ICRS Sunday

Captain's Log, Stardate 07.09.2007

Got up EARLY for the Zondervan authors’ breakfast at 8:30 AM Eastern time, which was 5:30 AM California time. Yes, Camy was not a happy camper.

However, she felt better after getting some food in her.

I sat at a table with Karen Campbell (Zondervan PR), Lee Hough (Alive Communications), Lynn Waalkes (Aspiring Retail, recently renamed to CBA Retailers and Resources), Jana Reiss (Publisher’s Weekly), Brandilyn Collins and Don Brown.

Karen Kingsbury gave an inspiring keynote address that made me feel like dreck for writing fluffy beach reads instead of life-changing women’s fiction. (j/k … sort of). I got a chance to thank Lynn for that great article on upcoming voices in Christian Fiction that came out in Aspiring Retail a few weeks (months?) ago, and I also got a chance to express thanks to Jana for the great review in Publisher’s
Weekly.

Karen encouraged the table to discuss what inspires each of us, and I naturally allowed my irreverent, shallow side show by confessing I rarely read literary fiction OR classics. Yes, Camy is a Neanderthal. My love of Jane Austen just barely redeemed me, especially being surrounded by Lee, Lynn, Jana, and Brandilyn, who are very well-read, and Don who’s just smart as all get-out.

I also attended a brunch for Books and Such Literary Agency clients, which was fun and MORE FOOD. I sat with Sarah Sumpolec and met Carmel Leal, a fellow-Hawaii dweller. Carmen is such a giving, generous woman, as well as being a fabulous marketer—she offered to help me with some marketing and promotion the next time I’m in Hawaii. Isn’t that awesome???


Me and Kathleen Y'Barbo (Janet announced today that Kathleen is now offering her PR services to Books and Such clients for very reasonable, effective packages!)


Sarah Sumpolec and me (I look prego, but I promise it's just the loose dress aided by a good slouch)


Julie Dearyan and me (nice bra strap shot, eh?)

I had a fun video interview with Brett Eastman and Sue Doc Ross, although to be honest, I couldn’t say what it was for. It was just a lot of chatting and fun. Who knows if I even looked good in front of the camera, LOL.

At the videotaping, I met Jamie Langston Turner (Christy winner) and I re-met Melody Carlson, fellow chick lit author, who was introduced to me last night at the Christy Awards by her friend Robin Jones Gunn (Christy winner). I’ve heard so much about Melody’s YA books, especially since I work with teens.

However, the videotaping was waaaaaaay the heck down the hallway at the convention center, and I got blisters on my feet, which I don’t understand because I’ve worn these shoes before and not gotten blisters. Luckily, one of the nice video taping crew guys went and tried to get bandaids for me, and ended up sending a conference worker with a whole slew of them to save my feet. I also changed into my other pair of shoes, which are a brown that did not match my dress—fashion gave way to comfort.

I met with agent Chip MacGregor just to chat and exchange industry news. I love talking with him, he’s so fun. Chip exerted his masculine side with a rasmopolitan that tasted realllllllly good, and I had a gin and tonic with an order of FRENCH FRIES!!!! I reluctantly turned him over to Claudia Mair Burney, but only ’cuz she’s his client, so I guess I have to give way. ;)

I also met lovely Tracey Bateman, and then later saw Cindy Woodsmall and Susan May Warren at the bar with Tracey.

Then I hustled over to the Ritz-Carlton because I didn’t realize I was LATE for my drinks-and-gossip session with fellow chick lit author Anne Dayton. We had SO much fun talking and laughing. I felt much relieved I’m not the only shallow chick lit reader/writer at this convention. I also talked briefly with editor Shannon Hill from Waterbrook, and tried to convince her I wasn’t stalking her. Really.

While in the Ritz-Carlton bar area, I saw Liz Curtis Higgs sitting with friends, and Francine Rivers also came in to sit with her friends. I refrained from acting like a morbid fan by introducing myself and gushing over them—instead, I let them have their drinks in peace. Imagine that.

I met Sarah Sumpolec and her husband Jeff at the convention center, and we went to the Hard Rock Café for dinner with Cyndy Salzmann and Carmen Leal. Was I even a remotely good Diet Girl? Nooooooooo. I had a garlic spinach burger with MORE FRENCH FRIES!!! Then us four girls went to the Westin lobby to chat for a couple hours before turning to bed.

Continued: ICRS Monday