All Good Things…

I guess it’s true what they say about all good things coming to an end. This has been one of the most memorable, crazy, and beloved experiences of my life. Who would have thought almost 3 years ago when I decided to try my hand at this “romance-writing” thingy that it would turn into one of the best decisions of my life and bring me some of the best friends I have ever known–even if I never have had the chance to meet them face-to-face? We have loved together, laughed together, and shown amazing support in the face of life changes, life stabilizing, new careers, old careers, family love and loss. It truly has been a blessing to be part of such a beautiful community.

As I ruminated on my life as a Vagabond, I had to go back and look at that first blog. What fun it is to read our first thoughts and impressions! It’s like digging through an old journal you began years before and seeing how far you’ve come. It’s amazing how much we mature as humans, writers, and even bloggers in our thinking and perceiving the world. To give you a taste of Élodie, the early years, below is my first blog:

Hello out there to all you fellow romance addicts! So I’ve always found my life to be filled with more activities than there are hours in the day, and this worked out quite well for me.Then I found out about Avon FanLit. And my life was never the same. I first heard about it through the website of one of my favorite authors Eloisa James and thought it would be a neat idea, but didn’t consider jumping in there for anything more than voting on friend’s submissions. Well, you know how that say once you’ve been bit by the bug…I may not have been bit by the acting bug (this time), but I sure got bit by the writing bug! On a whim, I submitted my first chapter just hours before the first round ended and I was hooked. Daily I tracked my scores. As one friend very astutely put it, I had Avonitis. I think I still do. Or at least I’m going through withdrawals. I met some incredible people through this event and saw talent that makes me want to chunk it all and take up full-time reading. I offer much applause to all the writers who found a voice in this contest. It takes guts to put yourself on the line. And I saw much amazing talent that I hope to be reading within the next few years.

So after six weeks of juggling writing professional papers as well as fictional ones, it all has come to an end. And I know that my life will not be the same boring 25 hours crammed into 24, anymore. Now I plan to cram 30!

Since the onset of this contest, I’ve been pondering two questions: What happened to my life? and What’s next?

I could just go back to focusing solely on my academic work, but where would be the fun in that? I hadn’t pondered the upcoming NaNoWriMo, but once you’ve been bitten by the bug…I suppose I’ll just have to look forward to continuing my juggling act. So far the balls are still in the air…

So, tell me, have you ever participated in a writing contest, big or small? What did it do for you?

What is so amazing is that we all have done this in the changes in our lives. Whether we’ve Fanlitted, NaNoWriMo’d, Vagabondlitted, Thesis’d, or Dissertated it, we’ve all traveled the journey of writing adventures. And loved every minute of it.

For all those among us who have been wondering about where I disappeared to for the last several months, I have been buried in comprehensive exam-land–not nearly as much fun as Romanceland, I assure you. I now emerge ABD (that means All But Dissertation) and I am ready to conquer the dissertation. Of course, I have allowed myself the treat of writing 1 hour per day on works of fiction (and try to keep the dissertation from becoming a work of fiction in the process). So, I’m back to adventures in writing after a 2 year hiatus.

On a brighter note, fear not, we will not be demolishing the cite. There were way too many great blogs and comments to do something as heinous as that. So, RV will remain. Because you never know when you might get a hankering to go back and read one of Manda’s clever stories, Lindsey’s great reviews, Janga’s wise advice, Hellion’s (and Ely’s) insane parodies, Tiff’s wickedly sexy heroes, or Élodie’s odd ramblings.

And so, I bid you, my dear friends, au revoir, with three things:

A Final Parting Song:

How do I say goodbye to what we had?
The good times that made us laugh
Outweigh the bad.

I thought wed get to see forever
But forever’s gone away
It’s so hard to say goodbye to yesterday.

I don’t know where this road
Is going to lead
All I know is where we’ve been
And what we’ve been through.

If we get to see tomorrow
I hope its worth all the wait
It’s so hard to say goodbye to yesterday.

And I’ll take with me the memories
To be my sunshine after the rain
It’s so hard to say goodbye to yesterday.

And I’ll take with me the memories
To be my sunshine after the rain
It’s so hard to say goodbye to yesterday.

O come on! You had to know I’d go all 90’s Boy-Band on you! I just couldn’t resist.

In all seriousness, my heart feels the sad rain of knowing something I have loved for some time is coming to a close, but I look forward to the sunshine that will be there every time I see another Tessa Dare, Courtney Milan, Tiffany Clair, Maggie Robinson, Sara Lindsey, Manda Collins, Janga, Elyssa Papa, JK Coi, Santa, J Perry Stone new release on the shelves waiting for insatiable readers to gobble them up. And I know we shall all continue to be there for each I other; I simply will miss gathering around this campfire throughout the week to share our triumphs and trials.

A Profound Thought:

Friends will help you move. Real friends will help you move bodies. Let me know if I ever need to bring a shovel.

And A Toast:

To all our beloved Vagabonds and Vagabondettes out there, I raise a toast to friendship, support, love, and romance. Keep writing! I need new books to read!

Much love,
Élodie

P.S. I also forgot to mention that I have a teaching job lined up for next year, already!! Squeeeeeeeee! You know what this means?? I have to clean out some of the, er, “stuff” in my darling home, including some romance novels dying for new homes. Three lucky commenters will receive great romance books and treats from me! So please comment! Let’s really go out with a bang!