Wednesday, 4 January 2012

My exciting news! (and Insecure Writer's Support Group)

Any of you familiar with the Annual Steinbeck Festival? Well, this year it's in its 32nd year, and its also combined with an International Fringe Fest. This means that events are organised ALL OVER THE WORLD. This year the festival will run during May 3rd -6th.

This is last year's events map:


Because this year's festival will feature Zachary Mason’s brilliant The Lost Books of the Odyssey, they want to hold one of the events on ... you guessed it, ITHACA!

Festival Banner Medium 2011

And guess who's going to host it?

ME!

I. Am. So. Excited!



This is what it's about:

What can a voice change? A mind. A heart. The world. For thousands of years, writers, artists and musicians have been giving voice to our stories, our hopes, our dreams. Join us to celebrate the power of one voice—through story, song and image—in the work of Steinbeck and others. What can a voice change? Everything.

I'm going to have a chat with the Festival Director this afternoon to throw some ideas around. I'm hoping to make this an event Ithaca will never forget. It's not going to be anything MAJOR, as Ithaca is a small island, and tourism isn't spectacular, but I'm going to do the best I can to make it something special, whether only 3 or 300 people attend. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for the island and it deserves the best.

So ... it's the first Insecure Writer's Support Group for the year. And I have a question: Can I live up to my own expectations?


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43 comments:

  1. Theresa Milstein4 January 2012 at 12:44

    Congratulations! And of course you can.

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  2. Unknown4 January 2012 at 12:45

    That is so incredibly exciting! Wow! I wish, wish, wish I could be there! Have fun organising, and good luck with the meeting with the festival director :-)

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  3. Cathy4 January 2012 at 12:51

    Congratulations Jessica. You must be absolutely thrilled. All the best with the organising. I hope it is a really successful event for you.

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  4. Len Lambert4 January 2012 at 13:34

    Congratulations, Jessica!

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  5. Matthew MacNish4 January 2012 at 13:38

    Holy shit, Jess. Things just keep getting more and more incredible for you. Way to go!

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  6. Bryan Russell4 January 2012 at 13:52

    Of course you can.


    Hey, that was an easy question. Do you have something harder? Maybe some trigonometry?

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  7. Cathy Olliffe-Webster4 January 2012 at 14:42

    Oh congratulations! The festival sounds AWESOME! And yes, of COURSE you can live up to, and exceed, your expectations!

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  8. Leigh Caron4 January 2012 at 14:48

    Good Lord, girl! This is like - WOW! My palms are sweaty for you, but you're going to pull this off successfully. You're that good. Never doubt that.

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  9. Alex J. Cavanaugh4 January 2012 at 14:58

    That is awesome, Jessica! Are you kidding? With your creativity and energy, you'll make it the best festival ever.

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  10. Creepy Query Girl4 January 2012 at 15:08

    That's awesome! Congrats Jess! I'm sure you'll do a fantastic job. Hope you had a great holiday!

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  11. Stina4 January 2012 at 15:14

    That's awesome, Jess! And no doubt you'll turn it into a kick ass event. :D

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  12. Anonymous4 January 2012 at 15:46

    Good for you...fantastic...and of course you can.

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  13. Kristie Cook4 January 2012 at 15:56

    Sounds like you're going to have a blast! And, well, if your expectations are to out-Gaga the "lady" or to write 10 best sellers and produce a movie for each, then no, you might not meet them. Otherwise, i think you're good.

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  14. Laurel Garver4 January 2012 at 16:05

    This sounds like a wonderful event! Have a blast planning!

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  15. DL Hammons4 January 2012 at 16:35

    Absolutely you can!! Kudo's!! :)

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  16. Summer Ross4 January 2012 at 16:44

    Jessica- I have been following you for a good long while now and I've learned you are quite capable of doing anything you set your mind to!

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  17. Slamdunk4 January 2012 at 16:47

    Congrats Jessica--you'll be a big hit.

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  18. Tasha Seegmiller4 January 2012 at 16:52

    This sounds incredible! One thing I've found about being in charge of things is that the expectations are generally met and exceeded. Good luck & new follower :)

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  19. Tyrean Martinson4 January 2012 at 17:19

    Yes, you can! Congratulations!!!!

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  20. Unknown4 January 2012 at 17:22

    Congratulations! To be honest, I'd never heard of it before, but I can feel your enthusiasm in your post. What great encouragement for all us insecure's out there.

    And, yes, you can life up to your expectiations...you can even surpass them!

    Michelle
    Author of Concilium, available July 2012
    Concilium: The Departure, November 2012

    www.Michelle-Pickett.com
    www.Conciliumbooks.com

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  21. Green Monkey4 January 2012 at 17:22

    oh my, your excitement leaped off the page! CONGRATULATIONS~

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  22. April Plummer4 January 2012 at 17:31

    That's so exciting, Jess! I predict you will EXCEED your expectations! That sounds like a really rockin' festival! I wish I were able to attend.

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  23. RHYTHM AND RHYME4 January 2012 at 17:32

    Congratulations Jessica I know it will be a success.

    Yvonne.

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  24. Nicole Zoltack4 January 2012 at 18:07

    That's so awesome, congrats!

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  25. Sarah Ahiers4 January 2012 at 18:10

    omg, that's totally AWESOME! You are going to rock it out, i just know it!
    Live up to your expectations? Pshaa, you're gonna blow them out of the water!

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  26. Cherie Reich4 January 2012 at 18:11

    Wow! That's so awesome! Congratulations!

    And you're going to be spectacular. :)

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  27. Lindsay4 January 2012 at 18:39

    Congratulations. You are going to rock it! I just know you will. <3

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  28. Jessica Nelson4 January 2012 at 19:20

    I'm pretty sure you can!! Congrats!!! That sounds exciting. :-)

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  29. WritingNut4 January 2012 at 19:23

    Congratulations!!! And YES.. you most definitely can :)

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  30. WritingNut4 January 2012 at 19:23

    Congratulations!!! And YES.. you most definitely can :)

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  31. Cate Masters4 January 2012 at 19:33

    Wow, that is VERY cool news. Wish I lived closer to Ithaca, it sounds like exactly the kind of event I love.
    And yes, I believe you can live up to your expectations simply by doing the best you can.
    Looking forward to hearing more about it.

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  32. Shannon O'Donnell4 January 2012 at 20:05

    YES, YOU CAN!! That's wonderful, Jessica. You'll rock it! :-)

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  33. Ian Anderson4 January 2012 at 22:47

    That sounds exciting! Congrats!

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  34. Jasmine Walt5 January 2012 at 00:24

    That is flipping fantastic. Best of luck! :D

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  35. Elana Johnson5 January 2012 at 00:46

    You're a rock star, so how could it be anything but amazing? Good luck!

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  36. Bish Denham5 January 2012 at 01:44

    You rock, Jessica. And I'm SO envious! I would LOVE to be in Ithaca for the festival, Steinbeck is one of my absolute all time favorite authors.

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  37. ShaunaKelleyWrites5 January 2012 at 03:10

    Well deserved, and I am sure you will do wonderfully! Congratulations.

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  38. Unknown5 January 2012 at 03:35

    How incredibly COOL!! You are going to have a fantastic experience -- so wish I could go!!!!

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  39. Steve MC5 January 2012 at 06:39

    Sounds awesome. But who's this Steinbeck?

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  40. Georgina Morales5 January 2012 at 08:10

    What a great way to start the year. Good luck! I'm sure it will be a great experience and I'll be envying you from my cold side of the world. Ah, the mediterranean, art, and great minds. What can be better?

    Hopping from Diary of a Writer in Progress.

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  41. Janice Phelps Williams5 January 2012 at 22:19

    Can I live up to my own expectations?


    Oh my goodness, what great news!
    As to your question… jeepers, haven't you already? I want you to put down that big ruler you have pulled out to measure yourself with, break it in half and throw it in the trash. Now change the question to this:

    Will I remain open to life exceeding my expectations?

    You will do a great job and the festival is darn lucky to have you! (Don't forget to walk Holly, take photos, take naps.)

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  42. Unknown6 January 2012 at 12:53

    Insecures Writers group sound somewhere I'd be right at home

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  43. LTM6 January 2012 at 16:37

    Methinks this is a rhetorical question... of course you can! How totally supercool! And what a blast! Wish I could be there~ :o)

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