Today is IWSG day because it’s the first Wednesday of the month. IWSG stands for Insecure Writers Support Group and was founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh. Our purpose is to share and encourage. You can follow other IWSG members here or on twitter using the hashtag #IWSG. We also have a Facebook page.
Monday I blogged about my trek to Marshall, Texas, to attend the ETBU Conference. If you’re interested you can backtrack and read Part I but each post stands alone—as they say in the world of series writing.
When I registered for the conference, I signed up for an appointment with one of my favorite guys in the entire realm of Christian writing and publishing. Yes, you guessed it—Cecil Murphey. Cec is author of a whole slew of books but two you might recognize are Gifted Hands: the Ben Carson Story, and 90 Minutes in Heaven: A True Story of Death and Life.
I’d never met Cec but I’ve read his blog and I’m on a couple writing loops with him. I’ve emailed him with questions through the years, and he’s always been generous with answers. I think that’s unusual. There are other authors I’ve emailed with questions who say they don’t have time or that they’ll get back with me, and never do.
My appointment with Cec was at ten o’clock sharp on Saturday morning, and my session with Caleb Pirtle III (The Magic of Storytelling) ended at exactly ten 0’clock. One of my pet peeves is people coming and going during writing sessions; it’s disruptive. So what did I do? Well, uh, I skipped my appointment. Crazy, huh? It surprised me too, but you know, face to face Cec might not be as kind as online Cec. (Yes, that actually crossed my mind. Insecurity is an ugly thing!)
I felt so guilty. I visualized Cec sitting there waiting, looking at his watch, wondering why I didn’t show.
In my next session, all of a sudden I got a text message from Elizabeth Hoyer who handled the conference paperwork: “Jessica, Cecil Murphey is trying to get in touch with you.”
Whaaaat? Never in all my days have I had an appointment track me down. Not that I miss a lot of appointments—actually not any, but I’d bet good money all those agents and editors I’ve met with over the years wouldn’t have missed me, much less tracked me down. I texted Elizabeth back, apologized, and told her I’d be in Cec’s 2:45 session and not to worry about the appointment. In her next text
she gave me his cell phone number. He wanted me to call him.
Call Cecil Murphey—THE Cecil Murphey—on the phone?
I didn’t call. I texted Elizabeth: “It’s not necessary to put himself out. Sorry for the trouble.”
Elizabeth responded: “No, it’s fine. He gave me his number for you, he has appointments before and after his class so you can set up another time to meet.”
What pressure!
I still didn’t call Cec, but I texted him and we set up an appointment for 2:30–EXACTLY when my session with Kristen Clark (How to Write and Publish Your Inspirational Short Story) was supposed to begin.
I know what you’re thinking and you’re right. Sometimes my elevator stops between floors. Here I was at a conference especially to meet Cecil Murphey, but I seemed to be running from him. Was it nerves? What was going on with me?
Hubby went to Kristen’s workshop and promised to take good notes and save me a seat. I had no idea how long my appointment with Cec would be–probably no longer than five or ten minutes. I trekked off to find him.
The moment our eyes met–haha–actually, the moment he read my name-tag, he apologized for the mix-up. Mix-up? You’ll be proud to know I took full responsibility and confessed to standing him up.
We walked outside, the sun peeked from behind the clouds. No, really, it did. It had rained all night and part of the morning. Sitting on a bench in the sun, we talked. And talked. And talked. For thirty minutes!
He told me I was the only one of his appointments that didn’t send him something to critique. I told him I just wanted to meet him, to thank him, to tell him how much he’d meant to me over the years. That he would take the time to answer questions in detail from someone he didn’t know … He’d been a mentor—and didn’t know it.
Was I too gushy? Too forward? Do you think I scared him? (I still have his cell number in my phone and I do have stalker tendencies. Not to worry. He probably used a conference throw-away.)
We talked about everything from writing to praying. He advised me on some things I had questions about and shared some of his writing plans. That thirty minutes was worth the price of the entire conference–doubled!
Have you ever read someone’s book, their blog and just known deep down in your gut that you have a connection with that person? That you share something? That’s the way I’ve always felt about Cecil Murphey. And after meeting him, I thank God he was exactly as I’ve always imagined.
On Friday, I’ll tell you about my last three sessions at the ETBU Conference.
I’m so glad you got to meet him. Isn’t it great to know that our idols are real people?
Best wishes,
Diane IWSG #92
Me too, Diane! Sometimes my fears TRY to get the best of me!
Wow, that’s pretty cool.
Thanks Charles! I think so too. ?
I LOVE it when you connect with someone on that level. Nothing like it. I’m so glad he insisted and you were able to have such a wonderful experience.
Thanks Crystal. It was fun. If we hadn’t connected I would regret it for the rest of my life.
Jessica, I’m so glad you had that great experience. What a wonderful connection. Your nerves were trying to win, but Cec wouldn’t let them!!
Play off the Page
And I’m so glad he was insistent. I’ve never known a speaker to do that. They’re usually so tired they treasure a moment of peace. ?
I saw y’all walking toward the courtyard–you were doing all the talking. I got so tickled about it, because you’d told me at lunch you were a bit nervous about meeting him after standing him up. Looked like the nervousness didn’t last too long. 😉
Linda, Once we connected there was no nervousness. He’s definitely hero material! 🙂
I’m glad it worked out so well for both of you. Me, I’m too chicken to introduce myself. Who knows maybe that will change with time. 🙂
Anna from Elements of Writing
MAKE it change, Anna. When we let fear control us, we’re definitely the loser. I’m really bad about being a wallflower at conferences but I’ve always been more an observer, certainly not good at chit-chat. A few years ago I decided to make myself do things that scared me. I was surprised at all the good things that came my way because of it… speaking to writers groups and conferences, agreeing to write a story for a series when I had NO idea at all, etc. I’m still a scaredy cat but I breathe a prayer and forge ahead. 🙂
Hi, Jessica!
I smiled as I read about your Cec experience. Thanks for sharing it! 🙂
I forwarded your blog post to Cec, and he wanted me to let you know that your words really touched him. They were a sweet surprise and great encouragement for him today.
Blessings,
Twila Belk
Thanks, Twila. He’s a special man!?
Jessica, from my post in the conference bookstore, I could see you and Cec sitting on that bench. I knew the two of you were having a good visit. You can’t have anything else with Cec Murphey. He’s one of a kind who puts people at ease and treats everyone with so much respect. Gad you got to visit with him.
He’s definitely one of a kind! ?
Some things just happen the exact way they are supposed to happen! He sounds like such a nice man.
I will never forget how excited I was to read Gifted Hands, because Ben Carson was a member of our church. That was when I fell in love with true stories.
Looking forward to reading about the rest of the conference.