Conference and Research

by Marielle Carlisle

I'm excited to attend my first writing conference in September.

When I received word that SCBWI was holding a conference in Scottsdale, I jumped for joy. Oh, happy day! One of my goals this year is to attend a class/conference, and this fit the bill. As soon as the application was available I filled it out and mailed it. On the same day.

I've already started thinking about what I'm going to wear (pants or capris? shoes or sandals? Or do I go with a dress and pumps?), and have gotten the day off from work (like they need me. summers are slow in genereal, but this summer you could shoot a cannon through the hallways and no one would be bothered).

I hope to see some of my ANWA peeps there. I'll be the unabashedly overexcited lady that's way over dressed.

On now in a completely different direction -

I'm taking a break from my manuscript. You know, giving it some space, some breathing room. That whole 'absence makes the heart grow stronger.'

I'm trying to research my next story, which has to do with safaris and animals in Africa, and have been reading all sorts of interesting books.

I just finished one that a safari tour guide in Botswana wrote about his real-life adventures while on the job. It is quite comical; I chuckled out loud throughout the book. Near death experiences with wildlife, irritating tourists, and seasonal weather catastrophes is only the beginning of this guys troubles. One thing that surprised me is that the honey badger is considered the most fearless and ferocious animal IN THE WORLD. Due the their agression, lose skin and questionable fighting tactics, they are always the hunter and never the hunted. I appreciate my relatively safe occupation in the travel industry.

And now I want to go on a safari.

ps I'm loathe to admit, but I just can't hide it anymore: I just couldn't finish reading Rebecca. I really tried! I'm a sucker for superpowers and fantasies.