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Dallas Welcomes the RWA
July 10, 2007

Thank goodness no tornado on this flight.  Arrived in hot, muggy Dallas only to go to a hotel where the air conditioners are running at sub zero temperatures.  But things started warming up here fast at the Romance Writers of America Conference.  Lots of warm greetings, smiles and hugs.  Being a romance writer is being a part of a large, loving community.  

Heading to lunch, I ran into old friend and great author, Victoria Alexander, who was lunching with Stephanie Laurens.  They graciously allowed me to join them and it wasn't long until Elizabeth Hoyt was also at our table.   We were discussing how amazing it is that people can read the same book, same words and end up with totally different takes on it.  This makes sense to me, since each person brings their own life experiences into the story with them, which may be totally different from what the author had in mind. 

I checked out the press room where the extraordinary public relations manager, Nicole Kennedy, had things well in hand.  Kelley St. John stopped by and gave me 2 of her books.  This is how it starts and the books multiply like bunnies in a carrot patch, but I'm prepared with an extra suitcase for all these books. 

Time to head for registration where I got a special name badge with a dot on it that means I get to go to the "published authors" lounge (and not everyone has a dot).  Apparently, this is the place to be.  I'll be checking it out tomorrow.  

Met up with Teresa Medeiros and we ended up interviewing in her suite (and it was truly sweet, with more bathrooms than I have in my house).   Actually, she's sharing it with 2 other authors, so that's ok.  We had a fun  talking about Star Trek conventions and her terrific vampire series brothers.

Next up, Suzanne Brockmann, with a Navy Seal in the cocktail lounge (just kidding about the Navy Seal, but she does write about them).  Talking about her new book coming out in August, she had me so worked up that I actually started drooling.  She writes the best dramedy (her word, although the books are tagged as romantic suspense).  I've read them all and highly recommend them.

After dinner, I caught up with Jana DeLeon, Colleen Gleason and Janet Mullany, where the discussion turned to why they can't show women's nipples on book covers, but they can show men's.   I didn't even have a comment since I was too busy looking at the examples of men covers.

Time to head to my room (not suite) to settle in and watch the All-Star game and my man Prince Fielder.  

Bottom line:  Baseball All-Star game....talk about warm greetings, smiles, and hugs

     
Stephanie Lauens, me, Elizabeth Hoyt, Victoria Alexander..........Nicole Kennedy and Kelley St. John


      
Me and Teresa Medeiros...................................Suzanne Brockmann and me

Posted by Barbara Vey on July 10, 2007 | Comments (7)