Why I LOVE RWA
Jul 17th 2009
LoriHandelandGoddess Classics & Lori Handeland
Most of the Goddesses are at RWA (Romance Writers of America) this week, including me.
I don’t know about the rest, but I look forward to this week all year. When my kids were little it was the one week in the summer that saved my sanity. I love my kids but after all that togetherness–RWA, TAKE ME AWAY!!
RWA is a chance to listen, to talk, to learn, to connect. It’s the only place I can meet with my editors and my agent within a few days.
Here’s me and my Harlequin editor, Johanna Raisanenen, after the RITA ceremony in Dallas.
I can hear what’s going on in the business and what different authors are doing about it. I hear what’s selling, what’s not, what’s coming out soon.
But the BEST part of RWA is seeing my friends. One of the BEST parts of writing is all my writing friends from all around the country. The one time we get to see each other is at RWA and I count the days until July. Sure, I talk to them (Everyday!) online, but seeing them again is such a joy.
Here’s a photo of me and Linda Winstead Jones at the RITA/GH reception
and Goddess Claudia and I after the RITA ceremony in Dallas
Oh, and then there’s the parties, the lunches, dinners and cocktails. I like that too. 
Here’s a photo of me and several Wisconsin writers (Laura Iding on the left and Anne Voss Peterson on the right) at the Harlequin party.
So that’s what I’m up to right now, Goddesses. Listening, talking, learning and connecting. Party on!
(And keep all your fingers and toes crossed for tomorrow night when the RITA winners are announced!)
I’ll try and put photos up next week on my website of all the festivities.
Now, it’s your turn. What do you wait for all year? Summer? Vacation? Your birthday? Anniversary? What?
32 Comments »
32 Responses to “Why I LOVE RWA”
Freedom Writer on 17 Jul 2009 at 5:02 am #
Labor Day! We get a lot quieter here after that.
Lisa H on 17 Jul 2009 at 5:46 am #
Yes, Freedom, I too await the kids going back to school. My littlest will be going to pre-K in the fall and I am sooooooo looking forward to that!
Thanks for the photos Lori. It looks like so much fun!
Lorihandeland on 17 Jul 2009 at 6:19 am #
Ah labor day. Always a day for dancing IMO
Susan M on 17 Jul 2009 at 6:45 am #
I look forward to every holiday where I get a day off of work. Because it usually results in a 3 day weekend.
Ellen on 17 Jul 2009 at 7:00 am #
Going to my first conference in Dallas was probably the bravest thing I have ever done. It was far out of my comfort zone to travel alone and walk into a cocktail party without knowing a single person. A lovely group of ladies from Texas adopted me on the first day, and I met Karen Rose on the second.
You’ve reminded me how much fun they were. One year I brought my husband and son with me. We showed up a few days early to make a family vacation out of it. I’ll never forget the comment my boy made when he came up from the lobby.
“Hey, Mom! I think your writer friends are here!”
“Really? How do you know?”
“Cuz these women are so much happier than the gamblers.”
Ellen on 17 Jul 2009 at 7:02 am #
By the way, Lori. Welcome to the Goddesses. I have been gone from Mt. Oly for a bit and missed your arrival. Give Karen Rose and the other Goddesses big kisses and hugs from me.
dbrown3400 on 17 Jul 2009 at 7:04 am #
My birthday’s in the summer and my daughters always make it a very special day. They cook a nice dinner, have a cake and we have a good time.
dbrown3400 on 17 Jul 2009 at 7:05 am #
Welcome back, Ellen!
Ellen on 17 Jul 2009 at 7:15 am #
Thanks, honey. Missed you all madly. Since this thread is about “What we look forward to…”
I cannot tell you all how much I looked forward to chatting with you every day!
SuzyQ on 17 Jul 2009 at 7:38 am #
Ellen!!! You were missed, welcome back!
Every year I look forward to our family vacation down the shore. It’s a nice relaxing week just hanging out at the beach. This week we are going the last week in August, and I am counting the days . . .
And Lori, looking forward to seeing some pics from this year!
amy1242 on 17 Jul 2009 at 8:25 am #
Ellen! I was just thinking about you yesterday, and then…there you were! My spidey senses are intact!
I look forward to my Montana getaway every September. Just me and Tonto, riding the mountain forests and valleys. Bliss! Then I look forward to coming home and cleaning up a weeks worth of “life without mom-ness”. But I always love being home again. It’s one of the great things about getting away. There’s always so much love to come home to!!
Enjoy the rest of RWA, girls! And good luck to each and all!
Judy f on 17 Jul 2009 at 8:26 am #
I look forward to seeing all my friends at Lori Fosters get together in June. Some year it will be RWA, hopefully next year.
Have fun
nancyg on 17 Jul 2009 at 8:31 am #
Good morning, ladies! I’d normally say the 1st day of school, but this year I have one starting college & another high school, so this summer is bittersweet. I feel like the sand in the hourglass is running out as I watch the girls mature & spread their wings. This has probably been one of the best summers – sitting around, having long, meaningful, conversations (interspersed with bouts of silliness, of course!).
I look forward to birthdays. Not mine, let’s just stop the hands of time right there and quit adding digits. The rapidly encroaching gray hair is enough!
I *LOVE* gift-giving! I think one of the best things in life is finding THE perfect present, then seeing their face when they open up the gift. I like to let my imagination run when they’re poised over bday candles, wondering what they wished for. By the way, I’m also the kooky lady who spends an hour in the Hallmark store; cackling over the funny cards, opening up all the musical ones, dancing with her 10-year old in the aisle (I do a mean funky chicken!), and buying 10 at a time.
I look forward to “date nights” with Mr. G. Getting dressed up & out of the house for good food, wine & conversation.
SheridanLA on 17 Jul 2009 at 9:16 am #
VA-CA-TION. That is what I look forward to every year. Finally pinned down the dates for this year’s.
other then that, it is just little things throughout the year – but nothing specific
Pesky on 17 Jul 2009 at 9:20 am #
Thanksgiving. It’s an amazing American tradition. My relatives over in Ireland love the whole idea of it. A day put aside to say “Thank You” for all that the year has given you.
No presents, no expectations, just family and people who love you and whom you love. What can be better than that?
I also look forward to my yearly camping trip with friends. Coming up in one week.
Cail on 17 Jul 2009 at 9:27 am #
Ellen! We miss you!
I always look forward to Halloween. I love to make my costume, and wear it to any and every Halloween event possible. I also love having Halloween parties.
Summer is also a highlight of my year. Being in Education, it means relaxing, and doing fun things like: celebrating my birthday, seeing lots of fireworks, baseball, taking road trips (like to DC for RWA, and soon, to Canada, where my DH and I’ll actually get to meet Kathy in my travels!). It means camping and sailing. Fresh veggies from my garden. Really, i can’t think of a single bad thing about summer, except that it ends.
Lorihandeland on 17 Jul 2009 at 11:49 am #
Sounds like everyone has lots of great things to look forward to!
Right now I’m looking forward to some great cocktail parties tonight
I’ll take pictures.
Lisa H on 17 Jul 2009 at 12:16 pm #
Ellen, see how loved you are? Let me add my welcome back to the others. I have missed you and your wonderful outlook!
Freshechelle on 17 Jul 2009 at 1:17 pm #
I wait for the first chilly day of fall because summers in the Northeast are usually so humid and sticky that it’s a nice sign that it’s winding down. Now that I live is Chicago, and we’ve only had 3-4 humid days so far, I’ll have to find a new thing to look forward to … like the end of the Siberian winters .
I also dig looking forward to summer book release season.
Ellen on 17 Jul 2009 at 1:19 pm #
I am deeply touched…(not just in the head, either!)
Ellen on 17 Jul 2009 at 1:20 pm #
It’s kinda quiet on the boards. Bet everyone is having a blast at the conference.
Freedom Writer on 17 Jul 2009 at 1:27 pm #
Welcome back Ellen! I think most if not all of the Goddesses went to conference. It’s also Friday. The board seems to get quiet on Fridays.
Lisa H on 17 Jul 2009 at 1:56 pm #
They are all probably listening to Eloisa’s wonderful talk. Wishing so badly I was there!!!!
Margaret on 17 Jul 2009 at 2:01 pm #
I wait for the end of tourist season. The onset of autumn. Family vacation with 20+ relatives in one house. The first snow. The first spring bloom.
Welcome home, Ellen.
Paula on 17 Jul 2009 at 2:12 pm #
I look forward to the changing of the seasons. Each one is to me an amazing piece of nature.
I also look forward to my summer holiday each year, more so now that I work.
Welcome back Ellen I did wonder where you had gone. Does anyone know if LisaK is OK? she has been absent for a while.
Lorihandeland on 17 Jul 2009 at 2:16 pm #
Yep. We’re all running madly around the conf.
I did just see goddeses Julia, Madeline and Rachel at the rita reception
I’m doing all my typing on my new iPhone so forgive my typos.
Jamie on 17 Jul 2009 at 3:03 pm #
I look forward to my vacation with my buddies. Every year it is a different place, but I love hanging out with them. I also look forward to summers after a LONG COLD WINTER. There are lots of things I look forward to — like going home after working all day. BUT – the thing I look forward the most is that vacation with the buds. Belong on Karen’s blog, I wrote some of the things we do together.
I am SOO happy you and the other Goddesses are having fun! Can’t wait to see more pictures!
freshechelle on 17 Jul 2009 at 5:13 pm #
Ellen I meant to close my comment with a warm welcome back but forgot. I too was worrying about what had become of you. Glad to you’re back among friends! Hope all is well.
Janae on 17 Jul 2009 at 5:56 pm #
I look forward to bedtime each and every day – for my kids that is.:) I love how the house gets quiet, and I can think without being interrupted. They know that if they get out of bed, the house is on fire; or they get fined $1 the first time, $5 the second, and $10 the third time. Let me just say that they has never been a fourth time.:D
Other things I look forward to – October because September is crazy with all the BTS stuff. If I lived someplace where there a seasons, I’d be looking forward to fall. The air is crisp in the morning and evenings with the afternoons just hitting the right temps. Instead I live in LA, where I can expect icky air from fires.
I look forward to Christmas vacation because it means I can stay in pjs all day if I want to. I look forward to summer because it means going to the beach on hot days.
Patricia Barraclough on 17 Jul 2009 at 10:59 pm #
I always look forward to the trip my husband and I take. We usually take 2 to 3 weeks in September. This year we have an Air Force reunion in Ft. Worth, TX. My husband and son will be at a blacksmith conference in Ohio the last weekend of Sept. I’ll meet them there and my husband and I will head for OK to visit my Aunt. We check out the history and nature of the areas we visit and there are a lot of american history and civil wars sites to check out. We’ll head to Ft. Worth, then down to the San Antonio area for a week. We never know what we will decide on, but we have revisited some areas and have a list of a bunch we haven’t yet seen.
Pesky on 18 Jul 2009 at 12:02 am #
Anyone else look forward to the first really snowy day that you can sit inside and watch the snow fall with a mug of hot chocolate in your hands?
Lorihandeland on 18 Jul 2009 at 3:50 am #
I look forwarD to the change in seasons too. Not a wild fan of snow but I do like the very first big fluffy snow day.