Sunday, March 02, 2014

J. A. Jance

I met my writing hero, J.A. Jance this evening at Third Place Books at Lake Forest Park here in the Seattle area. This is the third time I've tried to go to her book signing. Once in Corvallis, Oregon. The second time at Third Place Books at Lake Forest Park last year but there was such a big traffic jam that I was in the car for over an hour and a half trying to get to the book store.

I admire J.A. Jance. She just finished her 50th book that is on the New York Times best seller list. She writes two books a year. I have 19 of them and want to get them all. She's amazing and keeps an impossible schedule. I feel so lucky to meet her and to listen to her talk.

I want to be just like J.A. Jance and write two books a year. I've finished four mysteries that are unpublished. My goal is to be just like J.A. Jance who thrives under pressure and writes two books a year.

I wish I had gotten a photo with her. I wish I could sit down and talk to her for hours. I really want to talk to her. I hope it happens someday.

Saturday, March 01, 2014

AWP Conference 2014 Seattle

I went to the AWP Conference again today.

First I went to see a panel of children's writers who were awesome! I was so impressed with how they structured the panel, what they talked about, and all the great advice they sprinkled throughout the workshop. NEVER GROW UP: BUILDING A LIFE IN CHILDREN'S AND YOUNG ADULT FICTION with E. Lockhart, Robin Wasserman, Adele Griffin, Sarah Miynowski couldn't have been better and I'm so grateful that I went to hear them.

Next I went to THE HUMAN HEART HASN'T CHANGED: CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF THE SUN with Sy Saffransky, Rachel Yoder, Cary Tennis, Danusha Lameris, an Molly Herboth. I've always admired Sy Saffransky who created The Sun that gives so many gifted writers a voice.

Last I went to a life changing workshop about comedy writing. COMEDY AND ERRORS with Peter Turchi, Antonya Nelson, Steven Schwartz, and CJ Hribal. Hearing CJ Hribal made a big impact on me. (And, yes, I have this big crush on him!) There is so much in life that you can't control but I can make the choice to sprinkle humor and comedy throughout all my writing to make it more joyful and to make people laugh. I think that's a great goal and I think that comedy writer's are heroes who make life better since they make people laugh.

Tonight is Sherman Alexie and Timothy Egan. I didn't go because I'm not sure about going on the bus at night.