We have all just returned from the ACFW conference in St. Louis where is “all fiction all the time.” It is a wonderful and unique experience to have over 600 novelists in one building all “making stuff up.”
Every agent from our agency was there. And we had nearly 40 of our clients in attendance.
I taught two classes (one co-taught with Tamela and another on contracts with the lawyer/author Rick Acker). In addition I spent eight hours, over two days, in a small room taking 15 minute pitch appointments. We all did, as a matter of fact. If you count the hallway serendipities, the meal times talking with authors, the appointments, etc, I would guess that our agency, as a whole, spoke one-on-one to nearly 200 authors. Exhilarating and Exhausting.
The awards banquet on Saturday night was fun. One of my clients, Patrick Carr!, Won for best speculative fiction. Congratulations Patrick!
If you are an aspiring novelist and can make the trek, we highly recommend you consider joining ACFW and also consider attending a future conference. Next year will be in Dallas.
I am definitely planning to make the trek to Dallas in 2015 … all the way from South Africa.
Watching the Gala event on live streaming from 2-4am was great – I had to see if Nicola Martinez, my editor-in-chief, won the Editor of the Year award.
Marion,
You will have to say hello to us all next year. That is quite a journey!
Steve
Thank you for taking the time to meet with us writers! I imagine you begin to look at us like vultures circling around you by the end of the conference. 🙂 All the agents at your agency are so gracious and genuine. You personally encouraged meat this year’s conference, and I had similar experiences with Tamela and Rachelle pervious years, so thank you all. (I haven’t had the opportunity to meet Dan yet. No exclusion intended.)
Oh my goodness, my conference fatigue is showing. I meant Karen, not Rachelle. Karen, you are awesome.
Andrea,
Rachelle is nice too… but she is with the evil competing agency… Hah!
Steve
ACFW 2014 was my first ever writer’s conference, but it won’t be my last. I was privileged to meet all of the Steve Laube agents, either one on one or via workshops. Those encounters were some of the high points of this conference for me.
I had just registered when I spotted Dan Balow sitting all alone. Should I introduce myself? The introvert in me said no, but I braved through my hesitancy enough to say, “Hi. I love reading your blog posts.”
He stood, shook my hand, and said, “So you’re the one.”
Perfect start to my conference.
Joe,
Perfect! And well done breaking through the introvert temptation. A conference like that is a stretch for every novelist….in a good way.
Steve
It was a perfect start. I understand too well the introvert’s qualms.
Steve, I was in your class co-taught with Tamela. It was a wonderful talk, interspersed with a great deal of humor. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Thank you so much.
Angela,
Glad you enjoyed it. Tamela worked hard on the outline to make sure we covered the topic in a comprehensive way.
Steve
This year’s ACFW conference was one of their best in years! There was such a positive “energy” and many great contacts were made among authors, editors and agents! Truly, one of their best. I came away rejuvenated and refreshed–and yes, completely exhausted! That’s par for the course, I think. 😀
Read Ronie’s latest book HAWK when it releases in November: http://tinyurl.com/mnmw42h
Or her OPERATION ZULU series which is out now in ebook form:
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Shameless plug for a great writer!
Steve
This was my third, and best, ACFW conference.
I met so many writers I know from online, and I reconnected with some I’ve met the last three years.
I also got to meet with Tamela. She is so sweet and encouraging.
Congratulations to Patrick Carr. He is one of my new friends I met at lunch one day where we discussed everything from writing to football.
Steve,
Yes, a GREAT conference. I was sitting behind you and Patrick at the gala ~ so thrilled for him, he is a super talented author and such a sweet family man.
I spent some time with Tamela, but never did see you to chat, so “Hi!” 🙂
Heidi,
Hello back! I did see you pitching to an editor but wasn’t about to interrupt that conversation.
Steve
I had a wonderful time at the conference! I was also sitting behind you and Patrick Carr at the gala. I loved A Cast of Stones and was really excited when Patrick Carr won. Thank you for meeting with me and giving me encouragement and advice!
Jackie, Heidi, and Elizabeth,
Patrick is great. I was so happy to be sitting with him when his name was announced. Another confirmation of the great measure of his talent.
Steve
Steve – ACFW was an amazing conference. The energy level from all the talented authors present feeds creativity.
I was fortunate enough to meet with Tamela on Saturday. And was one of the group you so graciously took pictures of with Erin Taylor Young in the lobby on Saturday night. You taught me a new IPhone picture taking trick.
Congratulations to both you and Patrick!
Terri,
The iPhone trick is really quite simple.
When taking a picture you can use the volume button on the side of the camera as the button to snap the shutter. The “plus” button serves quite well.
The camera must be in landscape mode and the volume button must be on the top. But instead of punching the screen like most folks do you can hold the camera with two hands and stabilize it a little and click the volume button.
I stumbled into your group looking for my next appointment and ended up the photographer holding three or phones while you all gathered together. Hope my shaky hands did well with your photo memories!
Steve
I hated to skip this year. I would have loved to have seen you all in person! But I appreciate reading everyone’s stories and recaps, so thanks for posting them.
Jenny,
You’ll have to fix that next year…
Steve
I had a great time. It was especially enjoyable because I went with my daughter-in-law who is an aspiring writer. She came away encouraged by the awesome Karen Ball. And I got encouragement (and a hug) by the incredible Steve Laube. It doesn’t get any better than that!!!
Nancy,
Don’t make me blush. !!!
What fun to have a family member with you…
Steve
I’ve been having a blast reading everyone’s comments and recaps of the conference all over the web! I’m aiming for next year in Dallas and praying about Mt. Hermon this spring since it’s 2 hours from my house. Redwoods and the beach, ahhh 🙂
Hi Steve, I can honestly say that I had a fabulous time as a first timer at The ACFW conference in St. Louis. I am a new writer with my ms half finished but will continue to forge ahead with all of the knowledge I received from the pros. Two of your agents gave me excellant advice. God Bless all of you!