General musings

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    RWA tidbits …

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    Well, I’m back from the annual RWA conference.

    Whew! I’m still exhausted, but I thought I’d share some thoughts and pictures from the conference.

    This is Stephanie Hale and me at the Berkley author signing on Friday afternoon. Stephanie was nice enough to put some of the chocolate she’d brought on my side of the table (I totally forgot to bring any) and sign a copy of her book for me, Revenge of the Homecoming Queen. 

    During the publisher signings, conference-goers come in and get free, autographed books. It was a madhouse, but lots of fun.

    And since the books are free, they go really fast. Nora Roberts was also signing in the same room, along with Jaci Burton, Marjorie M. Liu, Erin McCarthy, Nalini Singh, and lots of other great authors.

    More to come …

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    More to choose from …

    In case you haven’t noticed, I’ve added several more links to my blog roll on the right-hand side of this page. Authors, review sites, more places to buy my books … I’ve added them all, and straightened up the categories a bit so you know what’s what.

    Why did I add these links? Lots of reasons. Some authors I sort of know through e-mail. Others, I’ve read and liked their work. Others, I just like their blog. The review sites I check to get the lowdown on the latest releases. Anyway, I plan to add more links in the future. (Frustratingly, several authors I really like don’t seem to have Web sites to link to).

    What about you? Why do you link to certain people? Inquiring minds want to know …

  • Have a great holiday …

    Hope everyone has a safe and happy Fourth! And please take a moment to reflect on the freedoms we have because of the sacrifices of countless men and women over the years.

    Have a great holiday! 😎

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    Parties, parties, parties …

    If you’re a romance writer, you know that the annual RWA conference is less than a month away. I’ll be one of about 2,000 folks attending.

    There are lots of workshops and book signings and events planned — includes parties. Parties, parties, and more parties. More parties than any one person has time for. I’ve been trying to figure out my conference schedule — what I am committed to going to, what I’d like to go to, and everything in between.

    I’m all set for the Literacy Autographing, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. July 11. I’m going to my agency’s annual get-together July 12. I have the Berkley book signing from 3-4:30 p.m. July 13, followed by the company’s cocktail party that night.

    I’m also going to be on a pitching panel-style workshop from 9:45-10:45 a.m. July 13.

    Then, there are the other events I want to hit, like the Chick Lit Writers of the World party and the Futuristic, Fantasy, and Paranormal chapter’s party.

    Oh yeah, I want to go to tons of workshops and actually learn stuff too.

    Too many parties, too little time … 😎

    What about you? What events are you looking forward to at RWA? Inquiring minds want to know …

  • Hug or handshake?

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    Went to my cousin’s wedding reception this weekend. (Just the reception, she actually got married in Hawaii the week before.) Very nice reception. Great food. Good atmosphere. Awesome wedding cake (almond and other flavored layers with raspberry glaze).

    And lots of relatives there. Lots and lots of cousins. Seriously, like 30 of them.

    I never know whether to hug people or not at these things, even if I am related to them. Some folks I’m really close to (like the cousin who got married and her family). They automatically get hugs. No problem, no awkwardness there.

    But other cousins, I haven’t seen in years and years. What to do? Brief hug? Brief handshake? Is there some sort of rule that says you have to hug your relatives?

    The same thing goes for book signings. I never know whether to shake people’s hands or not. Usually, I’m sitting down when people come up, which means I always have to look up at them. Most of the time I stand up so I’m eye-to-eye with folks. But still, it makes me feel awkward.

    Maybe I should invest in my own stool that I can perch on and be on the level with folks all the time. Or just buy one of those Emily Post manners books to help me know what to do in all these tricky situations.

    What about you? Do you ever experience social awkwardness? Inquiring minds want to know …