Beyond Her Book
More from Barbara Vey Email: barbaravey@gmail.com Recent Posts
Recent Comments
Most Commented On
Archives
Blog
Link This | Email this | Blog This | Comments (23)
Final Word on RT
|
|||||||
 |
| Joyce (who writes Wednesday book blurbs) and Me (look close and you'll see the tiara I won spinning the wheel). |
I made it home from the Romantic Times Booklovers Convention in Pittsburgh last night minus my leather jacket, which I hope is at the hotel. It was a very long, action packed week and I thought I'd give you some of the pros and cons of RT 2008.
Cons: Hotel - While no fault of RT, the hotel was under major construction. People complained of dust, dirt and noise, not to mention holes in walls, beds standing on their sides and flooded bathrooms due to leaky showers.
Not enough seating at events: Some conventioneers found themselves wandering around the giant ballrooms trying to find a place to sit. According to Carol Stacy of RT, the hotel only allowed one RT person to be the contact and she was nowhere to be found when they needed the hotel to add more tables and the hotel refused to do it with out this specific approval.
Not enough gift bags at luncheon: Beautiful gift bags were given out at the RT Awards luncheon, but not enough to go around. Carol Stacy told me that normally most people leave the 2 1/2 hour event early, so they announced that the gift would be given only to those who stayed until the end. Well, it worked and nearly everyone stayed. This is a good thing...right? (Tickets were given to those who didn't get bags for a future gift)
 |
| F. Paul Wilson as a butler singing "Hotel California" |
An incident with a camera: An author's daughter left her camera unattended and another author's daughter picked it up and apparently took some pictures of her very private body parts. There was an altercation, name calling and many tears. The yuk factor on this is very high and hopefully all involved have apologized and made up.
Pros: Adrian Paul (touching and saying my name, on camera, so I can listen to it over and over again).
Amazing parties with faeries under the sea, vampire ball, pirates bash and boots made for stomping.
Bookseller events by authors filled with food, fun and lots of special giveaways.
Seminars on everything from furred and fanged to erotic dialog given by authors who really know their stuff.
 |
| Marianne Mancusi, Fabio and Liz Maverick. This picture speaks for itself. |
A booksigning that had nearly 300 authors suffering from writer's cramp by the end.
A Mr. Romance competition that had enough whooping and hollering to rival a rodeo event.
Male authors who aren't afraid of the 100:1 ratio (I'm just guessing about the ratio, but it was close)
Over 1100 of the most incredible people who were there for one reason...their love of romance and all things books.
The Romantic Times Magazine knows how to throw a party and next year it will be in Orlando. Be there or be square.
Bottom Line: Ok, I'm star stuck. I just watched my Drive by Video with Adrian Paul on my 57" tv.
Posted by Barbara Vey on April 23, 2008 | Comments (23)
April 23, 2008
In response to: Final Word on RT
Susan Gable commented:
In response to: Final Word on RT
Susan Gable commented:
Barbara, RT had to know that the hotel was going to be undergoing construction during the convention. I'm sure they had to disclose that when the contracts were signed. I hope you get your leather coat back!
April 23, 2008
In response to: Final Word on RT
Barbara Vey commented:
In response to: Final Word on RT
Barbara Vey commented:
Susan, according to Carol Stacy of RT, they were told the renovations would be done a year ago. Contracts are signed several years ahead of time.
April 23, 2008
In response to: Final Word on RT
joysannoh commented:
In response to: Final Word on RT
joysannoh commented:
My head is still spinning...from having to watch the Adrian Paul drive-by video umpteen times. Not really-I'm just jealous. Thanks, Barbara, for towing me in your wake to meet all the wonderful authors, editors, and publishers, and letting me share in some of your adventures. It was an exciting, exhausting week, and I’d do it all again. Maybe I will, in Orlando! See you June 6th in Cincinnati at the 2008 Readers and Writers Get Together with Lori Foster, Dianne Castell, Linda Keller. We get to do it again! Love ya, Joyce
April 23, 2008
In response to: Final Word on RT
mary s commented:
In response to: Final Word on RT
mary s commented:
Wow Barb--even with the "cons" it sounded like a wonderful, memorable time! Thanks for letting us in on all the events!
April 23, 2008
In response to: Final Word on RT
Kate Douglas commented:
In response to: Final Word on RT
Kate Douglas commented:
I didn't make it this year, so I'm loving the reports, and especially enjoying your videos, Barb! As far as the cons? I can't imagine organizing an event of this size, keeping the energy level at mach-10 and NOT having at least a few glitches. Of course, isn't that what makes it even MORE memorable? Hoping to make it to Orlando.
April 23, 2008
In response to: Final Word on RT
Sabrina Jeffries commented:
In response to: Final Word on RT
Sabrina Jeffries commented:
Ooh, ooh, ooh, I'm so jealous over the Adrian Paul thing! I'm a huge Highlander fan, and if I could have fit it into my schedule this year, I would SO have been at RT just to see him! Not that the authors (and you, Barbara, of course) aren't a draw, but Adrian ... All I can say is ... drool. Glad you had fun. I'm hoping to get there next year. Maybe. Life always seems to get in the way.
April 23, 2008
In response to: Final Word on RT
Christy commented:
In response to: Final Word on RT
Christy commented:
Wow, Barb. Sounds like an incredible time! I really plan on making it to either RT or RWA next year. Thanks for sharing all of this with us!
April 23, 2008
In response to: Final Word on RT
Christy commented:
In response to: Final Word on RT
Christy commented:
Oh, and I hope you get your jacket back!
April 23, 2008
In response to: Final Word on RT
Christy commented:
In response to: Final Word on RT
Christy commented:
Oh, and I hope you get your jacket back!
April 23, 2008
In response to: Final Word on RT
Tess Mallory commented:
In response to: Final Word on RT
Tess Mallory commented:
Thanks so much for posting on RT. I didn't get to go this year, but it sounded like a blast! I write time travel romances that are set in Scotland, and Adrian Paul has often been my inspiration for my heroes! :) You lucky girl, you!
April 23, 2008
In response to: Final Word on RT
Liza commented:
In response to: Final Word on RT
Liza commented:
First, I hope you get your jacket back. Sounds like you had a wonderful time even with the cons. Thanks for sharing with all of us.
April 23, 2008
In response to: Final Word on RT
Joan Schulhafer commented:
In response to: Final Word on RT
Joan Schulhafer commented:
Barbara, if you ever want to see your jacket again, put $100 in small bills in a brown lunch bag and put it behind the garbage can by the Midwest Express counter at Milwaukee airport. Remember...no police.
April 23, 2008
In response to: Final Word on RT
Joan Schulhafer commented:
In response to: Final Word on RT
Joan Schulhafer commented:
Barbara, if you ever want to see your jacket again, put $100 in small bills in a brown lunch bag and put it behind the garbage can by the Midwest Express counter at Milwaukee airport. Remember...no police.
April 23, 2008
In response to: Final Word on RT
CAROLE NELSON DOUGLAS commented:
In response to: Final Word on RT
CAROLE NELSON DOUGLAS commented:
Sorry I missed running into you at the convention. I did get to meet fun blurbers Joan and Joyce. ::waving:: Thanks for the videos and your round-up report with unfevered comment on the glitches. Happily, I didn't encounter any of those problems with the room and at events. Oh, yeah, I encountered that guy too . . . See you in Orlando, I hope!
April 23, 2008
In response to: Final Word on RT
Shari Anton commented:
In response to: Final Word on RT
Shari Anton commented:
I'm glad I encountered fewer cons than you did :). All in all, I had a great time. Orlando, here we come! Shari
April 23, 2008
In response to: Final Word on RT
Shari Anton commented:
In response to: Final Word on RT
Shari Anton commented:
I'm glad I encountered fewer cons than you did :). All in all, I had a great time. Orlando, here we come! Shari
April 23, 2008
In response to: Final Word on RT
Barbara Vey commented:
In response to: Final Word on RT
Barbara Vey commented:
The pros definitely outweighed the cons and I'm looking forward to next year. More videos on the way.
April 23, 2008
In response to: Final Word on RT
Jennifer LaBrecque commented:
In response to: Final Word on RT
Jennifer LaBrecque commented:
Okay, like for real the guy was strapped to a gurney and then they let him back in the next day? I'd be SO freaked out.
April 23, 2008
In response to: Final Word on RT
JaniceMaynard commented:
In response to: Final Word on RT
JaniceMaynard commented:
Barbara - It was so muych fun to see you at RT! You are my new techie hero! I would have responded sooner, but I came home from Pittsburgh feeling crummy. Apparently, inhaling all the dust and gunk set me up for a nasty case of bronchitis. After getting a shot yesterday and three prescriptions, I am now feeling somehwat better. Glad we could see the Biggest Loser finale together! And not to brag - but I, too, had my picture made with the gentlemanly and very impressive Fabio. :) Sigh... despite all the negative bits, the week was a definite success. Argh, Mateys! Janice Maynard
April 23, 2008
In response to: Final Word on RT
HelenKay Dimon commented:
In response to: Final Word on RT
HelenKay Dimon commented:
It was so nice to meet you at the Kensington party! The pros definitely outweighed the cons. After all, who doesn't love a gathering of readers, authors and books! -HelenKay
April 23, 2008
In response to: Final Word on RT
Edie Ramer commented:
In response to: Final Word on RT
Edie Ramer commented:
Barbara, your wrap up made me glad I didn't go ... and sad I didn't go. I don't have a 57" TV, but if I had a video or me and him, I'd run out and buy one.
April 24, 2008
In response to: Final Word on RT
Karin Tabke commented:
In response to: Final Word on RT
Karin Tabke commented:
Great recap, Barb! So glad you're home safe and sound. :) Thanks for being our eyes and ears.
May 12, 2008
In response to: Final Word on RT
Christine London commented:
In response to: Final Word on RT
Christine London commented:
Don't ask me how it happened...I think it must have been my wenmistress being vigilant, but I think I've ended up with your leather jacket. It has made it's way to London, the south of England (Wimbourne, Poole and Portsmouth), the English Midlands and Scotland aboard the Waverley (last steam powered ocean going paddle boat in existence and the pride of Glasgow) I'm home now Barbara with coat in tow. It is fine and doing well in L.A. Send an e-mail with your snail mail and I'll be happy to mail it on to you. Cheers, Christine London christinelondon.com londonchristine@hotmail.com (I seem to have misplaced your e-mail in the midst of all the traveling.) P.s. I am the author you met upon exit from the Marriot looking to catch a cab. You took a 30 sec video of myself and my digital artist, Alex Kent aka Niki Chanel
Advertisement
