Wyoming Writers, Inc. is holding its 39th annual conference in Laramie this year, and here I am, in the "Gem City of the Plains," in attendance.
I just returned from the awards luncheon where I was pleased to be presented with a third place award in the fiction category for my story "Shoshoni For A Shake." I was honoured. The judge gave some kind remarks, and fellow members were gracious with their congratulations. The roast beef sandwich was awesome, too.
Later this afternoon I have a pitch session with Katharine Sands from the Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency. I hope that goes well. I attended her seminar this morning. Quite a knowledgeable, helpful agent. Tonight is the book signing and conference banquet. This really is shaping up to be a memorable, meaningful, productive conference. I am sure I'll have further reflections when it's all over, but I thought I might share the news about my award. My congratulations to all the other award recipients and honourable mentions, as well as to Wyoming Writers, Inc., and everyone who entered the contests and helped make them such a success this year.
I'll be giving out bookmarks this evening. I hope to meet many more writers and readers and to spread the word about my novella "Day Dreamer" and even some of my other work. As I look out my hotel window to see the majestic War Memorial Stadium on the campus of the University of Wyoming and the far grey clouds rolling over the north, I am struck by the thought of just how strange and wonderful it is to think of the words I write and the stories I tell to be journeying so far from where the dark, quiet corner in which they first began. Stranger and more wonderful as I hit "enter" and these words may be read anywhere around the world.
