Caroline Starr Rose

picture book and middle-grade author

  • home
  • Bio
  • Blog
  • Books
    • Anthologies
    • Blue Birds
    • The Burning Season
    • Jasper and the Riddle of Riley’s Mine
    • May B.
    • Miraculous
    • Over in the Wetlands
    • A Race Around the World
    • Ride On, Will Cody!
  • Author Visits
  • Virtual Visits
  • Events
  • Teacher Resources
  • Contact
  • Writing One to One

One Year Later

17 Comments

Last weekend I attended a local writing conference (the Jubilee Jambalaya)  hosted by a local university (Nicholls State). The Jubilee is a month-long celebration of the arts; the Jambalaya conference is the writing portion of the Jubilee.

Last year, I entered the novel excerpt contest and won first place. This year I got to speak before the new winner was announced — pretty amazing, really. The whole idea that I’ve sold a book is still sinking in. Somehow speaking in front of a group of aspiring and established authors made everything a little more real.

And newsflash: there was no jambalaya for lunch this year. We ate gumbo instead. If news of this gets out, I’m not sure what the Jubilee higher ups might call next year’s event.

For those of you interested, here’s a Jambalaya article (including an interview with me). FYI: the time frame for MAY B. is incorrect. Instead of the 1930s, it takes place in the 1870s.

If you are lucky enough to have an annual conference nearby, take advantage of the opportunity! Even if the conference doesn’t focus on your particular genre, you can only benefit from the local support.

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Email

Filed Under: May B., this and that

Comments

  1. Sheri Larsenッ says

    April 14, 2010 at 12:06 pm

    Love this. It’s amazing how things come full-circle, huh?? Good for you, Caroline.

    Reply
  2. laurapauling says

    April 14, 2010 at 12:08 pm

    That is so cool! I tried Jambalaya a few months ago! It’s terrific! I’ve never had gumbo though. And let that sink in! Yay! Book published! But Fall 2011 is so long to wait!

    Reply
  3. Tamika: says

    April 14, 2010 at 12:50 pm

    Amazing~! It’s breathtaking thinking of being published. Are you still pinching yourself?!

    Reply
  4. Solvang Sherrie says

    April 14, 2010 at 2:22 pm

    How very cool for you! I’m loving watching this journey of yours. Congrats!

    Reply
  5. Valerie Geary says

    April 14, 2010 at 2:53 pm

    I love this story! Also… great article and inspiring words. Thank you! 🙂

    Reply
  6. Bethany Mattingly says

    April 14, 2010 at 3:04 pm

    My college is having a conference soon but it conflicts with my schedule. It was so frustrating because I want to go to one soooo bad. I hope I can make it work out next year 🙂 Your experience really makes me want to go!

    Reply
  7. Tere Kirkland says

    April 14, 2010 at 4:29 pm

    No jambalaya? The nerve! 😉

    Isn’t it awesome to look back on the progress you’ve made in this way?

    The annual Tennessee Williams Lit Festival in my city is my literary benchmark. I know I’m lucky to have it.

    Reply
  8. Crystal says

    April 14, 2010 at 5:28 pm

    Way to go, Caroline! How awesome that now it’s your turn to speak as a soon-to-be-published author! Wow . . . and this is only in the space of a year! Congratulations! And enjoy the conference! 🙂

    Reply
  9. TerryLynnJohnson says

    April 14, 2010 at 5:37 pm

    Congratulations on all your success! How great is that you got first place! And got to speak! Sounds like you’d better get used to it! MAY B is going to take off!
    Sorry ’bout the jambalaya.

    Reply
  10. beth says

    April 14, 2010 at 5:39 pm

    Very cool that you were able to go full circle and speak!

    Reply
  11. Liesl says

    April 14, 2010 at 9:20 pm

    That’s so cool!

    Hey, your Top 100 Children’s book list came through on my reader but when I came her to comment it wasn’t there.

    Anyway, you’re not the only one who did not connect with A Wrinkle in Time. I didn’t, neither as a child nor an adult. Oh well.

    But you MUST read Ella Enchanted. I think it’s my favorite, definitely top five for me.

    Reply
  12. Natalie says

    April 14, 2010 at 10:18 pm

    That sounds so cool Caroline! It’s been such a big year for you and I bet everyone was excited by your success.

    Reply
  13. Natalie Aguirre says

    April 15, 2010 at 12:43 am

    Congrats on winning last year Caroline. I’m going to the SCBWI conference in Michigan in 2 weeks. I can’t wait.

    Reply
  14. sarahjayne smythe says

    April 15, 2010 at 9:26 am

    Great post. I just wanted to let you know that I was over here following your from Kristi’s blog. BTW, great interview there. 🙂

    Reply
  15. Jen says

    April 15, 2010 at 11:47 am

    Wow this is amazing and what a wonderful idea! First off congratulations on winning last year and getting to speak in front of everyone this year was quite the privilidge so that’s amazing! I am going to look into conferences around the area because you are right local love would be awesome!

    Reply
  16. Jame says

    April 15, 2010 at 1:27 pm

    Gumbolaya? Just sayin…

    Reply
  17. Sarah Skilton says

    April 16, 2010 at 10:58 pm

    Winning 1st place last year was clearly a harbinger — just think of everything you’ve accomplished since then! 🙂

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Meet Caroline Starr Rose
  • Email
  • Instagram
  • RSS
  • Twitter

my books

Subscribe to my newsletter + to receive regular blog posts

categories

  • A Race Around the World
  • authors
  • Blue Birds
  • books and reading
  • classroom connections
  • encouragement
  • faith
  • family
  • historical fiction
  • home
  • Jasper and the Riddle of Riley's Mine
  • May B.
  • Miraculous
  • non-fiction
  • Over in the Wetlands
  • poetry
  • publication
  • Ride On, Will Cody!
  • Song of the Raven
  • teaching
  • The Burning Season
  • The Notebook Series
  • the writing life
  • this and that

Copyright © 2023 · Caroline Starr Rose · Site by Design by Insight

I participate in Amazon Services LLC Associates and Bookshop.org, affiliate programs that allow me to make a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. Thank you for supporting this site!

Sign up for biweekly blog posts + my quarterly author newsletter and receive a printable quote from my novel, Blue Birds.