Friday was a busy day at the RWA National Conference. Okay, let's face it, everyday at RWA is busy! Filled with workshops, publisher signings, parties, luncheons, and more, Friday was another day of learning, networking, smiles, hugs, and books. Lots and lots of lovely books. Here's a look back at a few of the highlights.
I've talked a lot about Kelly Bowen since discovering her books earlier this year. I was happy to see her win a RITA for A Duke to Remember.
Joanna Bourne's new book, Beauty Like the Night came out August 1. This woman is brilliant. Simply brilliant. Every book she's published has gone straight to my keeper shelf.
With RITA finalist Roxanne St. Claire and fellow reader, Shari. Are you reading St. Claire's new Dogfather series? I'm so in love with these wonderful, heartwarming stories!
I was very excited to meet long-time favorite historical romance author, Betina Krahn. She hasn't attended the RWA conference in a number of years and I didn't know she was going to be there this year. I may have squealed just a bit - okay, a lot - but I wasn't the only one. ;-)
Susanna Craig is one of my favorite new authors on the historical romance front. If you aren't reading her books, you're missing out on some beautifully written, character-driven stories that take you out of Georgian England ballrooms to seaside villages, Caribbean plantations, and the high seas. All three books in her Runaway Desires trilogy are currently on sale.
With fabulous (North and South) Carolina authors Laura Trentham, Heather McGovern, and Elizabeth Michels. I adore these smart, talented, funny women and their wonderful books!
With Word Wenches Mary Jo Putney and Andrea Penrose a/k/a Andrea Pickens a/k/a Cara Elliott. I've been a long-time fan of these romance grande dames who in addition to being outstanding authors are also some of the nicest people I've had the pleasure of meeting.
With RITA finalist Sabrina Jeffries who is funny, generous, gracious, and one of my favorite historical romance authors.
Some of the incredible shoes that were on display at this year's conference!
Since I can't wear gorgeous shoes like these anymore, I consoled myself with some of the equally gorgeous desserts.
Not to mention the drinks...
So, tell me...
What's your favorite dessert? Favorite drink?
Are you a high heel kind of woman or, like me, do you prefer comfy sneakers, sandals, or flats?
Have you discovered a new author or book recently that you'd like to tell us about?
Two people will receive a book bag, books, and swag from my conference stash.
(U.S. only)
I love any fruit dessert with real whipped cream. Ginger ale is my drink choice (am not a drinker). Recently discovered JS Scott billionaire series, loving those. The Billionaire's Voice was vg.
ReplyDeleteI've been hearing a lot about J.S. Scott recently. Need to check out her books.
DeleteI love a yellow cupcake with white buttercream frosting. Yummy! My favorite cocktail is a Kir which is white wine with a tiny splash of Creme de Cassis.
ReplyDeleteI loved heels during the years that I worked. Not real high ones though. Now that I'm retired and living in Florida, I wear nothing but flip flops that have an arch support.
I hope everyone gets a chance to read THE MAP THAT LEADS TO YOU by J. P. Monninger. I could not put that book down and it made me cry. The story stayed with me and when I thought about it, tears came to my eyes. That shouldn't turn you off from reading it. It's just a story of deep, abiding love. I thought I read that it's to be made into a movie. I hope so.
One of these days I hope to make it to RWA. In the meantime, I have so enjoyed the pictures that all of you (especially PJ) have posted on Facebook. That way, I can attend vicariously through you! :-)
And one more book to add to my list. Thanks, Connie!
DeleteMy favorite dessert would be a lemon pie because I love anything lemony. My favorite drink is hot tea, especially chai. I don't wear high heels and never wore really high heels, just medium, but now I wear comfortable shoes, sandals, and flats. I just finished reading a memorable novel, The Echo of Twilight, a historical.
ReplyDeleteMy mom made the best lemon meringue pie. My mouth still drools at the mere thought of a taste even though it's been more than 30 years.
DeleteI couldn't wear the shoes, but I would have no trouble at all with the desserts and the drinks! LOL!
ReplyDeleteThere were a few desserts I could only admire from afar but a surprising number of them were gluten-free. Fun for me! :)
DeleteMy favorite dessert is Lemon Merangue pie or whipped cream over mixed berries. Haven't worn heels in decades. Now it's loafers & sandals. I found two new Authors Mary Alice Monroe and her Low Country series and Karen White's Trade Street series. Both wonderful reads.
ReplyDeleteCarol L
Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com
I have a Mary Alice Monroe book but haven't read it yet. I adore Karen White (the person) as well as the books she writes. She's one of my favorites.
DeleteI was saddened to read that Kathryn Caskie, had passed. Her books were amazing reads.
ReplyDeleteMy prayers to her family.
Carol L
I was stunned and saddened to hear of Kathy Caskie's death. She was a favorite of mine as well, Carol. In addition to being a talented author, she was a funny, gracious, kind, and generous woman. I had the pleasure of chatting with her online and meeting her in person several times before illness forced her to step back from social media and writing. She will be missed.
DeleteI never got to meet her but I read every book and admired her talent. Such a loss and far too young.
DeleteCarol L
A dessert which is for celebrations as it is very rich and special is chocolate mousse. A drink for summer is lemon lime sparkling water. I wear sandals as long as possible, running shoes and flat shoes for everyday. An author whose books I enjoy greatly is Jacqueline Winspear.
ReplyDeleteA friend of mine makes a fabulous chocolate kahlua mousse. I could eat the whole bowl. No, really, every last bite! *grin*
DeleteWow, PJ, these are great pictures!
ReplyDeleteI'll eat anything with a raspberry in it. As for high heels... well that ship may have sailed.
The book/author I recently discovered was reviewed here - Sophie Kinsella. I loved her book, "Perfect Life".
I really need to give that book a try. Glad you're enjoying the photos!
DeleteLove the pics! Nice to put faces to names. I normally drink red wine but Black Russians are my favorite too. I wouldn't turn down too many desserts lol. Cheesecake maybe. I wore high heels to work for 15 years but now only for special occasions. No new authors at the moment but one of my favorites is Grace Burrowes.
ReplyDeleteMy podiatrist tells me part of the reason my feet are so bad now is because of those gorgeous high heels I wore to work for so many years. Ah well, it was great while it lasted!
DeleteA new author to me is Sara Richardson. Just read Hometown Cowboy, and it was GOOD. Love a man in jeans :-)
ReplyDeleteWelcome to The Romance Dish, Patricia! Glad to have you with us.
DeleteHard to say no to a man in jeans, isn't it? :)
I love chocolate mousse - and a good old rum & coke. (not necessarily together) I too have discovered Kelly Bowen and I love her writing. Used to have a closet full of high heels in every color of the rainbow, but not so much anymore. Flats are the norm for me these days.
ReplyDeleteI love(d) wearing heels, but once the kiddos arrived (and I was carrying them around) I opted for flats. And now I'm in the habit of wearing functional shoes over fashionable ones. I still love to look a them though!
ReplyDeleteA new author (to me) that I've recently found and love is Kate Kisset! She writes wine country romances with characters and a scenery that are easy to fall in love with!
I have never worn heels.
ReplyDeleteI love apple pie and apple crisp. My Mom makes those desserts great. I love just about any suspense authors. But recently liked Nicholas Sparks A Bend in the Road; I like twists.
Natty's Mama.
What's your favorite dessert? Favorite drink?
ReplyDeleteI used to wear high heels all the time when I worked. Now, I just wear a low heel shoe.
A new Author to me is Vivienne Lorret, although I haven't read her books, yet.
My favorite dessert is a fresh cream strawberry trifle that I make from time to time. I use my Mum's recipe, and everybody loves it. When my husband worked at NASA in Ohio, at their annual picnic they held a contest for best dessert, and I won first prize for it. I was really chuffed to win.
I was shocked, and saddened, to read (above) that Kathryn Caskie had passed away. My condolences to her family and friends.
Thanks for all the great pics from the RWA.
What a fun post. The shoes--which I like to look at, but can no longer wear. And those desserts! I love desserts that are bite-sized mini works of art. (And chocolate, of course!) Thanks for keeping us up to date on RWA.
ReplyDeleteI'm very saddened to hear of Kathryn Caskie's death. Prayers to the family. Thanks for letting us know.
I recommend The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton
ReplyDeleteThanks for the new pictures. It looks like you had a great time. I enjoy almost anything chocolate. If I'm dressed up, it's high heels all the way; if I'm casual, then sneakers.
ReplyDeleteI haven't discovered any new authors recently. I'm currently reading Devil's Cut, the final book in J.R. Ward's trilogy. It's nice having her back writing something other then paranormal.
I love chocolate cream pie. Book I would recommend is Debbie Macomber's If Not For You. As for drinks, an occasional glass of wine.
ReplyDeletePatty B43
Forgot the rest of your questions Those double chocolate desserts look awesome and I am a flat type gal. New author, hmm Toni Blake. Wish she wrote more books.
ReplyDeletePatty B43
I enjoy the pictures you post every year of the authors you meet at RWA. My favorite dessert is chocolate fudge cake with cream cheese frosting. I love amaretto stone sour to drink. No heels for me. Gym shoes or flip flops. I have a couple of flats for dressing up. I just finished reading an ARC of Debbie Macomber's Any Dream Will Do that released today.
ReplyDeleteWOW - love your pictures. There was a time, I loved and wore heels. I am no longer able to do that....but that does not mean I cannot admire from afar. I Love Flan. I love pie. I love....well honesty here. I never met a bit of sugar I did not like. Iced tea or cherry Pepsi for me to drink.
ReplyDeleteNew to me authors - Kate Hewitt - she writes fun stories - and Katie Fforde - she makes me feel good. And there are tons of authors who are long time favorites....too many to mention. If I were going to mention - Susan Elizabeth Phillips...love to laugh at her writing. Mary Balogh...love her characters. And I could go on and on. I envy you all the wonderful time you had at RWA.
I love a good cheesecake! Favorite drink is green tea. Can't do heels anymore, so a big yes to flats, sneakers and sandals! I have several new authors to me to read yet (on my TBR list), but I'm a stickler for sticking to those tried-and-true authors that I love....Kleypas, Burrowes, Ashe, Dare, MacLean. Hope to get to some new authors very soon! Thanks for your prize offer! :-)
ReplyDeleteFavorite dessert is chocolate cake. Favorite drink is Diet Coke. Always go for comfort and good support in my shoes. New author Tess Diamond. Just read her first book. Really good. Looking forward to the next.
ReplyDeleteFavorite Dessert: depends on my mood & what I had for dinner - I love dark chocolate dessert, but that can be too rich after a big meal - then I might go for a Creme Brulee.
ReplyDeleteI'm tall so I've rarely worn very high heels - now I just want something comfy, but pretty or sparkly is a nice thing too.
I just got an arc thru Goodreads of a new author for me - Alyson McLayne. 'Highland Promise' - it's the first book in her Highlander historical romance series 'The Sons of Gregor MacLeod' - I'm enjoying it. I appreciate the bits of humor with the characters.
Great pictures. Looks like lots of fun.
ReplyDeleteI'm a lover of Cheesecake and any kind. Also chocolate cream pie.
I'm also a flat or sneaker girl. I do like wedge sandals though.
Big fan of Mary Jo Putney and Sabrina Jeffries. Just recently found Rachel Ayala and Brenda Rothert. They both have several books but I just devoured them.
My favorite dessert is Ice Cream. I also am a sneaker girl. I just discovered Aly Martinez's books.
ReplyDeletefav dessert is cheesecake, fav drink is a shirley temple and flats! better even, sneakers!!! I just discovered Nicola Rendell's So Good. and it was!!! LOL... very sweet friends to lovers w/ a small dog named Cupcake and an old cantankerous cat named Julia Ceasar. It was a bit "spicier" of a romance but it was a great story! sounds like you had a great time! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteIce cream is my favorite dessert, as well as my downfall. I used to love wearing heels, but I can't anymore. Sigh. I stick to flats now. Sounds like RWA was tons of fun. Maybe one day I'll get to go.
ReplyDeleteDessert favs? Anything chocolate, closely followed by fruit pies and cobblers. Drinks? Lately Mexican martinis or Ranch Water (tequila, lime, topo chico). The highest heeled shoes I wear are my cowboy boots... it's been ages since I had any desire to wear high heels.
ReplyDeleteHorrible news about Ms Kathryn Caskie. My heart goes out to her family and friends.
I love chocolate brownies, chewy ones. I like heels, but knees don't, so I've given up wearing them for the most part.
ReplyDeleteLoved seeing my friend Shari in one of the pix.
Denise
Favorite dessert would be flourless chocolate cake with a drizzle of raspberry sauce and finger of lightly sweetened whipped cream on the side. Favorite drink is single malt whiskey. I can't walk in heels and prefer to walk around barefoot indoors, but will usually settle for comfy sneakers. Recently discovered Jenny Colgan's books and find them charming.
ReplyDeleteI haven't worn heels in over 35 years - being a teacher it would have killed my back. I love desserts, especially any containing chocolate. Laura Trentham is a recent find for me.
ReplyDeleteYou guys got to see and have the best in the world in one place: books, shoes, desserts, and drinks! I bet it felt like heaven. I know it would have been for me :)
ReplyDeleteI love high heel shoes, not so much as I did before because, you know, age, but I love looking at them. And my favorite dessert is tiramisu. I just love it!
Wow!! Those are some seriously awesome shoes & desserts! And all the photos of authors! Thanks for sharing them. I'm a flats/sneakers kinda gal in my older years! Since leaving state employment, I haven't had a job with a heels/pantyhose dress code! Boy does that save $$!
ReplyDeleteI like Irish Coffee and White Russians.
ReplyDeleteNo high heels here. Sneakers are my footwear of necessity. If I do dress up a bit, it is flats or a wide 1 or 2 inch heel at the most.
I am currently reading Knight On The Texas Plains by Linda Broday. This is a newly released reprint and I am enjoying it. I really like her writing.