Eisley Jacobs -

The presenters for the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers conference were in two words AWE.SOME.

Seriously though, I can’t even explain to you how incredible they were. Some of them outshone others with their bubbly personalities and great delivery, but all of them were phenomenal, at least in my opinion.

And the nominees for best speaker are:

• Laura Rennert for The Key Elements of Successful Middle Grade and Young Adult Fiction
• Karen Albright Lin for High Concept: Titillate Me, but Do It Fast!
• Carl Berg for Communicating Character
• Kristen Nelson for Saying Goodbye to the  Slush Pile
• Karen Albright Lin for Critique

And the winner goes to…

*flips over envelope, gets paper cut, then faints from all the blood*

So yes, we never know who really won… but those workshops (along with the fabulous agent panels) were the best of the best. I will jsut tell you about them all!

Laura Rennert: I have queried Andrea Brown Agency and while I have yet to get the coveted “Sure send us your submission”, just listening to Laura and her passion for writing, reading and her clients makes me want to revise, revise, revise and send again. Wow, can this lady communicate her love of the business or what? Maybe it was just me but I really, truly enjoyed listening to her speak. I was fortunate to catch a word with her after her workshop and told her how much I enjoyed her presentation. I felt like a goober but I wondered truly how many people told her that. I didn’t try to pitch to her, probably because she might have already read my pitch, recently in her slush pile if it got past her interns. But I did really enjoy listening to her… I think I smiled through the whole talk. At least my sore cheeks told me I had.

Eisley Jacobs, Karen Albright Lin, LK Gardner-Griffe and Denise Swank

Karen Albright Lin: Wow, what can I say about Karen. Obviously she is good since she is on my nominee list twice! She is a published author with a passion to help us peons… I mean aspiring authors… with our craft. Her first workshop was amazing. So much so, I jumped from my seat to share my pitch for DRAGONS FOREVER. She critiqued it beautifully and made me feel like I really had something. Which of course is awesome.  Then I had her again for the Critique workshop. Mostly talking about how important critique partners are and how to get groups set up if you want them. I know how important they are and am fortunate to have a critique partner whom I can call on anytime of the day. But more then once during the day I heard people talking about Karen’s workshop and how it’s helped them figure out where to go. Excellent topics, good information, well thought out responses and just overall great great lady.

Carl Berg: Carol is another one of those ultra awesome authors. When she spoke, the room was quiet. I just wished she’d have had another hour for her topic on communicating character! I was enamored with what she had to say. I think they cheated on time when they said it was fifty minutes. No way was her workshop that long! Excellent, excellent time spent with her. And she is so sweet and down to earth, just like all the others. And it really gave me stuff to think about, stuff to take home and apply to my novels. We ran into each other a few times after workshops and I was able to tell her how much I enjoyed her speaking… and well I really did. I would make a special trip to see any of these ladies speak again!

Kristen Nelson: I have a totally new view on Kristen Nelson then I had before I went to conference. I have queried her too and also not received the coveted request, but I also follow Kristen’s blog. I love the things she puts up and feel like she takes her time out to help the peons… I mean aspiring authors… like us. Before the conference, I would have run the other way if I saw Kristen on the street because, OMGoodness that is Kristen Nelson! So unapproachable… or so I thought. When we went to her Saying Goodbye to the Slush Pile, a whole new world opened up for me. Kristen was a human. *gasp*  I know, I said it. She is totally human! And what’s more… she loves her job. Like not just likes it… she loves it. And that comes through loud and clear in her workshops. She was an awesome presenter and really shared her passion for this industry every time she opened her mouth.

There were other workshops I attended, all of which were fabulous, but these stuck out in my head. If you EVER get the chance to see any of these fine ladies speak at a conference near you… GO! Just for them. You won’t regret it!

I am just sorry I dont have any more pictures to go with this post… I have one of Carol and I, but someone’s eyes are closed, so we can’t post that. So instead I will leave you with my favorite memory of the conference… I know I already shared it… But I love these girls. They mean the world to me! Enjoy.

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