RWA Conference Photos

So I didn't bring home a RITA from the RWA conference in Orlando, but NEXT COME LOVE did win the National Reader's Choice Award for Best Long Contemporary! Woot!

Sorry I wasn't able to download photos from the RWA conference while in Orlando. Better late than never, though, right?
Helen

Here are some from the book signing kicking off the conference on Wednesday night:

Kylie ...

Cindy ...


Christie ...
Me ...

And Kylie, Cindy and me ...



After our Riders' breakfast Saturday morning:

Me, Deb, Christie, Betina, Kylie, Cindy and Leanne ...



At the RITA and GH finalist's reception on Friday:

Kristan Higgans, Rachel Gibson and me ...

Karen Rose, Betina and moi ...


Christie, me and Betina ...



The RITA and GH awards ceremony Saturday night:

A Super group - Jeannie Watt's lovely daughter, Jeannie Watt, Amy Knupp, Rula Sinara (Super reader and soon-to-be author, we hope) Kay Stockham, and moi ...

You know Betina and me

My wonderful friend and critique partner Rosemary Heim ...

Me and my NASCAR editor, Tina James!


Fun, fun, fun!

It's Live from ... Orlando!

Or not ...

I'm here at the annual RWA conference in Orlando and last night did the big literacy signing, went to the Booksellers' Best awards ceremony and took a bunch of pictures. Unfortunately, I don't appear to have the software on my laptop which would allow me to download photos. Sorry. Will see if I can find someone who does.

Cindy, Christie, Kylie and I were all at the signing. Looked like they had a good turn-out. I had fun and met a bunch of our readers. A good night.

Will post photos Sunday night when I get home if I'm not too beat!

Helen

Diary of a mad writer in D.C.

Hang on. It's my day and I'm still suffering from post conference difficulties. Christie is my heroine! How she managed to get a post up yesterday so early is beyond me. Anyway - be right back with something that will stun and amaze!!
Cindy

Okay. I'm back. And I can't believe I promised to stun and amaze. I'm not sure that's going to happen but I'll give it a go. My head still feels like it's stuffed with confetti but the conference memories are starting to jell and I want to share a few with you. So here they are. Cindy's memorable moments. Drum roll please ......

We arrived in D.C. on Monday afternoon, just in time for dinner. Do we know how to plan or what? Across the street from the beautiful Marriott Wardman hotel (which is surrounded by the most incredible gardens!!) is a row of shops and ethnic restaurants. Vunderbar!! Kylie, Roxanne Rustand and her daughter Emily and the inimitable Gennita Low and I trippy-trapped along the street and finally decided on a lovely open air Indian restaurant. Why, you ask? Because they had $3.95 Margaritas. Now these weren't just any Margaritas - they were authentic West Indian Margaritas that only a very delicate palate could discern from the traditional Mexican drink. Since there is nothing delicate or discerning about us, we were in hog heaven. Ole!

Tuesday, we rented a car and drove over 100 miles to Charlottesville, VA, to visit Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's plantation. With Gennita at the wheel we arrived in record time - just in time for lunch (are you sensing a pattern here?) Monticello is a lush, beautiful plantation set in the midst of rolling hills and dense, old growth forests. The main house itself is just stunning. We took a guided house tour and learned so much about Jefferson - did you know he was an inventor, among other things? We also took a tour of the slave quarters. It was a sobering glimpse into a disturbing part of America's past.

After a nice drive back to D.C. we wandered the streets of Georgetown. Did you know there were many cobble stone streets there and it's not wise to wear platform shoes? I learned the hard way when I turned my ankle and went down on my butt. The earth moved, people, but amazingly, except for a bruise the size of Texas on my hip (because my hip IS the size of Texas) I was none the worse for the wear.

Wednesday brought more sight seeing. Kylie and I went to the Spy Museum. Good thing we did, too. You all don't know it but if we hadn't shown up there on that exact day at that exact time to take part in a covert mission we never would have saved the world from terrorists getting their hands on a trigger mechanism for a dirty bomb. We sacrificed, people. We risked our very lives running down dark alleys, dodging bullets, intercepting encrypted radio transmissions - you know, just your run of the mill super spy stuff. No thanks necessary. It was all in a day's work. :o)

That evening RWA held their annual Literacy book signing. What a hoot!!! I met so many amazing people, sat by my usual signing mate, Rachael Gibson, (who also won a Rita sat night - Yea Rachael!!!) and sampled the gorgeous and talented Olivia Gates' s Baklava. Yum Yum.
Afterward, my wonderful agent, Maria Carvainis held her agency dinner at Citronelle, a dining experience I won't soon forget! Double yum yum!

Thursday and Friday were both whirls of meetings with friends I only get to catch up with at National, plus drinks and dinners with the Pocket people and my amazing editor, Maggie Crawford. (You're noticing that I manage to eat a lot, right? Heaven.....) Oh, and Kylie, Rox and I, along with Maria Carvainis and Gennita Low as moderator, presented a panel in the afternoon in which I think we managed to sound reasonably intelligent. Anyway, that's the hope. Oh - and Thursday night, our very own Kylie won the Daphne DuMauer award of excellence for her book Terms of Surrender! Not only that, she won the over all award for all categories. WTG, Kylie. Of course we had to celebrate. By Saturday night one of the staff at the bar knew us on a first name basis :o)

Friday night - yee haw - the Harlequin party. Wow! As always, it's the party of the year and we laughed and danced and got blisters on our feet and - oh yeah - we ate some more. And all of that was after a 3 hour dinner with my editor that I will never, in a million years, forget. I can't even begin to describe the delicacies so I won't try. Suffice it to say it was an out of this world culinary experience.

It wasn't easy getting up Saturday morning but, troopers that we are, we did it and set out for another day of meets and greets with our buddies and, you guessed it, we ate!!! By Saturday night, we were all dragging but managed to rise to the occasion to attend the lavish Rita ceremony and laugh at the incomparable Ann Stuart (aka sister Chrissie) who was a brilliant MC. Golden Hearts and Ritas were the coveted prize for the evening and let me tell ya, NO one was more surprised than me when they called my name for the Rita in Romantic suspense. What a rush!!! Thanks for all the congratulatory posts, you guys. I answered e-mail all day yesterday. I hope I was coherent.

Couldn't resist. Here's a photo of New Rita with Old Rita. The girls are getting along just great!! Also, I just HAD to post the cover for TAKE NO PRISONERS. Thanks to BOI operative, Sam Lang and Abbie for staring in this book!!



















Sunday morning, after only a few hours of sleep found Kylie and I standing in the lobby of the hotel. I don't remember why we were just standing there. We had checked out and needed to get a cab to get us to the airport so we really needed to get a move on. But as fate would have it, there we stood and who should approach us but P.J., who posts with us regularly. It was so much fun to meet her!! Even more fun when she handed each of us a bag of home made chocolate. OMG. Ambrosia!!!! Melt in your mouth delicious!!! Mine barely made it home. Thanks again, P.J. You saved our lives.

It was great to get home Sunday afternoon to Margaret, our little Brittany, and Buddy and Sly, our cats, and my dear, dear hubby who was waiting with a dozen red roses and a steak dinner that I didn't have to cook.

So, that's it folks. Thanks for indulging me. It was a once in a lifetime kind of trip where all the stars aligned with a plethora of good friends, good food and good luck!

I'm sure I left a lot of things out so if any of you have any questions about the conference, the authors and the color of my bruises, ask away. Bottom line, if your a writer or a reader, it's a great place to be.

RWA Conference Cleavage

Helen here, and, yes, I’m talking about Friday night’s Harlequin party. Where the wine flows like water, the dance floor shakes, rattles, and rolls and palm trees are felled by crazy romance writers swinging from the limbs like tipsy monkeys.

Okay, okay. So the seven foot tall by four foot wide plastic palm tree actually fell over all by itself some time during the night, bonking some poor soul in the head, but it sounded good, right?

Still it was a wild night. To give you an idea of how wild, here’s Deb Dixon at the beginning of the party.






And here she is at the end of the night!

Whoa, Deb!!





Truly, I had a great time and everyone looked gorgeous. Sexy too. And what follows are the photos to prove it.

Somewhere in here we’ve got Yours Truly, Connie Brockway, Michelle Buonfiglio, Wendy Etherington, Susan Kay Law, Lisa Gardner, Heather Graham, Trish Milburn, Christie Ridgway, Mary Strand, Anne Stuart and Nancy Warren. Yes, Cindy, you're supposed to be in here too, but I deleted your photo - too revealing. I do have SOME discretion. Sheesh!

Let’s have some fun guessing who’s who.














And I have to give away one little clue. Nancy Warren got her 25 BOOK pin Friday night from Harlequin, and she's wearing that special little bauble dead center, as she should. Congrats, NANCY!! That's amazing.

Unfortunately, I took so many shots of lovely women, I forgot what names went with a few of the pics. Not that everyone wasn't wonderfully memorable. I'm just a ditz. Or was it the wine? In any case, claim your cleavage ladies!! Are you in here?


















There is a cute story that goes with these pics.

Saturday morning, the morning after the party, I got up early for breakfast with my editor. My dh and son were still sound asleep when I left. A while later, I returned to the room to find my husband flicking through the pics on the camera. He turned to me with a grin and said, "I'm so glad you didn't make me go to the Harlequin party last night. All the highlights are right here!"

Here's to beautiful boobs!!

Debra - What do you mean I can't check in?

For those folks who stop by but don't know a lot about the romance world, we have an annual professional conference attended by about 2,000 writers. We have that conference in July every year. I go most years.

Packing is brutal. It's a week crammed with business activities, cocktail parties, the RITA awards which are the romance writers' Oscars. You've got your field trips, workshops, breakfasts, lunches and dinners with editors and agents. My suitcase has been certified as an emergency shelter.

As many of you know, I've been up to my butt in alligators with the new imprint over at BelleBooks. I'm treading water with decreasing effectiveness. How do I know this?

Because I arrived at the airport July 22, fully packed.

The conference is next week. My plane ticket is for July 29th.

The electronic check in machine said, "Your flight is not available for check-in. Please see an agent at the counter."

I had to call my son to come and pick me up. (Yes, that was a hoot. For him, not me.) My husband was out of town in a meeting when my son tracked him down to be the first to tell him. I understand my husband laughed so loud and so long that everyone in the building ran in to see what was so funny.

I had to call the woman who works for BelleBooks part-time so she could reorganize her working schedule. I share her hours with one of my consulting clients, so I had to call her at her office. When I told her the problem, she said, "Just a minute." I can't be sure, but I'm fairly certain she got up on her chair and made an announcement to their entire staff. Well, I know she did because I was yelling into the phone, "I can hear you! You're fired." She just kept laughing. She's worked for me so long she knows where the bodies are buried. (But more importantly she knows how to bury them.)

I told the Top Down crew. Guffaws and laughter ensued. And they've helpfully been sending me reminders about the conference and various events because we all know I can't be trusted to show up at the proper time. I think Helen is making visual aids to help me learn the calendar.

I had to tell the Belles. My partners are still laughing. When they sober up, I'm probably going to wish they hadn't.

My mother called this morning to see if I'd not made any trips today. Funny woman.

I'm not unpacking. I would have had to iron regardless.

So, read any good books lately?

Heels and Purses and Dresses, Oh My!

I’m having a little bit of a panic over, not one of my favorite topics, clothes.

No. 1

Romance Writers of America’s national conference is at the end of July. It kicks off with a massive book signing Wednesday night and ends with a Saturday night ceremony where the winners of the Golden Heart (unpublished) and RITA (published) awards are announced. In between those two events there are any number of publisher parties, dinners, lunches or breakfasts with agents and editors, workshops to attend or present. You name it, we authors pretty much have to be prepared for it.

No. 2

This kind of once a year mega-event is, I think, for us women writers, always cause for at least a little bit of anxiety. We work from home, so our daily attire more often than not consists of pajamas, sweats, jeans, fleece, and everything in between. In other words, we don’t get out much. And most of our wardrobes show it.

Being the particularly casual and cheap individual that I am, I probably have fewer dresses and dressy outfits than your average woman. Hence the panic.

No. 3

I’m not overly worried about Wednesday night through Saturday day. I’ve been to enough national conferences over the years that I think I have those outfits covered, or can get them covered with minimal fuss. It’s the awards ceremony Saturday night that has me in, okay, I’ll admit it, a tizzy.

Saturday night is a very dressy night and you’ll see everything from business suits and dresses to full-length formals to French twists. What I’ve always gotten a kick out of is that the attendees are 99.99% women. There are very few men to impress and, still, we look all made-up, manicured and coifed to the max.

No. 4

I’ve never been too worried about the awards ceremony in the past. I’ve always worn kind of a middle of the road short to three quarter length dressy type dress. But this year is the first time I’m a RITA finalist.

That means that if I win (and that’s a big if, cause there’s some very stiff competition in my two categories), I’ll have to get up on stage in front of more than 2,000 people to accept the award. I want to look good. Just in case. I figure, hey, this is as close as I’m ever going to get to prom, so I want a formal, full length pull out all the stops kind of dress.

No. 5

A few weeks ago I did some initial reconnaissance. I must have tried on thirty or more dresses and had a difficult time making up my mind, although some style constraints became very clear to me. I don’t like the way strapless or spaghetti strap dresses look on me. While I narrowed thing down, I’d still like input.

These are samples of some dresses I’d definitely take off the rack to try on. In fact, I have actually tried on some of these styles. Still, though, I’d like some input.

No. 6

Let's pretend price is of no concern. LOL Which one is your favorite dress? What colors do you like best? Should I go for sexy or classy? Make a statement or be safe?

You guys pick the dress and then all I have to do is lose ten pounds!!

No. 7

And in keeping with our anniversary celebration, one commenter will receive a copy of TREASURE, my double RITA nominated book, and one of these cute little Burt’s Bees Healthy Hands kits.

Helen

Romance Writers of America RITA Finalists

I know this is week old news, but I’ve been out of town and, besides, this is my first scheduled day to blog since the announcement, so bear with me.

Romance Writers of America released the finalists for the RITA contest for published authors last Wednesday and my book, Treasure, was nominated in two categories, best first book and best contemporary series romantic suspense/adventure. The news left me, very likely in this order, astounded, speechless, and ecstatic.

It’s amazing what a few days will do to unclog those vocal chords. I can’t stop talking or thinking about it! Needless to say my family is sick of this queen for the day situation turning into queen for the week. Might as well spread the joy, right?

First off, you must believe me when I say that I entered the contest with complete resignation that nothing would come of my entrance fee. This certainty had nothing to do with modesty or pessimism. It was a pragmatic acceptance on the odds.

RWA eliminated the long and short contemporary categories, splitting the contemporary series romances into straight series and series with strong suspense/adventure elements. This was probably a smart and reasonable change, but I was fairly certain it pushed me right out of the running. I figured my Superromances had too much suspense/adventure to fit into the regular series category, but not enough to compete with the actual suspense lines. Still, this was my first year of being eligible for the RITA, how could I not enter?

This event is, aside from my first sale, the biggest happening to date in my writing career. One RITA nomination is a dream come true. Two is one of those wild ones in motion.

While I'm at it, Deborah Smith's A Gentle Rain, edited by our own Debra Dixon, finalled in the best novel with strong romantic elements category. Woohoo, Deb and Deb!

All that aside, I’ve got a couple of questions about both the reader and writer perspective on the RITAs. Before I started writing to try and publish a book, I wasn't aware of the RITA awards. So if you’re strictly a reader (not a writer) are you familiar with the RITAs?

To everyone: Have you read many of this year’s RITA nominees? Are there any books you read that you think should have made the finals and didn’t? Does a RITA nomination affect whether or not you buy/read an author’s book(s)?

http://www.helenbrenna.com

Here’s a complete list of this year’s RITA nominees:

2008 RITA for Best First Book Finalists

Dead Girls Are Easy by Terri Garey
HarperCollins Publishers, Avon Books

Graffiti Girl by Kelly Parra
Simon & Schuster, MTV Books/Pocket

Prime Time by Hank Phillippi Ryan
Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin NEXT

Prom Dates From Hell by Rosemary Clement-Moore
Random House Publishing, Delacorte Press

Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn
Harlequin Enterprises, MIRA

Snow Angel by Jamie Carie
B&H Publishing Group, B&H Fiction

Thief With No Shadow by Emily Gee
BL Publishing, Solaris

Treasure by Helen Brenna
Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Superromance

2008 RITA for Contemporary Series Romance Finalists

Always a Bridesmaid by Kristin Hardy
Harlequin Enterprises, Silhouette Special Edition

Fall From Grace by Kristi Gold
Harlequin Enterprises, Everlasting Love

Make-Believe Mom by Elaine Grant
Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Superromance

Night Mischief by Nina Bruhns
Harlequin Enterprises, Silhouette Nocturne

Sleeping Partner by Kelly Hunter
Harlequin Enterprises, Sexy Sensation

Snowbound by Janice Johnson
Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Superromance

The Mile High Club by Heidi Rice
Harlequin Enterprises, Mills and Boon Modern Extra

The Tycoon's Princess Bride by Natasha Oakley
Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Presents

2008 RITA for Contemporary Series Romance: Suspense/Adventure Finalists

High-Risk Affair by RaeAnne Thayne
Harlequin Enterprises, Silhouette Romantic Suspense

Midnight Prince by Dani Sinclair
Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Intrigue

Sara's Son by Tara Taylor Quinn
Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Superromance

Stranded With A Spy by Merline Lovelace
Harlequin Enterprises, Silhouette Romantic Suspense

The Medusa Affair by Cindy Dees
Harlequin Enterprises, Silhouette Romantic Suspense

The Medusa Seduction by Cindy Dees
Harlequin Enterprises, Silhouette Romantic Suspense

Treasure by Helen Brenna
Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Superromance

Untouched by Samantha Hunter
Harlequin Enterprises, Blaze Extreme

2008 RITA for Contemporary Single Title Romance Finalists

Blame It On Cupid by Jennifer Greene
Harlequin Enterprises, HQN

Catch of the Day by Kristan Higgins
Harlequin Enterprises, HQN

Coming Undone by Susan Andersen
Harlequin Enterprises, HQN

Sexiest Man Alive by Diana Holquist
Grand Central Publishing, Forever

She's No Angel by Leslie Kelly
Harlequin Enterprises, HQN

Tangled Up In You by Rachel Gibson
HarperCollins Publishers, Avon Books

Tempt Me Tonight by Toni Blake
HarperCollins Publishers, Avon Books, Red

The Sleeping Beauty Proposal by Sarah Strohmeyer
Penguin Group USA, Dutton

2008 RITA for Historical Romance Finalists

And Then He Kissed Her by Laura Lee Guhrke
HarperCollins Publishers, Avon Books

Beloved Warrior by Patricia Potter
Penguin Group USA, Berkley Sensation

Lessons of Desire by Madeline Hunter
Bantam Dell Publishing Group

Mine Till Midnight by Lisa Kleypas
St. Martin's Press

Surrender to a Scoundrel by Julianne MacLean
HarperCollins Publishers, Avon Books

Tempted Tigress by Jade Lee
Dorchester Publishing, Leisure Books

The Leopard Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt
Grand Central Publishing, Forever

The Perfect Kiss by Anne Gracie
Penguin Group USA, Berkley Sensation

2008 RITA for Inspirational Romance Finalists

A Touch of Grace by Linda Goodnight
Harlequin Enterprises, Steeple Hill Love Inspired

Autumn Blue by Karen Harter
Center Street

Pursuit of Justice by Pamela Tracy
Harlequin Enterprises, Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense

Rainbow's End by Irene Hannon
Harlequin Enterprises, Steeple Hill Love Inspired

Ransomed Dreams by Amy Wallace
Random House Publishing, WaterBrook Multnomah

Splitting Harriet by Tamara Leigh
Random House Publishing, WaterBrook Multnomah

Taming Rafe by Susan May Warren
Tyndale House Publishers

When the Morning Comes by Cindy Woodsmall
Random House Publishing, WaterBrook Multnomah

2008 RITA for Novel with Strong Romantic Elements Finalists

A Gentle Rain by Deborah Smith
BelleBooks (edited of course by our own wonderful Debra Dixon!!)

High Noon by Nora Roberts
Penguin Group USA, Putnam

Learning to Breathe by Karen White
Penguin Group USA, NAL Accent

Odd Mom Out by Jane Porter
Grand Central Publishing, 5 Spot

See No Evil by Allison Brennan
Ballantine

Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn
Harlequin Enterprises, MIRA

Sugar Daddy by Lisa Kleypas
St. Martin's Press

Thief With No Shadow by Emily Gee
BL Publishing, Solaris

2008 RITA for Paranormal Romance Finalists

Dead Girls Are Easy by Terri Garey
HarperCollins Publishers, Avon Books

Demon's Kiss by Maggie Shayne
Harlequin Enterprises, MIRA

Games of Command by Linnea Sinclair
Bantam Dell Publishing Group, Spectra

He Loves Me, He Loves Me Hot by Stephanie Rowe
Grand Central Publishing, Forever

Lover Revealed by J.R. Ward
Penguin Group USA, Signet, Onyx

Prince of Magic by Linda Winstead Jones
Penguin Group USA, Berkley Sensation

Raintree: Haunted by Linda Winstead Jones
Harlequin Enterprises, Silhouette Nocturne

Touch of Darkness by Christina Dodd
Penguin Group USA, NAL

2008 RITA for Regency Historical Romance Finalists

Blackthorne's Bride by Shana Galen
HarperCollins Publishers, Avon Books

Claiming the Courtesan by Anna Campbell
HarperCollins Publishers, Avon Books

Lord of Scandal by Nicola Cornick
Harlequin Enterprises, HQN

The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever by Julia Quinn
HarperCollins Publishers, Avon Books

Untouched by Anna Campbell
HarperCollins Publishers, Avon Books

2008 RITA for Romance Novella Finalists

“Angel and the Hellraiser” in Demon’s Delight by Vickie Taylor
Penguin Group USA, Berkley Sensation

“Born in My Heart” in Like Mother, Like Daughter by Jennifer Greene
Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin NEXT

“Christmas Cravings” in Holiday with a Vampire by Maureen Child
Harlequin Enterprises, Silhouette Nocturne

“Christmas Day Family” in A Western Winter Wonderland by Cheryl St. John
Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Historical

“Eternity in Death” in Dead of Night by Nora Roberts
Penguin Group USA, Putnam

“Fallen Angel” in A Western Winter Wonderland by Jenna Kernan
Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Historical

“Mischief and the Marquess” in Perfect Kisses by Sylvia Day
Kensington Publishing Corp., Brava

“On the Fringe” in Dead of Night by Mary Kay McComas
Penguin Group USA, Berkley Jove

2008 RITA for Romantic Suspense Finalists

Die for Me by Karen Rose
Grand Central Publishing, Vision

Ice Blue by Anne Stuart
Harlequin Enterprises, MIRA

Ice Storm by Anne Stuart
Harlequin Enterprises, MIRA

Prime Time by Hank Phillippi Ryan
Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin NEXT

Speak No Evil by Allison Brennan
Ballantine
Charlotte Herscher, editor

Traceless by Debra Webb
St. Martin's Press

White Heat by Cherry Adair
Ballantine/Ivy

2008 RITA for Young Adult Romance

Girl at Sea by Maureen Johnson
HarperCollins Publishers, HarperTeen

Graffiti Girl by Kelly Parra
Simon & Schuster, MTV Books/Pocket

Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles
Llewellyn Worldwide, Flux

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr
HarperCollins Publishers, HarperTeen

Kathleen's Hot Time In Steamy Dallas

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?