Elizabeth Twist

E is for… (A-Z Challenge Directory)

Elizabeth has a great blog of her own, and she’s participating in the Crusade and the A-Z challenge, but this post isn’t a blogger spotlight. It’s about the Elizabeth that I know in real life – or as close to real as it gets for writers who talk about writing together.

I’m not perfectly clear on the circumstances, but I think that I first met Elizabeth late in October or early in November of 2008, at an event for the Hamilton National Novel Writing Month region. And it seems likely to me that she stepped into the room, noticed the other writers gathering, and hurried over with a big wave.

That’s the impression that I always have of Elizabeth, though I know that there’s been times when she hasn’t been able to keep up that kind of enthusiasm, but I still associate her with creative energy and optimism.

Since December of 2009 or so, we’ve continued to meet at coffee shops in Hamilton on the weekend whenever we can schedule it, to type away or scribble longhand on paper, (in her case – I can’t read my own writing on paper anymore,) chat about our recent projects, and procrastinate by discussing work, books, television, movies, or anything else we can think of. I’ve heard all about her stories involving fem-angst vampires, zombies, poisoners, and less likely suspects, and told her about my unlikely angels, space parents, wizard detectives, spellcasting princesses, and homesick aliens.

More than anything, though, I’d like to thank Elizabeth for supporting me in my creative goals through the times when it seemed like a lot of other writer friends I’d made were busy on adventures of their own. I hope that I’ve been as good a source of support for her too.

So, here’s to you, Elizabeth. It’s your day, as far as I’m concerned. And good luck with that crazy Story-a-Day thing that you’ve signed up for in May!