Woke up and headed to the conference. I’m always amazed at how a casino looks the same all the time. The only variable is the amount of people milling around and I guess the manner of dress. The closer you are to the strip and the ritzier the casino this matters a lot more. I liked the Orleans because it seemed pretty kicked back but not old. After all, I like the idea of perpetual Mardi Gras.
Walking into the conference room, I got to greet all my friends. Whether I’ve known them since my first conference 5 years ago or if I was just meeting them, PSWA members are the friendliest people I’ve met in a group. I think it has something to do with a lot of them being retired (or active) police officers or fire fighters. Being in these occupations, you spend most of your time in very concrete, solution-oriented thinking. To move to the other side of that and put out something creative, seems very vulnerable. I think that’s why there is a humbleness in our members that draws me to them.
The Queen, aka Marilyn Olsen greeted us. She stood in for our usual DJ A.J. Farrar who had to stay home due to an infection from a spider bite. How random is that? He and his wife, our Treasurer, Nancy were sorry missed. Marilyn did a great job saying howdy in her majestic way and off we went into a weekend of learning, networking and having a great time. The first panel, “What I Wish I’d Known in the Beginning” was populated by Sue McGinty, with panelists, W.S. Gager (my roomy), Michael Black, and Bette and J.J. Lamb. All novelists, they shared tips on hind-sight. This is always nice, especially since I am delving into the realm of novel writing. I may know quite a bit about the industry around trade magazines, but as far as what’s necessary for writing, editing, publishing and marketing fiction, I’m lost.
Michael Black led our next topic with “How to Outline Your Noel in an Hour.” I loved the poster board and all the colored sticky-notes. Everything should involve multi-colored sticky-edged pieces of paper. As a group, we outlined an outrageous story about a female arson investigator who was investigating casino fires while dealing with an annoying city manager, who ended up dead in a fire, an exotic dancer boyfriend, an ex-husband who had a gambling problem, lived on her couch and was using her credit cards, AND a boa constrictor. I couldn’t quite follow whether her boyfriend or ex-husband had a past which included a conviction for arson, but I believe it should have been the boyfriend. More sexual tension is always good in any story. Ah, the perpetual drama of men and women. Michael’s assistant was lovely as well. I don’t think women have the monopoly on being cougars.
Next up, my panel. We talked about “Writing for Trade Publications (Paper and the Net). Keith Bettinger moderated and alongside me were Kathleen Ryan and Kregg Jorgenson who stepped in at the last minute because member Ed Nowicki was ill and couldn’t make it. We talked about on-line vs. print, how to be professional, cultivate sources, big vs. little magazines and a myriad of other topics. It was great although it never matters how many times I’m up there, I always feel like, “OMG, they are going to realize I’m not a REAL writer.” I guess 10 years of writing still doesn’t qualify me in my own mind. Regardless, they all let me talk anyway.
The next topic, “Pleasing Editors and Agents: What are the Worst Mistakes?” was populated by publishers Billie Johnson, Becca Buckley and Lee Emory, as well as, agents Verna Driesbach and Holly Sullivan McClure. Half-way through, I was thinking, “Why are these people so negative? I don’t think I care for many of them.” Then, I relooked at what the topic was and realized they were supposed to be talking about the negatives. Once in context, I settled in and learned all the things I should never do when approaching a publisher/agent. Ok, no long winded spiels and go away when you’re done. These are BUSY people.
Next, Steve Scarborough taught us about “Detectives, Then and Now.” He had a great slideshow and it was neat to learn Edgar Allen Poe was an original detective writer. The covers at the end of the show were awesome too. Nothing has changed much over the last 50 years, scantily clad women still sell.
Madeline Gornell, Marilyn Meredith, Sunny Frazier, Michael Orenduff and Morgan St. James gave the next topic, “Promotion: Old and New, In Person and On the Net.” Great panel, but I just have to say Marilyn Meredith and Sunny Frazier are my idols when it comes to marketing and promotion. Both have prolific presence on the net and in person and seem tireless. They make me tired and I’m considerable younger than either of them. I want to be just like them.
The last panel of the day, “How to Spot a Lie,” was given by Mark Bouton. Here I have to admit my restlessness. I love going to Las Vegas for the conference, but I hate sitting in a conference room all day. I don’t get away from parental responsibilities very often and I hate losing all that time. So, because I had the privilege of reading Mark’s book on this top, I figured I knew pretty much what he was going to talk about. So, I went to the gym, and then sat around the pool until dinner time. After grabbing some pizza at Sbaro’s, I wandered around the hotel just watching people. I played my $20 daily allotment on the slot machines. I was trying to win a 2010 Camaro so I figured each time I pushed the button, it was another chance at the car. I was up past $200 at one point, but thanks to my compulsive nature (and I’m not alone, that’s how casinos make their money) I kept playing and lost it all. After that, I headed to the lounge where I heard as show. Keith and Bert were entertaining the sparse crowd with requests from Bruce Springsteen to Kid Rock to Toby Keith. It was cheesy and a perfect Vegas show. About midnight, a class reunion (Mojave High School classes 1977-1986) came in. That’s when the fun and dancing began. I joined in, had a great time and headed back to my room at 2am. I tried to sneak in so I wouldn’t disturb Wendy, but she woke up. We talked a bit, and then I was asleep before I hit my pillow.
