ICRS

The International Christian Retailer’s Show is THE place to be if you’re in Christian publishing. Oh, I know there’s talk about the changing markets and excitement about a new avenue to reach readers, a Christian Book Expo that’ll launch next March I believe. But this past summer, as I walked through the posh lobby of the Peabody Hotel just opposite the Exhibit Center, I saw agents meeting with editors, authors meeting with publishers and PR people, and huddles of others in the industry either talking business or just enjoying one another’s company – and I realized this is still the place to be.

I happened to see Liz Curtis Higgs in the lobby one morning, and she was as gracious as ever. She’ll always hold a special place in my heart, since she endorsed my first book with Tyndale, The Oak Leaves. I’d approached Liz with the kind of attitude a new author looking for an endorsement needs: hey, she can only say “no” and how bad could that be? It couldn’t be worse than the rejections I’d received on the way to publication, right? So I went to her website and contacted her through that avenue, respectful of someone who’s earned her spot in this tough industry. She told me she happened to have the time just then, but warned she only endorses projects she truly believes in. I was heartened even as my knees knocked for fear she’d send me a polite but devastating email thanking me for thinking of her for an endorsement but alas she would be unable to give one. However that didn’t happen—she gave a glowing review that I’m grateful for to this day.

And in Orlando I was “being seen” at her side. Okay, so my starry eyes were a dead give away that all of this was still new to me, since it was only my second year attending. But as I walked to the convention hall with her (she was being escorted to a television interview) I felt a part of the very industry I’d dreamed about for most of my life. And I had my own meetings, too—with my agent, my editors, a video taping (yikes!), a book signing, the annual Tyndale Author Appreciation Dinner, and time shared with other authors on this same writing journey.

I’m old enough to know that dreams don’t always come true but when they do it’s something to appreciate. And to be grateful for.

The ACFW conference is coming up in just a couple of weeks, which will be another opportunity for those in the Christian publishing world to gather. Whether you’re new or have been attending conferences for years, whether you’re published or not, conferences are one of those places in this business that feel like dreams are being built. In some ways they are, because you never know what doors God will open at something like this. But it’s also about networking, which is a good thing in any industry.

So I plan to go and reconnect with others and meet some new people, too. I’ll be involved in the Mall of America booksigning on September 20th, where well over one hundred Inspirational authors will come together to sign books. That might feel a little like ICRS with so many tables and booksignings all at once. And I can hardly wait!