Between the Pages

I’m writing this post while sitting in the Springfield (MO) airport. My flight home is delayed an additional hour. Instead of fretting about the potential of missing my connection (which is wasted creativity), I thought I’d maximize this opportunity and share an update on my weekend.

The Between the Pages writers’ conference wrapped up an hour ago. I was invited to speak about running an indie author business and marketing one’s books.

How’d this honor come about? Thank you for asking.

Author Jen Kenning mentioned an article about my Cozy Up series to author Ruth Gualt-Hunter. Ruth, in turn, mentioned it to a couple of author friends, who told two author friends and so on and so on.

Cue the old Faberge Organics commercial.

Author Sharon Kizziah-Holmes (the conference coordinator) then reached out and invited me. I jumped at the chance. Who wouldn’t?

Between the Pages is put on through the cooperation of three organizations: Springfield Writer’s Guild, Sleuth’s Ink Mystery Writers, and Ozarks Romance Authors. How cool is that? There were about 125 attendees this year.

The conference was first rate from the selection of topics down to the location. Everyone (the board, the volunteers, and the attendees) made me feel welcomed from the moment I signed in. I felt as if I’d been friends with many of them for years. We shared a lot of laughs and stories beyond writing. I’d love to list all the people I now consider friends, but the list would be long and I’m sure I’d leave someone out unintentionally.

When I wasn’t behind a microphone, I attended several presentations. Jeniffer Thompson and Sherry Roberts were top notch. Both women were so generous with their time and knowledge and cannot say thank you enough.

If you’re a writer looking for a wonderful learning opportunity and community building weekend, let me highly recommend Between the Pages conference. You’ll have a blast.