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RWA: Parties, Parties and more Parties

July 18, 2009

Jennifer St. Giles at booksigning

Friday was a day filled with book signings.  Harlequin, Berkley, Pocket and Grand Central all offered free books signed by their authors.  The lines snaked down the hall and people came out with boxes, bags and even some rolling suitcases filled with books.  There was something for everyone from inspirational to erotica and historical to paranormal and everything in between.

Librarian Deborah Schneider

Eloisa James spoke at the awards luncheon and talked about books, her kids, and her mother.  She explained that her mother never respected what she did, but they still managed to get along and love each other.  It seems that writing is very cathartic for Eloisa.  The award for Librarian of the Year went to Deborah Schneider of the King County Library System in King County, Washington.  Tracy Farrell, acquisitions editor of Harlequin, was awarded the Vivian Stevens Industry Award.  The Steffie Walker Bookseller of the Year award was given to Rosemary Potter of Rosemary's Romance Books in Brisbane Austrailia and the Veritas award for the article that best depicts the romance genre in a positive light went to Ron Charles, deputy editor of the Washington Post's Book World. 

Steve and Deborah Coonts, Matthew Shear of St. Martin's Press

Friday is also the big night for parties and Joyce and I started off at the Berkley party where we sipped champagne and nibbled on hor d'oeuvres.  Then on to the St. Martin's Press cocktail party where I found Steve Coonts helping to promote his wife's book.  We finished the night off at the Harlequin Party...the hottest ticket in town although it is generally accepted that party crashing goes on.  And for good reason.  They had drink station set up for each decade of the 60 years that Harlequin has been around along with decadent desserts and a killer DJ who had the crowd on their feet singing and dancing to every song.  Favorites included, "It's Raining Men," "Thriller," and the "Grease Medley."  They also gave away tins of postcards that had the vintage cover on them, but I was too late to get one.

Me and Harlequin CEO Donna Hayes	Jacquie D'Alessandro's alligator purse	"It's Raining Men"

 
















I had planned to stay only an hour at each party, but it was well after my coach turned into a pumpkin that I made it back to my hotel.

Bottom Line:  Note to self: Next year pack comfortable dancing shoes and extra Tums.
   

Posted by Barbara Vey on July 18, 2009 | Comments (4)