Tuesday, April 28, 2009

LDStorymakers conference--fun, fun, fun without the T-Bird

Granted, I know it makes for a boring blog to just go on and on about how much fun a writing conference was--but I can't help it. I'm a writer and therefore live a boring and solitary life until I go to conferences. Then I not only get to hang out with other writing adicts, but I get to be around people who actually think I'm cool.

It's such a nice change from hanging out with my children, who rarely think I'm cool.

So here are some pictures of me with other cool people. Try to pretend like you're interested, because that's the polite thing to do.
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Here I am with James Dashner, whose book Maze Runner is Random House's lead book for the fall. His publisher is sending him on a book tour where he'll be given VIP treatment, the works. After he becomes Stephenie-Meyer-famous, I'm going to use this picture on my Christmas cards to make other people jealous. Some My Fair Godmother readers may notice that his name popped up in the book. (James still hasn't read my book though. Thanks, James. Next time I use your name for a character he will be turned into a toad in chapter four.)
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Here I am with ANWA founder, Marsha. She rocks!

Okay, here are more pictures of me.
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This is me with James, Jeff Savage, and Rob Wells. I'm in the middle of reading Jeff's book Farworld right now (unless you happen to be my editor, in which case I'm not reading anything at all; I'm working diligently on my revisions for Faking It.) So far Farworld is great. Jeff is the master of the cliff-hanger chapter ending. Plus he's an all around wonderful guy and has an incredible wife. I want her to come live in Arizona and work for me.

Rob is a crack up. He did a presentation of how the LDStorymakers came to be and I laughed until I cried. I would put his phone number on my speed dial so I could call him at random times and make him tell me jokes, but unfortunately the restraining order forbids that sort of thing.
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This is Jennifer Savage and Annette Lyon. I'm just guessing, but I think Annette may have been up late working on her presentation.
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Here is a more alert Annette with Elodia Strain and me. Elodia made my day by telling me she loved my books and then laughed when she realized I'm Sierra St. James too, because she's also a fan of those books. Elodia clearly has great taste in literature.
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Here I am with the amazing Kerry Blair. Kerry walks on water. Seriously. Kerry's only failing is that she hangs out with Jeff, Rob, and few other malcontents on the Six Writers and a Frog, blog. Maybe it's just me, but I've always found that frog annoying. Sadly, it mysteriously disappeared from the conference table. Don't worry frog bloggers, I'm sure a ransom note will show up soon.
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31 comments:

Stephanie Black said...

I love the pictures, Janette! It was great to meet you at the conference, and I definitely think you're cool!

Heather Moore said...

You are one of the coolest! Fun pictures. Brings back the memories . . . It was great to see you ;)

Don said...

If I have one regret from the conference, it's that I didn't catch you to say hi and get a picture. Also, I was supposed to tell you that my 11-year old loved My Fair Godmother and it kept her up way too late on more than one occasion.

Other than those terrible missteps on my part, the conference really was great.

J Scott Savage said...

James? James? She hangs out with James, Rob, and a few other malcontents on the frog blog? First I have to lose a Whitney to him. Now I'm being called his name. That's it, I'm sending in the SWAT team to get the frog back. Crystal, Tristi, Shirley, catch the next flight to AZ.

Janette Rallison said...

Woops, all those J names sound the same--Jeff, James, Janette--you can see how I get confused.

Anyway, I went and changed the refrence. Forgive me, Farworld master!

J Scott Savage said...

Okay, team. Retreat for now. We'll return to peaceful negotiations. It was fun getting spend time with you at the conference and Wednesday at the Springville library.

Hoontah said...

You are so cool. Great to see you again. Great pictures.

Melinda said...

Hahaha, loved that last picture. Totally inconspicuous. I was so glad to see you at the conference!

I just want you to know that I've gone from fan to avid fan and now I'm on the verge of stalking you after I read My Fair Godmother.

Also, I'd like to thank you for my goat fetish. My book now has goats in it.

Janette Rallison said...

All books can be improved by adding goats, so you're on the right track. Raccoons are good too.

Danyelle L. said...

That looked like so much fun!

*sing song voice*

I'm sure they will never find the frog until his ransom has been paid. ;-)

Kimberly Vanderhorst said...

So, so glad you came. My greatest epiphany of the whole conference was in your class and I'm excitedly putting it to use fixing my first book. Loved your presentation!

Cluttered Brain said...

I wish I knew all you people in blog land before I actually went to the conference. But hey I'm making up for it now. I have like 4 followers on my blog. What's wrong with me?
Probably nothing however these things take time. Well I have no time, I am impatient. Always getting behind the slow drivers, slow check writers (Do people really still write checks?) And of course waiting for you people to leave comments.
HAHA! With that said, I understand that you all are authors and are ALL slaving away on that new book you are writing.
Like I am doing. Well kinda. I am trying to build up my web presence so I know when I have something good to say people will actually hear me.
Hope this comment is not too long, but you are a good blogger. I probably need to read what you have written.
LDStorymaker's WAS the most AWESOME conference EVER! It motivated and inspired me. It's time to get off my butt and WRITE!!! :) Thanks for the entry on the conference. Your pictures ROCK!

Julie Wright said...

It was so great to see you. I bought some books in the bookstore and put them under the table so I could get you to sign them and then forgot! SO I have unsigned books now. We'll have to take of that next time I see you!

James Dashner said...

Janette, we're looking awfully cozy in that picture. Please remind your hubby how cool I think he is.

Great to hang with you again. That was so much fun.

Savage, pipe down, you're annoying the Internet.

Janette Rallison said...

I assume you're talking to Jeff Savage and not your inner demons . . .

James Dashner said...

Definitely Mr. J. Scott Savage. I call my inner demons Rallisons.

Hope Arizona has welcomed you home home safe and sound.

Jewel's Gems said...

Loved it, Janette:-)

Giovanna said...

If it makes you feel better...I think you're cool. :)

Shari said...

Melinda, you can't stalk Janette. That's my job!

Janette Rallison said...

Ah, Shari, now you've got competion. Be sure to put a goat or two into your next book

Marsha Ward said...

LOL! My latest book does have a goat in it. Not a leading character goat, but a goat nonetheless. It's named Mike. Long story how it got that name.

Sorry I looked so tired in the photo. I'd just driven since 4 a.m. to get to the dinner on time. It was awesome to hang out with all of you.

Stephanie Black said...

Okay, I paid some of the ransom, but I'm thinking we need proof the frog is still kicking his little webbed feet before we shell out any more.

Julie Coulter Bellon said...

I loved what you wrote in the book you signed to me. Thanks for that! I'm a big fan of the exalted one.

As for the frog, can I trade him for a goat? Also, would you consider doing a walk-off with Dean Lorey wearing Stephenie Meyer's prom dress, you know, since you look so much like her? Just checking . . .

Karlene said...

It was so good to meet you again. I am loving your books.

Also, your class was fantastic. I'd been stuck in writers block for a few weeks. Then you reminded me that I'd committed the cardinal writing sin—thinking my scene/words were too clever to cut. I cut them out and I'm flowing again.

Thanks for your time and energy at the conference.

Sarah M Eden said...

Wait! The goat is supposed to go in my book? I put it in my house!
Crumb! All that mess for nothing and the only good that came of it was my kids telling their teachers that Janette Rallison's goat ate their homework.
Sheesh!

Heather Justesen said...

It was an awesome conference! Great pictures. Next year I really have to take about a gazillion more. I got home, looked at the file from my camera and thought--was that it?

Oh, man, I didn't pick up one of your books to take to Bear Lake this summer! I better go back to the book store--I can't laze about the lake with just *snybody's* book!

Janette Rallison said...

So true. You definitely need one of mine.

Why Not? Because I Said So! said...

I did try to buy your book, but they were all gone. Next time bring several books to sell. I know now, that I need to buy books on the morning of the first day of the conference.

BTW, I thought that your class was one of the best at the conference. I ended up taking 4 pages of notes. Thanks so much! You are a great teacher.

Janette Rallison said...

Thanks! That's one of the things about being a writer--I never thought I was going to be a teacher too. I'm glad I'm not awful at it!

Diina said...

Your picures look like fun. I was wondering, when is your next YA book coming out? And what is it? I'm dying to read more!!

Janette Rallison said...

Hi Diina,
I'm working on editing my next YA book,(which is at the moment called: Faking It, because it's about a girl who pretends to be a rock star.)

It will be out sometime in 2010--although I don't have an exact date.

Hope you like all of my books!