Hurray for RWA, Part 2. Or How I Danced the Night Away

Before I launch into days 2 and 3 of RWA, wanted to let you know that Live to Read is holding a mind-bogglingly huge 150+ book giveaway as we speak. I'm giving away copies of OTHERKIN and OTHERMOON here. But be sure to check out all the giveaways. Nothing better than free books!

 
My first real day at RWA, Thursday (read about it here) was fabulous and exhausting. So I must admit that Friday morning, rather than getting up brightly to attend one of the many informative workshops, I slept in. I'm not a morning person at the best of times, and the travel + lack of sleep before + late night cocktail parties was a recipe for snoozing. My roommate, Elisa Nader, worked quietly on her laptop while I (gently, I swear) snored.

More awake memories after the break.

Photo from the RWA Kensington Party

Photo by Edward Zelster Photography.

In which I look only mildly tired and weird, compared to some of the others, and in which everyone else looks fabulous!

From left to right - the hilarious Lindsey Brookes, me, Janice Lynn, Marni Bates, and Elisa Nader.

Hurray for RWA! Or, How I Had a Blast in Atlanta.

Last year I spent a few hours at the Romance Writers of America convention in Anaheim, attending the Kensington cocktail party so I could meet and dine with my fabulous editor, Alicia Condon, and get to know a few of my fellow writers.

It was wonderful, but I couldn't spend more time than that because I had to arrange my big ol' book launch party that week for my first novel, OTHERKIN.

So this year I went all in, bought a ticket to Atlanta, wangled my way onto a panel, got my critique partner Elisa Nader to join me, and attended the whole dang thing.

And damn, it was FUN! (details and photos after the break.)

Dez Makes It to the Semi-Finals! And... Off to RWA!

THANK YOU, folks for voting for Dez in the Paranormal Cravings Character Battle 2013. Because you all rock so hard, she came in sixth, which means she made it to the semi-finals!

You can go here to vote for her (or anyone else!) in the semis.

Me, I'm getting on a plane to Atlanta today so I can participate in the riotous fun that is RWA - Romance Writers of America's main convention.

I stopped in for a cocktail party only last year, since it was nearby in Anaheim, and it was full of amazing writers all having a FABULOUS time. You really haven't partied until you party with romance writers.

I'll report in more detail after the convention. Meanwhile, if you're going I'm going to be on a panel tomorrow, and at the Kensington book signing on Saturday. Here's the info:

50 SHADES OF YA - Panel
Me, Jennifer Estep, Marni Bates, Erica O'Rourke and Alicia Condon (our amazing editor) all discussing the heat and how far it should go in books for teens.
July 18, 8:30am (! Get me some coffee, stat!) to 9:30am
Atlanta Marriott, Room M301, M302

KENSINGTON BOOK SIGNING
Saturday, July 20 - 9am - 10:30am
Atlanta Marriott

Say hi if you're going! If not, have a great rest of your week!