Here I am, back from RWA in Orlando, where I had a terrific time and saw/met some wonderful writers, editors, booksellers, librarians and readers. This was my first RWA, and it was quite an experience…different than RT because it was very writer skill and career based, and also because the publishers themselves were so heavily involved. Does that mean this isn’t a good conference for readers? It absolutely is reader friendly with a capital “F”. Why? Well, for instance, each prublisher…around 15 of them, I believe, sponsors their own author book signing…and the books being signed by your favorite authors are all FREE. That’s right, ladies. FREE. So you march in with your suitcases, talk to your faves face to face and load up on books. And this is in addition to all the other books you get in your bag or at events. Of course, you have to be a conference attendee to get into these signings, but just saying…very worth it.
Today, I’m going to be giving away the official RWA conference bag along with a couple of books–Hot Rocks by Nora Roberts and Wicked Becomes You by Meredith Duran , some pens and also the AVON USB drive that contains some conference worksheets and a couple of PDF books! Nice. It’s a very cute little drive with RWA 30th printed on it. Just leave a relevant comment, and you’ll be entered to win. I’ll draw a name on Friday, so be sure to come back and check.
I also have a few pics for you of the con. Enjoy!
August 3rd, 2010 at 10:17 am · Link
Hi Beth, I was at RWA on Saturday visiting with Kate Douglas and Vivian Arend. What a great conference. I had major fangirl moments meeting Sherrelyn Kenyon, Deborah Cooke, Cynthia Eden, and Roxanne St Claire on top of lunch with Kate and Diane Whiteside. I’m still glowing.
August 3rd, 2010 at 10:19 am · Link
I would have loved to have attended this years RWA but I am for sure making plans for the one in Atlanta in 2013.
August 3rd, 2010 at 10:20 am · Link
A total dream to go 🙂 Or perhaps become a famous author and watch people line up to get a book signed, oh so fun, though my poor hand would surely die..
August 3rd, 2010 at 10:21 am · Link
I was so impressed by the friendliness and willingness of everyone to take a moment to say hello. Amy Knupp was gracious enough to sign her book for me. I’m sorry I didn’t get to meet you.
August 3rd, 2010 at 10:21 am · Link
Looks like you had a great time and met alot of author friends!! I would have loved to have attended, but a little too far.
August 3rd, 2010 at 10:25 am · Link
I live about 45 minutes away so I went over to hang out and meet with Kate and Vivian.
August 3rd, 2010 at 10:28 am · Link
Beth, I can’t believe I never caught up with you at RWA! It was an amazing experience all around. The Literacy signing had so many incredible authors and the buzz in the room was absolutely electric.
Don’t put me in the drawing, please, but thanks for the recap and the fun photos. Maybe I’ll see you at RWA in NYC!
August 3rd, 2010 at 10:29 am · Link
It sounds like so much fun. I wish I could afford something like that. Thanks for shareing with us.
August 3rd, 2010 at 10:29 am · Link
Oh, the pics are lovely.
It’s so nice that you post the pics for those of us who are unable to go to such a conference. At least we can put some faces to the names…hehe!!!
I did get to meet Sherrilyn Kenyon and Lynsay Sands over here one…can you say big fangirl moment?? Haha!!
Valerie
valb@yahoo.com
in Germany
August 3rd, 2010 at 10:41 am · Link
I read the caption for the picture and thought it said “Sherry Thomas (who won the RITA for best hysterical)”.
That’s a little different than historical.
August 3rd, 2010 at 10:41 am · Link
Hi Beth:
Thank you for sharing. It is good to know that this is a reader friendly event because I always thought it was more writer/publisher driven. The signings featuring attending authors and the free books is a wonderful way to promote author’s work.
Lovely pictures and thank you so much for sharing.
Best 😀
August 3rd, 2010 at 10:50 am · Link
I’m thinking about attending in NY next year. I’ve already mentioned it to the JB book club.
August 3rd, 2010 at 10:54 am · Link
It looks like you had a blast! I hope I get to join a chapter soon. Dang budgeting lol 🙂
Welcome back
August 3rd, 2010 at 11:16 am · Link
Is it going to be in la next year?! I hope so!!
August 3rd, 2010 at 11:21 am · Link
Julie James is the cutest pregnant lady ever!!! Looks like you all had a blast!
August 3rd, 2010 at 11:35 am · Link
Looks like you had a great time.
August 3rd, 2010 at 11:39 am · Link
I’ve seen some great pictures from this years event! I always wanted to go to one of the events but like someone else mentioned, I thought they were for industry people only. I would love to go to a Reader Appreciation event – the only one I know of is Lora Leigh’s and this year I just might get to go!
August 3rd, 2010 at 11:45 am · Link
How neat, Beth! Thanks for sharing the photos–I’ve yet to attend a conference like this, and love being able to see faces to go with the names I’ve “met” online 🙂
August 3rd, 2010 at 11:47 am · Link
Hi Beth
So good to see Beth Squared together again as well as Julie J & Tracy Wolff, one of my faves. I heard it was really really hot & humid there but i would have loved to be there.
August 3rd, 2010 at 12:02 pm · Link
Thanks for the opportunity to win some great prizes. Someday I’ll make to a conference.
August 3rd, 2010 at 12:22 pm · Link
Looks and sounds like it was a blast. Thanks for sharing pics of your trip.
August 3rd, 2010 at 12:27 pm · Link
Hi Beth!
oh thank so much for sharing your photos with us – it looks like you had a lot of fun with the other ladies 🙂
greetings, Ina
August 3rd, 2010 at 12:33 pm · Link
It looks like you had a lot of fun and RWA sounds like a wonderful convention to attend. I must now plan to attend next year! Thanks for the giveaway!
August 3rd, 2010 at 12:35 pm · Link
Thanks for the pictures. It sounds like everyone had a great time.
August 3rd, 2010 at 12:52 pm · Link
Beth, it looks like you had a good time!! I’m so jealous.
Thanks for sharing your pictures.
August 3rd, 2010 at 12:52 pm · Link
OH man that looks like fun. I was planning on coming but since it got rained out in nashville. and went 400 miles further south. I couldn’t swing that. I could have driven to nashville and then returned home the same night. Would love to win some sway since I didn’t get to go this year.
August 3rd, 2010 at 12:56 pm · Link
glad you had a great time, i will someday make it to one would love a chance to meet some great authors. thank you for sharing the photos..
August 3rd, 2010 at 1:21 pm · Link
Hi Beth!
Thanks for sharing the wonderful pics!! I didn’t know YA authors like Jennifer Echols were also attending ““ what a treat for the fans! A friend and I were just discussing RWA in Atlanta in a few years. I’m not sure I can do NYC in the middle of July. Hope you didn’t burn down in Florida! 🙂 *hugs*
-Mahlet
August 3rd, 2010 at 1:21 pm · Link
I went to the literary signing! It was amazing! Hopefully I will be an attende in the near future.
August 3rd, 2010 at 1:43 pm · Link
Thanks for the great photos – you can see the energy the conference had in their facial expressions. I’m hoping to go next year! 🙂
August 3rd, 2010 at 1:56 pm · Link
Welcome back, Beth. Cool pics. Thanks for the giveaway.
August 3rd, 2010 at 1:58 pm · Link
Lisa! I wish I could have met you! I’m sure you did have a terrific time.
J Prince–yeah, hope to see you in Atlanta!
Blodeuedd–haha! If that was the dream of every new author, they’d have no nightmares. Nice to see you! .
Oh, Juniper! I’m sorry I missed you!
Valerie–we’ll have to work on that Universal Romance Writers thing. LOL.
August 3rd, 2010 at 2:02 pm · Link
Elaine. You are a hoot. Sherry Thomas is very, very funny, but more dry wit than hysteria.
Lea–Hey! My pleasure to share.
Hales. You don’t have to belong to a local chapter to go. Just join national if you are unsure. Or do local. Just saying…
Amelia–It’d be fun to see the Lexington ladies in NY!!
Amanda–RWA is NY. RT is LA. HI!!
August 3rd, 2010 at 2:08 pm · Link
Elaine. You are a hoot. Sherry Thomas is very, very funny, but more dry wit than hysteria.
Lea–Hey! My pleasure to share.
Hales. You don’t have to belong to a local chapter to go. Just join national if you are unsure. Or do local. Just saying. It might be better to join one before both. I think you have to be in national before you join locally.
Amelia–It’d be fun to see the Lexington ladies in NY!!
Amanda–RWA is NY. RT is LA. HI!!
August 3rd, 2010 at 2:32 pm · Link
Thanks for sharing your pictures, Beth. Based on all the smiles, it looks like a fun and successful event.
August 3rd, 2010 at 2:53 pm · Link
I haven’t loaded the pictures yet onto any of my groups but you’ll see them later Beth, but in exchange of missing the literacy signing I got… a new grand daughter Ariela Julianne arrived 2 1/2 weeks early just 1 day after my daughter Laska went on maternity leave.
I’m not sure about the cost of the conf. for readers, don’t you still have to pay$500.00, that’s a real big chunk of change.
Zina
August 3rd, 2010 at 3:39 pm · Link
oh that looks like so much fun I want to go but then again id be dressed in rags so I could leave the clothes there and have my room in my suitcases for books lol
meandi09@yahoo.com
August 3rd, 2010 at 4:00 pm · Link
Thanks for sharing the pictures! It looks like a blast!
August 3rd, 2010 at 4:05 pm · Link
Well poo…all those bookies…maybe next year I will have to go. Ive heard it wasnt reader friendly and way too expensive but man if you walk away with all that swag its soooooo worth it! Im going to be savin pennies for next year!!!
August 3rd, 2010 at 4:38 pm · Link
RWA sounds like so much fun. I would love to attend someday.
The pictures are great. Nice to be able to put names and faces together.
August 3rd, 2010 at 5:14 pm · Link
Oh man, I was in Florida but so close but so far away. I’m glad you had a good time and I had no idea it was so reader friendly.
August 3rd, 2010 at 5:53 pm · Link
Enjoyed the photos. My wish is that someday I will be able to go to a conference and meet all my favorite authors.
August 3rd, 2010 at 6:26 pm · Link
My sister, sister-in-law and I had originally talked about going to Nashville for the literacy signing, but the floods derailed that. Florida just wasn’t possible. I would love to go sometime to meet some of my favorite authors. It certainly sounds like everyone had a good time.
August 3rd, 2010 at 7:33 pm · Link
Great pictures! Thanks for sharing.
As beautiful as the Orlando location looks, I’m still disappointed in the move from Nashville (although I know it was necessary). I was really looking forward to the book signing and wasn’t able to make it as far south as Florida.
August 3rd, 2010 at 8:20 pm · Link
I would have loved the chance to go to RWA. I live in AZ, and we do have a small book festival every year here, but nothing to the extent of those big conferences. I would die to be able to attend!!
August 3rd, 2010 at 8:53 pm · Link
Looks like you had a great time. I wish I could have attended 🙂
I will be going to my first convention soon.
robin [at] intensewhisper [dot] com
August 3rd, 2010 at 11:10 pm · Link
Lucky girl! I am going to get to one of those some day it sounds like an absolute blast. Well glad you had fun!
Went to my first official book signing a few weeks ago, I know this isn’t the same thing, but I can’t wait to go to my first RWA conference!
August 4th, 2010 at 8:43 am · Link
Great pics – thanks for sharing! I’ve heard wonderful reports back from this conference from authors and fans – nice job RWA!
August 4th, 2010 at 9:28 am · Link
I enjoyed the post and pix, looks like it was a fun time!
August 4th, 2010 at 10:14 am · Link
Love your photos. Looks like a great conference. I would love to go someday.