A whole lot of fun...

I'm finally recovered from my trip to DC last week where I attended the Romance Writers of America National conference. I met a lot of wonderful people, including people on this blog. I know I'm posting at the end of the week and you've probably read all the juicy details from some of the other CRAFTIE Ladies this week so I'll just touch on a few things.

First, I loved meeting all the Love Inspired authors on the opening night of the conference. The LI ladies took over a back room of Harry's Pub and had dinner. (Thank you Janet Tronstad for arranging all of that!) I think there were about 25 LI authors there and it was nice meeting everyone and just getting a chance to chat before the conference went into full swing. I know Lenora Worth took some pictures, so keep checking the blog and the Love Inspired Authors website for more pics.

One of the highlights of the week was doing a wonderful workshop with Lenora Worth and Renee Ryan about the inspirational market. It was very well attended and everyone asked a lot of questions, which shows there is great interest from authors who want to write inspirational stories!

Another highlight was the Harlequin Party. Here are a few pics. I took them on my cell phone so I hope they came out okay.






I finally had a chance to meet my editor, Elizabeth Mazer. Harlequin was celebrati

ng 60 years of romance at this party and here we are standing in front of a beautiful collage of old Harlequin book covers.



I came home very jazzed to get writing. That can be good and bad because while I wanted to write, write, write when I got home, I had been gone for FIVE whole days and while the house didn't look like a bomb had exploded, you could tell I'd been gone. So I spent the week doing a bit of housework, writing and reading some of those books that weighed down my suitcase on the train coming home.
Until next time, many blessings, Lisa Mondello

Meeting authors....

Long before I dreamed of being published, I imagined the life of a writer being fascinating...strewn with public appearances, lofty discussions with other writers, and (the best part!) the opportunity to be immersed in writing for days on end--the words flowing effortlessly onto the page. Meeting writers for the first time, at a local Booklover's Luncheon that regularly drew authors from five surrounding states, was a revelation. They all seemed like--gasp--regular people! Friendly, down to earth, and as approachable as could be. It was so exciting!

That year Kimberly Cates, Susan Carroll (who also writes as Susan Coppula and Serena Richards), Leigh Michaels, Cindy Gerard, Kylie Brant, Lindsey Longford and twenty other authors attended. What an inspiration, to hear them each talk about their writing lives! I think that was the day that I began to wonder if it might be possible to become a writer...and hearing them speak about a writer's life certainly dispelled some of my pre-conceived notions, too. (smile)

I just noticed a previous blog entry about some booksigning dates for one of the authors here. Have you ever had a chance to stop by an author booksigning at your local bookstore? So many passers-by are shy at these events, avoiding the author's table because they can't think of a thing to say. Believe me, those authors would love a chance to just talk to you!

And if you live anywhere near Washington DC, you'll have a wonderful opportunity--a booksigning with around four-hundred authors, at the Marriott Wardman Plaza Hotel, on July 15th. A number of the authors on this blog will be there. I'm sure we'll be talking more about it as the time draws closer, but keep it in mind!

Roxanne Rustand
http://roxannerustand.blogspot.com/