Thank You, Tony Hillerman Writers Conference!

     I spent last Friday and Saturday at the Tony Hillerman Writers Conference in Santa Fe. This is the second year I have attended. Since I went last year, my book Angels in MyClassroom: How Second Graders Saved My Life has been published and I’m now learning how to become a marketing maven. I frequently wonder how to balance it all. I could not wait to go back this year to discover what would help me be a better writer and hone the business end of being an author.

      This is a remarkable event. While I am not a mystery or thriller writer like many of the other authors there, I am not the only nonfiction writer either. I learned something of value at each session. I have come to realize that not only Tony Hillerman was a master of his craft but he actively and willingly shared his expertise and his understanding of the profession with new writers. Those qualities are at the core of the conference.

      My favorite event this year was a panel discussion on blogging with award winning author and educator, Dawn Wink, thriller writer Joe Badal (honestly, if you haven’t heard of him, you need to Google him), and Susan Tweit, an award winning blogger. Badal gave us a list of rules on blogging. Some were the light and funny such as “No food” unless you write books about cooking. Some were meatier. “Give an insight of who you are and what you write about.”  Susan Tweit followed him with a photo of food. Then she justified why she breaks most of the rules Joe created. I came away with a new energy to blog. I’m filled with new ideas and a fresh perspective.

      The presenters are available. I shared my photo of my grandson’s Tardis (built by my 
 amazing daughter-in-law) and his Dr. Who costume with a science fiction screenwriter for television shows such as Star Trek. The seasoned professionals talk to new writers. They share tidbits of insight. They also nearly always inquire what you are working on. I had conversations about some of my favorite series with at least two series authors. They recommended books they loved. It reminded me that to be a good writer you also need to be an avid reader.

     The snapshot of this year that I won’t forget sums up the beauty of the conference. I had just arrived early since I was participating in the New Books Breakfast. I was lugging a box of my books. I ran into someone I remembered from last year.

     Johnny: How was your year?

     Me: Phenomenal! How was yours?

     Johnny: Mine was phenomenal, too?

     Me: So what made your year so phenomenal?

     Johnny: My book was number 1 on Amazon on October 27. I also have books coming out next year.

     This was a Put-Down-the-Box-of-Books-and-High-Five moment.

     Johnny Worthen’s Young Adult book Eleanor won much acclaim this year. Like me, this is his first book published. How could we, all of us writers, not cheer him? We joyfully laughed at his “I’m in year three of my ten year plan to be an overnight success?” statement.  That celebration of being a writer, published, unpublished, famous, or beginner, is what makes this conference something deliciously special.