RWA in Reflection

I wanted to do daily updates while at the conference but there was no free Wi-Fi anywhere in the hotel (although they implied it on their website *grumble*) and I am too cheap and not addicted enough to actually pay for an internet connection.

So here's MY conference experience:

Wednesday's Events:
- Arrived very early (7am) and couldn't check in. But was able to check my suitcase with the bellhops. Then did the whole registration thing then volunteered to help with registration (so that I had something to do since there was no Wi-Fi *pout* and to generally keep myself out of trouble). Once my conference roomie (KatieBabs), the party really began.
- Drinks and a few little munchies with Jill Myles and Kasey Mackenzie and Kati of Katidom. And briefly met Mandi of Smexy Books.
- Checked into room and shower!
- "Readers for Life" Literacy Signing. Met the love Charlotte of The Lusty Reader.
- Dinner with Lisabea, Rosie, Kati and KB at Medaterra. The food was superb and $3 margaritas cannot be beaten..
- Slumber Party hosted by Ann Aguire and Carrie Lofty. KristieJ, Megan Frampton, Anthea Lawson and Sarah Frantz as well as many others were present. Up until hotel security called told us to shut up (though more politely).

Thursday's Events:
- Opening Session by Janet Evanovich.
- Raided the Goody Room (mostly books marks and such)
- Keynote Luncheon with Linda Howard. She was great. Sometime I too feel like I am the "Keeper of the Nuts" in my family.
- Avon Book Signing (Free Books! Wheee!) And while I was waiting in line I got Silvia Day (aka SJ Day) to sign my Marked Books.
- Smart Bitches book signing. Met the crazy and lovable AztecLady (and was shocked to find out that she really does have a name! *g* ^_~)
- Dinner with Rosie, KristieJ, Barbara and AztecLady.
- Midnight Madness Bizaar. Where I bought soap. I am such a sucker for handmade soap.

Friday's Event:
- Breakfast were I met the lovely Alyssa Day (and got an autographed book) and AnimeJune.
- "Mastering Your Domain" workshop hosted by Alyssa Day, Stephanie Julian and Melissa Mayhue. It all boiled down to this. Do your research and use the oldest text you can find if you are dealing with a myth/legend. But in the end You Make This Stuff Up!
- "Paranormals: Writing Outside the Box" workshop hosted by Kelley Armstrong, Jeaniene Frost, Melissa Marr and Erika Tsang
- Harlequin and Pocket book signings!
- Awards Luncheon where Eloisa James gave a very moving speech on writing with emotion.
- Berkeley and Grand Central book signings! Had a complete giggly *blush* fangirl moment in front of Jim Butcher who was signing next to his wife Shannon K Butcher. But then he was a complete surprise for me since he doesn't write romance.
- Samhain Publishing's open house.
- Dinner with the Kati(s). There was a great turn out (22 people) and the food at the Lebanese Taverna was fabulous. Met the lovely Meredith Duran and now I must run off and find her books.
- Drinks at the bar where I had a lovely conversation with Charlotte and Mari Freeman.

Saturday Events:
- NAL and Ballantine/Bantam Dell book signings.
- Lunch with KB, Sarah Parr, Sally Mackenzie, and Katie the Young Librarian.
- Shipped and BIG box of books home since there was no way I was fitting it all in my suitcase and carry-on.
- "No Holds Barred" workshop with Jessica Andersen and JR Ward. Enlightening as it was funny.
- St. Martin's Press and Sourcebooks book signings.
- "High Octane Kisses" workshop hosted by Ann Agguire, Carrie Lofty, Laura Bradford and Cynthia Eden. Lots of great tips on how to keep the action in romance scene and how to keep the romance in the action scenes.
- Had drinks at the bar with Samantha Kane, Mari Freeman, Lisabea and KB while the RITA ceremony was going on. Met some very interesting Marines. Why is it people are really nice and charming but after a few beers they have a personality change. *sigh*
- Dinner with KB
- Post RITA drinks with Julie James and Colleen Gleason.
- Blogger Party. It was a quiet gathering. But it was nice to chat with fellow bloggers. Candy was as funny as ever.

Sunday Events:
- Breakfast with KB and some people I can remember their names *hang head in shame*. By this time I had long passed my brain's capacity for new names and faces.

Best of Conference:
- Rooming with KB! She's the best! Not only did she let me tag along after her (because EVERYone knows her) but she also got us the room. A lovely person all around. And Mho is a complete PLAYER and he certainly got around. See KB's for details.
- Everyone at the conference was super nice. I have never been around so many happy, friendly people.
- Talking with a lot of my favorite authors. Silvia Day totally rocks. Not only is she a great writer but she is also a lovely person. Ann Aguirre and Carrie Lofty were great!

Worst of Conference:
- No Wi-Fi in the hotel! How were we supposed to stay in touch with the outside world?
- Someone stole a crate load of books that authors were going to sign during the books signings. Melissa Marr and Kelly Armstrong were among those who lost their books. Why must people take things that aren't theirs!

Anyway.... Now I have many many many books (UPS man is supposed to deliver the rest of my loot on Monday, hope he is wear protective garments! *g*). And now I must prepare myself for my upcoming interviews!

RWA Day 1+

Left late night Tuesday and plane was 1 hour late but somehow we still arrived on-time (6:15 am)! Caught SuperShuttle to the Marriott with another conference attendee only to find out we were also on the same plane (Cyndy) and made a new friend!

After arriving and attempting to check in and failing because the hotel was overbooked and another conference was wrapping up (American Federation of Teachers), but managed to get the luggage checked. With lots of time on my hands, I decided to volunteer and worked registration for R-Z. Met loads and loads of people. Biggest highlite was that I got to check Nora Roberts and CL Wilson into the conference! And met SJ Day!!!

Once KatieBabs and Mho Fho, my RWA roomies, arrived we went and met Jill Myles and friends at the pub in the hotel and later Kati of Katidom joined us.

At 4:00pm we were finally able to check into our room and I was finally able to shower!!! Then met up with Rosie, Lisabea and Wendy the Super Librarian. Then it was off to the Literacy Signing! Chatted with many many many authors (Ann Aguirre, Kresley Cole, SJ Day and CL Wilson to name a few). As I hate having my picture taken I do not own a camera so for pictures fo the signing see KB, Kati, Lusty Reader, Mandi, KristieJ, Wendy , Rosie and Lisabea for pictures and more about Day 1.

Day 2: Opening speech given by Janet Evanovich was great. Keynote speaker, Linda Howard, was hilarious. And I'm off to get some more BOOKS! More later.

It's off to the RWA Conference!!!

Yay! I decided I needed a break from my "real" world and go off and play. Perhaps look at a career change. Who knows maybe there's writer in me waiting to be set free. Or maybe there's story floating around in my head wanting to take form. Who knows.

Anyway... thanks to those lovely folks with JetBlue and SuperShuttle, I will arrive at the Marriott very very very early Wednesday morning. Will have to find folks to hang out with while I wait for check in time and for my RWA roomie (Mho Fho) to magically appear (KB says that she'll bring him IF he behaves). Then its fun fun fun and learning learning learning and books books books until I drop from exhaustion.

RWA Literacy Signing

Whee! Went to the RWA "Readers for Life" book signing on Wednesday! What a blast!! I am so glad that it was in town and I was able to go. (Kinda wished that I signed up for the conference and all, but maybe next year!).

Everyone was so nice and it was GREAT to put names to faces of fellow bloggers. Ciara got into the Sherrilyn Kenyon Acheron party (lucky girl) and it sounded like it was a lot of fun (she got to meet the amazing Sherrilyn and had her picture taken with Acheron!). Jane did a wonderful job announcing the raffle (though I didn't win anything! *pout*). Katie was running around with raffle tickets and looked really tired (hope all rested). Alice had sore feet from running around all over SF with the bloggers. Lisa was so funny (she and sula went out to the Castro and bought "toys" *g*). Sarah had me in stitches with all her witty little stories. Wendy got so much swag I wish I was a librarian!

Oh the authors I got to meet! Oh the joy and the pain (in the pocket book)! Even though RWA said NO bringing in books, they allowed it! I wished I had known so I could have brought my books from home but now I have autographed copies that need to be kept out of the bathroom and bath-time (can't just go out and buy replacements). Kresley Cole is really funny (uh sorry about the misquote to Gena!) and so is Gena Showalter. Was so thrilled to meet Nalini Singh and CL Wilson. Beverly Jenkins (a new author for me) did a reading at a local Borders and it was so funny I had to get the book, of course Beverly signed it for me. It was so hard to keep to some sort of budget (not that I did, being newly employed and all)... all those books just begging to go home with me! It was probably a good thing that there weren't any advance copies otherwise I would have again had to decide between food and books. The authors I missed seeing could make a separate page but the one that stands out was Meljean Brook (since she didn't make it until after the book signing), so wanted to meet her!

So I'll wrap it up and bit. The book signing was fun. The authors were really great. The bloggers a ton of fun. Spent a ton of money and for a great cause. Now must start saving money for next year!