Writing on Friday--Mentoring Groups & Debbie Fuller Thomas

A friend has just given birth to a new "baby" and I'd like to share in her joy :) Debbie Fuller Thomas and I met at the Mt. Hermon Christian Writer's Conference in Northern California. We were both part of a mentoring group led by author Randy Ingermanson. Probably one of the most terrifying experiences of my writing life. Actually, there've been others more terror-worthy since, but that one took the scary cake at the time.

Anyway. The mentoring groups meet during the conference. Participants sit around a table after having pre-read each others' manuscripts, and then offer face to face critiques. I'd submitted Chocolate Beach that year, and let me tell you, I was nervous. It turned out fabulously well though because after receiving my knee-shaking critiques, I went home and re-worked the story, and as I've said (maybe a little ad nauseum ;), it sold.

Debbie was part of that same group, with her manuscript, Tuesday Night at the Blue Moon. I remember her story well because it was dripping with emotion and conflict, and it gave me chills. I wanted so much to know how it ended, and finally--publishing can take years--I get to find out. My daughter also read through the manuscript and is anxiously awaiting the finished book, but she'll have to fight me for it, ha.

Here's a terrific review of Debbie's debut over at Novel Journey. I hope you'll check it out. And if want to write, and you're able to attend the Mt. Hermon Christian Writer's Conference, I urge you to do it.

Have a beachy weekend, my bloggity friends--wherever you are!