Lexi’s RWA National Conference Experience in Brief

RWA Literacy signing raises over $50,000 (Photo: RWA)

This is a blast! I can’t believe how much fun I’m having here at the RWA National Conference. Literally hundreds of romance writers to talk to, old friends I’m catching up with, and lots of new writing friends I’m connecting with. It is non-stop energy, exciting and exhausting.
 

So I’m going to hit some of the side notes because, well, I’m sure others have hit the main events on facebook, twitter, and all the other networks :-}

Before the conference started, I had lunch in High Velocity here in the hotel. Through chatting with our waiter Kamal, I warned him that 2,000 of us would be descending upon the hotel in the next couple days. His response? “Oh, I’m looking forward to it. I was here in 2006 and looking forward to this.” Now, that set a great tone for the days ahead as far as I was concerned.

Then I watched as a specialist covered the elevator doors with romance novels. That made waiting for an elevator a whole lot more interesting.

My Wonderful Editor

People started to trickle in. Drinks in the bar and dinners out with fellow authors became the norm. Authors from Arizona, Arkansas, Illinois, Wisconsin, all friends, shared time and advice. More stopped by and said hello and shared their great news. It was also fun to spend time with Dawn Kunda, a fellow blogger on Happily Ever After Thoughts.

One highlight has been the time spent with my wonderful editor who is a lot of fun and very informative. We chatted about future story ideas and the latest in the industry.

I also joined the Passionate Ink chapter for their party. Very educational as the speaker talked about BDSM. Some of the information I knew, other information I didn’t, and I’m glad I had a chance to learn more about this erotic arena from a person who lives the lifestyle. I have also met two more Ellora’s Cave authors. It was so nice to put faces with email names :-)

I enjoyed being the moderator for my friend Laurie Schnebly-Campbell’s great workshop on Description and Dialogue.  She gave me some good ideas, but then again she always does.

At the RWA National General meeting, it was announced that not only would indie published books be allowed in all RITA Award categories, but RWA added another category, this one for Erotic Romance! Whoohoo! Hmm, maybe I should enter next year. What do you think?

That’s RWA so far, but I may have more to share after I get home.

Always

Lexi