HNS Conference: It was the BEST, It was the Worst! by DL Larson

The Historical Novel Society Conference was wonderful, wonderful, the halls were crowded with friendly writers from across the country and beyond. I met so many great people, attended intriguing workshops, volunteered my time to help out and in the process met even more fellow writers. Then it happened. . .

I was scheduled to do a book signing from 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. Saturday. All authors with names beginning with L - Z were gathered in a huge room. We were considerably far from the hub of the conference. Our books were also back there - down the hall, around the corner, and down another long corridor to the conference book store. So there we all sat, authors with no books, waiting for folks to find us. I had on display my bookmarks and handouts, as well as my favorite prop, my tomahawk.

I was chatting with my tablemate, Claire Langley-Hawthorne, when another woman and her colleague approached my table. I looked up. My long awaited dream was coming true. My hero, rather heroine, asked about my tomahawk. I told her about it, fumbling and blabbering as only the star-struck can. She held my hatchet, looking at me as if to say, wouldn't this be a good photo op? Yes! YES!! A thousand times YES!!! I wanted a picture more than words can say. I wanted a picture of Diana Gabaldon holding my tomahawk! DIANA GABALDON, queen of historical fiction stood before my table, waiting for me to find a camera.

I turned to Claire and she shrugged helplessly, I turned to the gal on my right and she was in deep conversation, but I scanned her table, ready to steal a camera if I had to. I looked at my life-long hero (well, I'm older than her so I guess that's not very accurate - but you get my drift!) Diana waited, smiling, and I had no way of making this photo opportunity come to pass. Her colleague said something about moving on and as if in slow motion Diana handed back my tomahawk. The moment was gone.

I'm sure there were a dozen cameras in the room and had someone known of my plight would have graciously offered to take the picture, but time slipped by all too quickly and the moment, laid so kindly before me was lost.

So from here out please use your imagination ...

Think of me, DL Larson standing with Diana Gabaldon as she holds my tomahawk that represents my first book, Memories Trail. It's a great shot - the sun is shining, angels are singing ...

Hey, it's my fantasy! And my loss. But still a great memory of a wonderful conference.

Til next time ~

DL Larson