reality v. fantasy

first off, thanks to all who left comments on my last entry re: the review and the writers festival. it has been an excellent experience thus far, and very surreal. i had a session on saturday and sunday, and have one more on friday. i'll give you a little re-cap of some moments:
- saturday night's session was titled 'the artist's life'. after stressing out about whether i was qualified to comment at all, i realised i would have to say something since they'd asked me to. i decided that i would read out excerpts from this blog to give the audience an idea what it was like to be me. i got some laughs (which is always nice when you're behind a microphone), but something else happened that i wasn't expecting - reading entries from the blog out loud was very therapeutic. and people seemed to get it, which was great (helen garner told me later that she thought i handled the session well - helen garner! what a treat).
- many people congratulated me on my first review. that was excellent.
- two people bought my book, and about four asked me for this blog address.
- i saw douglas coupland.
- sunday morning i went to a very entertaining session on women's fiction/chick-lit. it was refreshing to be alone and awake, absorbing clever conversation by a panel of very sassy women. great way to start a day, i think.
- sunday's session on 'mothers and daughters' went very well. i spoke for a short time, but what i said seemed to connect with the audience. sold more books afterward this time.
- had some friends & family in the audience, along with a whole host of penguin people (probably a good thing i was unaware of the latter)
- many people came up to me afterwards and said how much they'd enjoyed the session (including a lady who cornered me in the bathroom as i was washing my hands - add that to the 'things that you've heard happen to other people' list)
- stayed for a session on tv writing. i wish i was as gorgeous as mardi mcconnochie.

i won't be back at the festival till friday. if you are around, please come to the verandah 20 launch at 8pm - it's a free event, there will be free drinks and nibblies, and copies of the anthology will be on sale for the special launch price of $15.

i think i'll buy myself some flowers tomorrow.