At the beginning of the year I wrote about my word for the year, fresh, and my fears stemming from past experience. (Check it out here: Starting Fresh.) Despite my fears, I have taken the opportunities that God brings my way. One of those opportunities is coming up in a week and a half—the Realm Makers Conference in St. Louis.

I had no idea this existed at the beginning of this year. This group makes me excited. Why? It’s a conference specifically for Christian writers who love and write fantasy, sci-fi, and speculative fiction. A place that feels like me.

There is an option to dress-up at the awards dinner, think cosplay. At first I wasn’t going to wear a costume, after all I’m a 65 year-old fat woman who thinks cosplay is for my grandkids. But, after following some of the chats and seeing the excitement, I figured, why not! And since making that decision I’ve been even more excited.

I tried to base my costume on my character, Maelee. She is a 15 year-old Sensitive who just graduated from Apprentice Gardener to Journey Gardener. Life for her is about to change drastically, as she leaves her protected utopian community and ventures into the dystopian world outside the gate. The concept: life inside the church prepares us to face the challenges of life outside the church.

For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.

Isaiah‬ ‭43‬:‭19‬ ‭NLT

This scripture came up in my Bible plan today. It is one of the scriptures to support my word for the year. Reading it again today ignited my mind with how it fits my character and my adventure attending this conference. I look forward to seeing what God has in store as I continue on the path.

Grace & Peace,

Sandy