Yes! That’s one of the best things about going to writer’s conferences—getting to meet writers.
I attended my first writing conference in October 2012. It was held on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia, and I got to meet several Australian authors I admired, including Rose Dee, Andrea Grigg, Paula Vince, Meredith Resce, and Amanda Deed. I’ve attended five conferences since, and have had the opportunity to meet other wonderful Australian authors such as Narelle Atkins, Dorothy Adamek, Nicki Edwards, and Mary Hawkins—the author of Search for Tomorrow, an early Heartsong Presents title, and the first Christian novel I ever read that was set in Australia.
I’ve also attended several Romance Writers of New Zealand conferences. I’ve met James Scott Bell (who gave a wonderful day-long presentation despite suffering from the flu), and Kristen Lamb.
I’ve also met New Zealand’s own Kara Isaac. I was visiting family in Wellington, where Kara lives, so messaged her and asked if she’d like to meet for coffee so she could autograph my copy of Close to You. We’ve met again since (so she could autograph Can’t Help Fallling, and so she could pass on my Genesis Award, which she was kind enough to collect for me in Nashville.
The other author I’ve met in person was Candace Calvert. She was on holiday, cruising around New Zealand with her husband. I happen to live in a cruise port, so Ellie Whyte, Angela Bycroft and I met Candace after she’d finished the obligatory Hobbiton tour.
