Once again it was time for the Cape Cod Writers Annual conference. Instead of a week long camp this year it was reduced to a long weekend to give working people a chance to take more courses.
This was my first year not taking a course. This year I chose to spend my money on discussing my work with a prominent literary agent whose trained eye showed me just what I need to do to improve my work. The picture book I brought her carried such emotion – pent up for three years – that after sharing it with her I felt a tremendous weight lift off of my heart. A weight that, unbeknownst to me, was keeping me from going any further in my own writing.
I paid for 30 minutes with her, but she spent over 60 with me. We had a great discussion and I walked away feeling better about my writing than I have in the five years I’ve been doing it. We just clicked and I knew I could work with this woman should the day ever come that I produce that quality of work.
When I arrived home late that evening an Amazon package was waiting in the mailbox. Excitement brewed. I ordered a picture book that I just fell in love with. It’s called Bear Has A Story To Tell by Phillip C. Stead, illustrated by his wife, Erin Stead. I was able to read only the first few pages on Amazon so I didn’t know the end to the story. I ordered it because the illustrations were done in pencil and crushed pastels. They were beautiful and the technique intrigued me. I opened the package, and as tired as I was at 10:45 pm, I immediately read the story. Then I was truly in love. I hugged the book and wanted to carry it around like a five-year-old.
I took it with me to camp the next day. I read it to all my friends. When my mentor-agent came into the bookstore, (I work in the conference bookstore), I showed it to her and asked if she knew the book. She said, “Oh yeah, I do know THAT book.” I told her she inspired me and THIS is the kind of books I want to write. She replied, “Linda, if you write THAT kind of book, Rosemary Stimola is going to come running with lights flashing!”
I accepted the challenge. And just like that I felt like a chapter was closed and put to bed and I have new path, with clearer direction than I ever had in my writing.
Other conference moments included pulling out a copy of Through The Widow’s Window by Linda E. Williams, the book I did the cover for, (see left) and hearing Rosemary say, “Wow. I didn’t know you were such an accomplished illustrator.” Ok, that comment sent me on an immediate high coming from the likes of her.
The next big moment came today when Linda, the author of the book, came and told me literary agent Marilyn Allen took the book! Whoa. A major agent took our self-published book. Unheard of. We don’t know what will come of it, but both of us are happy and full-filled that our work meant something.
There were many little moments at the conference that made my spirit soar. People were picking up the book because of its cover. We sold out and had to replenish our supply. I was also asked to sign two copies. My first ever book signings! Lol! All in all, it was the best year at summer camp yet – and I didn’t even take a course.
And so, as another Cape Cod Writers Center Annual Conference goes by, I leave with a new path and a huge challenge set before me, and…I have written.
Check out my goal:
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