Thursday, April 14, 2011
RT Round-Up
And recovery.
I hope I’m recovering by the time this post! I swear…you know that old commercial about drugs? This is your brain on drugs? Well, I’m suffering from RT brain. Or lack of brain. All I can say is this…I need to improve my stamina before next year. Or plan a solid week of downtime afterward!
Now, onto RT! Whoop! What an adventure! (Hang on, this is a long blog. It was a week! Read it!)
After three days of helping out Judi McCoy the crowds began to arrive. I’m not going to be pissy about the hotel. Really, I’m not. (Clue of my feelings? The word pissy.) (Honestly, kudos to all the volunteers and staff who managed to pull it all off despite the hotel!)
Tuesday night was the bash at the Viper Room with the rock band Run Devil Run. This band contributed their images and song titles to an anthology Decadent Publishing put out earlier this year. A masterful bit of cross-promotion if I may brag on their behalf. Small club, crowded, loud. Good drinks. They had Kraken Rum (pause for a commercial break. I’m trying to get them to notice me and offer me an Kraken Rum sponsored author tour.)
Kraken Rum – Strong, rich, black and smooth!
Back to the blog…
I got back and was already going hoarse. Trying to talk and chatter a mere few feet from the stage. And I had the He’s A Pirate panel the next day! Groan! Wednesday, it was setting up my two give away baskets in Club RT and my spot in promo ally, meeting with Katharine Ashe and figuring out how the panel would go...
The pirate panel was a blast. Really. We figured about 60-70 people were there. We gave away swag. I got Cherry Adair to wear a little orange pirate perch hat I made for her. And Katharine Ashe. I, of course, had my big black full sized tricorn on. ;-) People laughed, I was clever. Katharine was a good leader. Cherry was…Cherry. She tried to give the hat away at the end and I pouted about it… She probably gave it away when I was looking… I think Katharine kept hers. I hope. She looked great, even if it did keep falling off!
That night was my publisher’s little party. In a suite on the 32nd floor! Wow. Where I was fed strawberry shots. (Which I am stealing for the bar menu hear on the Revenge.) Then the Ellora’s Cave party…a real winner with the Hindi dance troupe. Wow!
OH! I went to that! And a steampunk party put on my Samhain. Where I posed for a picture with their pirate ship. I want one.
Thursday??? Is it Thursday already? Oh, the Fairy Ball. Where I dressed as the Kraken’s Wife and was called to the stage as a finalist. We all lost to last year’s Mr. Romance, holding a tiny yorkie puppy with fairy wings on.
It was fixed, I tell ya!
Firday. I mean Friday… Oh, meanwhile, did I go to any panels? One. I think. Uh…on marketing. I meant to go to more, really. I was up early every day, I was busy. I do not know where the hell I was most of the time. Oh, in Club RT…visiting with the lovely wife of Robert Quill, artist extraordinaire. I did chat with old students of Judi, with Judi, other Decadent authors…
Rae knows how to costume, btw. Wow. Yes, her eyes are red. Contacts. Yes, that is a throat corset. She made it. Along with everything on this costume. Well, I think she bought the wig.
Friday was the Decadent Meet the Authors event at Club RT, where we gave away a ton of stuff and I visited with Milo, the seizure dog. And his owner. That evening was the E-Expo where I sold 5 books and one person stood right there and downloaded both of the e-books on her Nook! That was sorta exciting!
The vampire ball…not bad food. I’m not going to talk about the skit. I do think I left too early, but I was a bit nervous for Saturday.
The GREAT BIG SATURDAY BOOK FAIRE! I did good. Sold 18 out of 20 books. And I could have sold them all if the ladies who found me in the bar that night had made it to my table. (Christie Craig bought my book! SQUEEEE!)
Now, what else went on? I don’t know! Well, I do know some. I met with my agent and have a list of things to do that I’m studiously avoiding because I’m just too tired to cope. Students of Judi scored requests from pitches…over and over and over again and I spent a lot of time with them. Jane pitched to my agent and got a request. I talked tattoos with Celeste and am planning on a new one next year, before Chicago’s RT.
I know I was on my feet a lot. Restocking the swag spot on Promotional Ally, working to help sell the Fairy Anthology at Club RT (benefited one of the Fairy Court Queens who had some unexpected health issues this last year.) I chatted with the drummer from Run Devil Run, who was one of the participants of the Mr. Romance contest…
Sounds like one big party, don’t it? Well, RT is a total celebration of the romance genre. Really.
What did I gain from RT? A sense of validation that I cannot begin to explain. I love the crew of the Revenge and honestly, ladies, you have helped to set me on the road toward this place with all the laughter and back and forth and all. I dedicated The Kraken’s Mirror to The Revenge and I truly meant it.
It started when I survived my near death, it built with the invitation to join this crew. It grows each day with the support I find here and all over the web.
Here’s to you, crew! Raise a glass and toast yerself!
And that wraps up my report on RT… Next year, we invade Chicago. I hope some of you nearby will think of coming. I’ll show you the ropes, lead you astray and make sure you don’t get to one panel. Well, maybe one.
Ever had so much fun at an event you can’t remember the details? Without drinking?
I hope I’m recovering by the time this post! I swear…you know that old commercial about drugs? This is your brain on drugs? Well, I’m suffering from RT brain. Or lack of brain. All I can say is this…I need to improve my stamina before next year. Or plan a solid week of downtime afterward!
Now, onto RT! Whoop! What an adventure! (Hang on, this is a long blog. It was a week! Read it!)
After three days of helping out Judi McCoy the crowds began to arrive. I’m not going to be pissy about the hotel. Really, I’m not. (Clue of my feelings? The word pissy.) (Honestly, kudos to all the volunteers and staff who managed to pull it all off despite the hotel!)
Tuesday night was the bash at the Viper Room with the rock band Run Devil Run. This band contributed their images and song titles to an anthology Decadent Publishing put out earlier this year. A masterful bit of cross-promotion if I may brag on their behalf. Small club, crowded, loud. Good drinks. They had Kraken Rum (pause for a commercial break. I’m trying to get them to notice me and offer me an Kraken Rum sponsored author tour.)
Kraken Rum – Strong, rich, black and smooth!
Back to the blog…
I got back and was already going hoarse. Trying to talk and chatter a mere few feet from the stage. And I had the He’s A Pirate panel the next day! Groan! Wednesday, it was setting up my two give away baskets in Club RT and my spot in promo ally, meeting with Katharine Ashe and figuring out how the panel would go...
The pirate panel was a blast. Really. We figured about 60-70 people were there. We gave away swag. I got Cherry Adair to wear a little orange pirate perch hat I made for her. And Katharine Ashe. I, of course, had my big black full sized tricorn on. ;-) People laughed, I was clever. Katharine was a good leader. Cherry was…Cherry. She tried to give the hat away at the end and I pouted about it… She probably gave it away when I was looking… I think Katharine kept hers. I hope. She looked great, even if it did keep falling off!
That night was my publisher’s little party. In a suite on the 32nd floor! Wow. Where I was fed strawberry shots. (Which I am stealing for the bar menu hear on the Revenge.) Then the Ellora’s Cave party…a real winner with the Hindi dance troupe. Wow!
OH! I went to that! And a steampunk party put on my Samhain. Where I posed for a picture with their pirate ship. I want one.
Thursday??? Is it Thursday already? Oh, the Fairy Ball. Where I dressed as the Kraken’s Wife and was called to the stage as a finalist. We all lost to last year’s Mr. Romance, holding a tiny yorkie puppy with fairy wings on.
It was fixed, I tell ya!
Firday. I mean Friday… Oh, meanwhile, did I go to any panels? One. I think. Uh…on marketing. I meant to go to more, really. I was up early every day, I was busy. I do not know where the hell I was most of the time. Oh, in Club RT…visiting with the lovely wife of Robert Quill, artist extraordinaire. I did chat with old students of Judi, with Judi, other Decadent authors…
Rae knows how to costume, btw. Wow. Yes, her eyes are red. Contacts. Yes, that is a throat corset. She made it. Along with everything on this costume. Well, I think she bought the wig.
Friday was the Decadent Meet the Authors event at Club RT, where we gave away a ton of stuff and I visited with Milo, the seizure dog. And his owner. That evening was the E-Expo where I sold 5 books and one person stood right there and downloaded both of the e-books on her Nook! That was sorta exciting!
The vampire ball…not bad food. I’m not going to talk about the skit. I do think I left too early, but I was a bit nervous for Saturday.
The GREAT BIG SATURDAY BOOK FAIRE! I did good. Sold 18 out of 20 books. And I could have sold them all if the ladies who found me in the bar that night had made it to my table. (Christie Craig bought my book! SQUEEEE!)
Now, what else went on? I don’t know! Well, I do know some. I met with my agent and have a list of things to do that I’m studiously avoiding because I’m just too tired to cope. Students of Judi scored requests from pitches…over and over and over again and I spent a lot of time with them. Jane pitched to my agent and got a request. I talked tattoos with Celeste and am planning on a new one next year, before Chicago’s RT.
I know I was on my feet a lot. Restocking the swag spot on Promotional Ally, working to help sell the Fairy Anthology at Club RT (benefited one of the Fairy Court Queens who had some unexpected health issues this last year.) I chatted with the drummer from Run Devil Run, who was one of the participants of the Mr. Romance contest…
Sounds like one big party, don’t it? Well, RT is a total celebration of the romance genre. Really.
What did I gain from RT? A sense of validation that I cannot begin to explain. I love the crew of the Revenge and honestly, ladies, you have helped to set me on the road toward this place with all the laughter and back and forth and all. I dedicated The Kraken’s Mirror to The Revenge and I truly meant it.
It started when I survived my near death, it built with the invitation to join this crew. It grows each day with the support I find here and all over the web.
Here’s to you, crew! Raise a glass and toast yerself!
And that wraps up my report on RT… Next year, we invade Chicago. I hope some of you nearby will think of coming. I’ll show you the ropes, lead you astray and make sure you don’t get to one panel. Well, maybe one.
Ever had so much fun at an event you can’t remember the details? Without drinking?
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40 comments:
These pictures are awesome! You look like you had such fun and I love the smile on your face in the last pic. You look so happy.
I have had so much fun at an event that I can't remember some of the details: my wedding. I know I didn't drink much because I was too busy, but it was such a wonderful, whirlwind kind of day. :)
I love the pics and you do look soooo happy! Love it and just wish I could have been there to see you rock it!
Don't be makin' me cry in my English muffin. I've got some stuff to do first, but I'll be back. It was so fun to attend virtually with you. LOL! And we didn't go over my text limit!
Ever had so much fun at an event you can’t remember the details? Without drinking?
Does sex count? And you know, as RARE I actually get sex, I consider it an event.
Awww, Chance, okay, you can't hold this against me or anything but.... *HUGS* I'm glad you agreed to join our crew too. You've added much inspiration, creativity, and positive can-do to our publishing and writing journey.
We are never to discuss the Hug.
It sounds like SO much fun. And you definitely look happy, and your costumes rock. :) I'm glad it was a great experience. I understand completely about the validation--that makes all of it worthwhile and keeps us going when we fall back into doubt.
Thanks for sharing all the details. Wish I had been there. :P)
RT does look like a lot of fun--and energy. It's like the wild and crazy cousin of the RWA convention. *LOL* (Whereas the RWA convention seems to be like the Librarian who suddenly lets her hair down and starts dancing on the dry bar on the last night...the RT is the cousin who parties from day one of the convention because shouldn't you have fun everyday of your life?)
I love this crew, and the other writers in romancelandia; however, I do agree there is something about the energy about being in person with a bunch of other writers. Esp if the writers are having fun and celebrating their craft.
Writing is technically a solo art and there can be a lot of drudgery at times--so it's awesome when you can have the complete opposite of that. There are others struggling like you, who are crazy like you, who are excited like you--it's your tribe.
Marn - I keep meaning to post all the pics on FB, along with a good smattering of all the pics I've pirated from other Dec authors who posted pics on FB...one of these days.
I could have posted another dozen today, but figured things were getting a little longish...
Come to think of it, I don't remember a lot from my wedding either. Just snapshots... It's very unfair that the events that drag on and bore us to death are carved into the brain...have a good time and *blitx! Nothing remains but a sense of having fun.
Bo'sun! Save the muffin! Save the muffin! ;-)
Scape - Wish you'd been there, too! Maybe Chicago?
Donna - And trust me, my costumes are nothing...compared to some! Rae costumes for big conventions so she is always awesome, but even the amateurs put on some incredible stuff. The Fairy Ball is always the blow out, though the vampire Ball gets it's fair share.
The Ellora's Cave theme this year was Bollywood and there were some incredible saris there. I went straight from the Decadent party, so I'm in me pirate dress. Everyone who attended the EC party got a jingle jangle scarf. Which I put on my head.
And that was my one and only glass of wine. Though I'd been having strawberry shooters and a homemade apple concoction that tasted like apple pie in a glass...
Hug? What hug? ;-)
RT is a giant celebration. RWA is much more like an afternoon tea that stretches on into the evening so it gets a bit rowdy, but at heart, it's still a tea. RT is meant to be the party.
And they let you know right off... There are listings for social events. And reader events. Librarian events, bookseller events, want-to-write events, wrote-now-what-do-I-do events, published how-do-attract-readers events.
I spotted Sara Lindsey and asked if she was having fun and she nodded, commenting on how nice it was to actually meet readers.
Don't worry, no muffins were harmed in the reading of this blog.
Okay, I love this rundown. Your stream of conscious writing is always fun to read. LOL! You do know how to throw an ensemble together, and I have already been a beneficiary of your awesome hat making skills.
We were the lucky ones when we convinced you to join this crew (not that you put up much of a fight ;) .) You're like a daily shot of inspiration, girly. So happy you got that validation and I do hope someday I can attend one of these with you. You know how I feel about costumes, but I promise to keep an open mind if the day ever comes.
(I did see pictures from the Mr. Romance contest and THAT I would very happy to attend.)
I remember most of my wedding, which is probably a sign it wasn't the greatest day of my life. LOL! My first RWA Nationals is a bit of a blur. First time on the west coast and the trip started with me being awake for 22 straight hours. Yeah, very few memories of that one. Though those Kobe sliders I had in the restaurant at the top of the hotel were awesome! And I'll always have my bottle of James McAvoy bath water. (Long story.)
James McAvoy bath water... You snuck into someone's room and absconded with bath water? Well, maybe Nationals is more fun than I thought! ;-)
The Mr. Romance contest was fun...the drummer from RDR portrayed Captain Jack with total committment... Though his comments afterward that he'd update Jack's look and maybe it was time to settle down and a pirate ship really isn't a great place to raise a family...I glared at him a bit.
We had some nice contestants this year. Nine of them! All dark haired and two with nice long hair. The cowboy guy won...very tall and with a great smile.
I'll post the pic I got with them all one of these days...
I love costumes! I don't mind dressing up!
Though admittedly I don't think I'd ever wear a throat corset. Not that she doesn't look great in it, but the BDSM message it sends out rather disturbs me. *LOL*
She said it was sorta fun and she kept it dead lose... She made it. I tell ya, the chick is seriously gifted. Made her corset, her purse, her skirt...
*shakes head
But this lady also competes at CostumeCon, so RT is a walk in the park for her!
Is thinking about applying to do a panel next year on how Bodice Ripping is Impossible. (Those things are tough!)
I thought the dude who won (Len, right?) dressed as the Spartan? That's the pic I saw. Yum!
I could use a corset. For everyday use...
If I had snuck into James McAvoy's room, I would never have come back from San Fran. LOL!
Bo'sun, yeah he did dress as a spartan for the skits, but he was pure homespun cowboy when he opened his mouth. From Oklahoma, I think!
I hear corsets are quite comfy, when worn correctly...
Ah, even better. LOL!
There's a wrong way??
Yup! Too high, too low, too tight...lots of wrong ways...
BTW, did you see me in San Francisco? While displaying your James McAvoy bathwater? That was me, sliding along the wall trying to be invisible... My, how the years have changed me! LOL!
Sorry, if I saw you in San Fran I don't remember. Like I said, big blur. (And since we'd never met or knew of each other, how would I have known?!) Though that hotel felt smaller than the others, so it felt even more crowded that year. Nowhere near as big as the last two lobbies/hotels were. You could have gotten lost in the DC hotel and never seen anyone!
That SF hotel was a bit claustrophobic. But it was the underground meeting rooms that threw me for a loop...
That's the year I drove a wheelchair into LaNora. Though I still say she walked into us. LOL!
Wow. You sure know how to make a huge impression on authors! Cherry was going to give her pirate hat away and I pouted about how I'd made it just for her and wanted to see her wearing it all through out the con or I'd be so hurt...
She looked me dead in the eye, "I lost it."
I bet she gave it away when my head was turned...
I will forever be the flipping strange woman who made her wear an orange perch hat. With a lavender feather in it.
And I have pictures to prove it...
Now that I think about it, I don't remember a lot once the "giving birth" part of having kiddo started. I know there were a ton of people in the room, and I could have cared less. Which seems strange now. LOL!
I have no recollection of anything after they set her up on my chest. I know my ex cut the cord, but my next memory is when they brought her back from the nurery about 2 hrs later because she wouldn't stop crying. The moment they put her back on my chest, she went silent and fell asleep.
Ah, too damned cute!
I was talking with my Mom yesterday, in the carecenter where they are treating her infection, and memory is a funny thing!
I know I watched TV and I think I read when I spent my 10 days in the hospital after my heart stuff, but I have no memory of it other than the last day...waiting to go home.
And I remember some of the tests. They were spooky.
Oh, I love the purple dress! Because I lurves purple. And the wee cephalopod! Squee! So cute.
Sounds like so much fun. Maybe next year...although Chicago sounds...brrr...cold.
Thanks for getting me there, Maureen, and showing me how it should be done. Glad you liked the pix you lifted from my FB page! LOL! But, I guess that's what having a pirate friend is all about.
You are the best and I can't wait to see you in Chicago. You were the perfect roomie and it was always interesting to open the door and see who was there!
Back to the novel...I've got no time to recover!
Thanks for getting me there, Maureen, and showing me how it should be done. Glad you liked the pix you lifted from my FB page! LOL! But, I guess that’s what having a pirate friend is all about.
You are the best and I can’t wait to see you in Chicago. You were the perfect roomie and it was always interesting to open the door and see who was there!
Back to the novel…I’ve got no time to recover!
(Probably good if I knew the name of my website!)
Yes, Casey...I have no shame. I stole pictures all over the place. I'm not going to...like...publish them in a book...but here and there, in the blogs... Yup!
So glad you had a good time and had such success. Now, let's see who we can convince to give it a try next year!
Totally missed the blog today, Chance, but I wanted to say Congrats and send a big hug!Looks like you had a great time!
I share the RWR love. The ladies on this ship (you included) are awesome. RL has swept me up in its maelstrom but I stop by here whenever I have a few minutes to myself to soak up the humor, words of wisdom and general good feelings floating around.
That' okay, Irish. RL is damned demanding! Glad you did make it and I so agree, this blog so totally rocks! I love these women. And even Sin. I draw the line at the Undead Monkey. I wish he were really dead. Totally dead. Uh...buried dead?
Heyla lass! It was incredible meeting you in person, even if I was too addled to recognize you the first time we met.
Please tell me that despite my sleep deprivation and too frequent inebriation I maintained decent table manners? I'd hate to think the reason you weren't up dancing with me was that I ate with the wrong plate, or shoved the wrong utensil down my shirt.
@Hellion Yeah, if RT *wasn't* the wild cousin, I'd be actively afraid of the wild cousin. Instead I'm vaguely afraid that I'd stand out *too* much at the sedate, professional con.
Robert...it's sorta sweet. You were too polite to look down at my name badge...at my boob level. ;-)
Nah, no table manners faux pas, I just don't normally hang around the hall after the eating and entertainment is done.
Trust me, I skipped out, you didn't!
And trust me, it's sorta fun to stand out at the big RWA Nationals. I wore that pirate dress first at the Nationals. And my steampunk overalls, goggles, etc. ;-)
I really must be insane...
A sense of validation that I cannot begin to explain.
Congratulations Chance, I am so very happy for you!
Yeah, I know. Validation seems like something I already had. And I likely did, but this was...super-validation!
;-)
@Robert--not that I've been to a RWA conference yet (or an RT one either--I was speaking from information I had received from other attendees), I'd say you'd stand out at an RWA not because you're not "tame" enough for the "sedate" RWA conference, but that I think men are even rarer at an RWA conference than they are at the RT. (I could be way wrong--but I think romance novels are still primarily written by women for women--so the rare, brave breed of men who write romance for women...well, you would stand out. *LOL*)
Hel - I think you're right...men are even more rare at the RWA show.
I kept my hat! I love it!! Thank you for that lovely gift. It was such fun doing the treasure hunt with you. :)))
You're welcome, Katharine! I loved making those silly things...
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