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.
Thanks, Katie-
It was great to meet you and the entire group in Colorado Springs.
Keep up the great work!
Rusty
Sounds like an awesome experience, for sure, Katie. Kudos to WaterBrook Multnomah for bringing you together.
In answer to your questions, I currently have Cindy Woodsmall’s Sisters of the Quilt trilogy in our trailer, ready for a summer trip read. And it’s blueberry cheesecake for me. What’s not to love when my favourite berries are combined with my favourite dessert? A perfect combination. 🙂
I want to be part of this retreat… looked more like a spiritual vacation 🙂 Glad you had a great time!
Oooh, awesome pics!!! Looks like sooo much fun. 🙂 I would definitely choose molten lave any day. Hahahaaa!
My head hasn’t stopped spinning yet. What a time. What a learning experience. What an awesome meet and greet. How blessed are we?!!!
A highlight was meeting you in person Katie!
That looks like a blast!
Katie,
You lucky, lucky, lucky girl, you. I know, luck didn’t have anything to do with it. But it’s easier to say than, “Katie, you blessed, blessed, blessed girl, you” at least without sprinkling my monitor screen. That’s a lot of blsd’s.
Chocolate Molten Lava Cake. Four of the finest words in the English dictionary. Chocolate – no need to expound. Molten – gets my blood moving just thinking the word, no less saying it or writing it. Lava – hot. In a good way. As in passion. Lava love. That’s as far as I’m gonna go with that one. Cake – especially the chocolate variety.
Jack – how is the little devil?
Oh my word, looks like a blast. I was praying you guys would have a relaxing and informative time! You deserve it! Goodness knows it’s tons of work getting those book-babies into the world!
Aw, looks like so much fun, Katie!
I’d choose the chocolate lava cake. Chili’s has one I really like, so…yum.
And why, yes, I’ve read several of those authors’ books. Such a great group.
Wow! That looks like an amazing, awesome, invigorating experience! I love Kim Vogel Sawyer, Mona Hodgson, Mindy Starns Clark and I’m just getting to know the super sweet Joanne Bischoff! The others I don’t know, but I’m sure I’d love, as well.
Thank you for sharing, Katie! Yet another reminder why I’m going after my dream. 🙂 And lava cake, all the way. If it’s not chocolate, it’s not worth it.
Loved the post! Loved being at the retreat with you. XO
I like that “Awesomest Authors” picture. I’m thinking of sharing it, if you don’t mind.
Chocolate molten lava cake, for the win.
You can share to your heart’s content! 🙂
Awww, Caleb had so much fun. He loved meeting all of you guys! Great pictures! I love that you captured the Chris arm-pump 🙂 And that food…so good!
Now that looks like F-U-N. Can I just say I love Shannon’s bag in that top photo, too?!
Okay, between chocolate molten lava cake and blueberry cheesecake. Here’s what I do: pull some kind of Jack Sparrow trickery and snag both. Because seriously, a girl shouldn’t have to make choices like that!!! Or, more practically, find a friend to order one, I’ll order the other and we split both. (I think decision-avoidance is my spiritual gift.)
That cracked me up, Melissa.
Blueberry cheesecake for sure!! That looked like an awesome retreat. So fun.
Looks like an awesome time, Katie! So happy for you. 🙂
WOW! This looks amazing, Katie!!! Glad you had a good time!
Oh, and chocolate molten lava cake, all the way. Love me some cheesecake but….
Katie, so encouraged to see YOU so encouraged. Glad you were inspired in your book home!
Looks like an awesome trip and I’m voting chocolate all the way!
~ Wendy
Loved the photos! Sounds like a week of total awesomeness! 🙂
First I have a very random question. What is the cream colored tube coming off to the side of the dessert? My husband and I have sat here for the last ten minutes trying to guess and have failed miserably!
Is chocolate molten lava cake the one where you cut into the middle and melted chocolate comes oozing out? If so that one for sure? We call them fondants in NZ 🙂
Why yes, Kara, yes it is! Delicious, right?
The cream-colored tube is a stick of short bread. 😀 That is hilarious that you and your hubs were deliberating on what the object might be. Quite tasty!
Kara and Katie, do you know each other outside the blog world?
I don’t think so. She lives somewhere far, far away, I believe. In a mysterious land called New Zealand.
Ah! I know Kara – even though she lives in the mythical New Zealand. You should know each other. She is grand.
Katie, Kara… Kara, Katie. Consider yourself introduced.
We did actually meet in passing at ACFW 2009. Katie just doesn’t remember because she was on the way out of beguiling her agent-to-be with her wit and charm and I was on my way in to charm… well you 😉