The Bald Eagle

The Bald Eagle

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Women's Fiction Festival, Matera, Italy

Been facing my insecurities and moving ahead at a turtle's pace, this month, taking one step at a time.  I attended the Women's Fiction Writing Festival in Matera, Italy.  The workshop, held in Matera, gave me a chance to practice what I preach. Driving down challenged me because it gave me insight on the refugee situation in Germany, Austria, and Italy.

Scared? Of course, I was. Any time you move beyond what you know into the unknown, you will be emotionally challenged. Fear arises and you yearn for what is behind you, but once you start out conquering those fears by moving forward, the fear dispels.

I met many people and now  have the opportunity to build a network with outstanding writers  on one of the Social Media Network platforms.
 


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Very much impressed with the panel speakers and their professionalism, I enjoyed listening to their lectures and participated in workshop discussions with people who were from the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zeland, South Africa, and Italy. The translators were magnificent and were  able to switch from English to Italian or from Italian to English within a heartbeat, and I had the opportunity to practice my Italian.


However, for me the biggest highlight was Matera and its inhabitants. The  Italian people in Southern Italy captured my heart.  As I departed Matera on Monday morning, I was singing, I left my heart in Matera, instead of San Francisco.  







Shalom,

Pat Garcia
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Location: Matera, Province of Matera, Italy

25 comments:

  1. Susan ScottOctober 7, 2015 at 12:15 PM

    Fabulous post Pat thank you for sharing it with us!!!!!

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    Replies
    1. Pat GarciaOctober 12, 2015 at 12:01 PM

      You're very welcome, Susan. It was a fantastic workhsop.
      Thanks for dropping by.
      Shalom,
      Patricia

      Delete
  2. C.D. Gallant-KingOctober 7, 2015 at 2:29 PM

    I want to go to Italy to talk about writing!

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    1. Pat GarciaOctober 12, 2015 at 12:02 PM

      I can only say, you would love it. It was one of the most exhilarating experiences in my life, and I'm glad I could be a part of it.
      Thanks for dropping by.
      Shalom,
      Patricia

      Delete
  3. Gwynn RogersOctober 7, 2015 at 4:24 PM

    Pat your conference sounds interesting and rewarding. You definitely have connected with Italy. Congratulations on stepping into the unknown!! Great example!

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    1. Pat GarciaOctober 12, 2015 at 12:04 PM

      My Dear Gwynn,
      It exceeded interesting. I never thought that agents and publishers could be empathic, but there I learned that they are very interested in seeing writers succeed. All who participated on the panels were approachable.
      Thanks for dropping by.
      Shalom,
      Patricia

      Delete
  4. AnonymousOctober 7, 2015 at 6:58 PM

    Awesome! Sounds like you had a great time and that place sure is pretty!

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    1. Pat GarciaOctober 12, 2015 at 12:06 PM

      I did have a great time. The information flow was terrific, the people were very friendly with a dash of southern hospitality and the city, Matera, is a place where I could live.
      Thank you for dropping by.
      Shalom,
      Patricia

      Delete
  5. Stephanie FarisOctober 7, 2015 at 7:59 PM

    Wow. What an amazing experience. It sounds like you have the inspiration you need to move forward.

    Stephanie Faris
    IWSG Co-Host
    http://stephie5741.blogspot.com

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    Replies
    1. Pat GarciaOctober 12, 2015 at 12:08 PM

      Yes, it was an amazing experience, and I came away from the conference with the assurance that one day I will see my own books published. The workshop was encouraging and gave me the fuel I needed to keep on doing what I'm doing. Sometimes we need to know from, professionals in the business that we're okay and that is what I received.
      Thank you for dropping by.
      Shalom,
      Patricia

      Delete
  6. Chemist KenOctober 7, 2015 at 8:16 PM

    Great pictures! I hope you actually had time to pay attention the conference. :)
    Way to put yourself out there. Congratulations.

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    Replies
    1. Pat GarciaOctober 12, 2015 at 12:09 PM

      Oh, yes, I did have time to pay attention to the conference, but I must confess that Matera is hypnotising. It gets its hooks in you and you want to stay there forever.
      Thank you for dropping by.
      Shalom,
      Patricia

      Delete
  7. Lynda R Young as Elle CardyOctober 8, 2015 at 1:01 AM

    Oh wow, sounds like you had an awesome time! I love the photos.

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    Replies
    1. Pat GarciaOctober 12, 2015 at 12:10 PM

      Thank you. My time there was awesome. The conference was the best I've attended so far.
      Thanks for dropping by.
      Shalom,
      Patricia

      Delete
  8. Shannon LawrenceOctober 8, 2015 at 10:00 AM

    What a fantastic opportunity and experience! Definitely a personal stretch to go to a different country and have a new experience like this.

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    1. Pat GarciaOctober 12, 2015 at 12:13 PM

      It was indeed a personal stretch for me, although I am an ExPat living in Europe, specifically Germany. The workshop was held in English and Italian and I had the opportunity to get to know some really fine agents, publishers and writers from Europe and the USA.
      Thank you for dropping by.
      Shalom,
      Patricia

      Delete
  9. Diane BurtonOctober 8, 2015 at 1:49 PM

    Sounds like you had a great time, Pat. What an experience.

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    1. Pat GarciaOctober 12, 2015 at 12:14 PM

      Yes, I had a great time. The workshop was well worth attending. It is an experience that has imprinted itself on my heart and I look forward to participating again.
      Thank you for dropping by.
      Shalom,
      Patricia

      Delete
  10. Cherie ReichOctober 8, 2015 at 8:12 PM

    Wow! It sounds like a fantastic conference and it was in Italy! That's so cool!

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    1. Pat GarciaOctober 12, 2015 at 12:17 PM

      Yes, it was a fantastic conference. I don't have that much experience with conferences, but this conference exceeded my expectations. The agents and publishers were approachable. They were interested and the writers were simply fantastic.
      As an ExPat American living in Europe, that conference strengthened my sometimes sagging muscles of faith.
      Thank you for dropping by.
      Shalom,
      Patricia

      Delete
  11. Denise Covey October 10, 2015 at 3:54 AM

    Hi Pat! What a lovely post! I've just attended a writing festival in my home city, Brisbane and I've been meaning to post about that too. Time is of the essence. I'd love to participate in a festival with translators. How cool! I've travelled a lot in Italy but not to Matera. I must look it up. I wish I'd been there! Now to put into practice what you learned! Right?

    And I so appreciate your kind comments on my whiny post. Thank you. And I really must find time to sort out Wattpad seeing they even wished me a happy birthday (((smiles))).

    Denise :-)

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    1. Pat GarciaOctober 12, 2015 at 12:21 PM

      Denise,
      I believe you would love Matera. I love it. It has won my heart. I hope you have developed another map plan regarding your manuscript, and don't worry about Wattpad, I'm still trying to figure it out myself.
      One thing that you might like to know is that one or two of the agents at the conference talked very positively about Wattpad being a social medium to find new writers.
      Thanks for dropping by.
      Shalom,
      Patricia

      Delete
  12. Michelle WallaceOctober 10, 2015 at 10:50 PM

    Sounds like you had a fabulous time!
    Entertaining... plus the educational benefits... what more could you ask for?

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    1. Pat GarciaOctober 12, 2015 at 12:22 PM

      I did have a fabulous time, and the conference was all those things you mention. The educational benefits were unbelievable, and I will be attending again.
      Thank you for dropping by.
      Shalom,
      Patricia

      Delete
  13. Liz BOctober 15, 2015 at 5:41 AM

    Hello Lovely Lady!
    I am overjoyed to see you beaming from your experience!
    I feel like I want to sit with you in an outdoor cafe and drink in your tales.
    I'm jealous, naturally, that you ran away to such an interesting place, but it is short lived. :) You deserve it!
    Hugs!!

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