Back from the SiWC

Oh, it's always tough to go back in to real life after attending the Surrey International Writers' Conference. It's a handful of days so intensely full of experiences that I come home simultaneously exhausted and exhilarated. Right now, I'm still firmly entrenched in the zombie phase.

Coffee is not helping. A box of Purdy's is taking the edge off, but I'm running dangerously low. Dangerously low.

Must breach apartment ramparts and try fresh air as treatment.

Not convinced it will work.

No food. Growing weak.

Notice self using short, grammatically challenged sentences.

No willpower or desire to change.

Blarg.

Some of the highlights include the keynote address by author JJ Lee. I was inspired to buy his book THE MEASURE OF A MAN the second his keynote wrapped up because I knew the bookfair would run out, which it did. Donald Maass, one of New York's top agents, said he did the same thing! Yes, JJ's speech was that good, in fact, Don said over a drink in the bar that he thought it was "the best speech" he'd ever heard. We all agreed. There were hundreds of us in floods of tears.

Robert J. Sawyer was his usual self. He speaks so quickly and eloquently that it's like getting two workshops in one. He's a giant brain with legs, so interesting, so challenging...

Diana Gabaldon...Jack Whyte...Michael Slade...Anne Perry...so many great talents under one roof. And if you like humour, check out Eileen Cook. She is a riot, and her books are laugh out loud funny. I remember snorting through UNPREDICTABLE. I was lucky to share a lunch table with her and she is a delight. Her shoes were pretty awesome too. I gave them 10 out of 10 on the cool factor. If I could have figured out a way to mug her and run away with them, I would have.

And then there was Shelley, in the Magic Room (the club room, but it is a magic room to be sure.) We had nice chats in the morning as she waited for her daughter to go into labour, which finally happened at midnight on the day I left. She shared another story with me, which I will share with you another day soon.

Must. Wake. Up.

The whisky and conversations deep into the night with like-minded people (i.e., those who talk to their imaginary friends as though it's the most natural thing in the world, which it is) seemed like such a good idea at the time. Now real life intrudes.

My new monster hat and matching snake mittens, purchased at Vancouver Airport to ease the transition back into real life

Which reminds me of this failed experiment in crochet. Damn, that is virgin alpaca, too. Cost more than a small car.

*by the way, some people have mentioned some spam that seems to have originated from this blog. I have spoken to Blogger about this, but they said there is nothing they can do about random spammers getting addresses and using them to send junk. I am thinking of switching to WordPress, so maybe it is time. Will you follow me there? Please say yes. I'd be pretty lonely without you.