Ozark Creative Writers Conference – Eureka Springs, AR

Any conference that ends in a publishing contract is bound to hold a special place in your heart, right?  Add in a gorgeous location, some outstanding speakers, and a host of fun folk with whom to share the experience, and what’s not to love?

My sister, KJ Williams, is a children’s author https://www.kjwilliamsauthor.com  [Some of her books incorporate parts of our shared childhood. Maybe I should do a contest to see who can figure out which parts??]. Anyway — when I saw the program agenda included several presentations for children’s authors, I twisted her arm to join me for a ‘Sister-Writers Weekend.’

My sister and I are about as different as siblings can be.  She writes inspirational children’s stories. I write sexually explicit adult romances. She’s a teetotaler and my first stop at the end of a conference day is the bar. She’s a devout Southern Baptist and I’m Wiccan. And yet, despite our differences, we manage to have a blast together. She’s one of the funniest storytellers on the face of the planet and her ongoing narration of life’s foibles and idiosyncrasies always has me laughing my ass off. (Language my sister would never use, by the way). So just on that front, this trip was every bit the blast I expected it to be. 

But the cherry on top was getting to  meet the delightful Rhonda Penders, founder of The Wild Rose Press https://wildrosepress.com, which in turn led to a publishing contract for Chasing Shadows!!  WOOT!

Plus I got to soak up some great marketing ideas from the inimitable Jane Friedman https://janefriedman.com and sit in on a workshop by the brilliant Ginny Myers Sain https://www.ginnymyerssain.com, bestselling author of young adult novels, who did a fabulous presentation on how to use the techniques of actors and directors in your writing. She has a background in both, which she puts to excellent use. I mean, really — just look at her own description of her writing on her website: “My books are all about finding the beautiful in the strange & dark and the strange & dark in the beautiful. I’m especially drawn to water in my settings, and I love writing stories that take place in the kinds of “in between” spaces where magic feels most possible.” Doesn’t that make you just want to run out and get all of her books??  Do it! Ignore that ‘young adult’ label. We’re all young at heart, right??

And last, but definitely not least, we all chowed down on Indian food, Mexican food, and Ozark BBQ — ending our day at a place called the Rowdy Beaver. (I couldn’t help but cackle at how my sister and I might use that image in very different ways in our respective writings.). Fun times, for sure. Love ya, Sis!