My goal when starting this blog to was let my fellow writers/readers in on both the ups and downs of early authorhood. As I experience it for the first time so do you. So for every "begging" to be invited to a con, pleading for a panel (we were on only one at Worldcon...I tracked down the program director and got her to put us on 5 more), for every cash-strapped decision you'll make about what con to attend and for every time you may feel thoroughly out gunned on a panel...you'll sometimes get a day like I got yesterday. A magic day.

I got an email with 22 words then moments later one with 169.

The first was from Robert Sawyer - Hugo Award winning author.
The second was from Jane Oliver, moderator of a panel I'm on about time travel.

Robert's was a response to me from an earlier email I'd sent to him commenting on his latest book, "Rollback." (http://sfwriter.com). Robert, it should also be known, wrote a blurb for our book. I hadn't realized until I'd finished reading his latest novel a few days ago just how incredible a story it was and just how fortunate I felt that a writer of his skill and renown had deigned to write something about us...and I told him so. His response was one of thanks.

The second email however really blew me away. Jane sent it out to all the panelists, to in her words, "get the ball rolling" on suggestions for the panel. And here's what floored me. In addition to Eytan and me, cc'd on the list (as fellow panelists) were best selling author S.M. Stirling and 9 time hugo, 8 time Nebula award winner Connie Willis.

Though I knew a few weeks ago that we'd be seated with these big guns it hadn't hit me until yesterday what that meant. We'd been tossed into a "whaddaya think" email with this lot and quite frankly I was stupefied. As soon as I got the email I called my brother and "holy shitted" the poor bastard for at least 20 minutes.

And this is the funny thing. When I posted about panels (see: suddenly I'm not so smart) I hadn't realized the other caveat. The person sitting next to you might be just as intimidating as the crowd gathered round you. Great; cornered. (P.S. I'm rushing to the library today to read up on Ms. Willis!)

You write for moments like this. You write and don't ever give up writing so that one day the impossible happens. One day they allow you to play in the sandbox - even when you don't feel you deserve it.

I'm only now beginning to realize that that this one-year build up to the book release may be more than just an interminable wait. It may be this series of "holy shit" moments that make you into what you've always wanted to be. I hope I never lose this "kid in the candy store" mentality. I hope I never stop dreaming.

Have a great weekend, all.

Dani
P.S. Shout out to my friend, fellow writer and now...yes... author! Gail Carriger who appeared in the latest edition of Locus under "Books Sold" (http://gailcarriger.livejournal.com/49743.html). Whoohoo!