Friday morning, Leslie Leyland Fields and I made plans to connect during the morning coffee hour. She was running a little late, so as I stood around the refreshment area, I spotted Keri Wyatt Kent. I explained that I’m chronicling my time at the Festival in photos, so she kindly posed with me.She said she was here with some writer friends. Late Friday night I encountered Keri with Tracey Bianchi who wrote Green Mama (the woman who remembered my book The Contemplative Mom). It was then I discovered she was one of Keri’s writer friends. In that same evening encounter, I met another of Keri’s friends, Shayne Moore, who has a book coming out entitled Global Soccer Mom. She had a really cute elevator pitch, but the details escape me at the moment. Besides, I’m getting ahead of myself. The Keri-Tracey-Shayne meeting didn’t happen until late Friday evening, and I’ve only gotten as far as Friday morning. Leslie hasn’t even shown up yet!I drifted from Keri, who was enjoying coffee with a friend, and spotted Jim Schmotzer again, sitting by the fireplace reading a book. I plopped down next to him and hoped he didn’t mind. He was waiting to talk with Bob Hudson, of Zondervan publishing, whom he knew. I glanced in the direction Jim was indicating, and Bob was chatting with a friend of mine! I didn’t know she was at the conference and hadn’t seen her yet. In the past, she’s preferred to remain anonymous online, so to respect her privacy I’ll show you her face but leave off her name.
You can see Jim in the background talking with Bob.Just about then, Leslie arrived.
She immediately spotted a Wheaton professor she wanted to talk with named Brett Foster.
We all enjoyed a brief conversation about Wheaton and writing, and then Leslie walked with my anonymous friend and me to a session with Eugene Peterson speaking on “Poet and Pastor on Patmos.”A few Peterson quotes:“John was told, ‘Write on a scroll what you see,‘ not what you know or have figured out.”And “write in a way that invites participation.”Also, he told the story about a puppy who wasn’t well trained … it couldn’t sit or stay, but one thing it did very well. As soon as the puppy heard “Fetch!”, it would race off to catch a Frisbee or a stick or a ball. The puppy would enthusiastically return with it and offer it up. Peterson said he was like that puppy. He heard “Fetch!”That’s a little, teeny-tiny bit how I feel at this moment. I went to this Festival and as I type up this part of the review, I feel like I, too, heard “Fetch!” And now I have the privilege of bringing back to you a few thoughts and interactions so that they aren’t mine alone, but yours, too.There’s more to Friday, but because it’s late, I think I’ll stop here. I’ve left a slobbery tennis ball lying at your feet. Perhaps tomorrow I’ll bring back a stick.
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So cool…I’ll be back….
Aww, man! I’m totally living vicariously through you, Ann. What a wonderful experience…..I would love to go to one of these! (I guess I’ll have to become a real writer first.)
Thanks for sharing! Rachel
Bloggers, writers, readers are all welcome and energized at the festival. Have you been to a blog conference? That seems like a great fit for you, as well!
Wonderful! How fun to see you in these photos, and to see some faces and names I recognize.
I’d be lying if I didn’t admit my jealousy. How I would have loved to have been there!
Oh, I do wish you could have jumped in a van and joined the fun–you would have had a blast, especially in this relaxed atmosphere and already knowing some people. You would have posts dotted with writing stars! YOU would have hung with the Chrysostom Society without making an idiot of yourself!
Sounds like you had tons of fun! I love all the pictures. I hope to go to future festivals when my kiddos are a tad bit older!
I hope you find a great writing event, whether it’s the Festival or something else (maybe you could find one sooner that isn’t so long?). It’s fun to hand with other people who love words.
It’s been a while since I visited your blog. I’m stopping by to say hi and to let you know I’m joining the bustling crowd over at High Calling Blogs. I’ve dived into the discussion today like a kid plunging into a pool with clothes still on.
Hope your week is great.
I am so glad you stopped by–it’s fun to make the HCB-connection!