Mashed Potatos with Mussolini

This was a banner, red letter weekend for the Quills.  The Tucson Festival of Books was a rousing success and we had the time of our lives.  One of the biggest thrills of our lives was chauffeuring Julia Quinn and Rachel Gibson around town.  Julia even bought us all coffee with her Starbucks Gold Card!  And she offered us some good writer advice, some of which you’ll note Kelli has already taken to heart.  She took our information and offered to stay in touch and then……..hold on to your panties, ladies……she gave us hugs.  SERIOUSLY – I didn’t have to paw at her or anything, she held out her arms to embrace me and I willingly stepped in.  I would have never have attempted it with out her initiating it.  I was afraid it would come off too stalkery.  I left Julia Quinn at her hotel with her boob prints on my Quill Sisters shirt! 

I joke – but really, it was one of the best days ever.  Kelli, Ava and I got to spend the day together, doing writery stuff, hobnobbing with the elite in our field – it was a totally Quill-centric day.

Sunday was a little less hectic and star studded, but we did get to meet Jennier Ashley, the author of one of our favorites, The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie.  She was also free with advice and very helpful to those of us starting out.

One interesting thing happened today that was outside of the expected.  It is because it was odd that I bring it up. 

Ava was groped by Darth Vadar this morning.

Seriously, after we took the first photo the Evil Lord refused to let her go, wrapped his arms around her, and insisted on another photo.

Who am I to disagree with Darth Vadar?

OH YEAH! One other little thing happened.  I pitched my completed novel to an agent and she asked for more pages. 

So what’s with the title of this post, you ask?  While Ava and I manned the RWA booth with some other ladies today a gentleman came up and told the us the plot of his book.  It went something like this, and I’m not making it up: President Bush was going across the prairie in covered wagons and it was all Mussolini’s fault because he didn’t take photographs and there were buckets of mashed potatoes.  There were some VERY interesting people out today.

This weekend totally rocked!