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!
There are respective run-downs of our August showdown on Hope Tarr's blog, and Maya did a recap on the Lady Jane's website. A huge thank you to Biz Urban Photography for the awesome photos of the night.
Here's Delilah Marvelle being one of my favourite people in the world. In addition to being super talented she's some sort of long lost sister to me. Oh, and just that day she landed a 3 BOOK HQN deal. Hot. Her powerhouse agent Donald Maass was there too, which made us all feel as awesome as Delilah looked. (I approve of costumes on all occasions).
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