My Latest Addiction...

Medic! Medic! We need 20 cc's of Antenolol and a shot of Heparin Stat!  (Okay, so maybe I have been watching a little too much House) 

If you know me, you know that I have a HUGE crush on Hugh Laurie, aka Dr. House. Even my hubby supports it cuz heh, I've put up with his obsessions with Agent Scully for years. *glares at her because she's a redhead infringing on my territory*

I have a very addictive personality. When I dive into something, I go
head first and don't come up for air until I'm ready to pass out. (Which
is great for writing, bad for real life)

My Latest addiction? SCBWI. Saving California Based Working Immigrants. I'M KIDDING!!! It stands for Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.

This last August, I went to LA with my writer BFF, and uber talented author, Leigh Fallon. Her book, Carrier of the Mark was released by Harperteen this Oct. You can find her site here. *waves* Hi Leigh! Anyway, I loved the fast-paced buzz of chatting with agents and other authors. The classes were so motivating and the people I connected with were top notch.

I have officially decided that writers are the FRIENDLIEST people on the planet--second only to rock climbers. I left with an all around feeling of unity... that we're in this together, supporting each other's future careers. (Blah, blah, blah... kumbaya)

From the left: Josephine Angelini (Starcrossed), Bree Despain (The Dark Divine), Brodi Ashton (Everneath), Lindsey Leavitt (Sean Griswold), Lani Woodland (Instrinsical), Leigh Fallon (Carrier of the Mark) Me, Alexandra Monir (Timeless), and Gretchen McNeil (Possess)

But more recently, I just got back from a SCBWI revision retreat featuring the amazzzzingly talented editor, Emma Dryden. We met in the backwoods at a secluded cabin in Idaho with 16 other writers. Sounds like the beginning of a horror film, right? No one died, thank goodness. Or maybe that was a bad thing? Considering we're all writers looking for fresh material.

As much as I loved the fast-paced big conference in LA, I highly recommend going to a smaller, chapter retreat. You get to meet writers in your area and connect with them on a more personal level. Not only did I receive amazing feedback on my novel, but I connected with people I know I'll be friends with for life.

So why am I an addict? As great as Facebook, Twitter, Skype, and Email is for connecting with awesome authors, there's nothing like meeting with someone face to face. *gasp* <----I know, people still do that. 

SCBWI is just one way you can get out there and network with other authors. There's something about meeting with people in "real life" that creates lasting relationships. 

What about you? What's your addiction? Have you done the retreat circuit? And do you prefer the big conferences or the smaller ones? 

'Til later-

~Morg

Testing... 1,2,3 ... hello???

Okay, okay... I know. I'm a little delayed with this blogging thing. But when all my cool writer friends starting throwing blogging parties that I wasn't invited to, I thought I better jump on the blogging bandwagon before they replaced me with the token redhead friend. *glares at all the redheads trying to replace me*

Hi! I'm Morgan. And I'm a writer. Cue: *gasp* <----I know what you're thinking. Who isn't? I'm currently in the process of querying my first novel. Cue: *second gasp* or maybe you just gave me a *sympathetic look* (if you did, thank you) I might as well be nicknamed "Slush," right? Being one of the thousands of people on the planet trying to catch the elusive dream agent.

Well, regardless of what my nickname is, I'm here to tell my tale, whether it be to my awesome writer buddies whose blogs are listed right over.........................there--------------------->
... or to the glaring redheads who hate me because yes, my hair is completely natural.

Okay, peace out. Later, peeps! (Er... did I just get all gangster all of a sudden?)

~Morg