All roads to writing Romance eventually swing through Texas. So there we Riders were last week, doing Dallas. Five of us, anyway. Doing what, you say? Conferencing, of course. Writers write, and writers conference. Romance Writers of America's annual national conference is an amazing event. For four days, 2000 of RWA's--what? 9000 members?--live in a world where the women are strong (they commandeer all the bathrooms), the men are good-looking (because we said so), and the children are way above average but only here in our photos.Speaking of photos, here's (above, left to right, front to back) Kathleen, Helen, Christie, Cindy and Betina, posing either before or after a meal. Food is a big priority at these wingdings. Your day is planned around when you're going to eat and with whom. Business goes down well with food. Also information. Instruction. And dishing, naturally.
Recognition for a job well done may be accompanied with food, but
applause is even nicer. Cindy, Christie and I are really tickled with our finalist certificates. It's an honor just to be nominated, isn't it, girls? Now, Betina is another story, but we'll get to that.
We partied. Big parties and little parties, dance parties--floor full of gyrating females, just like junior high--and put-your-feet-up parties. My roomie and I shared a Hummer limo with a gaggle of authors bound for the Harlequin party, which is always a highlight.Finally, the big night came. It was exciting to
have four Riders up for Rita awards. The pretty maids all in a row are my roomie, Judy Baer, also a finalist; yours truly, Thea Divine and Betina. All ready and waiting.
Left, sitting with my editor, Leslie Wainger, who bought my first book in 1983 and continues to edit me. We look good together, don't we?
And the Rita for Best Short Historical Romance goes to...
Betina Krahn! Yaaaay! Isn't that a gorgeous smile?
This was a great conference for me because I hadn't been to RWA National in several years, and it was wonderful to see people, reconnect with old friends. I made some business contacts, heard some encouraging tidbits about bookselling, attended a couple of workshops about my least favorite part of the business (promotion) and learned some things that might actually improve my efforts if I just give them the old college try.
But, man, it was good to be back!
What's your favorite part of RWA or any professional conference? How do your conferences compare? Have you had any Eureka! moments at a conference lately? Anything funny or heartwarming? Anything you learned about and can't wait to try?
