I don't get out much, but when I do...

I’m not all that certain about the rest of the Quills, but I’ve discovered that my life as an author lacks a certain amount of glamour. I'm not complaining, but I had this image...and it's nowhere near the truth. My life generally consists of day after day after day hunkered down over a computer working on the current book, dressed in sweats, wearing bunny slippers on cold days and drinking way too much coffee or tea. When I’m not working on a new story, I’ve got copy edits to go over or page proofs that have to be back in New York yesterday—nothing in this business ever seems to be done in a leisurely fashion. It’s a job—the best job in the world, as far as I’m concerned, but it’s not all glitz and glamour and assistants waiting at my beck and call.

I do it all on my own, from my webpage to the dishes and laundry, to answering my fan mail to writing the books. My husband does the vacuuming and walks the dog among other things, but life in our household is generally pretty dull—I slip into my fantasy world and type until my fingers are tired, and my husband keeps the real world away so I can work.

However, every once in awhile, there’s a chance to get out and act like a grown-up. In my case, it happened last week when I flew to New York for the bi-annual PASIC (published authors special interest chapter) conference held in Manhattan. New York is where most of our publishers have their offices, so the conference is a chance to meet with our editors, publishers, production people, marketing folks and agents, but even more important, it’s a chance to surround ourselves with other writers.

We understand one another when we’re talking about the voices in our heads and whether or not our characters are in control (yes, they are) and the pressure of deadlines—or the fear of not having deadlines, of being orphaned when an editor leaves, or celebrating when a book hits one of the best seller lists.

Best of all—we get to wear our big girl, grown up clothes! I mean, this IS New York, right? It’s so exciting to put on something glitzy and grown up, to actually wear lipstick and comb my hair and NOT wear jeans and tee shirts--or sweats. We held a cocktail party for industry professionals and sipped drinks and ate hors d’oeuvres, and it was MANHATTAN! I mean, it was so cool, sipping drinks at a party in New York, conversing with editors and agents and thinking all along that yes, my inner-hick is alive and well, but I had that girl under control!

As much fun as I had, I couldn’t wait to come home. Talking non-stop is exhausting, but it was like getting stuck in manic-mode, being around so many like-minded people. A couple of my readers came into the city and we met for lunch, and I probably talked them half to death! (My apologies, Christine and Terri, but meeting you guys was an absolute treat for me!) New York is WAY out of my comfort zone, but the trip was truly a special experience.

I’ve posted some photos from the conference on “public” pages at Facebook—not all of them are labeled, but I’m trying to get as many names up as possible. Go ahead...take a look at authors trying REALLY hard to act like grown ups!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=84322&id=617301038&l=ab2eebf22b

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=84409&id=617301038&l=1b513c9a82

I might be without Internet for a couple of days, but I promise to respond as soon as I can. In the meantime, I’d love to know if you’ve ever done something that made you feel special even when it scared you half to death. That’s sort of how I feel when I’m at a fancy party with people who all seem perfectly at ease while I'm shivering in my heels. I love hearing your stories.