I’m back from Mount Hermon, back to my ordinary world, but, like Frodo, things in the Shire will never be the same.This conference blessed me in many ways. I connected with people I needed to meet in person, made new friends, learned, gave and received encouragement, laughed, and wept in awe of God's grace.
And then there was that other thing I did not expect.
I won’t go into story mode (this is a blog, not a novel) with the details; I’ll just say that I went to Mt Hermon fully intending to keep my novel to myself and be the late-blooming, knowledge-hungry sponge that I am. I'm not sure how I ended up having my novel requested in full by one house and in part by another two. And I don't know how I ended up sitting next to The Snowflake Guy (also known as the Supreme Dictator for Life) on the flight home and discussing the potential of my work, which he actually mentioned on his blog.
Even though I received manuscript requests and encouraging feedback that I'm still not entirely convinced wasn't a sleep-deprivation induced hallucination, the grand take-away from Mt Hermon---besides the AWESOME Christian writerly people I got to meet in person---was the call to be more than a novelist; to be a communicator. (No keynoter said it; it just came on the breath of one small voice.) I don’t know what variety of forms this will take, but I am 
excited to see what God will do.
And you will want to read it, because you would like an intelligent, faith inspiring love story.
12 comments:
Glad to have met you there. sorry we didn't get a picture together. best wishes on your novel.
Michelle
Congratulations! I am so tickled for you, Camille! Isn't Randy the best? I can hardly wait to read your novel! You inspire me to keep going! God bless you!!
Good to meet you too, Michelle! I expect to hear good things about your novel! I'll see more of you over at MBT when I get the novel sent off.
Karla, Thanks for the cheers! It's way premature, as far as this novel being published goes, but I agree that Randy seriously rocks, PhD or not. (And I'd say that regardless of what he said about my writing.)
I hope you do keep pressing on and I would love to hear how your project is going.
Hi Camille,
I wandered over here from the "My Book Therapy Voices" page. I'm in the Portland area, too! We'll have to say hello at Willamette Writers or something similar.
Hey, I recognize you. I think I saw you in that big crowd of people. Sorry we didn't get a chance to connect more closely.
And karla's right. Randy is the best. I'm a converted groupie now.
Camille,
I remember you! Now that I get to see your photo it all comes back. I think we sat together during a couple of meals. And if I'm remembering correctly, didn't a certain editor say that your story sounded good and that he would like to see it? Hmmmm.
Don't forget, when they say things like that, they mean it.
It was really great to hang out with you during the festive meal times!
Blessings on your writing,
Merrie
Hi Camille!
I'm sorry I just have to use those exclamation points sometimes. I really enjoyed meeting and talking to you at Mt. Hermon. It sounds like there were more divine appointments on the way home. You are one blessed up and coming writer. :o) Loved browsing through your blog and all the helpful links. You go girl! I'm Looking forward to hearing those magic words from your mouth... I'm published!
Happy writing!
Kathy Oster (to help you remember who I am, you took a snapshot of me sitting in the auditorium on the last morning at Mt. Hermon. If that helps any!)
Kathy! Hi! Of course I know who you are - my MBC friend! See, I have exclamation points on my keyboard too! I thought I sent you that photo, so I just added it above. Thanks for the cheers - all in God's timing. I hope you find some of these links to your liking. DO keep tabs on that Snowflake Guy. He never seems to tire of teaching the craft.
Hi Camille,
Saw your comment over at Mary DeMuth's.
We just had the Florida Christian Writers Conference in my neck of the woods, which was incredible.
Mount Hermon sounds exciting - especially the requests for your manuscript. I wish you all the best.
Julie @ Word Chicks
Anastasia - I somehow missed you there before. Cool that we're so close - maybe we'll meet. Do you attend any Oregon Christian Writer's events? I've never heard of Willamette Writers, I'll check it out. We have an ACFW chapter in Portland, let me know if you want to hear more!
Julie - thanks and all the best to you too. I've heard good things about FCW. Mary also rocks, right up there next to Dr. Snowflake.
Willamette Writers runs a huge conference in Portland at the beginning of August. It's expensive but going for at least one day is definitely worthwhile.
I have my hands full with Oregon Writers' Colony events, but it would be good to have the Christian writers' events on my radar. If you could send details to Ana (AT) anastasiakbond.com, that would be great.
Wow, that is such a God thing that happened on the plane- sounds like a divine appointment to me. I had a feeling about you when your stuff showed up in my room at Mt Hermon! Way to go! Keep us posted!
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