I had the most amazing time last weekend at the HNS Conference. It was truly inspiring to see old friends, bloggers, writers, authors, and to make new ones. To hear what people are working on, and what they hope to achieve in the future, whether it be to find an agent, to find the perfect editor, or to finish the book they are currently wrestling with.
Listening as the fabulous Margaret George read from her novel THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF HENRY VIII, I felt that old joy again, the beautiful excitement of well-crafted story, a moment that reminded me of why I started writing historical fiction in the first place. Listening to C.W Gortner’s amazing speech on the danger-filled road he fought on his way to publication, of how he almost gave up, but in the end, kept going because of the community that HNS offers to all of us.
That is truly what I took from the wonderful time with my friends: reveling in that sense of community, listening to Stephanie Dray and Kate Quinn as they talked about the books they’re writing, the books they love, listening as Donna Russo Morin dazzled the table with her warmth and wit, as C.W. Gortner made us all fall out laughing. Â Meeting Eliza Knight in the grand lobby and bonding over the beauty of romantic fiction, and the bridges we are both trying to build between our historical novels and our historical romances. Getting to be on a panel with the inspiring Mary Sharratt and listening to her beautiful book ILLUMINATIONS being read out loud. Â Sitting beside the amazing Margaret George, Anne Easter Smith on a different panel, and talking with them and the audience about the role of accuracy in historical fiction.
Having breakfast with the beautiful Michelle Cameron not once, but twice, and talking about the beauty that she buries like treasure in each and every book she writes. Spending time with Kris Waldherr, talking about marketing and book covers and the role of art vs. commerce, and basking in the sweet smiling presence of Mitchell James Kaplan reminded me of how much I love these people, and how happy I was to be there. Â I loved seeing beautiful friends and bloggers, Amy Bruno, Audra the Unabridged Chick and Heather Reisek, and getting to speak in person with Teralynn Pilgrim, Heather Webb, and Marci Jefferson. Â Getting to see online friends like the fabulous Elizabeth Kerri Mahon and Sophie Perinot in the flesh was pure pleasure.
Basically, the weekend at HNS reminded me not only of why I write, but why my work brings me so much joy. The community that we have built, both at this conference and online, sustains us all when we are alone in front of our computers, fighting the good fight to get the latest novel down on paper. This weekend reminded me that we are all in this together, and that is a beautiful thing.