RWA - Wednesday Night Wrap-Up

It's Midnight and I'm just now starting to slow down.  I've nabbed a comfy chair in the lobby (no internet in our room), have my shoes off and feet propped up on a cushy ottoman.  I'm sharing this cozy corner with a Harlequin Kimani author but I don't think he minds the airing out of the feet as he's barefoot too!  :)

Jude Deveraux & PJ

The Literacy Signing was a huge success.  We won't hear the amount of money raised for a while but the lines were long and people were buying lots of books.  I had a blast visiting all the tables, buying books and snapping photos of authors. Just as the signing was starting, one of my friends mentioned that Jude Deveraux was there.  Jude-freakin'- Deveraux!  I headed straight for her table. I've been reading her books forever. A Knight in Shining Armor and Sweet Liar are on my all-time favorites list.  She was an absolute doll. Signed a copy of True Love for me. I think I managed to speak coherently to her... but just barely.  I mean, she is, after all, Jude Deveraux!




I had a chance to chat with Heather Snow at the Literacy Signing.  She's such a sweet lady and writes awesome historical romances with smart heroines. Love her heroines!  Her book, Sweet Madness, is one of my favorite books of 2013.  I may have mentioned that before but it bears repeating.







Andrea and a group of readers who drove into town for the Literacy Signing









Here are some shots from the Literacy Signing.  More to come later!

Jennifer McQuiston & PJ

Julie Anne Long

Elizabeth Hoyt

Excited for Terri Osburn who was signing for the first time!









Had a good time this afternoon at the Goddess Blog party.  Delicious spread and great company!  Here are a few random shots from the party.

Sabrina Jeffries

PJ & Reader pal, Ruth

Louisa Cornell, Susan Sey & Joan Kayse


That's it for today.  Tomorrow's schedule is packed so I probably won't have a chance to post until
late.  My camera is charged and ready to go so, hopefully I'll have lots more pictures to share!

Are you a Jude Deveraux fan?  Tell me about your favorite Deveraux book and why you like it.  I have a signed hardcover copy of True Love for one randomly chosen person who leaves a comment! (U.S. addresses only please)

RWA - Wednesday Wonders

We're in between events so grabbing a few minutes to let you know what we've been doing today.  I started off the day by waking up my roommates when my alarm went off at 6am.  I volunteered at the registration desk this morning.  They went back to sleep and got up somewhere around 9:00.  I enjoy working the registration desk and always volunteer there at every conference I attend.  It's a great way to see friends and meet new people!  Some notables who stopped this morning included Eloisa James, Tessa Dare, Grace Burrowes, Victoria Alexander, Katharine Ashe, Sarah MacLean, Candice Hern, Vicky Dreiling and many more.

Andrea and I visited the Goody Room and scored some goodies for giveaways here at The Romance Dish.  When we walked out of the room I noticed Nora Roberts and Ruth Ryan Langan seated to our left so, of course, I strolled over and asked if I could take a photo.  I think I shocked Andrea!  lol!  Nora was very gracious and had her assistant take a shot with us in it too.

Cathy Maxwell is this year's keynote speaker and also a birthday girl!  She was present this morning with her trademark smile in place.  Always a delight to see her!

We've seen most of the Romance Bandits in attendance.  They're such a fun group!  Still a couple I haven't met up with yet but hope to fix that later today.

I had a chance to chat with romance legend, Sharon Sala earlier this afternoon.  Another gracious lady. This conference is filled with them!

It's always fun to catch up with fellow readers and bloggers at these conferences too.  Saw the awesome Anne Martel, Stephanie Hyacinth and Paula Robinson.  They're all fellow Robyn Carr fans and wonderful ladies!

Okay, have to wrap this up and get ready for the Goddess Blogs party followed by tonight's Literacy Signing.  People are already lining up to get into the signing and it doesn't start until 5:30pm!

Signing off from RWA in Atlanta, Georgia.

More to come....

~PJ

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