Conference Induced Vertigo
According to dictionary.com, vertigo is a dizzying sensation of tilting within stable surroundings or of being in tilting or spinning surroundings. This simple word describes my life for the past ten days.
Last Wednesday I left for the RWA National Conference in San Francisco and life turned surreal. That evening I was selling raffle tickets in the largest ballroom I've ever seen in my life and trying not to gawk at the tables and tables of fantastic writers. It was fangirl overload. And I was dizzy with excitement. The night got even better when I walked into the Bandita Bash thrown by the wonderful women of the Romance Bandits. It was like walking into a family gathering. I'm pretty sure the chocolate together with the laughter is what kept me awake.
By the time the workshops started Thursday afternoon, I felt as if I'd been there for days. My first hour was spent in a Chat with Nora Roberts. I didn't have the guts to ask a question, I just absorbed all the answers. And Nora was exactly how I knew she'd be. I think she must be the most down-to-earth, honest, straight forward author you can meet. And she truly loves what she does. It's no wonder she creates such great characters and stories.
Then I moved on to a workshop with Susan Elizabeth Phillips. At the signing I somehow mustered up the courage to tell Ms. Phillips that I want to be her when I grow up. And she was so sweet and encouraging and I couldn't stop smiling. But by the time her workshop was over, I wanted to tuck her in my pocket and take her home with me. At that point, my conference experience could have ended and I would have been happy. Lucky for me, there was much more to come.
Unfortunately, there was so much that it's all a blur now. So I'll have to just hit the high points.
Victoria Alexander and Connie Brockway gave inspiring speeches that also included lots of laughs. Whoever is chosen for keynote speakers next year have tough acts to follow.
This kind of event takes an enormous amount of energy and effort and I'm amazed at what the RWA is able to accomplish and squeeze into four days.
The Romance industry is made up of the most generous, inspiring, talented, and amazing women it's ever been my pleasure to meet. And yes, there are men and they are great too, but the vast majority of attendees in that hotel were women.
Perseverance and determination are everything in this endeavor. If there was one lesson learned at this conference it was NEVER GIVE UP.
Now to the non-writing observations…
It is possible to ruin a chicken breast. It is also possible to have TOO MUCH chicken breast.
This conference is the one occasion when it is acceptable to look at everyone's breasts before looking them in the eye.
My bra will hold four paperback books – two per cup. (when not on me that is)
Kobe Beef is the best food on the planet! And I'm willing to pay $10 for a bottle of water as long as I convince myself that at some point, James McAvoy may have taken a dip in the source.
Manda, Santa, and J Perry are the best roommates in the world and I was lucky to have them for my first Nationals. I miss them like crazy even if J Perry is totally insane.
As much as I'm exhausted and still suffering from that vertigo, I wouldn't trade this experience for anything. And I'm already longing forward to next year when I know it will be even better because my shipmates and others who couldn't make it this year will be there. Thank you to RWA and to all my buddies – in addition to my roommates there was Kim, Sara M., Elodie, Lindsey, Mary, Steph, Tessa, CM, Cynthia, Nancy N., and Kathy B. To the authors that were so fabulous – Anna Campbell, Christie Craig, Leslie Langtry, Gemma Halliday, Jeanne Andrews, Loucinda McGary (who was my tour guide of awesomeness and knitting instructor), Donna MacMeans, Joanna Bourne, Eileen Cook, Claudia Dain, Sabrina Jeffries, Elizabeth Hoyt, Laura Lee Guhrke, Deb Marlowe, Liz Carlyle, Terry O'Dell, Susan K. Law, and all of the Romance Bandits. If I've forgotten anyone, it's not intentional I promise.
If you went to conference, what was your favorite part? If you stayed home, did you take part in the online conferences? If you're a reader, have you ever attended a large book signing like this one or have you attended a conference in your own field that overwhelmed you?
Books by the Crew
67 comments:
Terri,I feel quite envious, both for the conference experience and the chance to visit California. I know a few people at Cal Tech so if I had attended, I might have been pulled in that direction during the conference 'day off'
Are there organised excursions during romance conferences? Did you get to see anything of San Francisco?
I think I might have been taking sly looks at bottoms to see if baggy trousers with large pockets could be concealing interesting books!
I have been to dozens of physics conferences but the first ones, while starting out on a career, are always the most memorable.
As a young raw research student I spent much time studying the work of Freeman Dyson and Dick Feynman. At one conf, I sat next to Dyson at breakfast one day. He is one of the 'greats' in physics and I had a million and one questions I wanted to ask but all I managed was to comment on the food and the weather....what an idiot! I exchanged e-mails when I got home though.
Glad you had such a great time!
Thanks for the report! It all sounds amazing.I meant to do the online conferences, but as you know I finished my WIP instead, LOL. I would love to go to DC next year, if only to meet you and the Pirates. Nora who?
I'm with maggie.. I didn't do the online thing, too busy with Hidden Beauty.
I'm hoping for DC next year, It's a drive away instead of a flight... and if I have to make a family vacation out of it to get down there, I will... since I don't drive :)
Ter - this sounds so wonderful and I'm incredibly envious. I am hoping for DC next year too. It is a drive for me too, a pretty short drive actually. I've been to a couple conferences for other things (teacher-y things and finance related things).
Maggie - that's so great that you finished! Hoorray!! Great job!! How do you feel about it?
Q - isn't it annoying when you can't get the questions out while they are sitting there next to you? I'm glad you got to talk through email after though. There were a couple of published authors who live somewhat close to me who suggested we email and that I attend one of their chapter meetings. I had to fight the urge to look behind me to make sure they weren't talking to someone else. LOL!
Maggie - That is the perfect way to spend the conference at home. Congrats again on getting to THE END! I can't wait to read it and you're right, the 5th time is the charm!
Tiff - the good thing about it being in DC is that the DH and kiddies will have plenty to do while you're at the conference. And since you're the most disciplined of the bunch, it was a given you'd spend last week writing. Just like all the weeks before. LOL!
Marn - As fun as it was, it was also incredibly draining. I remember last year when everyone went and I stayed home. They kept talking about taking days to recover and I didn't understand why. I totally understand it now. *sigh*
Forgot to answer Q's other question. I did get out of the hotel for one afternoon. There's nothing official planned through the conference for sight seeing stuff so most people go in a day or two early or extend their stay after. I took a cab to Pier 39 and I'll have those pics and stories on my other blog....eventually. LOL!
Marnee, I'm giving myself a little time before I read through it and start to edit. On Sunday I thought it was the greatest book ever, but it's Thursday and now I'm not so sure, LOL. Yay for all of us who've finished lately! And yay for all of us who are still writing!
Maggie, I am doing the same thing. I told myself I would give myself until this coming week. Ely and Tiff sang the benefits of waiting to edit and I'm going to bow to their wisdom here. But I doubt I can wait much longer.
*note to self: when you go to an RWA conference plan for additional time off to sleep when you get back* Good to know! I'm glad you had a lot of fun and got to meet your heroes (and tell one of them you want to be her.)
The hijinks in the rooms sound even more entertaining. That should be good trivia information should anyone ever ask you exactly how much your bra cups can hold.
*aside to Sin* I deleted the picture on yesterday's blog because that was what was jacking up the site. And I got tired to scrolling all the way to the bottom to login into the system. A picture was the problem when my blog jacked up the site. I don't get it, but I just know the problem.
Yes, add an extra day to the trip for siteseeing and take extra time off to sleep.
And I should add J Perry was actually wearing my bra when we learned how many books it will hold. There are several pictures on my camera I could NEVER post in a public forum. LOL! And they all involve J. Poor Santa.
I should say the first picture with the beautiful woman in the black top is Manda and the two innocent looking lovelies there (so misleading!) are J on the left and Santa on the right. That picture was taken in the top floor lounge of the hotel. That's also where the top picture was taken. The walls are all glass and the view was amazing - hence the name of the lounge - The View.
That's also where I had the Kobe beef sliders and the James McAvoy water. LOL!
Marn... the waiting is all about getting the story out of your system so when you go back to it, it's fresh. This seemed more important with the first book than subsequent. Probably because you know after a while what you need and needn't do.
You've got other ideas and characters brewing, after you get the basis down for them, according to your process, there is no reason not to go back to editing. :))
*sigh* I'm very upset about you deleting the picture. I don't know how I shall go on. *shrug* I can care less if you got rid of the pic or not. I think I'm going back to not using pics at all.
Ter- I'm so glad you had a great time at the RWA conference. I've never attended a conference that size (though, I've planned smaller state wide conferences for Doctors and that is tough enough work without doing it for a size of that magnitude) but Spring Fling was the right size for me. Next year it's all about the RWR ship taking over the RWA conference.
Ter - I think I need the story about the James McAvoy water.
Tiff - so since I'm thinking new characters I'm probably ready to start editing? I hadn't thought of that. That's great, I'll start next week for sure now. *eagerly rubbing hands together*
*LOL* Sin, just call me a trollop and be done. You know you wanna.
Terri - sounds like an amazing trip! I'm so glad you had a good time, and I can't wait to do it all next year.
Marnee - I wanted to order water in this lounge. But I had to choose between water from Norway, the Andes, Scotland or England. As the amounts seemed high for a glass of water, I decided on the Scottish one by figuring at some time in the past, James McAvoy may have decided to swim in the spring from which they took the water. That made the $10 sound much better.
Turns out, you get a bottle the size of a wine bottle full of water. Needless to say, I brought that bottle home and I call it my bottle of McAvoy bath water. I'm weird, I know. LOL!
Sin - you really need to learn to relax. LOL! I'm glad I went to a smaller conference before I went to this one. And I know people who have gone to these giant things without knowing a soul. I'm not sure I would do that. There was a woman in our shuttle from the airport that knew no one. She was from North Dakota and said there isn't even a chapter in her entire state. Now THAT takes guts!
Hal - next year is going to be amazing. The pirates and all our pirate buddies, plus, I'll be awake! That should be a huge improvement for me. LOL!
Ter - LOL!! McAvoy bath water. I think that definitely makes 10 bucks for water seem less painful.
Pirates invading RWA? You guys are acting like we're going to pillage the place... *LOL*
You say that like it would be a bad thing.
Marn - It certainly made it go down easier. ;)
Dude, I don't want to Aerosmith the hotel rooms or anything...
Looting might be fun though. And free rum.
Picture theiving trollop.
Ter- I never relax. I'm perpetually wound up.
And PS. Who says we can't take over RWA and pillage? It would make us the belles of the... um, er, ball.
But you don't LOOK wound up. You're always lounging on something with a complete poker face.
Fine. *throwing hands in the air* We're pillaging next year. Go for it. Like I'd have any control over anything anyway.
So super secret Sin of mystery has the perfect poker face and we're ripping up the conference next year? Do I have this right?
Couldn't we just charm them until they give up instead of pillaging?
Ah, do it Sparrow's way? I don't know. Are any of us besides Marnee charming? *wicked grin*
I have complete faith that we can all be as charming as necessary....when necessary. LOL!
I'd like to believe I'm charming. :-D
Hey Terrio! Got your message. No worries. It was a pleasure meeting you and I'm really glad you found your phone!! :-)
I loved the conference and just got back Tuesday. Got to see some of the sights, peer 39, China Town, did a wine/cheese tour, and a nightime tour of Alcatraz. Yes, I rode the waves like a true pirate lass (didn't even hold on to the sides of the ferry). LOL. Alcatraz waters are choppy too.
Pitched my pirate book wenches and I'm proud to say, I got requests for partials from an agent and editor. (Slapping hands together) Now I've got to get to work to make my story shine!!!
Congrats on your requests Kathy! THat's awesome!!
Yay pirate books!!
Awh, shucks. Charming. My mama will be so proud. *batting eyelashes wildly*
Kathy - huge congrats! I felt so bad that I missed your call. I didn't mention this in the blog but I actually lost my phone during the conference. And I was LOST without it. It wasn't the phone itself as it's insured, but I realized I don't even know my own mother's phone number! I really need to write all these numbers in an address book somewhere. LOL!
I managed to get the phone back the next day but missed Kathy's call and so she didn't get to come to the Julia Quinn luncheon. Which reminds me, I forgot to mention Julia Quinn in the blog. I knew I was forgetting someone!
Kathy, I promise the next time I'll be more on the ball. Sounds like you had a good time seeing the city. Glad to hear you made it home safe, now get to work! LOL!
Hey Terrio! Phones are important. I would've been frantic without mine.
While I appreciated the invite to the Julia Quinn luncheon, I really just wanted the chance to get to spend time with you. :-D We'll get together another time. I'm so glad I got to meet you!!
Kathy - You are much too sweet. You're making me blush! I wish we would have had more time as well. And thanks for finding me during the signing. With all those people, I'm still not sure how you did it. LOL! Though me carrying around that giant bunch of raffle tickets probably helped...
You lost your phone? That's like another limb for you...
It was hard to find you at first, I'll admit it. I think I made 4 rounds of the room. LOL. But I'm real glad I did find you. :-D I'm also glad you had a great time!!
Super congrats to you Kathy on your bountiful pillage of the RWA conference!
The problem with my poker face is generally I'm unintersted in everything. So it's not like I have a poker face. I just don't care. And charming... *laughing* There is nothing charming about me. Especially once I open my mouth.
I am loving all the reports on conference experiences. since I could not be in SF, vicarious participation is the next best thing. :)
I have been to more academic conferences than I can count. My favorite parts are always spending time with friends I see too rarely and discovering a new city. I suspect these elements are big with any kind of professional conference.
I too am planning on DC next year. In fact, I think my sister and niece are accompanying me, and we are going to Williamsburg either on the way up or on the way back. But if I didn't have so many online buddies that I am eager to meet face-to-face, I would never work up the courage to go to Nationals. And just the word "pitch" evokes nausea and cold sweats.
I know, I almost made that analogy when I lost the thing. But then remembered my roommate and realized that wasn't the right way to go.
Kathy - I'd love to know how many people were in that ballroom at one time. I know there were over 500 authors signing, then there was those of us attending and fans that showed up as well.
Sherilyn Kenyon's fans were there by early afternoon sitting outside the ballroom. Talk about devoted! And they are really easy to spot too. LOL! I saw one woman in Nora's line carrying six hardbacks of Tribute to be signed. No wonder they made almost $60,000 that night!
Really? They were that easy to spot were they? *LOL*
I gave Pam my copy of Acheron because I wasn't going to start it right away since I'm reading the Twilight series (since those are "rentals"). I thought Pam was going to pass out in the parking lot. Then she apologized to her husband because "you're going to be alone this weekend". *LOL* As she stroked the book. *LOL*
And I also got a "Are you sure?". Yes. *LOL*
Janga - I'm so excited that you'll be there next year. And Williamsburg is right by me! I can't tell you how relieved I am to know that I won't have far to go next year. They are already making fun of me at work for getting jetlag from such a short trip. I'll know better next time to go early so I can be well rested before the festivities really get going.
I saw somewhere else the observation that few conferences start as this one does with repeated squeals in the lobby as friends find each other. I couldn't tell you how many people I hugged last week. LOL!
You put Acheron aside to read the Twilight books? Seriously? I'm amazed at that too.
I'm not reading the Meyer books but I did convince my friend (who doesn't read enough IMO) to pick them up. Now she's totally addicted. She read the second book over the weekend, finished the third book in less than a day and is now reading Breaking Dawn. I checked out some of the spoilers on that one so I'm having fun knowing what happens before she does. LOL!
And I told her if this has been a Harry Potter book, it would be totally NO DICE...so my generosity, as usual, has limits.
I've heard the 4th one was a let down. But I'm only on pg 51 of the first one...so what do I know yet?
Eh. I'm sure it will be a good book, but the last couple books have been...somewhat disappointing. *shrugs* I think I'm getting tired of my tried-and-true authors or something, so decided to go for a new voice. Cleanse the palatte.
I'm picking up Breaking Dawn today for my daughter. She's read all of the Meyer books more than once but had to wait to read this one because she wasn't done doing her summer reading for school. She had to take a test on that book today, the second day of school. She can't wait to see the movie this winter and while I was gone she went to a Twilight party the night the book was released.
I did some stroking of my own. Whilst I was sightseeing in San Fran, I met up with a lovely old pirate and had my picture taken with him as I stroked his hook. :-D
"Stroked his hook", eh? Naughty Kathy! You never take incriminating photos like that...
Of course HP is where the line stops.
Kathy - was that the one down on Elcabanaro or whatever the heck that street was called? I came *this* close to having my picture taken with that one. LOL! But now I can't remember if he had a hook?
Not sure what street he was on, Terrio, but he was so... irresistable and his hook was so firm. :-D I also got a picture with his mate who happened to be missing his sword. :-D
Clearly we didn't find the same pirate. LOL! The one I saw was a giant statue and he didn't have any mates. Dang it, I never find the good stuff!
Yikes! I forgot to mention that the highlight of my trip was seeing Capt. Jack himself doing magic tricks down at the pier. His show was called the Captain Jack Spareribs Show. LOL. He juggled flaming torches over some poor teenager and did magic tricks with a little girl. :-D Youza!! He was lots of fun!!
Again, I missed that. The guy doing the juggling on Saturday afternoon was corny and no one laughed at his jokes. I need to work on my timing.
Hellion - I liked the first and second Twilight books the best. The third was good, and the fourth, well, maybe it just hasn't grown on me yet. Still a good read, a quick read, and suspenseful enough to keep me going through a 750+ page book in a day or so, but I don't know, something about it just isn't hitting me the right way. Still trying to pinpoint. Will keep posted.
PS. Sorry Sin....
Sounds like Nationals was great. I'm hoping to do DC next year, but depends on the job situation.
Sue & I did RT this year since it was in Pittsburgh. We heard there were 1,200 people. It was so much fun, so many books, and Adrian Paul. And Fabio. JR Ward, MaryJanice Davidson, Christine Feehan, Caridad Pineiro, authors, authors everywhere. I'd been to comicons & a sci-fi convention once, but this was blow-me-away huge, comparatively. And sleep? What's that? I think we got 3 or 4 hours most nights.
Was it worth it? OH YEAH!
Diane from the 'Burgh
Oh, DJS! Barbara Vey told us at Nationals that Adrian Paul is a such hottie in person and that Richard Dean Anderson was to die for! (I had to touch Barbara just because Adrian Paul and Richard Dean Anderson had hugged her. As if some of their mojo would rub off on me. LOL)
Why did work have to be crazy the day that you posted this? I haven't read through all the comments but conference was fantastic and I'm so glad I got to meet everyone! Yes, you guys are FABULOUS! :) It will forever be known that those at RWR = fabulous!
Marn- don't sorry me. BD isn't my favorite book by far. It was okay. *shrug* I will have to reread before I make an executive decision but Eclipse still remains my favorite.
Steph - once again, the check is in the mail. Seriously, I might have to adopt you. I am old enough to be your mother, if I'd started having kids before I could drive. LOL!
Diane - I only did the signing at RT and you're right, that place was crazy. And Barbara Vey was all over the place during the conference. There were people I never did manage to find, but Barbara I seemed to see everywhere. LOL!
Thanks Sin, I was afraid I'd get strung up. LOL!!
Steph - you are tooo sweet!! We think you guys are fabulous too!
Terri - I'm so glad you had such a great time at Nationals. Although, it doesn't really come as a surprise. I imagine you would thrive in such a frenetic atmosphere (that's a huge compliment in case your were wondering! LOL).
Isn't it surreal to meet all these people you've "known" for so long face to face. That was the part that was fun for me at Spring Fling. It had never in my life been so easy to sit around and gab with people I've supposedly never met before. It was very odd and very exciting. The people to meet and greet had to be astronomical at Nationals!
Irish - I'm still upset I didn't get to be at the Spring Fling. I came so close to going to that one then changed my mind. And it was very much like meeting old friends I've known for years. Even when the person you just met might not have any idea who you are, the fact that you're there for writing is enough for them to take you in. It really is an amazing field of women.
Hey Terrio! How's the sunburn?
I can't believe *I* got a shout out and you FORGOT Julia Quinn! I'll be floating on air for weeks over this one.
But... what's it gonna cost me to keep the piccie of me & the gorilla OFF the blogs?
AC
Tour guide with THE MOST useless info ever...
Oh, and I can't guarantee the guerilla pic won't make an appearance...eventually. LOL!
That info was not useless! If I had gone down to that pier alone, as I'd intended, I never would have known that was the Bay Bridge or Alcatraz. I do hope I would have recognized the Golden Gate though. LOL!
I can't believe I forgot Julia. After she threw that great luncheon and even walked back to the hotel with me. AND then walked away with another RITA that night. Here's to you being in the running for those RITAs next year!
J Perry Stone chiming in here to say:
I am NOT insane. It was all YOUR bad influences affecting me like crack.
And also, send me jpegs of the bad pictures.
Yay! you're back!!! How was the vacation?
And own your insanity, girlfriend.
I'll send the pics tonight as they're on the laptop, not here at work.
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