I am so lucky that my friends from Ireland encouraged me to sign up for Superstars Writing Seminar! I got to meet, dine with, and learn from the co-author of the Dune series, Kevin J. Anderson and Rebecca Moesta of Word Fire Press. I had lunch with David Farland who is both a fabulous story teller (have you read the RuneLords?) and teacher. I had lunch with master storyteller and motivational speaker James Artimus Owen, and I am forever changed by his words. “I believe in you and will never let you fall,” and “Never, ever, sacrifice what you want the most for what you want most at that moment.” As he went through some of the stories he speaks to in Drawing Out the Dragons, he drew a dragon with his left hand to show us that what we make of life is just our cumulative decisions. Draw four lines and then decide where to place the next one. (He is right-handed.) I met Dan Wells, author of “I am not a Serial Killer” and co-host of the Writing Excuses podcast, and Jonathan Maberry, author of many books including Rot& Ruin. Jim Butcher of the Dresden Files gave some fantastic insights as well. Each “star” was down to earth and so real. It was a tremendous learning opportunity, but more important it was a tremendous opportunity to connect. I’ve already signed up to go back.

I also got to reconnect with friends from my Ireland trip. I am closer to these people than I ever thought I would be!

On top of all of that great news, I am part of a writers group that is just phenomenal. I feel like I am flying high among the stars now!