Last Part of RT Reportback…
May
6
2007

Friday: Awards luncheon. The food was the best of the whole Con I think although it had a bone sticking out of the chicken as decoration and you know? I don’t think bones make the best decoration but that’s just me. The seating sucked as half the audience had their back to the stage. However, I loved hearing the speeches, even when a woman from RT sort of dissed chicklit by saying she was over it. The author did beautifully when she said, “you’re not over it, this book is for everyone.” Megan was very dressed up, complete with red sparkly shoes and a hat with net over her face. Freebooooks!

I had dinner later with Angie, Jennifer and Mackenzie at Benihana and it was lovely. I have to tell you, Angie James is a seriously wonderful person and I’m not just saying that because she’s currently got two projects from me on her desk. She makes me laugh. I also really liked Jennifer and Mac is a hoot!

I did return in enough time to attend the Vampires of the old West thing and waited in another line. One thing, I really think serving pork sausage at any conference dinner is inadvisable. Just sayin. The dancing was fun and Megan and Amelia flirted with Ossie, a Mr. Romance competitor who sat at our table. He seemed very sweet and took pictures with all of us and was very good natured about the whole event. Fred came over to our table and let us feel his head. Nice, raspy texture. Fred is also a very good sport. In fact, I have to say every single cover model and Mr. romance competitor I met was very nice and gentlemanly. We asked Fred how it was to be one of the few men at the event and he very sweetly said he loved it.

Late getting back. Time in the bar spent eating fiery cheetos (I believe they killed many of my tastebuds!) and doritos while drinking many bottles of water.

SATURDAY:

Our last full day at the conference! We got up, grabbed diet cokes and breakfast and headed to the bookfair. I have to say I was totally overwhelmed when I walked into the giant space. SO MANY AUTHORS! And I was one of them! I asked for just a few books but they ordered more. I tried to decorate my space as best I could, some of these authors had giant posters and all sorts of flair in their space. I did not dress up but many others did. I suppose I’ll be dressier next year.

I walked around and met several people I’d been looking for all con long but had to get back to my seat before I could meet them all. I did sit across the aisle from Bonnie Edwards so we waved a lot. And next to Adrianna Dane and Angie Daniels – both very nice women.

Thank god I didn’t sit there all alone the whole day. Many readers came by to say hello. I got lots of hugs and pictures taken (BTW, if we took pictures please send me one!) I met Patty, Kelly and Jeania from EC who brought me a cool name tag. Crissy came over and arranged all my books so they could be seen better – thank you Crissy! Angie and Jennifer stopped by and even went over to Charlaine Harris’ table to see if her new Sookie was for sale yet for me – alas it was not. Renee, Terri, Laura and many others came over to make sure I had enough water and if I needed anything. Alison Kent’s very sweet husband came by and took my picture and we had a talk about how fabulous she was. (I did already tell her I thought he was a sweetie pie).

I have to say the event was pretty emotional for me. I didn’t sit at my table all alone, people I didn’t even know came up and told me how much they loved my books. So many authors there and everyone was so friendly and went out of their way to be so. I met so many wonderful authors and readers, I’ll truly never forget the event. Oh and as I was standing in line to pay for my books Keri Arthur was right behind me and I had to fight to not squee all over her about the Riley Jensen books.

It was already 3 by the time we got finished and I was shaking from lack of food. Only the restaurant had a long wait and we went to Benihana which was closed (on a Saturday, yes). The other restaurant inthe hotel was closed as well so desperately, we headed up to our room to order room service. This of course took ninety minutes and I was so pissed! Megan just laid in the bed wearily and Jennifer Dunne, who looked awful for her shivering and hunger had left to get ice and disappeared. Apparently she’d forgotten where the room was and had laid in the hall to follow the room service people! The poor woman was really sick. I passed the time by doing readings aloud from the smutty sections of many of the books I’d picked up. Good Times.

We then went to the cover model competition, which was a hoot. Fred, you rocked the house! An EC model, Jason Santiago, won the contest. Traaavis did not win. *weeps* He did pick up a woman one armed though, *is impressed*

After that it was upstairs to get ready for the Immortals Ball. Or maybe the bar and then the getting ready, it’s all a blur at this point. Megan and I were some of the only people to dress up for this one, LOL. While in line, Angie told me Sword and Crown had been giggled. I asked if it was bad but apparently it wasn’t. (I read it later and it made me laugh)

The party was fun although the music was meh. I did get to meet Liz Maverick and Marianne Mancusi and I did try not to be a fangirl, LOL. More freebooks! FREE BOOKS! I love them. Ahhh. We danced anyway, despite the music which did change later.

Bar. Tawny Taylor hung out with us for a while, which was very fun. I saw Ali and Joy too. We ate pizza and drank lots of water. Said goodbye to Traaavis when we saw him in the lobby. I packed and Megan went to sleep, she was really beginning to feel bad.

Sunday:
Got up and Megan was a mess. Frankly, I was worried about her ability to travel on her own because she was so pale and listless. Still, she said she planned to take another shower and I dragged all my stuff downstairs, ate breakfast and sucked it up and took a taxi to the airport. I wrote the outline for the novella idea for the anthology Megan and I had brainstormed at the airport and partially on the plane.

LOOOONG flight but when I got home each kiddo had flowers for me and suddenly I was making pizza and arbitrating disputes between kiddos and it was like I hadn’t even left. I was still emotional for a day or two and my husband was truly happy for me that so many wonderful things had occured while I was in Houston.

Despite the shittiness of the Hyatt’s behavior toward Laura Baumbach, I’m definitely plannning on going to Pittsburgh next year.

However – the last few days of the Con will occur during Passover – a fact they may not have known about. I’ve sent an email about it and I sincerely hope it’s not too late to change it.

I had a great time. I met so many people I won’t forget. Danny brought chocolate all the way from Germany for many of the authors, me included and it was quite delish! Joy was wonderful and warm. Sasha and Vivi were great to meet, Terri was a sweetie pie, Maryam was just as lovely in person as she is online – the list goes on and on and it was five days that I’ll never forget.

Anyway, that concludes my RT Reportback!

8 comments to “Last Part of RT Reportback…”

  1. Angela James
    May 6th, 2007 at 3:26 pm · Link

    Awww thanks *blush* I enjoyed spending time with you too! And um…Jessica = Jennifer, lolol. Jessica is a different Samhain employee.



  2. laurendane
    May 6th, 2007 at 3:32 pm · Link

    😳 oops! Fixed – thank you, Angie



  3. Vivi Anna
    May 6th, 2007 at 4:19 pm · Link

    Lauren, I thought you absolutely rocked. Even if you flipped me the bird like I swear 10 times. 😎



  4. Sasha
    May 6th, 2007 at 4:52 pm · Link

    I loved meeting you! Espeically the first night when we actually had a chance to talk!! LOL You and Megan both are wonderful souls who I feel blessed to meet.



  5. I’ve enjoyed reading your blogs. Sounds like a great time was had!



  6. Maura
    May 7th, 2007 at 12:31 am · Link

    It was great to see you at RT, hon! Looks like you had a great time too – -may 2008 be just as fun!



  7. Mandy M. Roth
    May 7th, 2007 at 5:44 am · Link

    I’m upset there wasn’t enough time to get to say a real hello to you. My drive by way wasn’t enough. You were on my list of “wanting to meet” and I was seriously bummed when I was only able to offer a fast hi.

    RT was a lot of fun and kept me on my toes the entire time.

    I’ll agree about what not to serve at an evening ball/party. I was afraid I’d wear mine so I didn’t bother.

    LOL



  8. laurendane
    May 7th, 2007 at 9:30 am · Link

    Vivi! Not the bird, just the rawking devil horns! It was fab meeting you.

    Sasha – you’re just so lovely! I’m thrilled we got to hang out.

    Mechele – it was fun although there weren’t enough hours in the day to do everything I wanted to.

    Maura – I hope so! For both of us!

    Mandy – I know! I wanted to hang out and chat too but that happened to me several times. Next year we have to chat!