Barbara Vey

Dream Breakfast
July 12, 2007

I have died and gone to heaven.  This morning I had breakfast with Linda Howard and I have Kelley St. John to thank for it.  Kelley and I were scheduled to have a breakfast interview this morning and she surprised me by bringing one of my favorite authors along.  Kellie gets lots of brownie points for this.  We had a great time and they had me laughing at stories about small town southern life and little known Alabama laws like...once a man turns 30, if he's still living at home, his parents can pick who he has to marry.  (I bet a lot of parents would be interested in that law)   They had me totally charmed and I can now cross one more thing off my wish list.

But this was just the beginning of a very eventful day.  I quick ran back to my room and got an e-mail that Nora Roberts was able to meet with me at 11:25.  Back to the press room (again at a run, which isn't easy with flip-flops on).   I introduced myself to Nora (we're on a first name basis), shook her hand and said, "Hi Nora, I'm Barbara Vey.  Could I talk to J.D. Robb, because I like her books best."  She laughed and we had a terrific chat.  A very classy lady.

Then it was time for the luncheon and I had the pleasure of sharing it with members of the Wisconsin RWA members Laura Iding, Kelle Z. Riley and Lori Handeland.  The keynote speaker was Lisa Kleypas, a drop dead gorgeous woman.  I've read all her books, but was really impressed with her talk.  Lisa tracked her career with a delightful power point program that used charts with lines going in circles to represent the path her life had taken.  She had her first book published at age 21 and offered advice to the other writers by remembering "armadillo."  The thick skinned critters cannot be killed.  Even bullets bounce off.  So when bad things come the author's way in the form of rejections, criticisms, bad hair days, just remember... Armadillo.  (You really had to be there and see her armadillo purse given to her by Christina Dodd, to truly appreciate this story.  Obviously she is a much better story teller than I am.  {sigh})

Time for a quick meeting with Marliss Melton who writes suspenseful Navy Seal stories.  She's a fascinating person who's father was a diplomat, so she grew up all over the world.  I could have talked to her for hours.  Then a quick mocha cappuccino with Marjorie Liu who has a law degree.  She's beautiful, intelligent, witty and successful.  You almost want to hate her, but you can't....she's an adorable, lovable person who writes incredible books.  

Off to the Welcoming Reception for wine and cheese and mingling.  My favorite part was the hotel covering the men's room sign with one that said women's room and another sign saying "Men's room on lower level."  I think it's the first time there were no lines for the ladies room.  As it should be.

Bottom Line:  When you start the day with breakfast...life is good. 


     
Kelley St. John, Linda Howard, me.......................Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb, me

    
Me, Lori Handeland, Kelle Riley, Laura Iding..........Marliss Melton, me

Posted by Barbara Vey on July 12, 2007 | Comments (5)