As I write this, I’m just wrapping up Pixiefest, an event I helped create and execute for the Kiwanis Club of Lincoln City as a new fundraiser.

Planning this event—not to mention executing it—has been an adventure. In addition to all sorts of new-event growing pains, our very first day of the event was conducted in 93 degree weather (yes, on the Oregon Coast, where we’re usually in the 60s during the day in the summer). Needless to say, we had not planned for that in our initial preparations.

We lost a couple of volunteers to heat stroke, but otherwise, thankfully, the weather seemed not to deter our visitors. A couple of vendors proved so popular that they ran out of food and had to close for a bit to restock. And lots of fun was had at this family-friendly carnival.

Day two saw completely different weather after a cold front moved through (destroying two of our vendor’s tents overnight when the temperatures dropped 20 degrees in two minutes, creating a 65 mph gust of wind). But the sun remained and more fun was had by many.

All-in-all the event was deemed a resounding success.

But getting there…well, let’s just say I felt a lot like Petra in Kristine Kathryn Rusch’s delightful (and for me, incredibly timely) story “Petra and the Blue Goo.”

To say too much more—about my experience with creating Pixiefest or about the Petra’s experience with her event—would ruin the story for you, so I’ll leave you to read it instead and draw your own imagined parallels. The story is free on Kris’ website this week only, so don’t delay.

As for me, I’m going to get some rest and try not to do anything extroverted for a while.

Pixies, you’re on your own.

Allyson Longueira is publisher of WMG Publishing. She is an award-winning writer, editor and designer.