Monsters, Loser, Liar, Psychic, and a Big Chicken (Really!)

So often, when I make my trek across Puget Sound, I wish I could pack all of you up in my mini-van (we’d really have to squish in) so you could share the incredible beauty all along they way. Saturday it was magical from start to finish. The kind of morning I needed after a rough week.

I had planned to head over on Friday night so that I could attend Jaime Temairik's Holiday Monster party. I'm still sad I missed it. I hear it was monster-ific. You can read about it HERE.

I started my day as a guest speaker in Lois Brandt's NaNoWriMo class. Yes, she has a class that assisted a group of writers in reaching their NaNo goals. Cool, huh? Cool until you hear that I was invited to represent the NaNo Loser. I walked in sporting a cap with a BIG capital L on it. Well, actually that's not quite true, but it would have been fun. And it would have made sense. That L could have stood for Liar rather than Loser since I told them how lies helped my successes with last year's NaNo. I'll tell you of my lying ways in another post. Promise. (I know it must be hard to believe me now that I've outed myself.)

But, I did get to share my recent good news--news that came because of my NaNo loss last year. I've signed with an agent. Here I am a week ago when the agreement came in the mail (prior to the week falling apart). I know this is just a beginning, but I'm trying to celebrate all my successes along the way. And it felt appropriate to stand in front the word believe for this photo. I'm still holding tight to the belief that my novel will find a home...the right home. And now with the help of my agent; the fabulous and savvy Rosemary Stimola, it feels even more possible.

I spent the afternoon at the wonderful Third Place Books where I browsed and read and wrote and met a best friend's aunt in the bathroom. Funny...I know. At least that' s what I did until it was time for the big event; Martha Brokenbrough's Things That Make Us [Sic] book event.

So, I think Martha is about one of the smartest, funniest people I know. And so was her event. There was even Grammarella the Punctuation Psychic on hand. BTW...I'm an apostrophe. I'm sure that's obvious.

Just look at Grammarella soaking up her psychic vibe from all the books.



Not only was the event attended by Grammarella, but also a very large chicken.


And what's more...there were lots of cool peeps there. Here I am with Joni Sensel, Martha Brokenbrough, and Holly Cupala . (On a side note, the talented Mrs. Cupala sent me home with a yummy treat. I'll tell you about that in a later post.)



I would say it's obvious that the evening was as smart and funny as the book and its author. If a book about grammar sounds boring, I dare you to pick this one up and say it is. Watch for a coffee spot interview with Martha in the near future...

Wow, seems I'm promising a bunch of future posts. Guess I'm not lacking content. But before the others, you're sure to hear about my time with the colorful Laini Taylor. If you are in the Seattle area this Wednesday, you won't want to miss Laini's appearance at the SCBWI Western Washington Professional Series meeting. I won't!