I'm Baaaa-aaack . . .

At least, I'm back on some level.

I don't know how active I'll be bloggy-wise in the next few days. There's still the whole re-entry process to finish after mom has being away from the family for two and a half days, but I needed to post about the weekend.

Lots of fun today (saving the best for last):

First, the GIVEAWAY WINNERS:
When Hearts Conjoin, by Erin Herrin with my good friend Lu Ann Staheli, goes to Karlene Browning.

And Michele Paige Holmes's upcoming release, All the Stars in Heaven, goes to Tink.

Congratulations to both!

Be sure to e-mail me your mailing addresses so the authors can ship the prizes. (Tink, yours should arrive in July after the book is released.)


Pictures!
The 6th Annual LDStorymakers Conference rocked. Absolutely and totally. In addition to hanging out with LDStorymakers who are some of my best friends on the planet, I got to meet tons of bloggers I've known only virtually (and each was just as awesome in person!). I don't dare list them, because I just know I'll forget someone, but you all know who you are. It was great meeting and talking with you!

I had a great time in the workshop I taught, but then, I always have fun talking about grammar, usage, and punctuation. :)

Last year my camera languished in my bag the entire time. This year, my camera hung out in my hotel room the first day (I'm brilliant like that), and on the second day, I actually remembered to pull it out three times. Be impressed, people. I lifted one picture from Anne Bradshaw, so I have four here. (I look all pale and washed out in them all. Odd.) My husband took more pictures at the Whitney Gala (what a great awards ceremony!), and I'll post some of those later.

Me and dear Luisa from Novembrance. She's one of my oldest bloggy friends, and I've had the good fortune to meet her in person twice now. (Crud--how did I not get a picture with Kim?!)


This is me with Josi in the hall as I prepare to knock on agent and editor doors to keep the pitch sessions running on time.



With Melanie J. She was a ball to talk to and a great writer as well. I can say that because she was at my Boot Camp table and I got to read her work. It had me snorting with laughter several times. (Wish you could see her heels in this picture. They were awesome.)



Here I am in the bookstore with Janette Rallison and Elodia Strain. Apparently, I'm short. Even when wearing heels.


Articles about How Cool It all Was:
A reporter from Mormon Times hung out at the first day of Boot Camp and then ran this story about it. I was quoted, but it sure sounds weird out of context . . .

And then this one one came out after that about the Whitney Awards. The Whitneys were downright awesome. I got all weepy when Kerry Blair received her Lifetime Achievement Award . . . and then had to present an award right after that, so I had to pull myself together.

It was an exciting night. I got to meet some authors I've admired for the first time (Angela Hallstrom and Sarah M. Eden), although I couldn't find another one (Tanya Parker Mills . . . I wanted to meet her so bad!). I loved every minute of serving on the Whitney committee this year. It really was an honor.


Now for the Best Part: A Video!
While listening to Nickleback's song, "I Wanna Be a Rock Star," Heather Moore thought to herself, I don't want to be a rock star. I want to be a best seller.

Thus an idea was born. With some input from Crystal Leichty, Heather rewrote the lyrics. The two ladies then approached Stephanie Fowers, who's known for her wacky sense of humor and ability to make fun music videos.

Next thing we knew, Stephanie had recorded herself singing the song and several of the LDStorymakers had been roped into being filmed for the video. Including yours truly, pretty much making a fool of herself.

The video was shown at the conference on Saturday during lunch. Now it's available for the world to enjoy: