sellers Deconstructed." Donald Maass is going to interview best selling authors Diana Gabaldon, Anne Perry, Terry Brooks, Michael Slade and Robert J Sawyer. ( I may have forgotten someone there)

Also today I have my sit down pitch session with Kristin Sevick, an editor from Tor books. I’ll be pitching my urban fantasy novel. Wish me luck!

Once the weeked is over I will definitely do a post with the highlights of what I learned at the conference. If I survive….

Master Class with Donald Maass.

I like it cuz it rhymes.

Tonight I’m going to kick off my first Surrey International Writers Conference with a class by Donald Maass called The Irresistible Novel. Sounds good, I could definitely use some irresisitibility in my current novel. Wish me luck and if I learn any terrific secrets, I promise to horde them for myself share them with everyone.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday is the actual conference, I’m most looking forward to workshops with Terry Brooks and Robert J Sawyer, as well as my sit down with Michael Slade and pitch session with Tor Editor Kristen Sevick. Should be interesting.

Have a great weekend everyone!!

Happy Birthday Diana!!

Sending big long distance hugs to my mentor, Diana Rowland…author of Mark of the Demon..get your copy today as a gift to you and her! hee hee!

World Horror Convention 2010

I just bought my membership to the 2010 World Horror Convention in Brighton, England. ROAD TRIP!!!!

Pitch Prep

BLARGH!!

I’m trying to get my novel pitch ready for next weekend’s Surrey International Writer’s Conference, and, as you may have guessed, it’s not going too well!!

The idea of sitting down and pitching my novel doesn’t scare me, I love that kind of thing. (that makes me kind of sick, doesn’t it??! lol) What scares me is the fact I’m having so much trouble writing it in the first place. Makes me doubt myself..if I have a clear plot, premise etc., then this pitch should be easy to write, right??!

My mentor, Diana Rowland ( ) is helping me, and gave me clear instructions as to how to go about it, including an example from her novel Mark of the Demon. I now know how my clients feel when they tell me before their competition that they don’t want to let me down. My response is always, that’s silly, you’ve worked hard, you’ve put in the hours, now just get out there and do your best. Now I get it. After all Diana’s help, if I can’t bring it on the day of the pitch, I’m going to feel like I’ve let her down. As long as I use that as positive motivation and not extra pressure, I think I’m going to be fine.

I’m going to attack it again this afternoon after a good workout and an extra shot of caffeine. Does anyone else have pitch problems??! And I don’t mean singing, because then I’d really be doomed.

ComicCon!

I bought my membership for ComicCon yesterday!!

I’m a little frightened, actually…hee hee. I’ve never been before, but I’ve been coerced into attending…and wearing costumes! went last year, came back and told me I really have to go and rock a couple costumes to show people what super heroes should look like! HA! Very flattering of course..

I only started going to conventions last year, our local, small and cosy VCON (2 times now) and The World Fantasy Convention. (which I’m attending again at the end of this month.) VCON is small,there are costumes, mostly Star Wars and medieval, and at the World Fantasy Convention there are no costumes allowed. It’s a more professional convention, more for authors, agents, publishers, than for "fans". So making the the jump to attending ComicCon is a biggie.

Any tips from experienced ComicConers (?) would be appreciated!!!

Happy Thanksgiving to my fellow Canucks! :)

Third Draft

The third draft tag on my list of tags is GIGANTIC! That means I’m talking about it too much, not working on it enough, lol.

No really, I have been working very hard on it but it’s slow going. I’m changing the time line, adding an additional story line and re-structuring, oh, pretty much the entire thing. It seems like one BIG MESS right now. Is that normal??!!! (please tell me that’s normal)

I’m going to take a bit of time to relax, then attacking it again for several hours. Authorial powers, activate!