Books and Votes

Above L: San Jose Convention Center. R: Author Signing Table.
Below L: Wine tasting and marketplace booths. R: Author Salon.
I've been meaning to talk about my wonderful experience at Book Group Expo. On Saturday I worked as a volunteer and spent most of the day helping out in the salons where the book talks took place. The topics varied from "Managing Your Mother" to "Secrets of the Suburbs" to "Short Fiction".

The author book discussions were thought-provoking, and the open forum environment--which mimics a book club discussion--allowed for an engaging question and answer session. I was also particularly interested in hearing about their writing processes.

I met up with Erika Mailman, the Instructor from my Novel Writing Course this summer, which was fun. Erika spoke on a panel called "Which Witch is Which" to talk about her wonderful book, The Witches Trinity, which I highly recommend.

On Sunday I was an attendee and was able to get a few books signed, including a new book I've been wanting. It's called The Little Book by Selden Edwards, who has been working on it on and off for over 30 years before finally publishing it. I read about his story a few months ago and found it inspiring. He was just as inspiring in person, very friendly, and encouraging of fledgling writers. Rabih Alameddine was hilarious so I had to pick up his book The Hakawati. Michelle Richmond's The Year of Fog has been in my TBR list for awhile, so I was thrilled to receive a free copy in my loot bag (see below), and pretty equally excited when she told me she liked my barrette(!).

L: Free Loot. R: Signed Books.

I think it's fair to say I plan to go again next year.

To all the Americans out there: don't forget to VOTE tomorrow!

Monday again

Weekends never seem long enough, do they? Mine was fairly relaxing, but it felt a little short since I spent most of Saturday indoors while Adam took Drew on a five-hour hike to enjoy the nice weather. As I mentioned last Friday, I went to a publishing and writing conference at Mills College. I can't complain since I forced this conference on myself, but still. There were sessions on "the day job," "editors and agents," "roads to publication," and "writing groups." I was hoping to gain some new insight into the writing world, but I already knew most of what I heard, although it was good to hear some of it reaffirmed. I enjoyed the publication session most because two writers working at Mills talked about their experiences publishing. Last year I read the book The Daydreaming Boy by one of the writers, Micheline Aharonian Marcom, so it was nice to hear her talk about her writing. However, they really gave no useful advice, just anecdotes about their experience. The agents and editors panel was amusing for me because I worked in that field (acquisitions editing). When the panel gave advice on what not to do I was snickering to myself because I remember reading the horrid query letters they were describing, meanwhile the people around me were taking copious notes. You would think this stuff is commonsense, but clearly it is not for everyone.
I think the main thing I took away from the conference is that I don't want to go back to grad school right now. (Unless of course London is an option, in which case everything changes.) Many of you will realize what a huge step that is for me. Mainly I think I'm over the glorified idea of writing workshops and the personal necessity for them. However, I think I'm over the *people* in writing workshops as well, as bad as that sounds. This weekend reminded me that they can be so annoying. I have a few writer friends that I really trust and respect, and like it or not, they will be my future sounding board when I need readers. (Thanks for the offer, Kris, you'll be regretting it someday!) My cough, luckily, did not plague me too much during the panels and I was able to keep it at bay with cough drops. Now it's settled nicely in my chest and keeps me up at night. Hurrah.
The best part about Monday is watching the new 24 episode, so I can relax (is watching Kiefer nearly get killed for an hour relaxing?) and look forward to guaranteed entertainment.

Bleh!

Thanks for the comments, Joey. Woo hoo, I have four comments now (not counting those fake advertising ones, of course)!
I have nothing really to post today. I'm feeling rubbish and snotty and I keep sneezing, or what's worse, almost sneezing, which gives no satisfaction at all and just makes your nose tickle. Hopefully I'll be feeling a bit better tomorrow because I have to haul my butt up to Oakland for a "Professional Survival Weekend" that I signed up for before I got ill. It's at Mills College--where some of you will remember I got accepted last year, without funding of course, which is why I am not a student this year--and there are 5 hour-long sessions (plus a lunch) regarding writing and careers, etc. It sounds interesting, but I'm afraid tomorrow my cough will kick in and I will spend the majority of the lectures trying desperately not to cough loudly, and of course you only get that really horrible tickle-in-your-throat cough when you absolutely should not cough. Such as in a library. Wish me luck.