RTastic!

RT was awesome. Damn those gals run a great conference.

This year was a lot smoother for me. I knew the drill, I knew a lot more people and a lot more about the industry, all of which are good things. Plus the weather was gorgeous, I got to go in the pool, drink tropical frozen things, throw my feet in the hot-tub and Cindy Holby nearly made me snort said tropical frozen things up my nose with laughter more than once.

RT Videographer extraordinaire Morgan of Miss Media Productions took some great photos that help to narrate a few highlights of the experience: Thanks Morgan!


My first major event was moderating the incomparable Linnea Sinclair's Starships and Sorcery Panel



(From left to right: Jade Lee, C.L. Wilson, Catherine Asaro, Ann Aguirre, Isabo Kelly, Stacey Klemstein/Kade, Linnea Sinclair and me)


Goodness, just sitting at this table I could feel the talent to my right and all the way down, it was a force of nature in the room and we had a great discussion with readers, friends and aspiring authors.


We moved on to the fabulously fun Intergalactic Bar and Grille, and then it was a quick change for the Wednesday Book Expo!


I got a chance to sell and sign copies of Dark Nest and hand out excerpt booklets for The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker.



I was thrilled when the fabulous (not to mention ever-so-pretty, kind, talented and fun-- it's overwhelming) Cynthia Eden bought my book. I of course, was eager to get my paws on Immortal Danger, which I was able to do at the big Saturday Book Fair. I can't wait to guest blog for her in September!

I made some fabulous new friends, like the lovely, spritely force of nature that is Delilah Marvelle who we've just determined will be one of our August Lady Jane's Salon Readers - I am SO excited to have her in the city!

Besides all the wonderful people in the place, one of my favourite things about RT is all the themed costume balls. Um, I'm not one to turn down a costume party. Most of my costumes are things I wear pretty regularly, you might notice. Heh. As Ministry says, "Every Day is Halloween."

I LOVE this picture of my dear Marianne Mancusi, I'm beside myself with how cute she is, isn't she adorable blonde?












On Friday I hung out in Club RT and handed out more promo items and gave away some books beside my best-bud Isabo Kelly and baby Jack, the Cutest Baby in the Known Universe (Side note: Auntie Bragging rights: I got him to sleep during the Ellora's Cave Jungle Party while Isabo was escorted across the stage by a Caveman that was, finally, remotely her height).




I later attended the RT award ceremony, which was awesome. We got a chance to cheer on some well-deserved award winners. My particular favorite moment was cheering Marie-Claude Bourque, the American Title Winner for Ancient Whispers, a fellow member of the Futuristic Fantasy and Paranormal Chapter of RWA and an all around awesome gal. (Crowning her with her tiara was a vital part of the proceedings)

However in the midst of the awards I receive an email from my editor that the last of my Strangely Beautiful edits are waiting for me, due in the next two days. Eek! I steal Marianne's computer, and make overdramatic faces while sitting in the lobby.



Hey, it's a writer's life, and photo op aside, I wouldn't have it any other way. The truth is I can't concentrate on anything else when I know edits are waiting, I want to jump right in. This book is my dream come true and the Vampire Ball could wait.







Jeffe Kennedy, the fabulous new president of the aforementioned FF and P Chapter sweetly brought me a glass of wine, so I could have both my writing drugs at once!




Thanks Marie-Claude for this great photo!

I certainly had a blast hanging with my Dorchester peoples during a lot of the conference. What an awesome crowd; Diane, Erin and editor Leah Hultenschmidt, and the many Lollies I got to reconnect with and some I met for the first time. (Lollies meaning Ladies of Leisure - Leisure Books = Dorchester imprint). I was able to spend more time with the rock-my-world C.L. Wilson and Elissa Wilds, of course my buds Liz Maverick and Marianne Mancusi, I already said Cindy Holby made me snort, and I got the chance to meet and get some great advice from the Demon Slayer sensation Angie Fox, saw Christie Craig in passing, My home-state gal Lisa Cooke was a delight and Bonnie Vanak made a healthy contribution to my drinks almost going up my nose. Plus I got to chill poolside and hear a little sneak peak in regards to Alyssa Day's next series. Um, can I say exciting?! Wonderful booksellers and reviewers were plentiful. Diane Stacy (A superstar and Den mother in one) gave me a lovely placard of my book cover to show off, which I was all too happy to do.




Strangely Beautiful got a mention over at the awesome Dear Author blog and rumor has it I was Twittered about in a few places. *blush*

So there were many great moments and many more great people, it was an exhaustingly wonderful time, I highly recommend the conference for any fans of Romance and its many sub-genres, and I can't wait until next RT in my home state of Ohio, when I'll have TWO Percy Parker books to sign! Now that I mention it... I have to get back to editing that sequel...


NEW YORKERS: Don't Miss Lady Jane's Salon Monday May 4th! J.S. Hawley! Operation L.O.V.E! Rob the RT Webmaster will serenade us! It will rock!

I'm off to RT in Orlando!

What's that, you ask?

Well here:

RT Convention 2008 Wrap Up from Romantic Times BOOKreviews on Vimeo.

See you on the flip side. For those of you who can't attend said revelry, don't worry, I've got my 85 proof sunblock so it's not like I'm coming back tan.

My "Diva" debut...

I am proud to announce my diva debut at Popculturedivas!


The lovely and talented writer/director/producer Joanna D'Angelo (Who's Afraid of Happy Endings) asked me to be a part of their lineup of authors, producers, filmmakers, screenwriters, actors, playwrights, etc. (a few off that list I can call myself) that blog there on a monthly basis.


Pop Culture and I have a somewhat stormy relationship. Please visit my "Confessions of a Hater" to learn more and tell me, what have you been a hater about?

Lady Jane's take 3! & Shadow Forest Authors

Lady Jane's #3 - success!

Thanks, you lovely Salon-a-holics you, for making such a great and uber-fun crowd. And thanks, Madame X, for Alex the bartender and for cheap wine. It's just so darn fun. We co-founders are damn proud of our random little accidental coup of a Salon.

It's good that I have Lady Jane's to blog about. I mean sure, I'm writing. But do you really want to know the ins and outs of line-edits and ruminations on blog-tour strategies for the release? Are you simply aching to know the intimate particulars of a Strangely Beautiful proposal package for books 3 and 4 when I'm sure that synopsis will look nothing like the books? Nah. Don't worry, when Strangely Beautiful gets closer to the release date, then I'll have all kinds of stuff to blab about. I WILL say, however, that my cover flats are go-r-g-e-ous!!

Back to the LJ:

Sarah Wendell made me hurt-so-good inside with hilarity.

Alisa Sheckley was erudite and titillating all at once.
Our co-founder Maya Rodale and the English Boyfriend were more delicious fun than could possibly be legal.

Not to mention that I'm so darn excited one of my bestest buddies from college, Biz, moved to NYC and got to hang with us!

I mean, look at this venue, isn't Madame X awesome? Imagine it brimming with people with cheap drinks. The place sizzles. So did the readings.

Thanks to RT Webmaster Rob (that sounds like a DJ name, Rob) for this photo, and to Managing Editor Liz French for representing RT's constant support, there's always a great run-down of the event at RT's Blog - thanks darlings!

And thanks to everyone in attendance!

See you FIRST MONDAY IN MAY!


Oh, and just so y'all are well and truly prepared for my September 7th release party and what I'll be reading at the LJ: There is no sex in my book. Don't worry, you'll still be titillated. :)



On other charitable fronts:

I also joined the Shadow Forest Authors today. It's easy, authors, just donate a book to one of their designated venues and chip in to fight illiteracy!

Lady Jane's April Edition!

Founding authors Maya Rodale, Ron Hogan of Beatrice.com, Hope Tarr and Myself present:

LADY JANE'S SALON... April edition!

LADY JANE CRUISES TOWARDS SPRING WITH A HOT LINEUP!

When: April 6th, 7-9pm with continuing after-party

Where: NYC's chic Madame X - located at 94 West Houston Street, on the north side between LaGuardia Place and Thompson Street. www.madamex.com

Who: Alisa Kwitney aka Sheckley will read from THE BETTER TO HOLD YOU, Maya Rodalewill read from THE ROGUE AND THE RIVAL (With special British guest) and Guest Host Sarah Wendell, hilarious blogger and author of BEYOND HEAVING BOSOMS (The Smart Bitches' Guide to Romance Novels)

How much: Admission is $5.00 or a gently used Romance or Womens Fiction novel. Proceeds benefit Share The Love which reaches out to women in need / transition. Cash bar. (Drinks are cheap!)

See you there!