Sherrilyn Kenyon

I have seen my wife’s Sherrilyn Kenyon books and she has spoken about them. I have taken a look at them. Now I am told she is going to be the after dinner speaker Friday night at the Desert Dreams Conference.

My other half Elaine (the reason I write in the first place) got Sherrilyn over to meet me. Elaine met her before through her friends in New Jersey Romance Writers. Sherrilyn would make a great politician for she remembers people and is full of hugs. She calls everyone (male or female) darling sweetie etc.

Then she got up to the podium, kicked off her shoes and started speaking.

I have been a member of Toastmasters for seventeen years.  Normally you want to give an after dinner speech of no more than fifteen minutes.  After that, people tune you out.  Not here.  She was both funny and heartbreaking.  I have been to the Toastmasters International Conference twice and heard the finalist speeches.  Sherrilyn’s was better than any of them.  Not sure there were many dry eyes when she was done speaking in her soft Georgia drawl.

The next morning, I went to her workshop.  A more intimate audience.  It was good to get to hear her again.

After lunch, I found her.  I am trying to get her to join Toastmasters so she can win the International Speech Contest and gain even more fans.  She already had fans with her.  These are local ladies who have attended other signings.  Camp followers!;-)

I spoke with her and they hung around with her throughout the afternoon.  At the booksigning that evening, with all those authors, she had a line.  I offered to provide security.  One of the attendees is married to a Maricopa County Sheriff’s Deputy.  When you are one of Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s forces, you do not need help.

I hope to keep in touch with Sherrilyn.  I can help her with the public speaking part, maybe if I behave, I can learn something about writing.