Reflections on BWRC ‘09

This was my third BWRC and it was fabulous! Here is my recap of my time there:

Arriving on Wednesday, I checked into the Golden Nugget. I spotted several past BWRC participants including assistant director Monica. The gang is gathering to head out to Freemont Street, but I have to head upstairs. Fabulous room! Nice and spacious and the bed is not too hard. I drop off my stuff and connect with my BFF, Michelle Chester. We head down to catch up to the group, where we are quickly overwhelmed by the laser light and music show. Catching up to the group, it’s a big reunion! Old faces and new faces mix and mingle as we realize we’re all connected by one single thing – the love of writing!

We head back to the hotel and find out where we’re to meet for our morning sessions. Some head off to experience Vegas. Many of us are HONE-gry, so we search for food in the hotel. A group of six, including Vincent Alexandria, Marc Lacy, Venise Berry and Renee Flagler, bum rush the buffet. The food is good (either that or we’re too hungry to care) and the conversation is spirited. Marc becomes a raspberry iced tea addict, drawing Renee and I in. Renee resists the urge; I’m sold.

The next morning, I have breakfast with Michelle and Teowanna Clifton. We’re all teaching at this year’s BWRC and we’re excited. I head up to registration, greeting Monica and Neesha, aka QueenJoya. Tia Ross, BWRC director, calmly signals me frantically. (If you’ve seen Tia in action, you’d understand this.) One of the presenters is sick; do I have my backup presentation ready? Of course, I reply. I go back to my room, grab my laptop, and head back downstairs for my first session. Dr. Anita Heiss has great insight in inspiring our creative juices using props and items in the room. It’s clear that there’s a lot of talent at this conference!

I duck out to prepare for my first session, “Ready, Set, Write”. After a technological glitch, we’re ready to go. It’s a fun, interactive class and I really enjoy teaching it. It’s clear that this is a group who are where I’ve been. They have ideas and stories waiting to come out of them. After the presentation, I give them time to actually write. It was a gratifying experience, especially seeing our teenage scholarship recipients writing in their notebooks. After class, several participants came up to tell me that they felt free and inspired to write. One lady shared that she had only written non-fiction and this was her first venture into fiction. She read what she wrote in class; it was good! I’m looking forward to seeing her finished work.

I took a break and went back to the room to relax and prepare for the afternoon. Lunch with Michelle and Teowanna and recapping the morning; why are all the restaurants in the Golden Nugget so slow? Afterwards, I go to Vincent Alexandria’s class. He had the best line of the afternoon: “Life is a buffet but you’ll starve to death if you don’t fix your own plate.”

Next is my class, “Writing Christian Fiction.” It goes well and I’m not the least bit nervous that one of my writing sheroes, ReShonda Tate Billingsley, is sitting in the back. When it’s said and done, many of the participants tell me that they really enjoyed the class. I’m humbled and thrilled at the same time. Thank you God!!

My hubby joins me at the hotel and we spend some time together. Wandering around the hotel, we spot ReShonda Tate Billingsley sitting alone at a table, editing her manuscript. That’s when it hits me: here we are in Las Vegas, surrounded by all kinds of things to do and see, and yet she’s focused on the work. That’s the mark of a true writer.

The next day, I have breakfast with Cherlisa and Sandra, two fellow writers and we continue the conversation about writing, editing and publishing. This is the reason that the BWRC is so special to me; being among writers who understand each other, no matter where you are on the writing journey.

We head upstairs and I join Dr. Jacqualyn Green at a table where we put out displays of our books and materials. Another joy of BWRC is that every time I’ve come, the focus of the conference has always matched where I was on my writing journey. This year, as a published author, I’m allowed to display and sell my novel. Marc Lacy and Renee Flagler give an impromptu marketing lesson at their table. Dr. Green’s family is so wonderful; her husband is a true inspiration and her grandchildren are the best street team anyone could ask for! I witness a hilarious conversation between Mondella Jones and Tonya Evans Walls; someone should put these two in a sitcom! (Two intelligent, professional, humorous black women making it happen? Never on television.)

Anita Heiss shares her “wedding” photos. She and Elvis make a great couple. I suspect her adventures in Vegas are mere ideas to go in her next novel.

I make a few sales, but I am more thrilled to talk with other participants about the conference. My favorite moment? Talking to future writer Oni, a senior in high school who has a story to tell. Not only was she inspired by my workshops, she’s determined to finish her manuscript in progress. I give her a copy of my book and Michelle promises to edit her book for free. Mr. Green tells her he will help her get published and Tonya Evans Walls gives her some valuable legal advice. My God. I love the generosity of the company at this conference! I told Oni I expect to see her on my side of the table at a future conference. Mr. Green reminds me that someone said the very same thing to me at my first conference in 2006.

After lunch, I decide to end my day and decide to spend the rest of the afternoon with my family. My hubby and son came and we hit the pool. Deciding to swim with the sharks, I hit the water slide. It’s been a long time and I almost lose my lunch, but it was worth it. My husband did it twice; I’m over it. We all dry off and after some photos and goodbyes with Michelle, we head over to my sister-in-law’s house.

I’m exhausted as I always am after these conferences. But I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I look forward to 2011 – wherever BWRC winds up, I’ll be there.

Not With My Bible, You Don’t!

Actor Jon Voight has called President Obama “the Messiah” and a “false prophet.”

What a load of crap.

I get so sick of right-wing nut jobs calling Obama these names. Not just because they are so wrong, but because they are trying to use the Bible to justify their hatred of the President.

I realize the Republicans are still upset over losing the White House and Congress. They have no one to blame but themselves. (Okay, they can blame Bush and Cheney. And Limbaugh. And maybe Sarah Palin, but to be fair, John McCain is to blame for her.)

What I don’t get is why they seem to think that Obama is this side of the anti-Christ and try to use the Bible to spew their venom.

Obama has been in office for less than six months. He’s been working hard to undo the messes it took 8 years of Republican “leadership” to create. As he himself has said, it’s not going to be easy and it’s not going to be fixed overnight, but we have to start somewhere. He’s also said that if someone else has better ideas to bring to the table, he’s willing to listen.

So far, all I’ve heard from these blowhard “conservatives” is a load of hot air – and a lot of crap.

Still, with their disappointments and bitterness, I keep wondering why they’re using the Bible as their particular whipping board.

Then it hit me. It’s part of their history.

They used the Bible to justify slavery and the systematic destruction of non-European people in this country.

They used the Bible to justify lynchings and murders in the South.

They used the Bible to create the KKK and sustain segregation.

They use the Bible to create fear and divide our nation and our world.

They use the Bible to create an “us” vs. “them” mentality, vilifying other religions as “intolerant” without seeing the irony of their own intolerance.

Enough.

I’m calling out Jon Voight, Rush Limbaugh, Newt Gingrich, Sarah Palin and all their ilk, right here, right now.

I don’t care what you think of Obama and the Democrats and gay marriage and abortion or any other issue. Use whatever words you choose: inexperienced, bull-headed, dumb, stupid, ignorant, intolerant, misguided – take your pick. I’ll put my Flip Dictionary up against your limited thesaurus any day of the week and twice on Sunday.

But you will no longer use my BIBLE – GOD’S HOLY WORD – as a way to denigrate my President or my nation. (Note to Sarah Palin: look it up, sweetie.)

Those of us who know who THE MESSIAH is know that Obama ain’t it. Nor is he a false prophet. According to the Bible, false prophets were those who led the people from God and his Word. Obama has never done that and in fact, has encouraged us to turn to our faith during this time of crisis.

So go on, spew your venom all you want. You just make yourselves look pettier and smaller than you already are.

Just leave my Bible out of it.

Write Time, Wrong Way

So I’m all set to work on my WIP. I’ve got a couple of hours blocked out and the juices are flowing. I look for my portable USB drive that goes everywhere with me.

It’s nowhere to be found. Curses!

It looks like I may have left it at home during one of my many purse changes this weekend.

Instead, I decide to work on my presentation for the BWRC, reviewing the presentation and jotting down my notes.

It’s on the USB drive. Which is at home.

Fortunately, all is not lost. I remember that I emailed it to my friend to review. At first, I can’t find the email. But after much searching, it turns up. Great! At least these hours won’t be a total waste.

Besides, it gives me something to post here.

Memo to self: email all WIP’s and presentations to myself after each draft. That way I can always access the latest and greatest without having my USB drive. And find a way to keep that USB drive handy.

My Heart is Blue

A Chicago police officer was killed early this morning.

He leaves behind siblings, parents, friends, a fiancee and a host of brothers and sisters in blue.

I am very saddened by this tragic turn of events. It breaks my heart to hear of a police officer slain in the line of duty.

Yes, I know there are officers who are racist and bigoted.

Yes, I know there are officers who abuse their powers and beat up innocent civilians.

Yes, I know there are officers who drive drunk and cause accidents that take the lives of innocent citizens.

But for every one of those examples, there thousands more who get up every day, strap on a gun and a vest and become human targets for those who choose to break the law. These men and women are the ones who will run into a burning building and not think twice. They will search for lost children and adults, even on their own time. They will be the first to get in front of a bullet to protect innocent people.

They do this because this is their life. And they do this often at the cost to their marriages, families and sometimes sanity. Those who make it through to retirement without being shot, injured, maimed or killed are the lucky ones.

Every time I hear of a cop being shot, my heart stops for a minute. Because I know that there’s a chance that my cousin could be the victim. He’s a proud Chicago police officer and has been for more than ten years. Being a part of law enforcement is all he’s ever wanted to do. Now, he’s a detective and his work mostly keeps him off the streets. But he’s still vulnerable every time he sets foot out the door. He’s a police officer, but he’s a husband, father, son, brother, nephew, uncle, cousin and friend. And I know that it grieves him when another officer is shot down, even if he didn’t know the person.

Each time I hear that a cop has been shot, I listen carefully, praying that my cousin isn’t the one who’s been killed. And I breathe a sigh of relief that he isn’t and pray for the family of the one who was.

When I’m with my son and we encounter a police officer, I tell him to greet the officer and shake his or her hand. I tell him that officers are here to help us whenever we’re in trouble. I want my son to know that being a police officer is an honorable thing and a noble profession. I want him to know that police officers are among the bravest of the brave.

So the next time you see those lights flashing in your rearview mirror after you’ve been speeding or blown through a stop sign,

The next time you see an officer pulling over and searching someone’s vehicle,

The next time you see an officer watching over a wreck or speeding down the road to some emergency,

Say a prayer for the men and women in blue.