We have arrived!

Here's a photo of the center atrium of the Marriott Marquis in Atlanta where this year's RWA national conference is being held. Andrea and both arrived around 2:30 this afternoon. Andrea's husband drove her into the city (after picking up our two roommates at the airport). Curb service is a special luxury when you live 40 miles from the conference hotel! My journey was a bit more circuitous.  I drove from Charlotte to the town where I used to live (about halfway between Charlotte and Atlanta) where I stopped to get a pedicure. My feet were very unhappy and needed tending by the lovely lady who has been my pedicure queen for many years.  After a quick lunch, I continued south to the outlet mall about halfway between former home and Atlanta where I searched for a pair of shoes to wear to the Rita ceremony Saturday night.  It's formal dress and I hadn't been able to find the right shoes that my awful feet would accommodate without killing said feet.  Success at the Outlet Mall!  I found cute shoes that I can actually wear. ::grin::

After those two necessary stops, I finally made it to our hotel around 2:30 and the first person I saw was good friend Kim Castillo!  She and her husband had just pulled in after their drive down from Indiana and I pulled in right behind them. So nice to be greeted with a smile and a hug upon arrival. :)

Maggie Robinson

The line at the hotel registration desk wasn't too bad so I only had to wait a few minutes. While checking in, I missed a call from Andrea.  Next thing I knew, she and our roomies Lisa (from Teatime Romance) and YA author Marnie Bates were standing next to me.  They were trying to check into our room at the other end of the long registration desk while I was doing the same! More hugs and smiles ensued.  Are you sensing a theme here?  :)

Terri Osburn

It's not too crowded yet, at least not like it will be tomorrow when the majority of the conference attendees arrive.  I have managed to stalk...well, not stalk but...okay,okay...stalk a few authors already.  We've seen most of the Romance Bandits, sat at a table next to Nora Roberts in the bar, met Susan Mallery who was chatting with Bandita Kate Carlisle, exchanged hugs with Trish Milburn, chatted with Juliana Stone (love her books!), met fellow blogger, Danielle Gorman (Ramblings from this Chick), chatted with Maggie Robinson (have you read her new historical, In the Arms of the Heiress? It's terrific!) and with Terri Osburn (good friend and debut author of the wonderful Meant to Be!)  I also met Heather Snow (I've been wanting to meet her!) who is just as sweet in person as she is online.)  Her book, Sweet Madness is one of my favorite books of 2013.







The elevator doors have these cool posters on them. Here's one from Harlequin for The Best Man by Kristan Higgins.  Don't you love it?


That's it for now.  I'm heading back to the bar with my camera. More updates later!

~PJ