Sometimes You Just Have to Stumble Through
Last weekend, I attended Malice Domestic, a popular conference for mystery authors and fans held annually in Bethesda, Maryland. I missed going last year and was determined to make it this time, despite another spinal flareup that’s made it difficult for me to walk or stand for any length of time without a lot of discomfort.
Fool that I am, I elected to drive instead of fly to the concert.
Note to self: Do not attempt an eight-hour drive with a bad back! By the time I got there, I barely made it to the check-in desk before collapsing.
Thanks to my trusty walker, I made it through the three-day conference. I even managed to enjoy doing the “speed dating” event with my fellow author and friend Darlene Dziomba in which we, along with twenty other pairs of authors, travelled from table to table talking up our recent releases. The panel I was on, “Whose Genre Is It Anyway?” was also fun, and I attended several other stimulating panels, a debut author’s breakfast, and wonderful talks by Marcia Talley, the conference’s guest of honor, and Donna Andrews, the lifetime achievement award winner.
But honestly? Much of the time I was miserable! It’s just no fun to hurt, and now that I’m among those with chronic pain conditions, I am A LOT more empathetic toward folks who spend a good portion of their time not feeling great.
Still, I know I’m very fortunate to be able to write and share my work with others. Just before leaving for the conference, a friend from my choral group came up to me and said, “My sister just loves your books. She told me to tell you to hurry up and write the next one, so she can read it.”
Hearing that someone loved my work really lifted my spirits. And it reminded me that despite life’s challenges, I know I’m one lucky writer.