Sunday, September 27, 2009

American Christian Writers Conference and beautiful Colorado


I'm back home after spending four fabulous days at the ACFW conference in Denver. I attended workshops, met with my editor and agent, and was inspired by testimonies of attendees and keynote speaker, Debbie Macomber.







I had a blast connecting with fifteen precious friends, the Seekers, and a few of the Seeker husbands. I also had dinner with many Love Inspired authors, wonderful women all. Here the Seekers squeeze together for a group photo.








The book signing and Award Ceremony on Saturday were highlights.






Missy Tippens, Debby Giusti and I
before dinner at the Award Ceremony dinner.






My book, Courting Miss Adelaide, a Book of the Year Debut finalist, didn't win, but no one deserved it more than good friend Julie Lessman's wonderful book, A Passion Most Pure. Here's Julie on stage accepting the award. Congratulations to all the Book of the Year winners!



Before the conference started, we did some sightseeing in Denver, touring the beautiful Capitol building and Margaret Brown's Victorian home of "Unsinkable Molly Brown" fame. I climbed all 90 plus steps to reach the dome's great view of Denver.





After the conference my husband and I spent time in the area with family. We visited the impressive Red Rock's amphitheater and a couple old mining towns.





In Rocky Mountain National Park, we enjoyed the beauty of the mountains, bright yellow and lime leaves of the aspen and gurgling streams while bundled in several layers to keep warm in the suddenly chilly temperatures and first snowfall that closed roads in higher elevations.




The highlights were a walk around beautiful Bear Lake with a light dusting of snow falling--if you use your imagination you'll see the flurries--and watching the bull elk posture and bugle to impress the cows and keep away other bulls. The golf course in Estes Park was also an elk hangout. I'm glad I didn't have to play though that herd.


It was a great trip, but it's good to be home on this sunny Sunday.
Blessings,
Janet