This weekend, I was involved heavily in the annual storymaker’s writing conference. Annette and Heather (conference queens) did a fabulous job of organizing the conference and making it all work and run smoothly. I had a fabulous time connecting with writers I love and admire. I wish I had more time with them, but this conference is a busy one for me. I enlisted the help of my oh-so-hot husband and my oh-so-perfect daughter to run the bookstore with me so I didn’t have to worry so much (and I didn’t worry, knowing it was in good hands).
I taught the class for beginning writers with Heather Moore and we did fabulously (so says James Dashner, who sat in on the class as the acting peanut gallery). And I was happy to make the acquaintance of agent Jamie Weiss Chilton from LA. She was truly gorgeous. I’ve never had hair envy like this before. I also got to meet Janette Rallison’s editor from Putnam, Tim Travaglini. She speaks so well of the man in the bow tie that I loved having the chance to talk to him. And of course Janette herself is amazing as always. I just love everything about her and so appreciate the talent she brings to the world.
I got a small opportunity to chit chat with my editor from Covenant. He’s a funny guy. Sadly our classes were both at the same time so I didn’t get to listen in on his.
I so appreciated Jen and Jeff Savage for staying late after the Whitney’s and helping Scott and me tear down the bookstore and load it all up. I owe them big time.
It is an amazing thing to see how this conference has morphed into something our little band of storymakers never really intended. It changes like a child hitting a growth spurt every year . . . every year a little wiser, a little better tuned . . .
I wish I’d had more time to hang out with everyone I love, but loved getting to see some of my dearest friends win a Whitney award. Having been on the Whitney committee, I knew the winners a month ago. Never have I been forced to keep such hard secrets. Keeping a secret from Josi Kilpack proved to be a challenge of indescribable magnitude. We talk on the phone often and I count her as one of my best gal pals. Not telling her I knew something marvelous about her nearly killed me. I count it as an act of my true friendship that I did keep the secret.
Jessica Day George, as usual, kept me laughing. She’s a riot. I got to hug Kerry Blair. She gave me a book. Is she cool or what? Having her and Janette live in Arizona totally stinks sometimes.
And the Whitneys . . . oh they rocked . . . yes they did, in spite of the fact that Rob wouldn’t let me do anything even though I had a wicked awesome dress. I’m posting pictures so you can see my wicked awesome dress. My only huge regret is I didn’t get a picture with Josi. 
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Jules Jessica Day George and Jules’ hot husband in a tux!
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Angela and Jules
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Three hotties
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three more hotties
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Hotties at the bookstore, Janette Rallison, Me, and Tami Norton (the hottie in triplicate just keeps going!)
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Jessica and Jules
Heather, Josi, Me, and Annette as Josi and I (former queens) thank the new queens for a job truly well done.
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Queens rule!!
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My husband is HOT in a tuxedo
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Kerry the beautiful Blair and me
What an amazing weekend!
Jules – you seriously did have a wicked awesome dress. What’s the matter with Rob? Alvin was peeved because your family wasn’t recognized at the conference for the tremendous job you guys did with the bookstore. Of course, maybe I was away in the bathroom when they did that! Anyway, thank you for the incredible job you did. You rock my friend.
Great pictures! Didn’t bring my camera so I’ll be stealing pictures from everyone
Thank you so much for all of your hard work. You literally did triple the work with the bookstore, food and the Whitneys. And your husband and daughter were wicked awesome too!
Wish I could have been there! Congratulations on a job well done.
Julie, Your dress was wicked awesome, as was your hair! I was jealous all night—actually all conference. You always look so darling.
Thank you, thank you for all your hard work at the bookstore (and now I feel like a schmuck for not staying after with those Savage people to help you clean up). You and your family are amazing.
Dang it! I should have stolen your husband from you when I was fifteen like I planned. Do you think he could loan John that tux? Wink, wink.
You were drop-dead gorgeous, girl! The highlight of the whole event for me was . . . let me think . . . yep . . . YOU! (Please don’t tell Bro. Hughes I said that.) You, Candace, Angela, and Rachel L (from Covenant — have you noticed she’s an Amy Adams double?) topped my daughter’s “Best Dressed” list. And I just HAVE to say it, we spent the whole evening trying to figure out why Rob had such a death grip on those trophies when he could have had you and Crystal up there as Trophy Babes. Live and learn, Robison.
SO fabulous! I hope I can be there next year!
YOU were a huge part of the conference’s success, lady! Thanks for all the tons of crazy help and work you did.
I must admit–great dress. Great pictures. Great weekend!
What a wonderful weekend! It was so good to see you and spend a little bit of time talking. Are writers the coolest people, or what?
I’ll see you in June, dear!
Your dress was totally wicked awesome. It was a great weekend.
Notice all those big smiles? That’s because Jule’s and Scott have to be the coolest couple in the world. Your whole fam was awesome and you are one hot babe. I could have hung out all night with you two. Thanks so much for everything you guys did, and I’m really sorry your car was so full you had to leave behind a couple of kids. But we’ll take good care of them. I promise!
Julie,
You totally rock! I so had dress envy!!! You should have been award-hander-outer for sure. Sheesh! What was Rob thinking? If I had long hair, I would copy your fabulous style.
What a great weekend. So glad I got to be a part of it. See you all next year. And I’m bringing my camera this time!!!
These are great pictures, Julie. I regret not making it to the awards. But the conference was great. Thanks for all the work you did to help put that together. I’m looking forward to next year.
You know, there is no link to the Whitneys. It is http://www.whitneyawards.com. There was more to that weekend than the Whitney’s. However that was a great cap to a couple of fun days. People certainly give more credit to me than is needed too. McKenna was the trooper that was there on a constant basis with few breaks. I’m glad to help.
Lord Vader
Loved chatting with you in the bookstore–you guys did such a great job. What a huge thing–thank you so much for spending so much time selling books.
I told you daughter that I thought you always dressed so cool and your hair is always beautiful. Does she know she has one hot mama? (And she’s quite the hottie, too–I have a 12 year old son . . .)
What a great conference. You all did such a fantastic job on everything–thank you!
Look at you with all those super cool authors (You being one of those super cool authors of course), sounds like a load of fun.
Anyway, I came on to say that I checked out “My not so fairy tale life” yesterday, and as I was doing laundry I picked it up and decided to read the first few pages.
Well, the laundry is still undone and I’m about 100 pages in. Lovin’ it!
~Enna Isilee
i’m so happy you got to be part of that fun night. great pics and thanks for sharing them with those of us not johney-on-the-spot enough to snag tix to the big event.
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Dang, you’re husband IS hot in a tux!