I've got a new blog label

And my banner is a touch different...
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And they actually do go hand in hand.

My sister Becky invited me to a Women's Conference in my hometown. I had no idea what that meant, but it was a day with my sister, so I was all for it. And it was such a fun day!!

Mary Nickles was there--and she was awesome.  Seriously amazing woman. Strong, beautiful, hardworking, positive lady!

I was a tad distracted meeting her... can you tell? Because my sister totally cut in front of these ladies when we met her. ... I am not a cutter and it had me all frazzled... You know it's true BS! :)

 

And we met three of the six sisters--from my most favorite cook books. They talked about blogging and cooking and they were adorable.

And then my super amazing sister introduced me to the head of the conference and they want me to come do one of the sessions next year. I am so excited. It was such a cool conference and the thought of being part of it has me all giddy! ...even if it is a year away.

--Which brings me to my new banner. I've been thinking about my session and what I would do and say and I came up with this theme-- 3 things I love, Reading, Writing and Chocolate... thus the new blog banner title. :)

 

The new blog label: JEN MEETS FAMOUS PEOPLE :) Just because, come on, that's super fun.



I have discovered the secret to meeting someone famous....

And I'll tell you! :) But first...

A week ago Shannon Hale came to my little town. She spoke at the library--which was packed by the way, adults and children alike wanted to come hear/see/meet her.

(Okay...she's not exactly famous-famous... but well known for sure... and a successful author--O ya! Twenty books and counting published!)

I loved hearing her insights as well as hearing so many things we agreed on when it comes to writing--I being the newbie that I am, sort of feel like I don't have a clue what I'm doing half the time. She made that half empty glass, half full! :) I realized I DO know what I'm doing!!!--Half the time, anyway.  :)

And there's a whole lot I need to learn, without a doubt.

Still, she came, she spoke, she answered questions and then she signed books.

The line for the signing circled the room.

It was crazy. 

So, although I really wanted to meet her and have her sign something, my friends and I decided our stomachs out-weighed the length of the line. So, we went out to dinner. We laughed, we talked, we ate... we SAT. It was lovely.

Two hours later, Heidi and I decided to see if there was still in fact a line to see Shannon. 

Guess what? There was. And ONE person was left in the line. (Thus my sitting joke above... we didn't have to stand in line for two hours!!)

So, we didn't just get her to sign our stuff, but we had a nice little visit as well. She went to the same mission as my hubby--the same years--neither of them remember the other, but still kind of cool. Heidi bragged me up--(tho there isn't much to brag about--my one novel that's coming out looks a little lonely compared to her twenty already out. haha.) The ironic thing was she bragged me up after Shannon wrote this note in my book. :)

It was fun. And inspiring. I came home and wrote out an author talk for kids--(a teacher has asked me to speak to a bunch of 5th graders...and I hadn't a clue what to say!! But she helped inspire that).

And someday if I have a little author-talk-book-signing thing I'm guessing there will be 6 people there--all friends who know and love me. But that's okay. I have to start somewhere. And I am really really grateful for those friends who know and love me.

So, if you're one of them--and if you're reading this, you probably are. Thank you! :)

O yes and the moral to the story: When there's a huge line to meet someone special... go out to eat first!