Wednesday, July 30, 2014

What Happens in San Antonio - - Part Two



Wednesdays always start early for me at the RWA National Conference.  It's my morning to volunteer at the conference registration desk, a tradition I began with the first conference I attended, back in 2008.  RWA has a wonderful staff but there aren't enough of them to run a conference this large.  They need the assistance of volunteers to do everything from checking people in to moderating workshops to setting up signings to checking badges at the door.  Volunteering is fun, rewarding, a great way to meet people and, for four lucky people, very profitable.  You see, every day of the conference RWA randomly chooses one person who volunteered that day to receive a paid registration to the next year's national conference.  That's almost a $500 value folks.  If you're planning to attend next year's conference in New York City, I highly recommend signing up to volunteer.  Honestly, it's one of the highlights of my week.

Eloisa James & Hellie
Did I mention that volunteering (especially at the registration desk) is a great way to meet people? This year, one of those people was our very own Dish reviewer, Hellie.  Now Hellie and I have known one another online for many years but we had never met in person until last Wednesday. Yes, there was squealing (that would be me). Also hugs. And a date made to meet for mid-morning refreshment after my shift ended. That's one of the joys of attending a conference such as RWA national - the chance to make new friends, nurture existing friendships and take cyber friendships to a deeper, real-life level.








Lunch was next up on my schedule and my lunch date for Wednesday was another wonderful Aussie friend, Kandy Shepherd.  Kandy is writing for the Harlequin Romance line now and has a wonderful contemporary series set in a fictional Australian coastal town.  The first two books in the series are The Summer They Never Forgot and The Tycoon and the Wedding Planner.












The actual conference doesn't begin until Thursday but festivities kick off Wednesday evening with the giant Literacy Signing, usually preceded by small author/reader parties.  This year I attended two such parties Wednesday afternoon; one hosted by Sabrina Jeffries and another by Eloisa James.  Sabrina's party was held at Rita's on the River and included the surly taxi driver I spoke of in yesterday's blog.  He may have been the only rude person I encountered in San Antonio but he couldn't dampen the spirits of a group of happy women ready to party.  The fabulous frozen margaritas at Rita's on the River may have helped too. Here's a photo of Sabrina pouring.







The Menger

At Sabrina's party I was delighted to meet fellow readers who I have known online; readers such as Kristy Birch and JacknSusan Knight (screen names). Kristy and I were both going to Eloisa's party at the historic (and apparently haunted) Menger Hotel so we set out together to catch a taxi to our next destination. Remember, it was really HOT in San Antonio at 3:45 in the afternoon.  Alas, there wasn't a taxi in sight so I ducked into a western clothing store and asked for directions.  The associate (or maybe the owner?) was a stereotypical Texan with big hair, a big hat, kick-ass boots and plenty of sparkle.  I wanted so bad to take a photo of her but was afraid I might offend so I didn't ask.  Anyway, she was sweet as apple pie, gave us directions and told us the Menger was "right around the corner."  Not exactly, but pretty darn close.  We managed to walk there with a minimum of heat-induced "glow." At Eloisa's, we made more new friends (are you sensing a theme here?) and had a lovely time getting to know everyone.

It seemed we had just settled in at the Menger when it was time to be off again.  This time, our destination was the Marriott Rivercenter and the Literacy Signing, a huge, crowded, crazy book signing with 400+ authors. Visualize a kid set loose in the world's biggest candy store then replace the kid with readers and the candy with authors and their books and you'll have a good idea of the frenzied excitement that filled the room.  It's best to have a "battle plan" when attending this signing.  Otherwise, you're sure to miss someone...like I did.   I made one swipe through the "S" tables and didn't see first-timer Anna Sugden (one of my favorite people) so I moved on, intending to return later.  I never made it back.  Didn't get a photo of her at her first signing.  That makes me sad but you won't be sad if you win a signed copy of Anna's terrific new contemporary romance, A Perfect Trade.

Here are a few of the many photos I did take at the signing.





Rita Finalist Courtney Milan








Rita Finalist Courtney Milan


















Elizabeth Michels and Trish Milburn













Kristan Higgins and Double Rita Finalist Jill Shalvis











Rita Winner Sarah MacLean














PJ with Susan Andersen and Stephanie Laurens











Historical Author Valerie Bowman











The Literacy Autographing raises money to support literacy in the city where the conference is held.  This year's signing raised more than $53,000.  You can see more of my photos from the signing at my facebook page.  


Beth Andrews, Donna MacMeans, Tawny Weber, Anna Sugden


You might think I'd be exhausted by this time and you'd be right (grin) but I had one more social obligation with a group of some of the best women on the planet:  The Romance Bandits.  The Bandits generously offered drinks at RWA to the Brenda Novak Auction for Diabetes Research and I won the item!












We met next door at Maria Mia's Mexican Restaurant for drinks, dinner and a rousing good time. They are some of the nicest, most generous, most talented authors around and I adore them.  If you aren't familiar with their multi-author blog, do check it out.







And that does it for Wednesday.  Be sure to come back tomorrow for the next installment of RWA 14: What Happens in San Antonio!


As you may have gathered, we did a lot of eating and drinking at RWA 14 and, being as we were in San Antonio, many of those drinks and dishes were Mexican.  So tell me, what's your favorite type of food?  Do you have a favorite drink?  Do you enjoy trying new dishes or do you stick with your favorites?  

If you could have dinner and drinks with any author - or authors - who would you choose and why?

If you could attend the Literacy Autographing which authors would be at the top of your "must meet" list?

Do you have any questions about the RWA Conference?  

One person randomly chosen will receive a package of books and swag from my conference stash.  (U.S. only)

One person randomly chosen will receive one signed book from my conference stash (Canada only) 

One person randomly chosen (international - not Canada) will receive one book of our choice from bookdepository.com.

Winners will be randomly selected from all comments left by 12:00am Saturday, August 2nd.

~PJ





100 comments:

  1. USA, lovecc daquraei, all food , seafood, steak, thanks
    Kimh

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  2. Some splendid pictures to savour .... I especially like the shot of Hellie with Eloisa!

    Authors for Dinner: Terri Osburn & Manda Collins. I have known them online since the EJ BB and they are both such charming and interesting people ..... just hope I can get a word in occasionally! LOL

    Must Meet: I would like to meet the up and coming stars rather than established giants. I think the whole gang from Kiss&Thrill would be fun

    Questions about RWA: How many male authors attend and are they conspicuous or retiring wall flowers.

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    1. I'm partial to that photo of Eloisa and Hellie too. :)

      I don't know the exact number of male authors who attended this year but there seemed to be more than at previous conferences. I chatted with one of them while waiting for my flight home Sunday. He's an established writer who is working on his first romance and was on a workshop panel at this year's conference. As far as the men being retiring or conspicuous, I'd say there's a bit of both. I imagine spending the week in close quarters with 2,000 women could be a bit intimidating. ;-)

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  3. Canada ... Italian food ... Shirley Temple drink ... Only started trying new dishes after turning 50 a few years ago, but still would rather stick to my faves ... Would have loved to have had dinner/drinks with Sandra Hyatt because I enjoyed her writing from her first book onwards (and read all of them) and kept in regular contact with her via blogs and personal emails, but, alas, we lost her WAY too soon in Aug/11 ... If I could attend ANY autographing, then to meet ANY author would be a "must" ... Thanks for sharing about the conference, as I always enjoy the stories AND, of course, the pictures.

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    1. Laney, I ate at a wonderful Italian restaurant next to the hotel. Their original restaurant was in Naples, Italy and the quality of the food reflected that.

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  4. Glad you had a good time and made it back safely.

    Live in U.S. Fav food - Italian - Fav drink - A banana pina colada - Would love to have dinner with and meet my fav authors because I love their work - Robyn Carr; Jill Shalvis - also because she is so funny, Susan Mallery, Toni Blake, Rachel Gibson.

    Thank you for the giveaway. You are always so generous.

    Patoct

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    1. Patoct, I've met Susan Mallery and Rachel Gibson and they were very gracious. I can say with confidence that you would have a wonderful time with Robyn, Jill and Toni - three wonderful women who would immediately put you at ease.

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  5. Aloha, PJ! Thanks for posting more great photos!

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  6. I live in the USA. My favorite foods are fried chicken and hamburgers an Papa John's pizza. I was introduced to Cafe Rio in St George, Utah. I loved their famous pork salad dish! I'm not too familiar with Mexican food but I also like steak fajitas.

    Favorite drink - Southern Comfort with a slice and juice of an orange and Diet 7Up.

    I tend to stick with the tried and true, unless I see something someone else has ordered and decide to try it the next time I go. I'm not very adventuresome.

    Must eat and drink with- Karen Hawkins, Kristan Higgins and Jill Shalvis- Love their sense of humor! I feel that we would get to know each other quickly and have a great time together laughing.

    Must meet-Susan Wiggs, Susan Anderson, Shana Galen, Brenda Novak, Linda Lael Miller, Charlene Sands,Anna Campbell, Donna MacMeans,Theresa Romain, Roxanne St Clair, Pamela Clare,Cindy Gerard, Cathy Maxwell...

    I've never been to a conference. I know there is the general ticket. Do you need special invitations to all the activities and parties? Do you purchase the books at the meet and greet? I can't afford to buy a ton of books. Can you just go and say hello? How do you find the free books? Is it easy to meet people? Are there ways to find roommates to share room cost? Share tours of the city?

    I'm really jealous of all the authors you know and met. Thanks for sharing them and the trip with us, your fellow romance lovers!

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    1. Hawkins, Higgins and Shalvis are a trio that would keep you in stitches! Your "must meet" list of authors is pretty impressive too. Be sure to stop by Friday for the details on Cathy Maxwell's post-Rita party. There were a number of "WOW" moments involved. ;-)

      Okay, here's how the RWA National Conference works. If you register for the conference (registration fee is around $500) that gives you access to all conference meals, workshops, publisher book signings, the Goody Room and the RITA/Golden Heart awards ceremony. The books at the publisher signings are free to registered conference attendees. The "Readers for Life" Literacy Autographing on Wednesday night is open to the public. Admission is free but you pay the cover price for any books you buy. You are not required to buy a lot of books. Authors will be happy to meet you, chat a bit (if they don't have a long line) and pose for pictures. I see some readers walk out of the signing with multiple bags of books and others with only one or two books. All proceeds from the Autographing go to literacy initiatives in the conference city.

      Author parties/receptions are usually by invitation only and can include both registered conference attendees and readers who are not attending the conference but come for the Wednesday night signing. Some authors will have a get-together for street team members in the conference city area. If you're registered for the conference, RWA provides a roommate forum where you can find people to share a hotel room. At the NYC conference in 2011, my three roommates were women I found on that forum. It is easy to meet people but you have to be willing to put yourself out there a bit. Registered attendees wear name badges so it's easy to walk up to someone in the hotel lobby, bar, at workshops or meals and introduce yourself. People attending the conference are, for the most part, very friendly and welcoming.

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  7. USA here. Love romance and romance suspense so would love to see at signing as well as have dinner with: Brenda Novak, Cindy Gerard, Carla Cassidy, Catherine Anderson, Susan Anderson; I could go on and. These are favorites of mine so that is why I would like to eat and meet.
    Natalie's Mama

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    1. I hope you'll have a chance to meet some of them one day!

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  8. Favorite food: Chinese; favorite drink: daiquiris. Or Pepsi. :) But I'm usually willing to try most things (so long as they're not beets...or I'm not allergic to them.) Eat and drink with...Elizabeth Hoyt, Kristan Higgins, Terri Medeiros, Eloisa James...hell, any of the wonderful authors I met. At the literacy signing I got to see most of the "stars" on my must-see list, but I would LOVE to meet Monica McCarty. Love, love, love.

    My question: How long does it take for one to recover from a conference? YEESH. This is killing me!

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    1. Hellie, you didn't meet Monica at the publisher signing? :(

      Give yourself a full week to recover. That's about how long it usually takes me.

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    2. I *LOOKED AND LOOKED* for her at the book signing and never found her. :( But oh, Julie Garwood (and Jude Deveraux)--I'd FAINT! I'd swear I would. *LOL*

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  9. okay, once again, you blow me away....love the recap, the photos and all that fun you shared. Italian I think, because my favorite dish of all is Eggplant parmesan. I love it....and a great fish dish. As far as drinks, well, that might be different. I love Sangria and I adore a really great Margarita. I hope to go next year to NYC and recap as well as you have these past two days!!!!

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    1. Hope, you would have loved Sabrina's get-together. There were pitchers of both Sangria and frozen Margaritas!

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  10. I only came to spend time with you :D Oh, and Susan Sey...and Suzanne Ferrell...and Lisa Tapp....and oh, 2,000 others :D

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    1. ((((Hugs))))) You know how I feel about you!

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  11. Great recap and photos. Thanks for sharing your adventures with us!

    Regarding your questions on food. My favorites are Cajun (my heritage) and TexMex (my adopted residence.) I'll take a large margarita with that--rocks, no salt.

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    1. I love margaritas and certainly had opportunities to try many different types while in San Antonio. I prefer mine frozen but did have some yummy varieties on the rocks as well.

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  12. I like to go out to eat Oriental food, but good ole steak and potatoes is great too! I'd love to meet Eloisa James. I met Elizabeth Hoyt at RT last year, but it would be great to sit down and have a meal with her. Thanks for the fun recap of RWA.

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    1. Hi Mary! I hope you'll have the chance to meet Eloisa one of these days. She's one of the loveliest people I've had the pleasure of meeting.

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    2. Totally second this. I met Eloisa (for a second time) at this conference and she hugged me, thought it was great to see me again, was all "You haven't aged a bit!", and then when we were walking through the tea room, I saw Teresa Mederios (and I always mispell her last name! So I apologize, but I'm really a fan!) and I did a KERMIT FLAIL right there and I think I squeaked, and Eloisa saw and swooped over and did a totally classy "Duchess" thing of "Terri, it's so good to see you. Have you met my friend, Hellie?"--and I got to meet Terri. Right then. Terri. I get to call her Terri. It's AWESOME. Then Eloisa bought us dessert and we had tea...and discussion. CLASS ACT, my friends, she is a class act.

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  13. It looks like so much fun! I would love to have dinner and drinks with Jill Shalvis and Kristan Higgins. They are both so funny and seem really down-to-earth. Plus, I love their books.

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    1. Very down to earth, Cheryl. I don't think either of them has a pretentious bone in her body. And they would keep you in stitches!

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  14. I would choose to meet Hellie; she cracks me up with some of her one-line zingers in her reviews. I would also like to meet all of the Romance Bandits, and to give a hug to all them, especially Anna C. and Joanie. Joanie is another one that cracks me up. But, then, I'd like to meet Jeanne, too, to actually hear her *snork*. ;)

    I don't particularly like any one specific ethnic food. My husband could eat Mexican every day. When he lived in TX, he did! Taco Bell every day or the Mexican lady's cart for lunch. That seems boring to me. I am your basic meat and potatoes person, so love that and fried chicken.
    Thanks for the great recap, PJ!!! Loved it!

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    1. Before conference, I would have said I could eat Mexican every day too but after three days of it I was more than ready for something else! lol!

      You would adore the Bandits! They are such a wonderful group of women who immediately pull you in and treat you like one of their own.

      It was such a pleasure to meet Hellie in person after all these years. Like you, I love those zingers! :)

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    2. Dang, forgot to add that I would LOVE to meet you and Andrea in person. I already feel like we are friends. And, Helen, one of the Bandita buddies. She's a peach.

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    3. Awww, thank you, Deb! I would be honored to meet you!! And hopefully when I do, I have a funny one-liner...and a book for you to read. :)

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  15. Mexican or Italian food is my favorite food.

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    1. Both put me in my happy place but after a week of them I'm more than ready for fresh fruit and veggies!

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  16. Thank you for sharing about this conference. It sounded like a blast. Maybe next year I will be able to go. I would love to meet Sabrina Jeffries, Catherine Coulter, J.T. Ellison, Sarah MacLean, Julia Quinn, Julie Garwood and many more. This would be my candy store to never leave! No calories but lots of goodies for me to have! lol

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    1. Julie Garwood is at the top of my "must meet" list. Her Saving Grace is my all-time favorite comfort read. I'm not sure I'd even be able to speak if I ever got the opportunity to meet her. It would be one of those epic fan girl moments! LOL!

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  17. I love ALL types of food and am always trying new things...no surprise that Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. If I had to pick, I would say Italian or Mexican because I seem to eat a lot of this type. Pair that with a good Sangria, mmm mmm. Lately I've been making a really easy peach one that has been so refreshing this summer.

    Now, speaking of drinks, I would love to toss back a few with Karen Hawkins, Suzanne Enoch and Julia London. Now that would be a fun night!

    I'm glad to see the conference will be coming back to NYC! Last time I met so many authors (including you!) but I missed Lisa Kleypas and Sarah MacLean. I would need to get their signatures on my Kindle :)

    So all these pictures PJ, and I haven't seen any cover models. Are you saving them for last?

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    1. LOL @ Suzy! No cover models at RWA usually, just at RT. But...I do have a special surprise for the Rita/GH blog. *grin*

      I'm looking forward to returning to NYC next year. Hope to see you again!

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    2. I'm very excited for NYC as well! We'll have to all get together again!

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  18. OOH, NYC - great. Live in NY. I love Italian food and Thanksgiving turkey meal. I would love to meet Nora Roberts, Jill Shalvis and her pal Kristan and Roby Carr - just about any of my favorite contemporary authors.

    Gmapeony

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    1. Next year's national conference will be July 22 - 25, 2015 at the New York City Marriott Marquis. Hope to see you there! :)

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  20. I like to take a taste of new foods if that is possible and like a variety really.There is always something in any type of restaurant that I could enjoy. I usually drink cabernet but for something special a Black Russian or Margarita are nice! I have to say meeting the Banditas would be first on my list - they all seem like such down to earth and genuinely nice people - and then the Casablanca authors and Jaunties and oh so many more. If I ever made a conference I would go with as little sleep as possible lol.

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    1. If I ever made a conference I would go with as little sleep as possible lol.

      In that case, you'll fit right in! *grin*

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  21. So tell me, what's your favorite type of food? Do you have a favorite drink? Do you enjoy trying new dishes or do you stick with your favorites?
    I'm a connoisseur of good food, and will try anything new. I tend to incline toward spicy food, not necessarily 'chili hot': (Thai, Italian, Indian, Mexican, etc.) rather than 'bland' flavouring cuisine, but no raw or weird stuff though. I'm boring in the drink dept. cuz I don't drink alcohol or liquor, so I often get just sweet iced tea or soda, occasionally a bit of wine, or Piña colada at lunch.

    If you could have dinner and drinks with any author - or authors - who would you choose and why?
    Eloisa James and some of the talented authors I've come to know through her, Caridad Pineiro, for these ladies are among the very first authors I've come to be friends w/ but not yet met in person.

    If you could attend the Literacy Autographing which authors would be at the top of your "must meet" list?
    Same as above.

    Do you have any questions about the RWA Conference?
    Nope.

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  22. More great pictures. Thanks for sharing.

    I like Italian food. There are so many authors I'd like to meet, but Sherry Thomas, Julie James and Susan Elizabeth Phillips would be at the top of the list. It's my understanding that the lines are so long at the literacy signing at both RWA & RT that you can't get to many authors. Is this true?

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    1. Sherry, Julie and SEP are all lovely, gracious ladies who truly appreciate their readers. I have no doubt that they would be the ones delighted to meet you, Kim!

      I haven't been to RT so I can't speak to that conference. At the RWA Literacy Signing, the lines are long but the room is usually large so once you get inside it isn't too bad. The problem getting to all the authors isn't so much the number of people waiting in line but the number of authors in the room. When you have 400+ authors signing books in one room, sometimes there just isn't enough time to get to all of them. However, there will always be long, long lines at the "Star Author" tables and sometimes books will be gone by the time you get to the front of the line. This has happened to me. However, the authors stay at the tables until the end of the signing and are happy to pose for photos and chat with readers which can be more precious to a reader than getting that signed book.

      At my first Literacy Signing, I reached one of my favorite authors after she had sold all her books. Because the books were all gone, there was no one at her table. She spent 10 minutes visiting with me and told me all about a new series she was working on, sharing information that she had not yet publicly announced and asking for my thoughts on her ideas. (This was in the days before I started reviewing or blogging) It's one of my best RWA memories.

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  23. My favorite food is chicken, there is so many different recipes you can use it for. My favorite being chicken parm! If I could have dinner with one author that would be a tough choice. I would have to say either Eloisa James or George R. R Martin I have myself convince Ned Starks sister is Jon's mom I would demand he tell me :) lol

    My must meet list would contain hundreds of names! Eloisa James, Lisa Kleypas, Shelly Laurenston, Cynthia Eden, JR Ward and so many more!
    I hope to one day be able to attend RWA!

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    1. I forgot to mention Elizabeth Hoyt and Alexandra Hawkins!

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    2. I hope that wish to attend RWA comes true for you, Savannah!

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  24. It was so great to see you, PJ! We always have fun. I wish you lived closer. Sounds like you had fun at conference this year!

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    1. Thanks, Sabrina. Spending time with you is one of my favorite RWA highlights. I need to get over there for some Lady Jane's salons this year. Three hours is not that bad of a drive. :)

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  25. When I travel I always try to eat something new or different once during the trip. Aside from that I tend to stick to "safe" items.

    I dont know who I would pick to have dinner or drinks with.

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    1. I love trying new foods too but this time around I stuck to the "tried and true."

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  26. trying again last post didn't show.
    I love Mexican food, tend to stick with favorites. Would love to have dinner with Eloisa James, Julia Quinn, Elizabeth Boyle, Sabrina Jeffries.
    People to meet at RWA Margaret Moore, Sabrina Jeffries, Carolyn Brown, Karen HAwkins, Julia London, Manda Collins, Terri Osburn, Kim Castillo, ladies from the Dish

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    1. Thanks for including us in that list, regencygirl. We'd love to meet you too!

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  27. I can pretty open to trying just about anything once :) But my fav is Asian food. Looks like a lot of fun!! Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Love Asian food! My niece will be here next week and I'm hoping she'll want to cook an Asian dinner for us. (She lives in Japan.)

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  28. My favorite type of food is Mexican, so I'd have a great time in San Antonio. My favorite drink is Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper, I'm not really into alcohol. :D I usually stick to my favorite dishes, I'm not real adventurous. But it's nice to discover a new favorite once in a while. I'd love to have dinner and drinks with a few of my favorite steampunk authors, Cherie Priest, Meljean Brook and Gail Carriger because I think they all have a great sense of humor and it would be a really fun time.

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    1. I've never been able to get into Dr. Pepper but I may need to give that Cherry Vanilla a try. It's speaking to me. ;-)

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  29. Thanks for the photos - looks like a great bunch of ladies. My favorite drink is a glass of red wine. I would love to have dinner and drinks with Janet Evanovich. Not too much on trying new foods. Favorite foods are roasts and potatoes.
    Patty B 43

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    1. I would love to have dinner and drinks with Janet Evanovich.

      Me too! I'd ask her who she prefers: Ranger or Morelli. *grin*

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  30. Food? Steak of course. yummy

    Kerrilynn Sparks, Terry Spear, Lynsay Sands, Sabrina Jeffries just to name a few. Why? just to get to know them better and maybe get some inside scoop from upcoming books Lol

    must meet list. Well the above to start with then go down the list of all the authors whose street team I am on :)
    (too many to actually mention)

    Thank you for sharing your trip and for the chance at an awssome swag pack

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  31. I'd love to have Mexican food with Valerie Bowman or Sarah MacLean

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    1. I haven't shared a meal with Sarah MacLean but Valerie was in the group I lunched with on Saturday. She's a delight!

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  32. My favorite food has always been Italian - pasta! I don't drink much, but I always loved apricot sours & pina coladas! I think dinner & drinks with Kieran Kramer, Erin Knightly, Vicky Dreiling, Maire Claremont, Samantha Grace, Terri Osburn & Marin Thomas. There would be so many autographs I would want, I would probably need a rolling suitcase! I plan on coming to the NYC signing next year!

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    1. I'd love to meet you in NYC next year, Sharlene!

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  33. White pasta, Black Russians, Sabrina Jeffries, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Karen Hawkins, Eloisa James, Lisa Kleypas, Julia Quinn.
    How are the cities selected for the RWA selected. I know next year is New York, but are any future sites already selected? Thanks.

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    1. Since there are usually 2,000+ registered attendees at the conference it has to be in a hotel that has enough rooms and meeting spaces to accommodate us. That narrows the field of cities. Here are the future sites that have been announced by RWA:

      2015 - New York City
      2016 - San Diego, California
      2017 - Walt Disney World / Orlando, Florida
      2018 - Denver, Colorado

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  34. USA- A dinner with.....The list is pretty long, but I think I would want to start with Rose Gordon, Moriah Densley, Katherine Bone, Robyn DeHart, Maire Claremont and Ella Quin. Then the list would explode! My must meet list would most likely cause me to be labeled a stalker and banned for any such events for eternity! :)
    My favorite food is Johnesetta (some people call it ghoulash), it is the comfort food that reminds me of my mom. Or GOOD Mexican. Favorite drink is a good cuppa Tea.

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    1. My must meet list would most likely cause me to be labeled a stalker and banned for any such events for eternity! :)

      On the contrary, lisa. It would put you in good company! LOL!

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  35. I'd have dinner with any authors I could corner and corral. I'm not very adventurous when it comes to food, so a light salad perhaps, leaving room for dessert. White wine to drink.

    AUSTRALIA

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    1. I love sharing meals with your Aussie authors, Mary. They are some of the nicest people around!

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  36. I like all kinds of foods but my least favorites would be Middle Eastern and Indian cuisine.
    My favorite drink is Rum and Coke with lime or a good glass of white wine.
    You snapped pictures of 4 of my favorite authors: Sabrina Jeffries, Eloisa James, Stephanie Laurens and Julia Quinn. I would love to sit down to dinner with those 4 ladies....I'd be in fan girl heaven!

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    1. That's a pretty awesome collection of authors, Karen and all of them lovely, gracious, intelligent and funny women. It would be a dinner to remember! :)

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  37. Thanks for sharing your photos.
    I love seafood, especially steamed crabs. Would love to meet Julia Quinn in person and show her how to eat steamed crabs if she doesn't already know.

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  38. Thanks for the rwa city info; I live in NY and really have to try to get there. Am going to mention the date to some friends to give them advance warning, um I mean notice. LOL.
    Patoct

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    1. Patoct, the Literacy Signing is an amazing experience. Let me know if you decide to come so we can meet in person!

      A word of advice based on the last NYC conference in 2011: get there early for the Literacy Signing. Last time, thousands of readers came out and it took a long time to get into the signing room. I'd suggest wearing comfy clothes and being in line no later than 2:00pm. The signing typically starts at 5:30 but it will be worth the wait to get to your favorites before they run out of books.

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  39. I like to try different foods as long as they are nothing really exotic. My reading tastes are varied - so any authors would be great to meet and also sit down and have a meal. It blows me away how many authors can draw such emotions from their reader. To be able to make someone laugh out loud or to have them bawling their eyes out. A true talent. I am allergic to alchohol so my drink of choice is iced tea.

    LI Marie

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  40. red velvet are my favorite cupcake Don't belong to any book clubs. US for the drawing

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  41. I enjoy most unique foods but nothing too different. I would love to meet SEP, Kristan Higgins and many others. I would love Italian Food. U.S.

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  42. My meet list for RWA would be Eloisa James, Julia Quinn, Sarah MacLean Stephanie Laurens, Mary Jo Putney, Mary Balogh, Jennifer McQuiston, Maya Rodale, SEP, and probably a dozen more that I can't think of right now! I'd definitely be like a kid in a candy store!
    RWA had been added to my bucket list, I need/want to attend!

    There's nothing better than a delicious Raspberry Margarita! ;)

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  43. On my list of authors to meet would be some of the ones I work with doing graphics, including Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Kate Noble and Katharine Ashe. Sangria is my drink of choice. Between RWA in Atlanta last year and RT in New Orleans this year, I have been lucky enough to meet Eloisa James, Karen White, Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, Sara Jane Stone, Jennifer McQuiston, Terri Osburn and Manda Collins. Also I got to meet PJ. :)

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  44. Eloisa james,mary balogh,julia Quinn.steak and baked potato and glass of beer.

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  45. I love some things in all food groups. ;-) I love Japanese, Chinese, Mexican and Italian the most, though.

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  46. like all kinds, Abbi Glines- she sounds fun, not sure who's attending, no

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  47. there are a number of authors I'd love to meet that I don't know where I'd start ;) as for food, fave is dessert ;) I'm willing to try new things as long as I have a clue what they are. looks like lots of good food & more was had. :)

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  48. I would be happy to meet any authors - too many to name. I really like Italian food, am not too fussy. I would try something new depending what it is. Not much of a drinker but once in awhile like some white win.

    Cuzie Dawn

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  49. You look like you were having so much fun, I'm a wee bit jealous you got to party with Sabrina Jeffries and Eloisa James! I would love to pick their brains about their books and they seem like fun ladies to hang out with. I especially want to have tea with Eloisa! I love all kinds of foods but Chinese food is a favorite but I'm not picky since I'm friends with all my food. I would totally need a good game plan if I'm going to an autograph session since I have a "must-see" list a mile long: Susan Mallery, Jill Shalvis, Julia Quinn, Lisa Kleypas just to name a few. Thanks for sharing your pics with us. I'm from Canada.

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  50. I like food in general and really don't have any favorites. It depends on the mood I am in at the time. I am willing to try almost anything at least once. (I do have my limits. I was a Peace Corps volunteer and there were a few things I just couldn't manage - fat juicy wood grubs for one.)

    There are so many authors I would like to meet and have dinner and drinks with. I went to RomCon last year, my first ever writer/reader conference. It was more fun than I have had in a long time. I met several authors whose work I like and it was so interesting to get to know them as a person as well as a talent. I volunteered and would love to volunteer and attend RWA some day.

    Most of those I would like to meet are historical romance authors, some who also write contemporaries and mysteries. Sabrina Jeffries, Kat Martin, Elizabeth Hoyt, Janet Chapman, Sue-Ellen Welfonder, Eloisa James, Linda Lael Miller, the authors at Petticoats and Pistols, Anna Campbell, and many, many more.


    Can someone who is not attending the conference volunteer for the entire conference? I would love to go to NYC. I was there as a Red Cross volunteer during Sandy recovery efforts, but that wasn't really a time to play tourist and see the city. I was planning to be a volunteer in 2010 in Nashville and attend Librarians Day. Unfortunately, that was the year it was flooded out and moved to Florida. Do you know if it will ever be rescheduled for Nashville?

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  51. One day I'll get to go to RWA! It looks like so much fun, I get so jealous seeing these recaps with pics of my fave authors!! :)

    I'm a bit of a finicky eater so my favorite food is stuff I'm comfortable eating, I don't like trying new things. I like Chinese and Italian foods....and regular burgers and stuff. Nothing exotic for me!

    Ohh, I'd love to have dinner and drinks with Jill Shalvis & Penny Reid but I'd be afraid I might scare them...I'd have no idea what to say to them besides gushing about how much I love them and their books LOL Both seem like such awesome ladies, I would just love to be in their presence! And those two top my list for "must meet" although I have tons of authors I'd add like Kristan Higgins, Julie James, Lisa Kleypas, Nora Roberts, Julie Garwood....so many! I could just go on and on!

    Canada

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  52. I have really enjoyed seeing all the pictures. I like all kinds of food, Chinese, Italian, Mexican to name some.

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