From the morning mailbag:
What are the odds that two Reiders would find out they are on opposite ends of the same street? I’m (Sharyn Ekbergh) home and Richelle (Elberg) is visiting her property about 14 miles away on my road.
A bad selfie, I’m holding my iphone out as far as I can to get both of us in the photo.
And if we happened to have books published we would be next to each other on the shelves!
This prompts today's question:
have you met any of the other blog readers in person?
45 comments:
Yes! I've met Colin Smith, (twice), Melanie Sue Bowles, and Loretta Sue Ross (assuming she reads the Shark's blog although she may not comment).
I feel like I've met others because sometimes the dialogue continues with Reiders outside of The Reef through other social media or emails, like with 2Ns, Diane Major (she hasn't commented in a while) French Sojourn (Hank!), Kitty, Beth Carpenter, Karen McCoy and AJ Blythe.
Not yet!
Am waiting !
Nope. But I've never been to any conferences or anything. Anyone live nearby?
Nope. But I've never been to any conferences or anything. Anyone live nearby?
Oh! And I should have mentioned that Sharyn Ekbergh "adopted" me through her library program. A big thank you to her for that honor!
I've had the enormous honor of attending one of Donna Everhart's book events. It was truly inspiring listening to her talk about The Road To Bittersweet. And just recently, Susan Pogorzelski and I were able to spend a few hours together. I had to make a crash run up to PA to help an elderly cousin, who happens to live in Susan's neck of the woods. Fun stuff!
Not yet but I’ve DM’d with a few on twitter. Wouldn’t that be some wednesday night book club?
Not yet, but there's a chance I'll get to meet the Panda-in-Chief soon. Our daughter has a summer job in Seattle and I'm hoping to go up for a quick visit. Keep an eye out for visitors bearing bamboo!
That is so great about Sharyn and Richelle! I haven't yet met any of the blog readers in person, but it sure would be nice to. Anyone planning an exciting vacation to exotic Delaware anytime soon?
I've had a meal with AJ Blythe! (And we are due another, AJ, when I am done with the MS of Doom). Most of the rest of you are inexplicably stuck to the ceiling (aka swanning around the northern hemisphere)! Also while you're swanning I would like to point out that your swans are wrong, too. Swans should be black. Black with red eyes, and as aggressive as a starving bear.
DonnaEve True. Where has that Diane got to?
It was really great to see Sharyn and Richelle meet up, as well as Melanie and Susan (as observed through social media)
I haven't met any Reiders in person yet. But if anyone plans a wild trip to Vegas for a weekend, that's close enough to my neck of the woods that you can consider me there.
I haven't met any blog Reiders yet either, but I'll tag on to MeganV's comment and mention that if anyone has plans to visit Disneyland [California], I'm about 10 miles from there and would love to connect up!
I live in Newark, Delaware Amy.
I attend ThrillerFest every year (heading up 7/15).
Not met any reef dwellers in person but have had conversations with a few via email and twitter, so it sorta feels like we’ve met...
If any commenters are passing through Sydney, be sure to give me a bell!
It was really fun to meet Sharyn in person. Not only do we have homes near each other and our names are similar but we also both host for Airbnb. We had lots to talk about, and it all started here in the Reef!
Not that I am aware of, but I look forward to it happening one day.
Richelle and I found we were near each other (she used to live in my town) through the writer’s group on Facebook. It was pretty funny.
“You live in the mountains? What mountains?”
“I used to live there! I still have a house there.”
“On what road? That’s my road!”
and so on.
I’ve met some Reiders on line and been in contact with them. Micki Browning has self pubbed two books so far and seems to be doing well. I read the first and it was good.
Deb Vlock’s book on mental illness is coming out this year.
Donna, of course. And Melanie. I’d enjoy meeting a few more, wish some of you were in town for coffee at the Frontside Grind.
Too bad Richelle was here during this tremendous heat wave we’re having since I hoped to ride my e-bike down the bike path to her house. Instead we met up here in the AC.
Steve Forti, I think you’re in Boston. I’m about three hours north. Usually it’s the Cool Blue North (or the Frozen North), but today the heat index could reach 100. I’m going to head to the river and make Ramona come inside shortly. She will yell in protest.
A few years ago, I realized I lived right down the road in Kentucky from another Reider! We talked about getting together but never made it. And now I can't find my notes from that exchange! So, yes, I could've, but didn't! Sadly!
The lovely AJ Blythe and I have exchanged writing, but she's an Aussie, so we're unlikely to meet in person.
I feel like I've met quite a few Reiders after years of posts, and getting to know each other a bit. I consider this a big part of my writing community!
Dena! We were so close to Disneyland last month. Cerritos and Buena Park. I didn't know you were near Anaheim. We should have connected.
I haven't met anyone in person. I follow Michael Seese and Colin on Twitter - both gems. Their poetry is brilliant.
I'm in El Paso on the I-10 corridor so if anyone is passing through, this makes for a great stopover.
I'm trying to figure out where Sharyn and Richelle live that the opposite end of the street is 14 miles away...For me, 14 miles away is Mexico!
KariV, I am the same... wondering where you can be 14 miles away but still on the same road.
But well, in America and Canada that surely can happen! Some routes are so long, you are in different states/provinces, I'm sure.
That wouldn't be the case here in the UK. I haven't met any Reider in person and am not aware of any in the UK.
I know I was at least in the same city, if not road, with BJ Muntain, when we were both in New York City but neither of us knew the other was there until afterwards.
I do 'meet' Colin and Lennon outside The Reef (online) and I really like it :).
I can confirm that, indeed, I have had the pleasure of meeting Donna in person. I've also met Terri Lynn Coop, who used to be a regular commenter a while ago, though not so much now.
When are we going to have a "Reef Conference" in NY? Maybe when one of us make a boat-load of money from their novel they can set up the event and buy tickets for everyone. :)
No, but Cecilia and I have plotted the storming of Melanie Sue Bowle's ranch with a force of Reiders for the Ultimate Reef party. No concrete details, but we will be sure to rent a shark tank.
And I love getting to know Reiders via other digital/ media venues (hi, One of Us!!).
Reiders are pretty awesome!
I've met two Reiders, but both are lurkers. To be fair, one became a Reider after I mentioned all the good times at the Reef. I shall not be the one to de-lurk them, however, that's on them.
My gut tells me my answer will change over the years...
Not officially...but Casey Karp and I were at the same Tori Amos concert in Oakland last year...so I've at least been in the same building as another Reider. And the concert was excellent.
And yes, I've been active with other Reiders on social media, including the lovely DonnaEve.
(Final comment, promise) I'll also be interviewing Sam Hawke on my blog next week. :)
Not yet. BJ Muntain and I have tried to meet up 3 times but failed each time. It seems Canada is too big and New York too distracting.
And yes, Lennon and I are plotting mightily to turn the horse sanctuary into Shark pool one of these days. I nominate John Frain as official hay baler and hall monitor.
Lynnrodz came down from Paris for four days to our place, it was wonderful. You just can't beat it when an incredible chef visits. (Lynne's husband, and he was such a cool person.)
I have kept in touch with people away from the reef, mostly through facebook. This is the only online community that I watch daily, so happy to know so many of you over time.
Cheers Hank.
Not yet, but there's always time... If any of you ever visit New Zealand, let me know!
You would have to be driving to Alaska to see me but, if you are, come on over.
Yes! I got to meet Kelly Garrett when she came to Seattle for her book release at the University Book Store. We have a greater than average chance of meeting again, as the Western WA and Oregon chapters of SCBWI have occasional joint events.
And Claire Bobrow and I are trying to have a meet up if she can visit relative in Seattle this summer. Connecting here, on Fezbook and on Twidder is great, and it gets the ball tolling, but it is so fun to meet in person.
Looks like Claire got the jump on me to chronicle our potential meeting. As I live in a fairly appealing vacation spot, if any Reiders find themselves on Whidbey Island, it would be my pleasure to show them all the hot spots. I do know where there is a particularly nice grove of bamboo. Oh...you would rather eat something else? That's okay. I know some good cafes as well.
I was thinking about what I would do if a large bag of money suddenly came into my life, and I thought that being able to go to writing conferences and other places to connect in person with my online writing communities, that would be so grand.
Thanks to all who swim in this reef, and to Janet who has made it such a welcoming place for all of us. From what I have seen in cyberland, this is a massive accomplishment.
The road I live on goes through three towns and is about 16 miles long. I'm on one end in one town, the middle is in another town, and Richelle's house is on the far end in the third town. She doesn't live here anymore and rents out her house but was coming for a vacation with her family!
Hay, hay, I dream of visiting a horse sanctuary, Cecilia. Not sure I'd make the best hall monitor unless you're into that inmates running the asylum kinda thing.
I think I saw Julie Weathers at Surrey one year, but I was too shy to approach her. (I'm not nearly as shy anymore.)
I've met Janice at Surrey one year. And I know two others who regularly read the blog but rarely post: Jill Webb and Brandi Cruickshank.
Unfortunately, I've missed two or three opportunities to meet Cecilia.
I will be going to Surrey this year, though. If anyone else is going, I'll be happy to meet up with you there!
Yes! I met Melanie just last weekend in a wonderful bit of synchronicity that brought her to my neck of the woods (after a year of getting to know each other through other social means and promising to visit with each other!). There may have been jumping and squeals of delight.
I’ve also had the pleasure of chatting with LynnRodz on the phone and email and getting to know so many others through Twitter and Facebook. I love and appreciate this community so much. Thank you, Janet, for bringing us all together! <3
We're in Winter Park, Florida which is a block north of Orlando.
Haven't met any Reiders yet but would love to.
Considering I'm in Oz I feel very fortunate. As Sam Hawke said, we had lunch one day and, yes, Sam, as soon as your book of doom lets you, we need to repeat =)
I'm very fortunate to have totally awesome Beta Reiders (including Sherry Howard but I won't name the others in case they'd rather not be outed).
I've skyped with Heidi Kneale (who hasn't been around much of late, but you might remember her as Her Grace, Heidi, the Duchess of Kneale) - both of us live in Oz but opposite sides of the country.
Repeating what Donna said, there are many I feel I know from other online avenues including Colin Smith, 2Ns, Donna Everhart, Joe Snoe, Dena Pawling, Julie Weathers.
Plus the FB Reider group.
MA Hudson, I'll be in Sydney in August for RWA's conference!! I'll email you off-loop =)
If anyone ever makes it Down Under to Canberra make sure you let me know (Sydney's only 3 hours up the road so may also be doable).
I plan on making it to a US conference at some point. I am really hoping that when I do there will be other Reiders also attending.
It's lovely to read all the connections Janet's blog has instigated. I hope you're reading these as well, Janet, and feeling warm and fuzzy and hugely appreciated.
Angie Brooksby-Arcangioli was the first person to contact me and we met at a café in Paris. I later took hubby and an ex to one of her art exhibits. She's an amazing artist.
Susan was sweet enough to send me an encouraging email last year when I was caring for my mum for several months. (She has dementia and I'm with her once again this summer.) Susan and I have also chatted by phone. Her book, The Last Letter is a must read and beautifully written.
Hubby and I went to see Hank (French Sojourn) and his lovely wife in the South of France. What a beautiful place they have and a vineyard to boot! Such a great couple and funny too.
There are several others that I'm friends with on Facebook and Twitter, but haven't had the pleasure to meet in person...not yet, anyway.
LynnRodz, may I wave to you in Paris :) !?
I used to live in the 19th arrondissement for 4 years. Et oui, c'est là où j'ai appris parler français ;). Bonjour et bonne journée !
No - Almost - One reader here came through Birmingham. We semi-agreed to meet up but she and her family ate lunch without me and left town.
Merci, One Of Us, as I wave back. (C'était toujours le 6ème pour moi, sauf quand j'habitais quelques années dans le 17ème.) Hubby from Normandie prefers the countryside so we compromised. We're in Saint-Cloud right across the Seine from the Bois de Boulogne.
Well, le 6ème est beaucoup plus joli que le 19ème, j'en suis sûre... Je l'ai trouvé un peu sale.
I know the Bois de Boulogne, Boyfriend and I have been there, biking :).
Et je comprends bien ton Hubby, je connais un autre mec de Normandie qui préfère la campagne et est retourné là bas.
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