We had sooo much fun!

Wow! This weekend was exciting and exhausting and exhilarating and overwhelming all at once.  Everything came together very well.  Of course, there were several hiccups, but nothing that wasn’t over come fairly easily.  There were absolutely scads of people that turned out.  I saw several old friends which delighted me immensely (Hey Kristy, Dona and Melissa!)  I gave my two talks which was ridiculously nerve wracking.  I stopped shaking somewhere around the middle of the first talk and I never threw up.  I wanted to when I got the second massive migraine in one day on Saturday.  I had to call My Honey and have him drive me home.  Some of the lovely ladies in my RWA chapter drove my car home.  I don’t know why I have such a hard time accepting help, but they insisted and I’m very glad they did.

The whole thing kicked off Friday night with a dinner at Old Pueblo Grill.  I was so excited to meet all the authors since I’d sort of met them all on line when I did the interviews.  I sat next to Mary Jo Putney at dinner.  She was just lovely and was very gracious over my fawning.  She asked me questions about my writing and Kelli and I talked about research with her and our friend Anita.  Mary Jo signed my book and even gave Kelli and I a taste of her dessert which, I might add, was way better than the one we ordered to share.

I also met Gini Koch, the author of Touched by an Alien and Alien Tango, who turned out to be just as crazy and fun in person as she is in email.  And Glory of Glories, Karen Hawkins was there with Hot Cop.  She was just as nice as could be and even posed for a picture with me.

After dinner, Kelli and I raced to the airport like crazy people to pick up Esi Sogah, Associate Editor for Avon.  Of course, I pitched to her in the car. Why not?  After all, she was a captive audience.  It turns out she’s just as fun and gregarious as can be.  She told me to forwardher stuff which I’ll pass on to My Agent.  Also, note to those of you out there who also pick up Esi at the airport – she loves a good In & Out burger with grilled onions and a strawberry milkshake.

Saturday was soooooooo0 long.  My Honey and I packed the kids in the car while they were still in their jammies at 6:30 in the morning to get down to the University to load up the booth and my day didn’t stop until 6:00 that night.  The weather was gorgeous, if not a little hot.  We hit the high 80’s.  Our guests from the East coast were in seventh heaven. 

I took care of Deb Werksman, editor from Sourcebooks, while she was in town.  We were conversationally walking toward the Author green room so she could get checked in, when she asked what I wrote.  I told her and she asked me to tell her all about it.  I instantly went from a confident, self-possessed event organizer to a blithering idiot.  She still asked for my agent to send her my stuff.  I don’t get it.

All four of our favorite ladies were present for one panel: Not Your Mother’s Bodice Ripper: The Evolution of the

Sabrina Jeffries, Julia London, Karen Hawkins, Sabrina Jeffries

 Romance Novel.  The ladies certainly didn’t disappoint, either. 

I also, got the chance to see two more of my favorites, Jennifer Ashley and Vicki Lewis Thompson who gave hopeful writers helpful information about what to do now that they’ve finished a book.

Sunday was a little less stressful.  The weather still held out and this was the day My Honey was able to come down with Sassy & The Bandit.  They had a great time and had their pictures taken with a bunch of their favorite storybook characters: Curious George, the pig from Give a Pig a Pancake, Little Critter, Maisy and a bunch of others.  They got a bunch of free books and other goodies.  My personal highlight was when they each got to ride a pony named Dillon.  It wasn’t Dillonwho was so special, it was

Little horsey tennis shoes!

his friend, Snickers.  Snickers is a miniature pony who works in therapy by visiting hospitals and nursing homes, etc.  Snickers wears tennis shoes.  Yes, tennis shoes and you haven’t seen cute until you’ve seen a miniature pony wearing red Keds. 

Karen Hawkins and Julia London gave a talk I moderated in the afternoon about research, a topic I don’t need any help with, but of

Julia & Karen

 course, I wrote down several of their suggested reference books I currently don’t have in my arsenal.

I also finally was able to meet Susan Wiggs, Erin Kellison, Erin Quinn, and Caris Roane. 

This event may be completely exhausting but, this it’s all just so much fun for me to meet all these people.

After everything wrapped up on Sunday and I’d taken Esi to the airport and Kelli had taken Karen Hawkins and Julia London back to the hotel, we took Sabrina Jeffries out shopping and to dinner.  We had the best time.  Sabrina is honestly one of the funniest people I’ve had the opportunity to schmooze with.  She told us horror stories about agents and publishing, gossip about the industry, and stories of her personal triumphs and defeats that only strengthened our resolve to keep on writing and submitting. 

Sabrina tried to pick up the check, but we refused.  I slid on my best Godfather impression and told her, “Someday I may call upon you to do a service for me.”  She has such a great sense of humor, she didn’t find that at all terrifying.  She did promise to write my front cover book blurb when I’m finally published.

One fabulous bit of trivia about Sabrina Jeffries: just like me, she also hates cilantro.  She thinks it tastes like bug spray!

Karen, someone, Sabrina & Julia