I know this is a little late, but a
couple weeks ago, I had the opportunity to meet Julianne Donaldson and Sarah M.Eden at a Barnes and Noble in Phoenix, AZ—two Shadow Mountain authors on the Proper Romance Tour. Donaldson is the
author of Edenbrooke and Blackmoore (two of my favorite books). And Eden wrote
Longing for Home (the one book that had me really reading in the correct accent
for her characters), and many others I haven’t read (but! I love her writing
style, so I’m sure they’re fantastic). They are two amazing and amusing people.
All who came were able to share laughs with the authors as they told stories of
Ireland and England, their experiences there, and even some inside stuff about
certain characters in their novels.
As I writer myself, I absorbed their
information like a sponge. I even asked how long it took them to find an
agent... Donaldson and Eden laughed and said that you're not officially a
writer until you get at least a hundred rejection letters. Although that is not
exactly encouraging (or the answer I was looking for...) it made me remember
how success is never an easy thing—that you must never give up, even when all seems
hopeless. Yet, to actually meet two successful authors in person was inspiring.
Not only were they a great example of
success, but I was impressed with the way they handled their audience. They
were kind, engaging, and insightful. It helped me to remember that authors are
just like everyone else—people who are following their dreams.
I am glad that I got to meet them. I
will have to read Eden's other novels, which will be an engaging and fun way to
spend some extra free minutes here and there. I can't wait for Donaldson's next
project (I honestly don't know if she's working on one, but with my own
experience in writing, I know there's always something forming deep inside the
mind) and to immerse myself in another quality book.
Needless to say, I had a great time.
I had arrived several hours early, so much so that I even got to talk with the
Barnes and Noble worker who was setting everything up and gave my advice on the
layout of chairs (yes, I am an avid fan). Now, I can't wait to see Sarah M.
Eden again as the keynote speaker at the American Night Writers Association
(ANWA) Conference this next February. You can click on the link right here on
ANWA to check out the website and details.
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