Tuesday, August 11, 2009

It's official. I miss LA ...

I'm still typing up my notes for the conference, and I'll get those up soon, but here are a few highlights:

1) The weather was awesome. Amazing. Perfect. And then I came back to Florida, where it is hot. Humid. Sticky.

2) Who doesn't love staying in nice hotels that you can't really afford and pretending like you're royalty for a few days? Oh wait ... that's just me?

3) I met so many wonderful people and learned so much that I think my brain might explode. Seriously. I don't have room for all of the gems and pearls that industry professionals tossed my way.

4) I got books autographed by Jay Asher (such a nice guy!), Thalia Chaltas (I adore her, and she graciously signed my book in the bathroom), Sherman Alexie (ahhh-MA-zing speaker), Ingrid Law (fascinating storyteller), Holly Black (so cool and friendly), and Ellen Hopkins (omg omg omg, I love her).

5) I laughed. I cried. I learned. I. Want. To. Go. Back. Now.

Seriously, this workshop was the most amazing thing I've ever done for my writing career. I hope the notes I share later on this week will help at least one of you.

And ... Since I repurchased a few books this week to get them autographed, I have a few copies of books to auction off. Yay! My first giveaway! I'm kind of excited :)

9 comments:

lisa and laura said...

I'm so freaking jealous! Can't wait to read your notes and live vicariously through you.

MeganRebekah said...

Autographs in bathrooms? We definitely need more details!

Sounds like an awesome trip though, I'm totally jealous.

Anonymous said...

Yay! I'm so glad you had fun! It was awesome to meet you!

Abby Annis said...

How fun! I'm so jealous! Glad you had a good time!

Christy Raedeke said...

Okay, how did we NOT see each other? I'm so bummed we didn't get to meet in person!

Sarah Wylie said...

So jealous. Glad you had a good time, though, and I can't wait to read your notes!

Shelli (srjohannes) said...

ditto! it was great to meet you!

Little Ms J said...

Ahem.

That is all I'm saying.

JESSJORDAN said...

Lila: I'm typing them up now. I've made it through about 3/4, and I already have about 17 pages. Yikes! I need a notes break. :)

Megan: It was a great trip. Thalia Chaltas is amazing. I read her book, Because I Am Furniture, the day it came out (novel in verse). She just so happened to be at the conference, and she remembered the email I sent her. Like the nerd I am, I went to Borders, bought her book again, and happened to run into her in the line in the bathroom. She oh-so-graciously signed one for me. Which means I should have another copy around here somewhere for a giveaway ...

Edith: It was awesome to meet you as well! Thank you for being so nice to the newbie!

Abby: Thanks! If you ever get the chance, you need to go. Seriously. It's worth all of the money I spent that I don't have.

Christy: I saw you at the blue moon party, but only for a second before you disappeared. Then I couldn't find you again. :( Sigh ...

Sarah: Thanks--I'll get those up as soon as I can :)

Shelli: Thanks! Maybe next time I'll come say hello the first time I think I see you, instead of trying to decide if it's really you or not :)

LMJ: umm, so yeah. Uh ... Can I get you something for the phlegm in your throat? So the thing is, I suck. I didn't see the blogging peeps until Saturday night, and I was so space cadet by then that I forgot my oh-so-important task. :( Would you like me to start a dare hall of shame with my name at the top? Or do I now need to do a double dare? I forget the rules ...