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You’re greeted like this. Which, I must say, is pretty hard to beat as far as greetings go. Awesome sign, awesome lady. 

You eat a lot of this. Which, I must say, is pretty fabulous as far as food goes. Fancy food, fancy flan.

You meet the people who brought your baby to life. People who make you feel welcomed and supported and valued (and very well fed).

You make Shamy sandwiches (the one and only Shannon Marchese and Amy Haddock) which are the best kind.

You get to know (and laugh with) a wonderful group of authors (from left to right: Meg Moseley, Mona Hodgson, Lori Benton, Kim Vogel Sawyer, Joanne Bischoff, Cindy Woodsmall, Mindy Starns Clark, me)

You enjoy the scenery and spot Jack Nicholson at Garden of the Gods. I’m not even kidding.

You discover that the office really is a magical place, overflowing with books and energy and amazing people and walls decorated with awards and cover collages and physical representations of so many dreams come true.

On top of that, you….

• participate in a workshop that energizes and focuses your outlook on social media. Thank you Rusty Shelton for a bucketful of gold nuggets.

• listen to an inspiring morning devotional that reminds you why do this. Thank you Bruce Nygren.

• answer fun questions for a video montage.

• stock up on books, books, and more books!

• learn that Joanne Bischoff has the cutest, happiest eight month old ever.

• have a passion tea with your agent, because she lives nearby.

Maybe that’s not how every author retreat goes, but it is how the Waterbrook Multnomah author retreat went.

Thanks so much to everyone who made it happen. I left with a buzzing brain (so many ideas!) and a blessed heart.

Let’s Talk: If you had to choose between a chocolate molten lava cake and blueberry cheesecake, what would you choose? Let me tell you, it was not an easy decision. And have you read books by any of these authors? I heart all of them.