Hi everyone, I hope you did something new this week.  I attended the Oklahoma Writers’ Federation, Inc. annual conference over the weekend and I had such a great time.  I learned a lot, met a lot of people and rekindled some old relationships.

The conference took place in Norman, OK at the Embassy Suites with five of my best friends and authors from the Enid Writers’ Club; Bobby Mardis, Martha Draper, Chantell Tiatrakul, Karen Evans, and Marsha Kay Oldham.  We listened to speakers, pitched our stories to publishers, sat through sessions on how to be creative, sell short stories, publish graphic novels and more.  Chantell won fifth honorable mention in the Flash Fiction category from 56 entries.  It was Chantell’s first conference and she rose to the occasion in fine form!  Congratulations, Chantell, we are all so proud of you.

I had the honor of “shepherding” the two graphic novelists Ron Fortier and Rob Davis from Airship 27 and learned more about graphic novels than I ever imagined.  I had no idea what all went into the novels after the author wrote the story.   Their latest novel “Daughter of Dracula” isn’t your kid’s comic book and gives new meaning to the phrase “show, don’t tell.”   http://robmdavis.com/Airship27Hangar/airship27hangar.html.

I also met Rhonda Penders Editor and Chief of The Wild Rose Press, Inc. and Ally Robertson editor with the Crimson Rose section of the press.  I attended their buzz session and Rhonda was serving birthday cake for her own party.  They publish romance novels – sweet ones, erotic ones, romance with a little suspense thrown in and others.  Please visit them at http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/.

I met many of the authors I have come to know through Buzzbooks (http://buzzbooksusa.com/) and Oklahoma Women’s Bloggers (http://www.oklahomawomenbloggers.com/) and had a chance to share my experience with them.  I was excited to see that authors Jennifer McMurrian (http://www.jennifermcmurrain.com/) and Jan Morrill (http://www.janmorrill.com/) attended with their mothers and all won awards.  Generational writing!

I’m already excited for next year – bring it on!