RWA Conference 2013 in Atlanta was a BLAST!

Marriot Marquis, Atlanta, Georgia

I have been so wrapped up in my volunteer work (as blog co-chair for the Fantasy-Futuristic & Paranormal Romance Writers), interviewing authors for my own blog, and promoting my latest release My Reluctant Highlander, I nearly forgot to share some photos from this year's Romance Writers of America annual conference.



Me and author Donna Steele

Nora Roberts signing books

The conference was held in Atlanta, Georgia this year which was fairly close to home (6+ hour drive). Next year it will be held in San Antonio, Texas. Anyway, the hotel was magnificent. The Marriot Marquis was huge but cozy in places, such as the restaurants, the coffee shop, and the meeting rooms. The guest rooms were functional, and my roommate, author Donna Steele, fit all our stuff and clothes.


Margaret Mallory sat across from me!

Meetings in the bar area were fun, and the food was fabulous. The workshops--too many to choose from!--kept us busy. Book signings held by various publishers, and notables such as Nora Roberts, were well attended and the Indie publishing signing was an eye opener. Someday, I will join them (now that I have figured out the mystique surrounding making covers to upload to Createspace)



Author Elena Dillon & me

Lunch and awards ceremonies were fun, especially when you sat down at tables for twelve. Meeting new people, networking, swapping business cards, and asking others "What do you write?" were worth the trip.  The workshops spanned every topic imaginable and I heard the majority of the workshop presenters were excited and happy to share their brilliant ideas.

Saturday night Golden Heart and RITA Awards was awesome! We clapped for our friends even when they did not win, and we took photos to share with you and others My aunt is thrilled one of her favorite authors, Laura Griffin, won a RITA award.

This chance to meet up with friends, fellow authors, faceless-until-now online chaptermates is life-altering for people like us. Writers tend to spend too many lonely hours in front of their computer, writing about life instead of living.

The RWA Conference got me out of the house (and gave my hubby a little time alone) and made me realize there is more in my future than the 10 books I have published to date. Making friends and networking with others can only help when I release my next book.

The bar was wonderful and a great place to meet up after a brutal day of workshops. Plus, my hands were awfully pained from carrying totes full of free books back to my room! I will be giving away dozens of autographed books over the course of the next few months, so make sure you sign up (*see below)

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