I’m back from the WaterBrook Author Retreat.
It was intense, educational, motivational:
The authors who gathered for this retreat (Joanne Bischof, Katie Ganshert, Mona Hodgson, Meg Moseley, Cindy Woodsmall, Mindy Starns Clark, Kim Vogel Sawyer and me) were given a crash course in social media and on-line marketing by Rusty Shelton of Shelton Interactive.”Plant a bigger flag, Lori.”
Website time for me.
It was yummy, beautiful, and breathless:
We were treated well, from accommodations to meals to the marvelous view from the Inn at Palmer Divide. Below is the view, with the authors and our senior marketing manager Amy Haddock (left) and my editor Shannon Marchese (second from left).
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| photo by Chris Sigfrids, Senior Online Marketing Manager, WBM |
The Inn sits at around 7000 ft, I was told, and simply walking up a
flight of stairs is enough to leave you breathless in that thinly
oxygenated air.
Mirror Mirror on the wall, who’s the Newbiest of all?
That would be me! A highlight of this retreat was meeting my fellow authors, who couldn’t have been more encouraging and willing to share from their experiences.
Another highlight was our tour of the WaterBrook offices and meeting the staff, including a room full of lovely enthusiastic sales and marketing folk. I got to meet the artist who’s designing my book cover. I never expected to have the opportunity to brainstorm a few cover ideas with him.
We were also interviewed individually. On camera. A first for me.
You’d think I’d have embraced the fact that my novel is going to be published, but a number of times over this retreat I sat there feeling half in a dream as people I’d just met talked about my characters with enthusiasm and interest. I left with a stack of business cards, another stack of books, incredible memories, lots to process, and the sense of just how many people are involved in creating this book, and how much of their creativity, passion, and energy goes into it.
Thank you for exceeding all my expectations, WaterBrook!
I'm so glad you had a wonderful trip! Your book is one step closer to being in my hands! 🙂
And United didn't let me down again. It almost did, but I made my connection by a hair's breadth and got home the same day I set out to GET home. 🙂 This does not always happen.
My next big project will be having a proper website built, and this blog moved over to it. I've taken the first steps.
It really was a wonderful trip, all in all a blessing. By far the best part was meeting so many wonderful people (writers and WBM staff) and starting to feel like I'm part of a team.
Go Team!!!
I love reading your recap, Lori. I felt just like you in so many ways. It was so great to meet you and truly was a blessing to see and hear the enthusiasm that the folks at WaterBrook have for the books that they publish. Such a blessing!
Getting to meet you in person was a real highlight of this trip. And Caleb is like a little light bulb. What a sweet and happy baby he is.
They welcomed us and demonstrated their support and enthusiasm beyond any expectation I had going in. Yes, truly a blessing.
So much fun meeting you in person, Lori!
Fun meeting you too! In fact that really was the highlight of this trip, across the board, all the wonderful people we met.
So glad you had a great time, Lori! The pics and post are awesome:)
It's starting to feel more REAL. 🙂
I just love this mutual
admiration society!
There's a lot for me to admire. 🙂
Wow! Lori, that had to be a wonderful experience. ; )
It certainly made it all seem more REAL. 🙂 In a good way!
It's said it takes a community to raise a child, but I'm sure this experience emphasized that it takes a publishing community to produce your 'baby'. How wonderful to be able to meet so many of them, and your agency mates as well! 🙂
It was eye-opening and mind-blowing and heart-warming. And now, gosh, I really don't want to let all those wonderful people down. They make me want to write the best stories I can.
Soooo excited for you! It is not just a dream any more!
And for you! I received The Shadow Catcher's Daughter in the mail yesterday. Looking forward to starting it. Thank you!
I'm so glad you had this wonderful experience, Lori, and that you learned lots and enjoyed hanging out with your publishing house staff and fellow Waterbrook authors.
Thanks Keli! Wish I could have hung out with you in Redding yesterday. Just a little too far for met to go there and back again by myself in one day. Hope it was a great signing!