RWA Recap

Home again, home again, jiggity jig–if one can jiggity while spending about as much time in airports between Reno and Orlando as one does in airplanes between Reno and Orlando. I did get to hang out with my dear friend Katherine Garbera before hopping the flight to Dallas, then lunch and dish in Dallas with my new friend Kwana Jackson (one of the founders of the ChickLit chapter of RWA. I arrived to 90+ heat, a thunderstorm, and Velcro children. Some things never change.

Overall, conference was, as usual, a great experience. I’m preferring not to get into a discussion of the RITA/GH ceremony (I’m sure one will ensue), but I will say these things about conference:

• Being in a room, knitting, with about 60 other writers–courtesy of Debbie Macomber’s Warm Up America drive–was very cool. Even if I had to break out the ballpoint pens because they’d run out of needles. Met a new friend, too, Michelle Willingham.
• Do not attend the eHarlequin pajama party with pajamas from Target. Someone else will have them on, too.
• Having an official strategy meeting with your agent is highly cool.
• Casinos take all your money. Teachers have no money at the end of the summer anyway, so now I have less. Damned nickel slots.
• I love pajama parties with my friends. Not in a pillow fighting, weird, guys get off on it way, but in a eat chocolate and laugh yourself silly way. I was lucky enough to room with both the aforementioned Ms. Garbera and my other partner in crime, Nancy Robards Thompson. Nancy and I have known each other since junior high school, so I have to step carefully when relating juicy stories. She has really hideous bribe pix of moi.

After two layovers and about seven hours in the air, I made it home to Florida, just in time to pack myself and the kids in bed, since school starts tomorrow. For teachers, anyway.

Next year, RWA descends on Atlanta, which will be an easy trip for me. I never thought I’d say it, but being in the high desert for the better part of a week made me realize how much I like humidity. Guess I am a swamp creature at heart.