Conference Confidence

By the time this posts, the Romantic Times Convention in Las Vegas will be wrapping up. (Are you here? Come see me at the Giant Book Fair!)

When I first began writing, back in the stone age--and by that I mean pre-internet days--going to conference was one of the only ways to stay on top of publishing news and learn tips to hone your craft as well as network with fellow authors and other publishing professionals.

I went to many, always finding them a little overwhelming, but I learned so much and travel is always exciting. New Orleans was a highlight, although my husband seemed to enjoy himself more, going on swamp tours while I was in workshops.

Then, as time wore on and I wasn't yet published, but had little ones at home and tight budgets, I took a long break from going to conference. I barely made my local chapter meetings!

I was a little wistful every year as the buzz started among fellow authors when conference season rolled around. Then, in 2012, I sold! My book wouldn't be out until 2013, but I felt justified in booking a ticket to Anaheim for the annual Romance Writer's of America conference. Here I am at my very first Harlequin party with my dear friend, Superromance author Cathryn Parry.

That actually might be from the following year. I honestly can't remember, lol! And I recycle the same dresses so it's not like that is an indication of the year. Here I am last year with Jennifer Hayward.

The only thing that changes is my hair, apparently!

Seeing writer friends is one of the biggest reasons I show up for conference. It's always wonderful to see my editor and to be treated to drinks and luncheons, too. So for the last few years, I've signed up for a lot of conferences and even began giving workshops at many of them.

In 2014, I went back to New Orleans for my very first RT Convention, this time with my daughter. Then I went to San Antonio the next year, leaving directly from that conference to the Sydney conference in Australia, where I was also visiting my sister.

Yes, I multi-task my conference travel as vacations with family. Here I am in New York last summer with my husband.

I loved New York. This, by the way, is from a gal who lives in a town of fifteen hundred people. I like my rural roots and my roads long and quiet, but we had a ball while we were in the Big Apple.

The only problem was, I discovered that I wasn't going to workshops and I barely saw my friends. That wasn't my husband's fault. He was more that willing to amuse himself while I attended to business. I did manage some, but I felt torn. I discovered I wanted to travel with my husband, but just travel with my husband, not book it around a bunch of other stuff.

However, that's exactly what has happened with this trip to Vegas. My cousin lives there and I had promised her years ago that if there was ever a conference in Las Vegas, I would go so she and I could catch up. Well, you know my husband wasn't going to be left home for that destination.

So, as I pre-write this post, I am pulling together all my conference details, booking dinner with friends and organizing both a workshop and a panel as well as a couple of signings. Yes, I'm also scheduling time with my cousin as well as getting tickets to a show (Cirque de Soleil - Love.)

In other years, I would also be booking my flight to the RWA conference--which is in San Diego this year. I was so tempted to go. But we have a family reunion in June which will pull me away from writing for most of that month and, the truth is, I'm ready to reassess. I do love conference, but we authors have a lot of introvert tendencies. That's probably why I spend most of my time in my attic, avoiding even the few people who live in my tiny town!

So after this convention, I'm taking a small break from conference--at least until I've bought a new conference wardrobe! (San Antonio...)

You can still stay in touch with me! Please join my newsletter for news, special deals and sneak peeks at my works in process. 

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Writers at Play

by Joanne Rock

Jules Bennett and Joanne at RWA 15

I just returned from RWA in NYC and am late posting today because I’m so happily exhausted from five days of visiting with writers, readers and publishing professionals who come together each year because of a shared love of books.  

Highlights included a margarita date with Harlequin author Tanya Michaels, a long standing tradition. I don’t see Tanya all year except at this conference, but we’ve been catching up over tequila once a year for over a decade. I have warned her that we don’t dare break the streak now or our careers may fall apart. Call me superstitious, but I respect a good streak!

I had breakfast with Winnie Griggs, an author friend I met in the days when I lived in Shreveport. I love Winnie’s books and quirky characters and I’m always impressed at her smarts about writing and our industry. If I want to know something about the romance business, asking Winnie provides better answers than Google.

Another breakfast gave me the chance to sit with new author Jennifer Snow, a Harlequin Heartwarming author quickly branching out with stories set in the MMA world. I was lucky to meet her through my sister-in-law, Karen Rock, who also writes for Heartwarming. I talked to Jennifer so long she was probably lucky to make it in time to sign books at the Harlequin signing.

This year also gave me the chance to meet several new-to-me Harlequin Desire authors since I will be writing some books for the series in 2016. Andrea Laurence and Sarah Anderson kept me laughing over dinner one night and Olivia Gates – who entranced me years ago by bringing homemade baklava to a book signing—dazzled me with her beautiful gowns and gorgeous accent. I thought I was happy to dress more casually at the conference until I spotted Olivia, who always looks like she must be royalty. I made a note to indulge myself in more lace and bangles in the future.

But my one surprise NY moment was spotting an NHL player on 45^th Street. I was walking to dinner one evening with friends when I spotted Jordan Staal in town. As a dedicated hockey fan, I nearly fainted to see this handsome player in real life. I hand it to him for remaining so composed while I squealed from the other side of the street. I sense more hockey player stories in my future.

***Have any celebrity sightings to share? Any favorite yearly traditions with friends like my margarita dinner? Share with me today on the boards and I’ll give one random poster a gorgeous new Runaway Brides tote or a copy of my new release, THE PLEASURE TRIP!

Susan Stephens: My Cosmic Hot Shorts Series

Hello! It's great to have the opportunity to be chatting with you again. Thank you, Lee for hosting me on your site!

Today sees the release -  on Amazon Kindle only -  of the 4th novella in my Cosmic Hot Shorts series. The Bride Wore Red at the Ladies Club has everything you would expect in a Susan Stephens hot contemporary romance: a red-hot hero, a strong heroine, and in this Cosmic Hot Short series, a group of girlfriends who stick together through thick and thin.

When ruthless billionaire Jack Castle arrives in town intending to buy up everything in sight, he finds one feisty obstacle standing in his way in the sexy, full-figured form of Lady Arabella Frost. 

Determined not to lose her ancestral home Arabella prepares to stand and fight, but Arabella has troubles of her own at home to contend with, in the form of a mean and violent husband. 

Chilling domestic violence hovers in the background of this passionate tale of two strong characters who come together to oppose each other, only to discover that that the attraction between them is too strong to fight. 

I hope you enjoy reading Jack and Arabella's journey from the rainy streets of a country town, to a grand historic mansion, and on to the romantic cobbled passageways of Paris; a city where the iconic Eiffel Tower has never seen such heated activity.

Have a great summer! And if you happen to be in New York next week, do come and see me at the signing at the Romance Writers of America national convention at the Times Square Marriott hotel!

All my very best to you,

Susan

Midsummer Past-times

Isle of Palms SC

Well, we're into the thick of summer now and in southern NJ where I live I do mean thick -- the heat and humidity can be overwhelming! Temps reach into the 90s and so does the humidity levels. Most of us seek relief in air-conditioned places or pools or the sacred place that we South Jerseyans call 'the shore'. 

(And please do not mistake the REAL Jersey shore for that mess you see on MTV!)

I'm fortunate to live about 45 minutes from some of the best beaches, so day-trips are a favorite past-time -- both when I was a kid and when my kids were little. And some of my favorite vacations were spending a week down there, enjoying the sand and water during the day and then going on the boardwalk at night to play arcade games or miniature golf. 

For me though, I lived in anticipation of true joy -- sitting on the beach with something cold to drink and a book to read. I would slather on the sunscreen, put on the big sunglasses (sadly, now prescription ones! LOL!) and read away. My hubby and I had an agreement that I would get some non-supervisory time on the beach when we went with the boys. 

And the first thing planned and packed was my ample supply of books! 

My boys grew up knowing that if Mom began making a pile of books (and magazines), there was a trip coming. During the heyday of my reading (aka before I began writing romance novels), I would take no fewer than 10 books and 10 magazines for a week-long trip that would include reading time. 

Maui - 2012

 The boys have grown now and we haven't had a shore  vacation in a while, but I was lucky enough to go to Hawaii in 2012 and my goal was a simple one -- to read on a different beach every day of the trip. And I did, since there is beautiful beach after beautiful beach all around the islands. Can you say: ahhhhhhhhhh-loha!?                                                                                                                 So, what kind of summer pasttimes do you look forward to each year? How has your summer been so far this year? What are your plans for the rest of it? No matter what it is, I hope you have time for some reading! 

Speaking of summer activities - I'll be heading off to the Romance Writers of America's Annual Conference in San Antonio TX next week. If you're in the area, I hope you'll come to the Marriott Rivercenter on 7/23 at 5:30pm for the open-to-the-public Book Signing for Literacy party. There will be over 500 romance authors signing and raising money for Literacy projects both locally and nationally. I'll be signing my current book - YIELD TO THE HIGHLANDER! And visit my website or FB page for lots more info about my upcoming books and events! 

Happy Summer everyone! 

What I'm Doing On My 'Holidays' by Kate Walker

We used to get the essay topic every time – did you? On the first week back after the school holidays, usually around the end of August,  we used to have to write on the topic of ‘What I did on my holidays.’    It was supposed to be an easy subject, something we would all be Able to find something to say about.  Except that I didn’t.

As one of five daughters in a single parent family,  I  very rarely had anything to say about ‘what I did on my holidays’. There wasn’t the money to go anywhere.  We didn’t even have a car so outings were rare. I can’t say I minded  that much – I was perfectly happy  with a trip to the local library to select something I wanted to read,  and then a chance to sit and enjoy my books – in the garden if there was sunshine or curled up in a chair if it was raining.  But it did means that there wasn’t much I could write about when I got back to school:

Monday – I went to the library and  then  when I came home I read my books

Tuesday  - I went to the library and then  when I came home  I read my  books.

Wednesday . . .

It’s funny, looking back, because now that I’m a published writer, I often think of those long, lazy summer days – and all those books – and wish I could have them back again.  Specially now it’s the 1^st of July and the ‘holiday’ period has begun for me.

Most of the year I’m working-  and working means writing – and that means staying at home, at my desk, and creating new stories. But July –August is the time that I get out and about and travel  and meet people.   For a start, July is the Conference season. The  Romantic Novelists’ Association has their conference from  July 13th to 16^th. I’m going to be there, and I’m running a workshop on putting the emotion into  your romance novel.   Romance Writers of America have theirs July 25^th – 28^th. In the past, I’ve managed to do both, but this year I’d find that impossible. Because the other thing I  always have to do in July is to travel to  South  Wales – to Caerleon  near Newport  where I spend a week at the wonderful Writers’ Holiday there.   But Caerleon takes place  2^nd – 27^th July. So after the RNA Conference I’m home with just enough time to  do the laundry, dry it (well – I can hope. The way the weather has been this ‘summer’ it’s more likely to get drenched all over again while out on the line.) And then I’ll set off again. Most times I teach a course – this year it’s  A Complete Introduction to Writing Romance -  but that’s only for half the week (five one hour sessions). The rest of my time I can go to other  given by so many fascinating writers my DH is giving on this year) , talk about writing,  or even attend one of the other courses.   

Then it’s home -  do the laundry again!  My husband has a book signing for Yorkshire Day  and then we’ll snatch a breath before travelling to the seaside. But this still isn’t a holiday, I’m doing another workshop in Bridlington at the beginning of August. But at least I’ll get a moment or two to see the sea – I  love to watch the waves and feel deprived if I don’t get to see them.

Phew! After that, I think I manage to stay at home for a couple of weeks -  and by then it will be time to get back to my desk again.  It’s no wonder  I feel nostalgic for those ‘and when I came home, I read my books’  days.  I’d love to grab a week or two to do nothing but read.

Still, this hectic time  in July is always a lot of fun – and I get to meet up with so many friends, make new ones, and to talk about writing  (and the fantastic food at Caerleon helps a bit too!)

So that’s what’s going to be happening to me between now and the next time I post  on the first Sunday in August. What about you?  Do you have any interesting plans for your holidays? Are you going anywhere exciting  - or do you just plan to stay at home and read? (Guess which one I envy you for most!)

As I know that  people love to have new books to take with them on holiday (or to read at home) I’m offering a giveaway of one of my books – my most recent title The Devil and Miss Jones which is still for sale in paperback or ebooks. Or something from my back list if you've already read this one.   Just tell me what you’re up to this summer, and I’ll get Charlie the Maine Coon to pick the name of  a winner – when he comes in from the garden. It’s actually stopped raining today so he’s outside enjoying the sunshine.

And I’ll be back in August , when I’ll be glad to stay still for a while!

You can keep up with all my news on my web site  or the most up to date details are on my blog 

And the winner is Michele!
Michele please email kate AT kate-walker.com  with your postal address and I'll get your prize in the mail to you.  I'd email you direct but I can't find an address for you

Sitting still by Kate Walker

There's a song going round and round in my head at the moment. It's that famous one sung by Frank Sinatra all about the fun of going trav'ling - you know the one . . .

Its very nice to go travling

To paris london and rome

Its oh so nice to go travling

But its so much nicer, yes its so much nicer, to come home

This song is in my brain because at last, after a long July of being here there and everywhere. I'm finally home - and I'm staying for long enough to unpack properly and not just in order to wash my knickers and turn round and repack for a different destination.

I started last month with a couple of library events in different parts of the country. Then there was a fantastic trip to Washington and the RWA national conference. That was a lot of fun! I got to meet up with so many of my writer friends, make new ones with people I met. I talked with readrs - always such an important part of my trip to , had lunch and dinner with editors and other Presents authors, and I explored Washington by trolley car and on foot. I had a wonderful time.

I finally flew back to the UK with just five days in which to unpack, turn round, repack and head for Wales where I was teaching the Writing Romantic Fiction course at Caerleon Writers' Holidays in Newport. Again that was a fantastic week - in spite of the rain that poured down in such torrents that I seriously started to wonder if I should think about building an ark! This was the 25th Writers' Holiday so there were some celebrations to mark this very special event - one of which was my own secret gift to the organisers Anne and Gerry Hobbs. I had dedicated my next book - Kept for Her Baby - to them and luckily my author editions had arrived in time for me to take a copy with me to give to them.

So now I'm home again. The cases are unpacked for at least - oh - six weeks! - I'm sleeping in my own bed, wandering round my own garden and it feels great. The cats have even started to think about forgiving me for abandoning them - though there was some heavy duty sulking before they made up their minds.

And at last I can get back to work! All the time I was travelling I had these two new ideas buzzing around in my head and not enough time to really write them down or develop them into a full proposal for a couple of new books. But now all that is going to change. I have a special project to start with - a for a brand new mini series sugested by my editor. That story has a fabulous sexy Greek hero at the centre of it. And then after that I have a handsome Sicilian waiting impatiently for me to start his story.

And I can't wait to get to meet them.

So although I'm sad that my wonderful travelling month is over, I'm looking forward to staying in one place for a month or two. And I'm anticipating some long, enjoyable days with these new heroes and their stories that I'm just itching to write.

What about you? Are you travelling anywhere interesting this month or have you had yur holidays and like me are finding it's 'oh so nice to come back'?

It's very nice to go travling

But it's oh so nice to come home

Kate's next title for Harlequin Presents is Kept For her Baby which will be published in Harlequin Extra in October.

You can find out more about her and her books on her website and her blog.

Whooping it up in Washington!

by Anna Campbell

When you read this, I will have become an international woman of mystery.

Well, at least an international woman!

Every July, Romance Writers of America host a huge convention in the States and for the last few years, I've been lucky enough to go. Wow, is it a shock to my usually hermit-like system.

Thousands of romance writers, all completely overexcited like toddlers drinking red coridal at the kindy Christmas break-up. People you love but only ever see once a year. A week where I talk romance fiction nonstop with writers and fans and industry bods.

If anyone is in the Washington area on Wednesday, 15th July, make sure you come to the author signing to benefit literacy charities. Every romance author you ever wanted to meet will be there (well, perhaps not EVERY one but enough to make your heart beat faster!). Details here.

The conference is huge fun as well as a great networking opportunity and learning curve. There are fantastic workshops (most of which I never seem to get to although my intentions are good - darn you, hotel bar!) and lots and lots of parties.

One of my favorite parties is the big awards night which is the culmination of the conference on Saturday night. This year I'm all excited - a lot of my friends are up for the Golden Heart (unpublished) and the RITA Award (published). I'm also lucky enough to the guest of RITA nominee for Best Regency Romance Christine Wells for the ceremony which means I get to sit up the front and drool over all the stars. Yeah, I agree, not an attractive picture.

Christine's THE DANGEROUS DUKE finaled this year and I'm so excited for her as it's a fabulous book, witty and passionate and romantic.

until recently, I'd never visited the U.S. and I find it an absolutely fascinating country. I always try and tag a few extra days on to do some sightseeing. Last year, as many of you know, I got to explore the area around San Francisco. This year, I'm so looking forward to checking out a few things in the national capital and its adjacent area.

Of course, there are too many wonderful sites in Washington for anyone (and particularly a history geek like me) to cover in merely a couple of days but I'm looking forward to getting a taste of the place. I'm hoping to hit a couple of art museums and the White House (still to be confirmed) and the monuments and the Library of Congress. A writer HAS to go to the Library of Congress!

Lovely romantic and talented suspense author and fellow Romance Bandit Jeanne Adams (her latest book DARK AND DEADLY has just hit the shelves - another treat!) has offered to drive me around a few places outside the city.
Something I'm particularly looking forward to seeing is Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's home and estate. Several years ago, I remember seeing a marvellous documentary by Ken Burns about Jefferson. Thomas Jefferson has always been someone I've admired without necessarily knowing a lot abouthim. What an amazing man (obviously not perfect, but who is?). So clever and interested in absolutely everything and such vision for the future.

So have you been to Washington D.C.? If you have, what was the best thing you saw/attended/experienced? If you haven't been, what would you most like to see? The Smithsonian? The White House? The Washington Monument? Inquiring minds want to know!

Getting Ready For Nationals - Kimberly Van Meter

Sometimes I envy the relatively simple process men enjoy when preparing to travel. As I prepare to leave for the Romance Writers of America National conference, I’m struck by how much there is to do and how I should’ve started preparing way before this moment. You see, I think women are the only ones who stress about things that are fairly ridiculous in the big scheme of things.

To put it into perspective: North Korea might very well be readying to blow the United States (or at least some part of it) to the hereafter yet, the networks are too busy going over the minutia of Michael Jackson’s funeral arrangements to bother with something so boring, hence it makes perfect sense that I’m fretting over all the pampering that still needs to be done before I’m ready to make my entrance among my writer/author friends. I’m completely guilty. I am more worried that my aesthetician will manage to squeeze me in before I leave when I really should just make do with a good facial scrub and moisturizer and call it a day. I’m being completely frivolous and I admit it. Does that count for something? Perhaps. Perhaps not. Internally, I’m rolling my eyes at my own foolish primping I’m not going to stop. And I know I’m not alone. My friends are tweeting and posting on Facebook, listservs and IMs how appointments have been made at the hair dresser, manicurist, and shopping trips have either been scheduled or finished, all in prep for this major event.

So what’s the big deal? I’m a wash-and-wear kinda girl. I choose comfort over fashion most days and I rarely bother with make-up during the work week, yet during National I’m a diva of the primped, coiffed, and stylized (well, my version anyhow) of the jet set. It makes no sense. I have new clothes to purchase, dresses to squeeze myself into, new make-up sets to put together, hairstyles to try out, new shoes and bag to match my outfits, not to mention all the accessories that go into putting together a fashionable look and let me tell you, this stuff is not cheap. So not only am I going to all this effort for a week’s worth of activity that I don’t bother with the rest of the year, I’m spending a fortune to do it. It’s crazy.

My husband, on the other hand, is content with throwing deodorant, assorted toiletries, just enough clothes, one pair of shoes into the suitcase, and he’s ready to rock and roll.There’s no need for fancy haircuts, a massage, a pedicure, fake tan, new clothes or some ridiculous compulsion to diet one week before leaving.

Oh well. It is what it is.

So, let’s commiserate together. Tell me, if you’re going to National, what prep you’ve undergone and if you’re not going to National, share your war stories of another event you had to go into hyperdrive to attend with any measure of success. One lucky poster will receive a free copy of my July Harlequin Superromance novel, KIDS ON THE DOORSTEP.

Kimberly
http://www.kimberlyvanmeter.com/

***The winner is Rachie G!*** Congratulations! You should have an email from Kimberly soon. :) Thanks to everyone who left a comment! For questions, please email totebag@authorsoundrelations.com - Thanks!!

Crazy July - by Kate Walker

I've known all year that July was going to be a crazy month for me but now that it's here it's actually even more hectic and crammed with events than I had planned.

I'm writing this just before I set off halfway across thre country to a Writers' Day where I'm giving a workshop on writing romance - and that's just the start of things.

And then I'm going to America in two different ways -

One is that in just over a week from today I'll be getting on a plane and flying from the UK to Washington to be at the RWA National Conference there. I can't wait to meet up with all my friends, writers, readers and of course hosties from eHarlequin. I'll be signing my books at the literacy signing. If you're going to DC and you're coing to the event I hope you'll come up and say Hi.

And second - I have some exciting news that my 12 Point Guide to Writing Romance is going to be in America too.

For ages now - ever since the 12 Point Guide to Writing Romance was first published, I have hoped that one day I would be able to tell my American readers and would-be writers that they could buy the book direct in USA. I know that it's been available on Amazon.com, but not everyone likes to buy on-line, and some of you have had difficulty getting hold of it 'over the pond'.

The good news is that I heard today from the publisher that the first copies of an American edition, printed and published in Chicago, are being printed this week - and that means that you can easily order the book from any book shop and hopefully get a copy very quickly. That's the idea anyway

This news means that there is also the hope that the book will now be on sale at the RWA Conference in Washington - if it isn't, it won't be for want of trying! But I'm really thrilled to know there will be an American edition at last.

If you've been wanting to get hold of a copy of this book - and I know that a lot of you have - then the details you'll need to order it are:

Kate Walker's 12 Point Guide to Writing Romance

ISBN: 978-1842851319

Price : $27.50

printed and published in Chicago by:
Studymates Publishing
Chicago Distribution Center
11030 S. Langley Ave.
Chicago, IL 60628
Phone: 773-702-7000
Fax 773-702-7212

And then when I get back from Washington I have just five days to unpack, do my laundry, repack my bag and head out again - this time for Caerleon in Wales where again I'm teaching the Writing Romance course at Writers' Holidays.

But I'll not be neglecting the readers of my blog while I'm away - I have a lots of activity and a great contest all planned out to keep you reading when I'm not there.

Every year I run a special summer contest to win a Tote Bag Full of Books – one of my special tote bags crammed full of fabulous summer reading. And this year I’m running the contest again – but this time it’s a really special competition.

Because this year marks the 60th anniversary of Harlequin, and because July is the month when the Harlequin Spotlight is on the wonderful Presents line, I have planned this year’s Tote Bag Contest as a Presents Special. Every book in the tote bag has been donated by one of my fellow Presents authors.

So you have a chance to win 15 – that’s right - 15 fabulous Presents titles, many of them signed, from some of your favourite authors.

Right now the prize list looks like this:

Cordero's Forced Bride by Kate Walker

The Italian Boss's Mistress of Revenge OR Forced Wife, Royal Love-Child by Trish Morey

Mistresses By Blackmail (3 in1 ) by Melanie Milburne

Ruthlessly Bedded, Forcibly Wedded by Abby Green

The Antonides Marriage Deal by Anne McAllister

The Markonos Bride by Michelle Reid

Rich, Ruthless and Secretly Royal by Robyn Donald

The Tuscan Tycoon's Pregnant Housekeeper by Christina Hollis

Virgin Mistress, Scandalous Love-Child by Jennie Lucas

The Greek's Convenient Mistress by Annie West

Spanish Magnate, Red-Hot Revenge by Lynn Raye Harris

The Desert King's Bejewelled Bride by Sabrina Philips

The Diakos Baby Scandal by Natalie Rivers

Desert King, Pregnant Mistress OR Housekeeper at his Beck and Call by Susan Stephens.

Bought for Marriage by Margaret Mayo

What do you have to do to be in with a chance of winning this great prize? Well this year, the contest is in the form of a Scavenger Hunt where you find one answer from each author involved by visiting their web sites or blogs.

All through July – starting July 7th - the Presents authors will be guest blogging on my blog and each one of them will end their post with a question.

Visit the blog regularly, and just answer the question of the day.
Keep that answer safely.

Collect up all the answers and at the end of the blogs send the 15 answers you have via email to me with Tote Bag Presents Special in the subject line.

The contest closes on August 1st. By then I will be back from teaching in Wales and after that, Sid will pick two winners who will both receive a tote bag filled with all this fabulous holiday reading.

These details will be up on my Contests Page just as soon as the wonderful Heather from We Write Romance gets the updates on my site done.

There will be other news of books, events and teaching courses up there too - so keep a look out for those.

And good luck with the contest

And I'll be back in August, by which time my hectic July will be over and things will have calmed down again . . . apart from the deadline for the next book!

Friends and Festivities

by Anna Campbell

I'm sure by now you've all gathered that the San Francisco RWA conference was a huge hit. There's been posts left, right and center about meeting up with famous authors and attending signings and going to fantastic parties and what a wonderful time everyone had.

I had a marvelous time too! It's always such a hoot to catch up with so many of my romance-writing sisters. And as this is my third conference, I know a lot of people now. Sadly too many to do justice to in a couple of days. I kept having the thirty-second conversation - you know, "Hello!" Hug. "Must go." But even just that much touching base is fun! I finally got to meet the lovely Lee who runs Tote Bags. That was a thrill - I wish I'd got back to talk to her in more detail.

Sadly, I didn't come home with a RITA but I'd love to offer my congratulations to all the worthy winners. The awards night was huge fun - everybody gets dressed up and there's a wonderful electric atmosphere of celebration. And the desserts afterwards always go down well too! I'm delighted to say, however, that CLAIMING THE COURTESAN did win the Booksellers' Best Award at the Greater Detroit RWA reception. It's a seriously cute bit of bling - a gold open book with a pair of glasses poised over the pages.



Another fantastic plus of this conference is that it was crawling with Aussies and Kiwis. Every time I turned around, there was someone else from Downunder! Including Tote Bag regular Bronwyn Jameson. My countrywomen have been thin on the ground at recent conferences so this was such a treat. San Francisco is practically in our backyard compared to the east coast venues so of course lots of us took advantage of the (relative) closeness.



I thought you might like to see some photos. The top picture is me with great Avon historical author Sophia Nash at the awards night. The next photo is of more Avon ladies. Me (again!), Julie Anne Long and Jenna Petersen at the Avon dinner at the very glamorous Mandarin Hotel. The next one features the Romance Bandits mascot, the Golden Rooster, who was a VERY naughty boy when confronted with 3,000 romance writers to flirt with. He's completely fascinated by Donna MacMeans's corset purse, the saucy fellow! And I don't mean red-wine marinade! This candid shot was taken at the Romance Bandits party which was a huge success - a 'crush' in Regency terms!

The group photo is 12 of the 19 Romance Bandits in attendance at the conference. Sadly, one of us just couldn't make it. The picture was taken at the Golden Heart Booting Out ceremony which featured a gratifying number of Banditas. 11 of us have been published since we finaled in the 2006 Golden Heart that brought us all together.

And yes, there had to be a silly photo to finish up with. This is me at the literacy signing (do you like the top? I got it at Macy's which is now my favorite place in the universe!) clutching my two RITA finalist flags in a strangely King Tutankhamun pose. Although he lacked the gleeful expression!

So did you go to San Francisco? What was the highlight of your conference? Even if you didn't go, is there a romance writer you would like to meet? The conferences take place all over the States - you never know, you may just get your wish one day!

San Francisco, Here I Come!

by Anna Campbell

Like the wonderful Bron Jameson who posted about her forthcoming trip a couple of days ago, I'm agog with excitement to think that in less than two weeks, I'll be swanning around San Francisco. Although believe me, I intend to bring my heart home with me!

By the way, whenever I hear that song (and I have a Tony Bennett CD so I hear it quite often), I can't help thinking about this wonderful British comedy team of the 70s called THE GOODIES. Did they make it to America? They were hugely popular in Australia. Anyway, their version of I LEFT MY HEART IN SAN FRANCISCO goes something like, "I left my heart in San Francisco, I left my leg in Monterey, I left my arm in Albuquerque..." You get the idea.

Anyway, I'm asking for help here. I'm currently running a MEMORIES OF SAN FRANCISCO contest on my website. It's a bit of a lucky dip as I don't know what I'm bringing back yet. Certainly some great signed books from the authors I'll meet at RWA Nationals. But I'm also hoping to include some souvenirs from SF. I did a souvenirs contest last year when I went to the UK and it was incredibly popular so I thought I'd do something similar with this year's US trip.

So if someone brought you a present back from San Francisco, what would you like? A snowglobe? A coffee cup? A T-shirt? Sees chocolates? A tea towel? Do you know any cool SF souvenirs I should look out for when I'm putting the prize together? Is there anything particularly San Francisco that I should get?

I'm looking forward to seeing your answers. And if you get a chance, please check out the contest. You never know, you may end up winning your suggestions!

And if anyone is in the San Francisco area on Wednesday, 30th July, why not come to the RWA literacy signing at the San Francisco Marriott? I'll be there, along with pretty well every romance writer you ever wanted to meet, and any money you spend goes to great literacy charities!

OK, thinking caps on - what presents would YOU like from San Francisco?

Bronwyn Jameson is Preparing for San Francisco

Is it too soon to be talking about the RWA National Conference in San Francisco? It is July. In three weeks' time I will be kissing my family goodbye and boarding my first flight. I love to wring every ounce of anticipation from the final weeks of preparation, so I don't think it is.

My last conference trip, to Atlanta in 2006, was on my own. I travelled alone, I roomed alone, and while I enjoyed some aspects of the solitude nothing beats good company. This year I would need both hands and a considerable number of toes to count the friends from Australia and New Zealand who are doing the SF conference trip. Five of us are travelling together with a stopover in Hawaii. We'll be poolside, on the beach, shopping, enjoying drinks with umbrellas, and generally ensuring our brains are well rested and ready for conference overload.

Speaking of readiness: my hairdresser booked me in for the pre-conference cut and colour way back in February. She knows how badly I neglect my hair in between conferences. I have also made appointments for nails and pedicure, waxing and spray tan. Not sure about the last. Will it wash off in the surf?

Speaking of surfing: today I spent too much time cruising the 'net, checking out things to do and places to eat and, most importantly, shopping centres at our destinations. I also checked which planes we'll be on, airline menus and the inflight entertainment. On the outward leg, two movies I haven't seen, Flawless and 21. And then there are the books I've been saving up for on-plane reading treats. They are now downloaded to my PDA and ready to go.

Also checked the all-important baggage allowance. My last overseas trip was to England with a one checked piece 20kg limit. I love that Americans don't pack lightly and so we're allowed TWO pieces up to 32kg each for this trip. With all the conference books and shopping that extra weight will be useful on the trip home. Speaking of which...

Between conference trips I squirrel away my frequent flyer points and credit card points and use them to buy an upgrade to business class for the return trip. It's not just a treat, it's a life-saver. After more than a week of late nights and poor sleeping and constant talking, I'm buying 15 hours of solitude and great service and even some sleep in my skybed. It's the best use of those points that I know.

So, I have three weeks left to plan the wardrobe, to lose another kilo so I can fit into the wardrobe, to trawl through the conference program and mark the must-attend workshops, and to do up my schedule. You know, I think I enjoy the preparation and the anticipation almost as much as I love the conference itself.

Is anyone else counting the sleeps until a summer holiday trip, or perhaps the San Francisco conference? Who else loves the preparation and the anticipation almost as much as the main event?

If you're going to RWA, come say hello at the Literacy Signing on Wed. July 30. I will be signing Tycoon's One-Night Revenge (Silhouette Desire April 08) and handing out Tim Tams.