On the way to Milledgeville The man in front of me pushed his seat back. So I took a picture of his head. Everything was paid for including our bed and breakfast The first night, we went to a party at a professor's home. I was having such a good time, I forgot to take pictures. The next day We visited Flannery O'Connor's home. She lived on a family farm in Milledgeville with her mother. It was a little run-down. But they are trying to restore it. We took some pictures. And bought clay in the gift shop. Brian was happy. I participated in two discussion panels. Students asked me questions, and I made up answers.

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A grad student showed us Central State Hospital which was an enormous lunatic asylum. Once it housed 20,000 patients. But now it is mostly boarded up and creepy. On Friday night We schmoozed with the students. They were all very nice. A little later on Arts & Letters gave out the prizes I was so happy I engulfed my judge, Kelly Cherry. Then she read her story. And Molly Peacock read her poetry. On Saturday morning We visited the cemetary. We saw Flannery O'Conner's grave. And some other graves. And discussed who gets to be a ghost when they die.

The South can be funny We had a giggle about this truck and this sign and big homes with funny names and these ladies and these ladies too. Before the big reading We had cocktails with the professors. Then we ate pizza. I chatted with Tenaya Darlington, who won first place in poetry. The writers all got along very well. Finally I was to read my story Megan Looney Introduced me; it was beautiful. I read my story. It took 30 minutes. Tenaya read her poems. She wore a boa. Then, I hugged the editor of Arts & Letters, Marty Lammon. After the reading We were driven back to Atlanta by our friends Amy & Scott Cooper who took us to the airport at early the next morning.

This is how I got to be an award-winning published writer. It could happen to you too.