What Just Happened?
So, I was in Chicago (Well, Rosemont, by the airport, which, FYI is NOT the same) at the Romantic Times Convention and I am exhausted, and happy, and filled with Chicago style pizza.
It was a very interesting conference in that I got to do TWO things I find awesome: I got to interact, not just with my fabulous author friends, but with readers.
I like that we could be sitting in the bar and be approached by a group of Presents fans, and hand books to them and just talk about…well, books and alpha heroes.
(In the picture is Me, Mira Lyn Kelly, Megan Mulry and Aimee Carson)
For me, the highlight was the reader mixer on the last night. It was a very informal little party where we really got the chance to talk to our readers. I mean…Ann Rice was there and people still wanted to talk to me! That was awesome. My favorite moment was when I was pointing out to a woman that I had a couple of sheikh books and someone else turned around and said “YOU WRITE SHEIKHS!?” with a look of complete excitement on her face. And I thought…ah…my people. 😉 Sheikh lovers unite!!
I roomed with the amazing Megan Crane/Caitlin Crews, and we had so much fun together. The was much talking, little sleeping, and, one morning we had room service. We were FANCY. (I don’t want to brag, but I had Challah bread french toast filled with nutella. O_O)
I also spent a lot of time with Lynn Raye Harris, Janette Kenny, Kimberly Lang and debut Desire author Andrea Laurence. I think it’s so cool to sit and talk to people who understand what you’re talking about when you say your hero did something without your permission, or that his conflict ended up being completely different than what you thought it was in the beginning.
Those moments of connecting with people who GET you are SO valuable.
And, as always, on the plane ride home I was bombarded with new ideas for my next few Presents. (lucky, lucky editor I have. bwaha)
There’s just something about a conference, even if I don’t go to a bunch of writing workshops, that brings me back home ready to ATTACK a new project. I think it’s that amazing thing of being around so much positive creative energy. Oh, yeah, and that I didn’t have time to so much as touch my keyboard for a week, which, makes workaholic me twitch. O>O
*goes in search of more pizza*
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You look fabulous in the pic, Maisey! Lovin’ the red! It sounds like you had a blast. I’m going to have to try Challah bread french toast filled with nutella.
Thank you, Lacey!! And OMG, the french toast was…decadent.
Sounds like a blast, Maisey! And to come home bursting with ideas, that’s success all round. Love the woman who shrieked for sheikhs 😉
It was so much fun to be there for all the reasons you listed. Connecting with writers and being able to talk about story and character arcs and all our crazy imaginings with people who totally “get” it was such a rewarding experience. Then connecting with readers (aren’t we all?) and seeing their eyes light up and that shiver of yes-write-that! All great. Thanks for the post. xx
Madeline, I really am bursting with them. I started one and I think it’s so fun. Crazy though. :s
So nice to see you, Megan!! 🙂
I love, love that photo! So glad you all had such a good time.
Julia, thank you!