Hello, lovely readers!
The holiday season begins next month—blink, and it will be 2026!
The writing conference I attended was both informative and overwhelming. I carefully mapped out which sessions to attend so I wouldn’t miss out, booked my pitch session for Book A, and did my best to engage with everyone around me.
The sessions flew by. Some speakers were excellent, while others spent too much time on activities or hadn’t prepped enough to finish their material. One speaker only managed four slides before admitting they weren’t even a quarter of the way through! To add to the chaos, a fire alarm interrupted the Copyright and Contracts seminar—unfortunate, as we had just begun discussing topics close to my heart, like the use of building names (a theme in all my books). While I could have explored these seminars online, the in-person element brought a unique energy. Writing can be such a solitary pursuit, and conferences offer a much-needed personal connection.
The pitch session went smoothly! I may create a YouTube video about the experience, but I seemed to be the only one who fully memorized their pitch. During a Thursday night practice session, some people even wrote theirs on the spot! The pitch coach advised reading from notes, which contradicted much of my research, but in the end it worked out—agents requested my manuscript. Hopefully, this will lead to representation and, eventually, a strong publishing deal. Until then (or until I hear back), I’ll keep my books available here.
I do wish there had been more sessions specifically for Romance authors. In hindsight, I should have brought business cards—many people had bookmark-shaped ones—or at least asked to exchange contact information. Honestly, it hadn’t even crossed my mind. On the bright side, I discovered that a romance bookstore will be opening near me, so I may have another chance to connect with the community.
Until next time…MNP xx
