ECRW Conference blog, part 2.

Ok, so Thing 1 and Thing 2 are preoccupied with a game of tennis (no rackets, it's being played with a flag and a fan...why? Because that's how they roll, that's why.) so I snuck into the office to blog about my Brenda Novak moment.

Ok, so I was starstruck at the notion of meeting Ms. Novak for three reasons: Number one, her books are great. Number two, because she epitomizes what I want to be...a successful wife, a successful mother (she has 5), and a successful author. And number 3, because my husband went to the same college as she did, and she is a successful LDS author who writes kick a** sensual stuff, without being the slightest bit apologetic about it. I freakin' love that about her. She is completely comfortable with herself. That is something to aspire for.

So anyway, I was at the Book Fair on Saturday night, where a bunch of the published writers were selling and signing their books. It was incredible! I was frothing at the mouth. I wish I were joking. But I was honestly beside myself. Brenda was there, Jane Porter was there, Liza Palmer.....I was crapping myself. So I wanted Brenda to sign my book, and I was waiting for a moment when there wasn't anybody around her table, in case I said something stupid. Which happens often when I am star struck. I saw Cole Hauser in the airport and I am pretty sure he thought I had special needs. And then there is the time I wrecked on my roller blades in front of Billy Joel, but we won't get into that right now...

So anyway, I look over and there is nobody around her table. So....I move in. Now, I had a whole mini speech planned, and it went something like this:

"Brenda, I am a big fan, and appreciate your work very much. Your work with diabetes is incredible, and you've inspired me so much in my own quest to help my son with his ASD issues, as well as keep up my writing through it all. I would love it if you'd sign my book."


But this is what came out:

I approached the table, not saying a word....just staring. No really, just staring.

Brenda looks at me strangely and says, "Hi?"


I look down at her in her seat and opened my mouth and said, "Hehehehehehehehehehhehehehhehe..."
(A'la "Squints" on The Sandlot, just as he is walking past the hot lifeguard to jump off the diving board.)

If you haven't seen this movie, Youtube it. It'll be there. Note the giggle. Yeah. It was embarrassing. And no, I do not consider Brenda Novak a "hot lifeguard". I just couldn't help myself. She's the bomb! And everything I want to be when my career takes off. I was starstruck. That's the only way I know how to describe it. Starstruck.

So then she said (again), "Hi."


And then, I said, "Sorry, I guess I'm a little starstruck. It's good to meet me. Or you, I mean. It's good to meet you."


And this is the part in which I think I blacked out. There were lots of other words said. I believe I told her that my husband went to the same college as she did, after which she asked me who the Cougars were playing that weekend, and I told her I didn't know because I hated sports. (Oops.) Then she commented that BYU sort of sucks this year, and I agreed, only because I've heard my husband say that at least 56 times before. Then I am pretty sure I told her about my youngest son, and how he is facing some challenges, and I've been toying with not writing anymore, but that she continued to write through her son's struggles with Diabetes, so I found that inspirational. And she seemed sympathetic and happy to hear that I was going to keep writing. Then I am pretty sure I told her my bra size. Or possibly what brand of tampon I prefer. Or some other such useless, embarrassing information....

And then she sort of gave me the It's time for you to walk away now  look, which I actually picked up on fairly quickly, remarkably so. And I did. And then it was over. But when she saw me the next day, I am pretty sure she ducked down another hallway. Oh well. You can't win them all.

Ok, enough humiliation for now. I am off.

Brooke Moss

This is the book I had signed! Wheeeee!