So I left off with last night's massive Literacy signing. Kristie and I started standing in line an hour before the grand opening, and used that time to talk up Romantic Advances to several readers. These cute sisters from the Dallas area were particularly excited about it - "You mean I don't have to go to several web sites anymore? Just this one?" Uh, yep! That's the goal!
When they finally open the doors the first person I ran to see was Emma Holly. I was hoping she'd have some of her recently reprinted Black Lace books to sign, but alas - no. I picked up a mass market copy of All U Can Eat (I gave my trade copy to my sister) and Prince Of Ice (which I didn't have yet). I probably made a complete ass of myself, but I kept my gushing, "OMG I lurve your books!!!!" down to a minimum.
Next I met Ruth Ryan Langan, who is just about the sweetest thing ever. Ruth wrote the first romance novel I ever read - a very 1980s western called Nevada Nights. I'm going to scan the cover when I get home, because it is a trip! Copyright 1986. Well Ruth was tickled to see that book again, as the company who published it went belly-up. She hadn't seen a copy in years. I think I might have made her night. Sitting next to her were Elizabeth Lane and Jill Marie Landis who also got a kick out of seeing that old book. I also picked up Ruth's latest novel and Elizabeth's latest HH western.
There were lots of authors I talked to, and probably will forget them all - but I want to be sure to drop these names. I made a point of introducing myself to Alison Kent, because she designed my blog template and I write for Romancing The Blog. I also met Sylvia Day and Mary Castillo, who will both be doing a library program for my library this spring (bless their hearts!). I always stop by to see Kathryn Smith when I attend RWA, since I reviewed her debut novel many moons ago. I also met the very lovely Kayla Perrin, who recently published We'll Never Tell, set at my college alma mater. And a big shout out to Kate Douglas and Karen White-Owens who stopped me because they wanted to read my T-shirt. My younger sister got me this great T-shirt for my birthday, and while it's hardly professional attire, I thought it was too funny to not wear it.
I thought considering the number of people there that the volunteers running the show did an amazing job. My only complaint is the same one I have every darn year - please for the love of God give Suzanne Brockmann and Sherrilyn Kenyon there own tables in the corner somewhere. They always generate huge lines of fans and they end up clogging the main aisles. I spent most of the evening cutting through those lines saying "Excuse me, pardon me, I'm very sorry" a lot. You think after a couple of years of this someone would get a clue.
Today has been very relaxed so far with only the Samhain breakfast and a trip to the Goodie Room. Tomorrow is when the real fun begins with the Publisher Signings and Publisher Showcases. Until later....
6 comments:
Mention the special tables issue to Allison Kelley. I overheard an author saying the national office didn't want to single out any authors by giving them special tables, ergo, the big cluster f*ck you saw.
Obviously I read the posts out of order, nonetheless enjoying hearing what you are all up to.
As for the whole table snafu thing...is that hard to figure out? Would other authors really get upset about it?
Love the t-shirt your sister got you. Wonder if I could get by with it at my library? Not a chance!
You make me wish I'd made the six hour trek across the state to Dallas. It sounds like a fabu event this year.
Rosie:
I would think the authors sitting next to people like Brockmann and Kenyon would be more upset because with the huge line of fangirls waiting for those two authors, it's very hard to get to the other authors in the surrounding area. They're blocked from your line of vision just by the sheer mass of people.
J.R Ward also had a big line, but with her at least she's at the end of the alphabet.
And RWA does do separate tables for some authors - but I'm not sure what the "requirement" is. Nora, Kleypas, and Linda Lael Miller had separate tables. I think there might have been one more, but I haven't had caffeine yet this morning.....
Glad the shirt was a hit! :) I cracked up while shopping - there are sooo many good shirts on that site. I almost got you another one - but it's a bit to read - I'll have to send it to you. It's like a "Librarian's Manifesto"
Hi, Super Wendy. I just wanted to say it was nice meeting you in person at RWA.
Maybe next year I can convince my library friend to go, and there will be two super librarians there. :-)
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