Craving the Supernatural

Create yours at BlingyBlob.com!


I am so excited about the 2007 ACFW Conference! I've attended the last two, but this will be my first going as an agented author. That's a glorious feeling. Oh--speaking of which--or whom--my fabulous agent STEVE LAUBE let me interrogate...er, I mean interview him regarding his experience, advice, and thoughts on the ACFW Conference. That will be posted tomorrow, so be sure to come back!!
In 2005, I attended my first ACFW conference--and had a meltdown. LOL I was up for the Noble Theme (now the Genesis) in the Science Fiction category with my futuristic story. I was face to face with way more editors and agents than I ever thought possible. I had my expectations soaring over the moon. I'd thought, "This is it. I'm going to rocket to success because of my time here." That was the worst possible mentality to attend a conference with. But it's a contagious thought. To all us attendees stay grounded, the amazing Karen Ball lightened up the mood and seriousness of the conference (and boy can she minister!!!) with the "I have a castle!" goldfish moments. LOL My daughter still says that to me. SIGH.

In 2006, I vowed not to make that same mistake. So, I went and reminded myself I was there to learn, to fellowship, to grow as a writer, and to have a blast! Due to a change with agent appointments, I only ended up with one appointment--Andy Meisenheimer. I was his first-ever conference pitch (I also hold that title with the lovely Amanda Bostic, a beautiful person I now count as a friend)! Andy's a great guy--and funny. If you have an appointment with him, you'll love it!

Some totally *awesome* things at this conference were hanging with my crit partners, getting a huge hug from Amanda, meeting my buddy and advocate John Olson face-to-face, but most of all, sitting at the dinner table with Steve Friday night and talking about my book he'd *just* rejected (no, I never did mention how he'd crushed me LOL). Together we realized there was a misconception about an integral aspect of the story, and I can readily admit that part of that error was mine--in the wording I had used. But that conversation opened the door for me to rewrite my ending and send him the full again. Four months later, I got THE CALL from THE Steve Laube. LOL :-D

This year, I'm looking forward to volunteering, meeting Steve as his CLIENT, hugging new/old friends, meeting up and brainstorming with my buddy again, making new friends, and just being a writer. A weird, psychotic writer. LOLOL Oh, come--aren't we all???

I thought I'd post some more pictures of my previous conference experiences. Enjoy--and don't forget STEVE LAUBE'S INTERVIEW TOMORROW!!

After Karen's book and blogging about it, I'm still here. Still dealing with my anger...I should probably say "working through" it since dealing with seems to imply stagnation. "Working through" is exactly what I'm doing. Digging deep, wondering what's at the source. Karen was so right in calling it an "insidious sin." It eats at the very fabric of our lives, tearing relationships apart, rendering us useless...

What I'm unearthing is some kind of ugly. :-DLoaded with self. I realized the other night that I'm desperately seeking Ronie...validation of Ronie. So, I prayed and asked God to help me be completely satisifed with HIS validation--that I'm his daughter, that He has completely accepted me. No matter what else--if anything--I do. I'm already accepted. He already loves me. Sweet!

In church on Sunday, the gist of the Sunday school message was: What if God's purpose for [insert whatever you're going through], is greater than you? Can you still embrace God's purpose even though it might not mean the answer you want? If what you had your heart set on, the road you paved--is backhoed.

YEEE-OUCH!! My toes aren't merely bandaged...they're in a cast. LOL With all the things in my life that seem to be crushed or stunted dreams (a major source of my anger), that was an especially painful question. I've been thinking and praying, seeking God, asking Him to let the Holy Spirit teach me how to embrace His purpose. I mean...come on--it's as painful as hugging a porcupine!!

Well, this morning, I woke up in a bad mood (man, that was really hard to admit LOL). So, I read the Word, and a song kept rolling through my mind. It's from the band ECHOING ANGELS, and it's their title cut: YOU ALONE. ((If you check out their site (see link above), you'll get to HEAR THE SONG.)) Sadly, I only got this album last week, so I didn't know all the words. So, after reading, I stuffed my headphones on, closed my eyes, and worshiped--all the while listening to the lyrics. Check them out:

You Alone

Chris Peevy and Scotty Wilbanks

Desperately wanting to just find a way
Searching and seeking for someone to say
That its alright and its ok
Like I know you can

That its alright and its ok
Like I know you can

You alone are God
I am yours and you are mine
And I know the heavens will call out your name
If I don't

I close my eyes
And I drift away
To a place I remember
To a place I feel safe
Where its alright and its ok
Cause I'm there in your arms

Where its alright and its ok
Cause I'm there in your arms

You alone are God
I am yours and you are mine
And I know the heavens will call out your name (repeat)

Bridge
You forgive me You accept me Just as I am And you love me And you want me To understand

Chorus

© 2006 Two Bare Feet Music (adm by Integrated Copyright Copyright Group)/ASCAP and Johnny Ridgecrest Publishing/ASCAP

-------------------------------------------------------
So, God met me right where I was at this morning. I just felt like He wanted me to know that things are going to be okay, that I'm His...He's mine, and no matter what--writing or not (gasp!)--dreams or not--He loves me and accepts me.

Unconditional love is so freeing (once you get past yourself!)!!!

It's been a tough month to say the least. Hard financially, hard emotionally, hard heart-wise. One of those times where you just *ache* for a move of God. All the same, I've felt God's presence--felt like He was right there despite all appearances. Let me share two "whoa" moments that happened this last week.

1.) It's a thursday night. Storms have knocked out power since about 6pm. My hubby heads off to a movie with the girls. I'm at home with the twins--and candlelight. All the while remembering how easily candles can burn a home down. Things that week have been very hard on me. I'm feeling very much abandoned and forgotten (yeah, I know...that's not true, but it's how I felt and even though I battled those thoughts, they were still there). Anyway, the boys and I are sitting there coloring. I have a box of 72 colored pencils. Can't see worth beans, since it's about 7:30 now and all I have are candles. I'm near the verge of tears, but knowing how much that unsettles the kids, I hold the tears back. I need a gray pencil. Is there even a gray in this box? I tilt the box downward hoping to dump several out. Guess what. Only *one* pencil slides out. A gray one. I look out the open window (we have a porch where it won't get wet if we open the windows on a stormy night), and I know God is there. He knows. He sees my pain. He sees my heartache. The pain lessens a tad.

2.) This week I read Karen Ball's Shattered Justice. I saw the cover at the ACFW Conference in Nashville, but I couldn't afford to buy it. This cover is by far one of my favorites of all time. Something about the image just really clenched my heart. I start her first chapter and I'm riveted, which is really hard to do since I consider myself an "impatient reader." Ya don't grip in the first few pages, I won't read it. Well, Karen's book did that and more. So, I read...and read...and read. And! I found myself getting angrier and angrier and angier. What was happenign to her character Dan Justice (though fiction) mirrors a lot of the pain I've been feeling lately. THEN!!! THEN! Then Karen has this note at the back of the book. I could swear (even though I don't LOL) that God had her pen that *just for me.* I bawl. I know I'm angrier than I realized ever before. I so appreciate her honesty in that note that "I'm not there yet."

That was an epiphany for me. I knew right then that *that* is WHY I want to write. I want to touch a nerve in people, get them to drop their defenses. To clear away the clutter in their lives so they can move into clear, loving fellowship with God.

I'm not 100%. I'm not pain-free...the circumstances are still there, the trials are still going on. But in God, I have hope. And dreams.

So, tell me--WHY DO YOU WRITE? Why do you do what you do?