On Friday, March 22, I flew into San Jose to teach and speak at the Vision Christian Writers Conference held in Mt. Hermon (an amazing Christian campground in the Santa Clara Mountains).
I confess, I was nervous. In addition to giving a keynote address on the evening of Palm Sunday, I was asked to teach the Fiction Writing track (eleven and a half hours of teaching spread over four days). While I have taught many, many workshops over the years, I’d never given an “intensive.” And as an intuitive writer, I’m always afraid that I won’t be able to verbalize the way I write.
I shouldn’t have worried. God sent just the right students who gleefully led me away from my notes and down unexpected paths. We had such fun! The truth (that I knew about myself) is, I can talk about writing all day. Just ask me questions. And that’s what the students in the workshop did which removed all of my nerves. I will never forget those smiling faces. Not ever.
One fun thing about this conference — There were five Robins on faculty (although the conference director spells her name Robynne). Each of the three keynote addresses was given by a Robin: Robin W. Pearson, Robin Lee Hatcher, and Robin Jones Gunn. The other faculty Robin was Robin Patchen. Photos of the faculty haven’t been received yet or I would share the one of the five Robins that was taken.
How good God is, that He has given us so many wonderful brothers and sisters in Christ to meet on this side of eternity. I flew to California knowing only a few authors who would be there. I returned home having formed friendships I will treasure forever, including several precious ones from New Zealand.
Sadly, I returned with something else. A nasty virus. Not covid, probably RSV. After getting home from the airport on the night of the 26th, I crashed and slept for 36 hours. I’ve been hacking and coughing ever since but am beginning to recover. Still it meant I missed seeing some of my family who were passing through Boise as well as having to remain home from church on Resurrection Sunday. Can’t help being sad about that.
And now it is time to get back to work. I’m falling behind on deadlines. Never a good thing. And please explain to me how it got to be April already!!
Has God brought any new brothers and/or sisters in Christ into your life this year?
~robin
Robin Lee Hatcher
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Sounds like such a wonderful event. Thanks for sharing. Hope you are on the road to recovery.
Yes, I have met a number of new brothers and sisters in Christ. First, our new pastor who joined us in October, and several new people I’ve met in a Bible study. I was also fortunate to meet 11 people from an author’s online prayer group at a retreat last September. Several of them are authors – I am not. So, lots of blessings.
How wonderful!
I love that you participated in that conference in that way, Robin! Every time I get myself to a conference, I’m blessed. There’s something special about interacting with other writers face to face. 🙂
Agreed.
Robin, I hope you’ll teach a class in Phoenix this year!
I am teaching in Phoenix this September. See you there.