Saturday, April 6, 2013

Blue Ridge Sunset


Well, it's Friday evening and here I am in Blue Ridge, Georgia -- just a little ways from the SW corner of North Carolina.  I'm the keynote speaker at a Writers Conference Saturday morning ("An hour?" said my husband," You're talking for an hour?"

Well, yeah. No doubt there'll be an introduction and I'll save time for Q and A and the hour will be more like forty minutes or thereabouts. And if I see the audience beginning to nod off, I'll condense my remarks.Or tell a joke. Or something . . .
 
I'm pretty sure I was invited because this is a conference mostly for writers and would-be writers and my late entry into the world of publishing gives hope to other so-called late bloomers. An inspiration to middle-aged women everywhere, that's me. 

So I'll share the story of my journey from mild-mannered farmwife to mild-mannered Random House author and try to encourage these writers to give it their best shot. Then I'll meet with a couple of writers for whom I did critiques in advance, then I'll do a session about querying agents, and then I'll head home.

My motel overlooks a lot of roofs and parking lots but out back, I found a sunset -- something I don't see at home.

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15 comments:

katy gilmore said...

Have fun - you'll be great!

Martin said...

Now I've got Georgia on my mind, Vicki!

Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen said...

I wish I could have been to the Writer's Conference and taken your class. Blue Ridge is very near us. I've been to the writer's conference a couple of times when it was in Blairsville. It's a very nice event. And Blue Ridge is a cute mountain town.
Sam

Pat in east TN said...

I'm sure you will be an inspiration to others. Enjoy your time there.

Vicki Lane said...

Hurry on over, Sam -- Registration begins at 8:30 -- or are you still in Florida?

José María Souza Costa said...


Invitation - In
I'm Brazilian.
Spent reading here, and visit his blog.
I also have one, only much simpler.
I'm inviting you to visit me, and if possible follow together for them and with them. I always liked to write, expose and share my ideas with people, regardless of class Social, Religious Creed, the Sexual Orientation, or, of Ethnicity.
To me, what will interest is our exchange of ideas, and, thoughts.
I'm there in my space Simpleton, waiting for you.
And I'm already following your blog.
Strength, Peace, Friendship and Happiness
For you, a hug from Brazil.
http://josemariacostaescreveu.blogspot.com

Brian Miller said...

woot...have fun out there...i am sure they will enjoy hearing your story...love me some georgia as well...two of the best places i have eaten are in columbus

Barbara Rogers said...

I bet you thought about that when you were asked in school what you'd like to be when you grew up...a role model for middle aged wannabe writers! And now you can say, you ended up so much more!

Frances said...

Vicki, I am sure that the folks who attend your conference event will learn quite a bit from you. Was any part of the "hour" recorded? It would be grand to hear some of your remarks, and also the question/answer part.

xo

Deanna said...

When you are interested in what you are talking about, the time flies for both you and your audience. I'm positive you will do great and an hour won't be long enough.

Tammy said...

Mild mannered? Hmmm...I think more like 'go-getter'. :-) But yes, you are an inspiration to many and that is a fact. Hope it went well! I hate to talk in front of people and I always race through and then there you are...done way ahead of schedule! By the way the wedding was so beautiful. I love the shot of them standing together--I think it's the first one. Just very neat how everything was arranged. Love it.

Tammy

Stella Jones said...

I'm sure they will lap up every word Vicki. Enjoy yourself.

jennyfreckles said...

Ah, hope that went well. I imagine you meet some fascinating people at such an event. I'm sure you were an inspiration. (You inspire me!)

Glenda Beall said...

Vicki, I am way behind in reading your blog posts, but I want to say I enjoyed your speech and seeing you there.
You are an inspiration to writers and your honest and down to earth talk at the Blue Ridge Writers Conference encouraged the writers there to continue with what they are passionate about as you have done.
Thanks for coming down to my neck of the woods.

Vicki Lane said...

And thank you for the kind words, Glenda! I had a great time and it was wondeful to see a familiar face!