I <3 Writers

[jmward14]

Been out of the loop this week not quite attending the Romance Writers of America's 2009 national conference. I decided to skip the conference itself but not the chance to see my friends. cymreiges came early to visit and get a taste of the city. We cruised Adams Morgan on Tuesday. Wednesday we toured some of DC's choicest treasures: the Renwick Museum of American Art, the Freer (Asian Art and the extraordinary Peacock Room by James McNeill Whistler), the Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress (my favorite building in DC) and the infamous "Black Aggie" counterfeit of St. Gaudens' Grief, then topped everything off with a ghost tour of Alexandria. (Thanks again, Jana!)
Yesterday, I was honored to dine with the super women of From the Heart Romance Writers, RWA's online chapter at Cafe Paradiso. Great bunch of ladies, and I hope to be able to play more in their sandbox soon.
Today was party central. First came the Samhain Publishing bash. Senior editor Angela James opened her suite to an eclectic mix of Samhain authors (hey, Monica Burns, Allie Blue, Terri Schaefer and Leigh Wyndfield!), aspiring Samhain authors, fans and "friends of the family" like Jennifer Jackson and Lucienne Diver. My only regret was I didn't get to connect with two of my personal faves, cover artist extraordinaireannecain and Kate Johnson. I think they were hiding from me. (And I'm so harmless; ask anyone!)
Afterwards, I ran into old friend Venus Campbell and her critique partner Lori. Venus and I met at the 2006 BEA. At the moment she's completed five novels and submitted none of them. Hmm, obviously someone needs a serious nagging. But other than that, she's almost perfect. And yes, I am hoping this will give her a little nudge. :-) Oddly enough, I ran into Marcia Colette while I was hanging with Venus and Lori, not at the Samhain party. Go figure.
Finally, the Harlequin party. This is the event all of RWA waits for, and they did themselves proud for their 60th anniversary. There were bars themed to the decades of Harlequin's operations. (The champagne was at the 1980s bar. Guess where I was...when I wasn't dancing, that is.) There were incredible desserts, a slide show of Harlequin covers and cover shoots (very funny). I finally got to congratulate jer_bear711 on her Prism for Wicked Game and wave manically to a great many friends from my local RWA chapter, Washington Romance Writers.
I found a seat at the table with Jana, her agent Meredith Bernstein, her good friend P.C. Cast and P.C.'s charming dad, who was the unquestioned belle of this particular ball. Mr. Cast has the loveliest old-fashioned manners, and he dances! First he cut the rug with Meredith (and me, but mostly Meredith, whose sequinned skirt gave me serious skirt envy. Her blue pumps weren't bad either.) After that, the women wouldn't let the man stay in his chair. You have not lived until you've seen Nora Roberts twirling to "Jailhouse Rock" in the arms of P. C. Cast's dad. And P.C. snapped the pictures to prove it. I only hope she posts them. Afterwards, Nora confessed she needed to recover, because she couldn't keep up. "And I'm in good shape!" she added.
Mr. Cast is going to have some great stories to bring home to the missus. I suggested he bring her next time, and I think he will. This kind of good time is too good not to share. :-)

Comments

[artykat.livejournal.com]

I love your icon! It's you, isn't it? Brilliant!

[jmward14.livejournal.com]

Thanks {{{quilterbear}}}. It's from a picture taken of me at the Balticon Steampunk Ball. Any excuse to wear a top hat sounds good to me.
Cheers and smiles,
Jean Marie

[crazywritergirl.livejournal.com]

I would have loved to dance with Mr. Cast, but I feared for the future of my right knee, the one you sorta "fixed" with our Wednesday hiking. He's an amazing guy!

[jmward14.livejournal.com]

Yes, indeed. :-)
Hope you had an easy flight and are recovering nicely. Good luck with the new proposal!
Hugs and smiles,
Jean Marie

[etaknosnhoj.livejournal.com]

I wasn't avoiding you! I was however severely jet-lagged for most of the conference, and the wine, shall we say, exacerbated things (like I'd pass up any opportunity for wine, jet-lag or no!). I honestly had no idea who was there, and I had to leave kinda early since my roommate had to leave the conference just after the Samhain event, and I wanted to say goodbye.

Were you at the Lit signing? Wish you'd come to say hi!

[etaknosnhoj.livejournal.com]

Um, that's me as Kate Johnson, BTW, I forgot I have this account as my naughty alter-ego!

[jmward14.livejournal.com]

I kind of figured it was you--something about the backwards name. LOL
Really sorry about the jet lag and the early departure. Hope you had some fun, notwithstanding.
I didn't attend the Literacy Signing or any of the official events. I covered the 2000 RWA Conference for Crescent Blues, and I knew if I went anywhere near the powers that be I'd just get mad. As it was, I had a fabulous time avoiding all that.
Looking forward to meeting you live one day. Who knows, I might decide to invade Britain again. I did it in 1993 and they had to move the whole British Library. Who knows what I could get up to now? Mwahahaha!
Hugs and smiles,
Jean Marie