More news from SheanHQ, nestled firmly in the desolate wiles of Long Island.  This time, I’m a YouTube star*!I come with more news, and this time, I’m a YouTube star*!

*for varying definitions of ‘star.’  Your mileage may vary.  Offer not valid in AK and HI.

This year’s crop of students from Odyssey Writing Workshop feature in a video just released on YouTube discussing the merits of Odyssey, the amazing quality of the workshop, Jeanne Cavelos’ encyclopaedic knowledge, and the strong bond developed between the students.  I get a fair amount of screen time, but I believe my classmates were far more eloquent and I implore you to listen to what they have to say.  Watch the video, below:

I can’t stress enough how pivotal Odyssey has been in my developmental as a writer.  Hands down applying to go was the best decision of my writing career.  I highly recommend that any of you readers who are currently writers, or are considering becoming a genre writers, owe it to yourselves to try to attend.  Or at the very least to take one of Jeanne Cavelos’ online writing courses.  I’m thinking in particular of two of you (*cough* *cough* Jessica and Chris *cough* cough*).

I knew this video was coming, but watching it, what I was not expecting was the flood of overwhelming emotion I was hit with seeing my friends again for the first time since last summer.  Though we keep in touch in various forms of social media, tics and body language, vocal inflections and odd turns of phrase are more powerful than any tweets or status updates.  Everything came flooding back to me in an instant, and I felt thrust back into New Hampshire as if not a day had gone by.  Every one of them put a smile on my face as they came on, one after the other.  These people are a second family to me, and the intensity of Odyssey brought us together in a way I’ve rarely experienced before.I miss my friends, and I can’t wait until I get a chance to see them again in real life.  (Jeremy and Wendy – I am so sorry I wasn’t able to get away to meet up with you two in the city last week!)

So there you have it – high praise for Odyssey from those that know it best, and a little moment in the spotlight for yours truly.  What do you think, can we make this baby go viral?  You should all go watch it, I know I’m about to queue it up again.

Here I Go…

Matt