Boy! Oh, Boy! I betcha can't contain your excitement about this one! Well, I tell you, the Grammys—the Oscars—will have NOTHING on this.

There are a very few things I haven't done in my life, and a writer's conference is one of them. 

There are several reasons for this. First, I didn't consider myself a "writer" until I actually wrote a novel. Now that I have done that, I realize: that was dumb. Why I wouldn't give myself permission to attend an event that could inspire and motivate me in my dream is beyond me. But now I know better.

Second, anytime an event is announced, be it a concert, a trip, or a family gathering, I check my calendar. Chances are I will have to work part or all of the event. When I got the announcement for SFWC, I was disappointed before I even pulled the calendar out. But, lo and behold, I had not just one or two days of the conference off...I had THE WHOLE WEEKEND OFF! Seriously, that is a miracle. You have no idea!

Not to mention, it is being held at the International Mark Hopkins, whose Top of the Mark is a starring locale in my new book that just released this week.

Then an angel dropped the money for it from the sky.

The synchronicity abounds! The Universe definitely WANTS me there!

Being that it is my first time to attend such a thing, I thought it would be fun to share the experience with my readers and fellow writers who cannot attend.

I have absolutely no idea what to expect. And though you may find this impossible to believe, I am intimidated out of my mind!

Will these writer folks be strange and odd and kooky, like me? (Pretty, pretty, please!)

Or will they be serious and pretentious and all 'my pen is mightier than your sword'? 

Will they drink coffee or Jack? Will they just want to read and pitch and slam and hock their words like hos or can we dance? And of course the burning question is...will there be any eye candy?

We shall all see...in about 12 hours.

I figured I could always hole up in my room and blog if I am not having any fun. But if you don't hear from me...I found a karaoke buddy in the lounge.

Shannan

We live in the fiction.