I just finished accosting Holly Black in the book signing room. She wasn't sitting at a table with a name sign like everyone else, probably because her books weren't being sold at the convention, but I had brought "Tithe" with me. So I screwed up my courage and walked up to her and asked her to sign it. Here is what she wrote: "To Jasmine--what belongs to you, but others use it more than you do? Holly Black"
My name.
She was really nice and I got to talk to her a little while about her award and about the sequel to "Tithe." Then I made a rather ungraceful exit because I was afraid I would bug her. I like her a lot. I attempted to get Kelly Link's signature, but have failed so far. She's not at a table either, and accosting her has been more difficult.
I have mixed feelings about this weekend. It made me more frustrated that I haven't been published yet, but it didn't make me doubt my own writing abilities. Which, I guess, is a good thing. It made me want to grow up to be Jane Yolen, and it made me want to take more classes and read more books. I made enough friends to be able to sit around talking to them until 1 a.m. last night. But will the friends get me anywhere? I understand that that is not the point of friends, but that is part of the point of coming here. To make contacts that can help me out. But you never know who the next Holly Black will be. I hope I can come back; I hope I will be published by next year. I hope the panels will get better, or I will get better at choosing them and at understanding what they are telling me.
I cried at the Guest of Honor speeches last night. Jane Yolen spoke about her husband who just died, Kate Wilhelm told us how she would never compromise what her books were about, even if it meant they wouldn't get published. Easy to say when you're Kate Wilhelm.
One last thing. I have decided I need to go to Clarion. Maybe not next year, or the year after, but soon. It is six weeks long, but it's something I have to do (if they'll take me. But why wouldn't they?).
There is such a great community, and such great personalities here. Even when I can't stand the level of nerdiness (I heard a guy say today: "I'm biligual--I speak English and Computer. I put that at the top of my resume...") it's still an incredibly open and creative atmosphere.
Monday, May 29, 2006
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