What I brought home from my first and definitely not last ACFW conference…
…a trophy! Okay, so I hope it’s not boastful to list this first, but hearing Susan May Warren announcing my name on Saturday night truly was an exciting moment for me. I’m not an athlete – though I was cabin champion at carpet-ball one year at camp – so I’ve definitely not got a shelf-full of trophies at home. Winning the MBT Frasier Award was such an honor…uh, and a surprise, as my oh-so-eloquent (not!) acceptance speech surely conveyed. The four other finalists are wonderful writers and just as deserving. Love you, ladies!
…the cure for what should be the most poignant scene in my book! I took Susie and Rachel Hauck‘s scene therapy class during the conference and came away from it Shirley Temple happy. We’re talking major breakthrough. I cannot wait to rewrite that scene. I’m especially motivated as I had a wonderful meeting with an agent who said to go ahead and send her my full m’script. She had already seen the first few chapters and apparently didn’t fall asleep from boredom. Hooray! I definitely enjoyed meeting her in person.
…a brand new friend named Garmin-a. She got me to the Indy Hyatt Regency with nary a glitch. Thank you, Miss GPS Genius.
…an even greater love for my “pondering” friends. We’re a diverse set of gals, God-loving and giggly. I am beyond thankful to have met each one and can’t wait til our next Ponderer reunion. (Countin’ down the days til Florida, baby!)
…speaking of, bookmarks! Fellow Ponderer and ACFW roomie Lisa Jordan designed beautiful bookmarks to promote our MBT Ponderers blog, which we handed out at ACFW. I have plenty more to distribute here in the land of corn and pigs. Exciting news: our blog had 10,000 hits in just our first two months. Wowza!
…a Genesis finalist pin. Okay, so you can’t win ’em all, right? (Unless your name is Michael Phelps.) But again, it was an honor to have finaled. Though, let’s be honest here…I should have entered Tuesdays in the Contemporary Romance category not Women’s Fiction. Yes, I’ve finally accepted that what I’ve written is, in fact, a romance.
…probably about five more pounds than I arrived with. I blame the Hyatt Regency and their multi-course meals. I do, however, have a question: Asparagus? For breakfast?
…new friends! Okay, so I didn’t actually bring them home with me. But yeah, meeting new friends and fellow crazies (i.e. writers) was a blast. And now I’m Facebook official with many of them, so the friendships will live on til next year’s conference.
…two possible pitch lines for my next book. Yeah! Just can’t decide which I like best. Feel free to cast your vote. We’ve got a) He lives for the rules. She lives to break them. Or b) He’s afraid of who he is. She’s afraid of who she could be.
…a black dress, pretty-princess shoes which I can’t walk in and a glitzy clutch. Now if only I had an occasion to re-wear my banquet attire!
…amazing, intense gratefulness for the doors God has opened for me in the past year, especially through involvement in My Book Therapy. I think perhaps my favorite moment of the whole conference was when MBT founder and award-winning author Susan May Warren won Mentor of the Year during the awards ceremony on Sunday night. Her encouragement has been such a blessing to me and her expertise is phenomenal. Attending that first MBT Storycrafters Retreat last year, and each one since, breathed new life into Melissa the Writer – I found my voice and discovered the heart of my current story. I know I have so much more to learn. If God can do this much in the past year, who knows what He’s got in store for the next 12 months!
*****
p.s. I almost forgot to add my crazy new line dancing skills. We ended the MBT party with a Susie-led line dance to Frank Sinatra. Great fun. Publishers Weekly called it the ACFW’s most memorable moment. Woohoo. Here’s the YouTube video…and if you look closely, you’ll see not only one award-winning author, but a second. Of course, Susie is in there, but can you name the other well-known author? Hint: he’s a he!
Comments 4
Woohoo, Melissa! Congrats for all the many successes! I’m so proud of you and thankful that so many things are coming together! It’s such fun to be a Ponderer with you.
For the record, I like “a” the best, but both are great.
Thanks, Teri! Good times…oh, I wish it wasn’t over. However, with each day that goes by, we’re one step closer to Florida – woohoo!!
And thanks for the vote. I think I’m with you. Can’t wait to start writing that book!
My sweet Pondering roommate. You made me laugh so much. I’m so proud of your achievements in such a short time!! You’re going places, girl. We’ll be right beside you, praying and cheering you on!!
Ahh, I loved rooming with you, LJ. Soooo fun! And I am proud of you, too…can’t wait to hold your books in my hand and say, “I know her, I roomed with her, she’s seen me with morning hair!!”