In mid-March my employer sent me and many of my co-workers out of our offices and to our homes to conduct business. All this time, companies have been closing and people losing jobs, the stock market a miss-mess of confusion, my 401(k) drooping, and I continue to work from home. Yet, it was only when I recently heard that the Killer Nashville Writers’ Conference was cancelled that the pandemic felt truly real and hit home for me.
I’ve attended the Killer Nashville Writers’ conference every year since 2009. This year I held off paying the registration fee after watching what was happening in China. When we were told we were in a pandemic in March, I decided not to attend this year’s conference. Still, Killer Nashville went on preparing for the event, scheduling the panels and the presentations. They continued to work to make it happen right into this month.
Even though this was not a surprise, it still blew me away. Clay Stafford, the founder, stated online: “Thanks to all of you for a wonderful 15 years. I’m sorry, very sorry, we couldn’t pull it off.”
I’m sure many of you are aware of other author/writer conferences that have had to do the same thing. For some reason this felt personal to me.
Addendum:
A picture of the last time my husband and I went out to dinner on his birthday March 13th. Mexican food and Margaritas. Afterwards we went to Great Clips and got hair cuts. We’ve pretty much stayed home since. Bummer.
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9 comments:
I understand completely. I feel that way about the Public Safety Writers Association which should have been happening this weekend. Had it gone on, I'd have headed to Vegas on Wednesday, served as one of the instructors at the before conference workshop on Thursday and attended the get-acquainted party on Thursday evening. The conference would have started today--Friday. I've been to everyone since the organization reformed. Now, I'm wondering if by next year conferences will be able to happen. Who knew life would change so abruptly! And yes, I'm sad too!
My birthday is early in March and my dinner with my son's family was my last outing, too. I'm sure glad we did it! Stay safe, Linda.
Thank you, Kaye. Same to you - stay safe. I saw that you had panels, etc. for this KN. I was hoping to finally catch up with you, but I did not pay early like I usually do. I stayed guarded because of everything going on, and then figured this would happen. Sadly, it will not. Hoping to meet up with your next year. You probably will keep key panel spots. I thing you early-birds disserve prime spots.
I felt the same way about Killer Nashville. It seems like the last straw in a huge haystack! The important thing is to stay healthy and safe. I hope to see you there again next year!
Yes, Saralyn. Good way to describe the feeling. It was like being clobbered over the head that were really in a Pandemic. Your 2nd book arrived a few days ago.
We were fortunate enough to go to the Buddy Bash right before everything closed down. That was the event raising money for the Buddy Foundation, where we got our dog, Buster. After that, everything started getting postponed or cancelled, including Frontier Days, our annual 4th of July Festival in the village where we volunteer on Disabilities Day for free hot dogs and other goodies for the disabled. We had tickets to see a favorite singer and that was postponed until the end of September. Hopefully, everything here won't get shut down again at that time. The only good thing about this pandemic is I see lots more neighbors at a 6 foot distance than ever before, because they are all out walking themselves or their dogs or jogging or biking. Church services are limited now and us oldies are encouraged to stay home instead and watch on TV. Strangely enough, I can see what's going on better when it's on TV. Things are strange these days.
You are so right, Morgan. Also, we've gotten to know neighbors who live blocks away. Everyone wants to stop and chat. There are some positives although this remains fairly scarey.
I was thinking of going to Killer Nashville, although it is quite a distance for me to drive. I figured I would go IF I was a finalist for the Claymore award (I guess not, since I didn't hear back). I belong to a local/regional group "James River Writers" in Richmond and they hold a conference in October each year. They decided fairly early on to go virtual this year. I don't suppose it will be the same, exactly, but at least it is something. I am looking forward to it, I wish some of the other conferences were doing the same.
I don't believe you have to attend the KN conference to win the Claymore award. It's a great contest. I'm planning on going again next years.
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