Finally! RWA National Conference 2007 - Life after Dallas

About a week after returning from Dallas, I had prepared a blog post updating everyone on the happenings of my time at Conference. I was pleased with my effort and planned to post it just as soon as I got back from carting my daughter off to dance in the half-time show for our arena football team. (That was really cool, by the way.) Anyway, and this is so embarrassing, I neglected to hit SAVE on my word document and Darling Husband...well, he doesn't like extraneous programs just sitting open for no apparent reason--see where I'm going with this?--he shut Word down and then totally freaked and apologized up and down. I don't blame him. I blame me. The first rule ANY good writer knows is to SAVE your stuff. As in it should be automatic. Save...Save...SAVE!!! Gah!

I haven't had time to rectify my mistake until today, and I apologize for that. But, enough about that fiasco. I have RWA National Conference PICTURES!!! Ummm, I also have dial-up so, although I've started writing this post before 9:00am my time, it will probably considerably later when this post actually goes live. Hey! If any big wigs from Verizon or RoadRunner are reading this, please, please, I beg of you, take my street out the dark ages and give us access to high-speed internet. PLEASE!

Ok, back to nationals. First, I want to send a warm thank you out to my fabulous roommates, Diana Castilleja, Liz Bemis, and Chellesie B. Dancer. I couldn't have asked for a more wonderful group of ladies. We hit it off right from the start. And, trust me, four women who've never met in person, sharing one hotel room with only two beds could have been...er, awkward to say the least. ;-)

Unlike last year, I actually knew some people who were attending this conference. This made for a VERY different experience. I mean, this time I had the Divas to hang out with. What a group! I can't wait until the next Diva Dinner.

Ok, so it wasn't all parties and hanging out at the bar (well, there WAS a lot of that too.), but I did do other things as well. Like, attend the PRO-Retreat, which had some fabulous speakers like Tawny Weber and Serrilyn Kenyon among others. They had a lot of good information to impart. And, Sherrilyn Kenyon's message of perseverance…well, after I got past my tears, I was able to speak with her and to let her know how her story moved me. She is so open and sweet, if you ever have the chance to meet her in person, please do.

I attended some excellent book signings and volunteered at the Literacy Signing. We raised over $56,000.00 in two hours!!! I also finally got to meet Anna Campbell in person. I knew she was a doll from our email correspondence, but, in person, she is so much more--witty and genuine. It was an honor getting to hang with her. Oh! And I've finally been able to start Claiming the Courtesan. Holly Hell, Anna! Talk about intense, rip-your-heart-out-and-flip-it-over writing. I bow to your genius, Woman. If you guys haven't picked up Claiming the Courtesan, drop what you're doing and get out to your nearest book store. Now. Remember my fixation on the bad, bad, BAD hero? The one who is only a nano-step from being a great villain? Well, hell, Anna has got THAT corner seriously covered!

Now that I've gone off on another tangent, I'll move on to what else happened at National this year. I networked. Boy, did I network. I met so many fantastic writers, published and unpublished. The energy of so many talented people in one place. It was just intense! I also attended an editor and an agent appointment with excellent results. I pitched a dark paranormal I've been working on. I didn't expect to be asked for more than a partial, but the editor loved my idea so much she requested the FULL!!! How very exciting. Once I've tweaked it to my satisfaction, that will be heading off to her desk.

There is so much more that has transpired as a result of going to this year's National Conference. However, I'm going to save that installment for next week. As I scroll up, I realize this is already a very long post. ;-)

Next time, I'll fill you in on my upcoming "workshop" segment and the fabulous line-up of top authors and publishing professionals who've consented to participate. I'm very excited about this endeavor.

As for pictures, *sigh* my freakin' dial-up is not cooperating. I must ask for your patience until I can throw them onto a jump-drive and cart them over to my mom's house, which has the luxury of High-speed internet access.

On a totally different note, has anyone read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows? I certainly did. Took me three days. Would have been faster except I had to actually interact with my family. ROFL! I'd love to hear your thoughts on J.K. Rowling's final installment. Do share! What was your favorite scene? No major Spoilers, please.

Sandy :-)

*August 25, 2007 at Sandra's Goings On - Guest Blogger, Betty Hanawa ~ More Than She Wished For