It's official!! Julie Webb Kelley has contracted with Leslie H. Stobbe Literary Agent for my book, Darkness Trembles.....and many, many more books to come!
Came across an old list of possible titles for my novel . . . see if you can pick out the REAL title. Believe me, it's in there!
Don't Mow Dead Grass
Depending on the Clouds
Building with Straw
Living on Hopp Lane
1001 Uses for Stones
Adopt A Duck
Darkness Trembles
How Far Til Stupid?
The Dents of Life
There's No Need to Try
A Living Cell
Singularly Doomed
The Floor is Flat
Well, It Explains Gravity
One of the largest Christian writer's conferences in America, the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference is awesome! Recently, I was reflecting on my previous trips to BRMCWC when the joy of the past experiences collided with the excitement of the upcoming trip and the combustion created words . . . imagine that.
Here is my personal Top Ten list of why I thrill at going to BRMCWC each year:
10. No Top Ten Lists. There will be lists of classes, lists of faculty members, editors and agents, and lists of times when the coffee shop is open but there is no splitting of better, best, bestest when it comes to classes or faculty or beverages. So there's no need to figure out the best classes or the best teachers....like a quality cup of java, it's all great!
9. No virtual learning. Although I adore Einstein's Theory of Relativity, the fact that there is no simulated geometrical distortions of space and time at this conference is a plus on many levels! Real people with real words in real classrooms! Pow!
8. The faculty reeks . . . of attention and usefulness as if they really, truly desire writers to succeed. Hmmmm....no need for me analyze the faculty members as if they were my protagonist. Where do you live? What's your motive? Why are you really saying that?
7. "Shoot. They found the body." BRMCWC is a place where clichés, tired phrases and stale sayings are placed to rest with dignity and peace. Make sure you pack your funeral clothes, because if the faculty are doing their jobs right, you'll be burying your darlings. Bring tissues too.
6. The vegetarian meatloaf never comes with a chainsaw. I'm not sure Ridgecrest has ever served vegetarian meatloaf, but if they did I'm positive it would be outstanding. As a vegetarian, I appreciate that they serve quality vegetarian options at every meal! I can't say that's the case everywhere I go, so I do carry my own chainsaw.
5. "That's a great outfit, honey. But Halloween was seven months ago." What I wear is never a deal maker or breaker. Sure there are suggestions for what to wear, how to behave at lunch, and when to swoon over editors and agents, but being myself is what they're most interested in seeing. It's my time to shine, baby!
4. What happens at Blue Ridge, never stays at Blue Ridge. Experiencing the repercussions of this conference is vital. I've been living in the waves of friendships and writing knowledge since my first day at BRMCWC and I wouldn't have it any other way! Even if I didn't get to go elevator surfing last year.
3. "There go the lights again." I can count on having several "ah-ha" moments! The first one is always while climbing the stairs at Ridgecrest and discovering I'm not as fit as I think I am. The rest of my light bulb moments come as a result of being deeply immersed in a quality writing environment and feeling like my head is being held under waves of massive information and I can't breathe. It doesn't sound like a good thing now that I write about it, but it is.
2. No Extra Charge. We can thank our parents for all the gifts they've given us, including the need for costly therapy. But at BRMCWC there is no extra charge for the therapy you receive from the fresh mountain air and the comfort of fellow writers. (Definition of fellow writer: a person who knows how deeply disturbed you really are and loves you anyway.)
1. Free Double-Sided Playing Cards for all! For me, the best thing about BRMCWC is how we're all playing the same game and seeing the same thing. There are no double-standards. Everyone has the same deck of cards . . . working toward creating quality, publishable Christian writing that will glorify God.
See you all on the mountain!
Julie
P.S. If at any point during the conference you're not sure why you haven't receive you're free deck of double-sided playing cards, DON'T ASK AL! Come and find me and I'll go over your options with you.
To make reservations for the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writer's Conference, call 1.800.588.7222.
