Tuesday, April 28, 2009

My amazing weekend!

On Saturday, I attended the LDStorymakers Conference, and it was awesome! I'm kind of a shy girl, especially in large social situations where I don't know anyone. I tend to shut down and pretend to be invisible. But once I quit hiding in the bathroom, I met some really cool people and went to some great classes. And I got the chance to spend some time with one of my critique partners, Melanie. Check out her alternatively touching and hilarious blog at www.readandwritestuff.blogspot.com. (Tried to link, but I'm fairly certain it didn't work. It's pathetic how technologically challenged I am. ) Anyway, it was so much fun to spend the day with her-- she was kind enough to hang with me so that I didn't look friendless. :) I can't wait until her book is published and I can say proudly, "I know that girl!"

I also got to meet Sarah Eden, an amazing writer who I was betting on to win for Best Romance...and who was kind enough to very sincerely congratulate me when I won instead. If you haven't read Seeking Persephone, you must check it out! If you like Jane Austen, you will love her gorgeous Regency romances! You can find her at www.sarahmeden.com.

I met lots of other authors and bloggers who I am in awe of, but I don't want to go off on a name-dropping tangent: raging anxiety + hero worship = faulty memory. I know that someone will inevitably be forgotten. The only regret I had was that I didn't get a chance to meet EVERYONE- there just wasn't enough time. Next year, I'm definitely going for both days. And if I cut back on the time I spent hiding, that should help as well.

The Whitney Awards were that night, and I have to say that the whole thing had a rather dreamlike quality. When I arrived, I wasn't worried about losing my balance and breaking my neck in my heels or having to make a speech because I'd read the other books that were nominated with mine and I knew that I'd be happy cheering for any one of them when THEY won. I felt so lucky just to be nominated with a group of such talented authors that to actually win was so far beyond my expectations. But I DID, and it was incredible! No matter what else I write, I will always remember that moment and how it was wonderful and terrifying at the same time.

And I even managed to stay upright in my heels. :)

4 comments:

Ang said...

Aubrey, great to meet you. You did a great job with your speech--especially since you had the tough job of going first! Thanks for being a great table mate!

Sarah M Eden said...

And your heels were cute, too. That is an absolute must when choosing shoes that just might kill you in the end.

RobisonWells said...

Congratulations on the win! It was great to meet you.

Anna said...

Congrats! I really liked your book a lot.