What a conference!

Yesterday was one of the best days I've had in a while, and let me tell you, I almost missed out on it. Thursdays at my house are very hectic, but a feeling kept telling me to go to the Book Academy conference anyway. So I followed that gut feeling.

I met Josi Kilpack in Salt Lake and we drove the rest of the way together. What fun! Josi and I have been long time email friends, but we'd never had the chance to really sit down and spend time together. How fabulous to find out how much we have in common. I think we could jabber all day long and never get tired!

Then, I had the opportunity to see these great authors in the workshops they taught. Annette Lyon taught the word nerd class I went to and what a brain. That girl is SMART! And not only that, but fun too. I've really enjoyed getting to know her better.

One particular highlight was toward the end when I found Scott Judd, an old friend from college. (who I dated for a bit, (hey there, Scott!). So I sat with him at his table to visit only to find that his wife was there to do the power point for the final keynote speaker, Maria Covey Cole. Maria's family came to support her. Do you know what this means? It means that I sat at the table with Stephen R. Covey and his family! Yes I did! In fact, he walked right up to little ole me and shook my hand like it was an honor. What a gracious man. I was very impressed. Also, Maria's sister sat next to me so I struck up a conversation, asking if she was related to Wid Covey who I had a crush on for three years in jr. high. He's her cousin! That was fun and what a small, small world!

After the conference, I was invited to eat out with a few of the published authors who taught the classes. OH MY WORD! What great people! First of all, to be included in a such an elite group of writers was an honor--and I've gotten to know them a bit from other conferences--but to be included like I was one of them was the real treat. James Dashner, Rob Wells, and Jeff Savage kept us in stitches (cliche, I know) but seriously, I never quick laughing. Thanks guys for letting me hang. I enjoyed every minute.

All in all, it was a day I will long remember. A day where every moment was filled with discovery and laughter. My heart is full and I needed that!