So last week I attended my very first Romantic Times Booklovers Convention.

For years, I’d heard to expect a lot of wild fun, and wow, was it true. The RT attendees do like to party! I only poked my head in the Faery Costume Ball, but I got down at the Vampire Ball (my dinner companion that night was one of the male romance novel cover models, who was truly charming and had an interesting day job as a bigwig in hotel management.)

The convention wasn’t all play, however, since they also devoted many hours to professional tracks. Every day was packed with different workshops and panel discussions for readers, unpublished authors, published authors, booksellers, publishers, and the press. And since it was RT’s 25th anniversary, they pulled out all the stops.

I don’t have any pics yet, but if you want to check it out, here are links to videos and blogs with great shots and descriptions of the convention, plus the latest issue of the RT e-newsletter by publisher Carol Stacy. (And in case you’re interested, the next RT Booklovers Convention will be in Orlando next year so start planning your costumes early - go to romantictimes.com for info.)

RT Booklovers Convention

RT Publisher’s Newsletter
 
I had a great time and was busy every minute. I hung with my long-time writer and reader friends and got to meet lots of people I’d only known through e-mail and publicity (including our fellow goddess Charina, who is beautiful and loads of fun.) I gave a workshop on writing love scenes (wonder why they asked me?) and participated in a panel on Regency historicals. And I was honored to receive the 2007 Career Achievement Award for Historical Romance.

I was even more thrilled when at the Friday awards luncheon, they recognized some of the dinosaurs — er, long-time writers — who started their careers in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s — as Pioneers of Romance, and they included me.  It was amazing to be up on stage in front of 1200 people in the romance industry with the likes of such legends as Jennifer Blake, Roberta Gellis, Beatrice Small, Mary Balogh, and Mary Jo Putney.

Then at the huge book fair on Saturday, I snagged a signed copy of Mary Balogh’s latest for my mother, since Mary is my mom’s fave author. And Cathy Maxwell asked me for a signed copy of a Nicole Jordan book for her mom, since she says I’m her mom’s fave author, which tickled me greatly.

But to bring my ego down to size, at the awards luncheon, one leg hem of the expensive pantsuit I bought just for the occasion fell out ten minutes before I had to go up on stage to make an acceptance speech. Panic nearly ensued, but thankfully one of the authors at our table had some promo buttons/pins, so I was able to pin up my hem with her buttons before I killed myself climbing the stage stairs wearing heels for the first time in over a year.

So my question today is:

Have you had any clothing disasters or near disasters happen to you?  Were you able to salvage the moment using promo buttons or something else?

37 Comments »

After six months of diet and wogging, I’ve lost the 25 pounds Jack London made me gain by whining for full meals. He knows he did it. He’s had to pay for it by eating stuff like edamame and butternut squash.

So the good news is, I get to buy some new clothes! I followed someone’s advice and got rid of everything that didn’t fit-no saving that favorite pair of shorts in case I gain weight. If I gain weight, I will have to lose or buy new. Hoo-ray! Buy new!

I did a little shopping last week-couldn’t wait-but I was really disappointed. First, its already hot here, so all the little sweatery-things they put out for spring are not appropriate. Second, all the handbags have short handles (I know, not exactly new clothes, but I can’t help my handbag problem). I hate those short handles. And third, all the summer dresses come in one length (short) and one style (looks better on your three year old than a grown woman).

I ask you, what is up with the dresses? I’m all for dresses - I love them in the summer. But there is only so much of my leg people should have to see. Who are the people who wear these skimpy baby doll dresses? There must be squads of them because they’ve made enough of those dresses to outfit a small female nation. All I am asking for is a dress that comes to the knee. Preferably mid-knee. Is that too much to ask? In other news, I am loving the shoes this season!

I came home with a pair of shorts that fit, a new, fancy pair of flip-flops (my uniform) and some shoes for a nightlife I don’t really have, but will be prepared for in the event. If anyone knows where one can buy skirts or dresses in size grown-up, please let me know.

What’s your spring fashion fave? Your spring fashion disappointment?

46 Comments »

I read an article recently that said your morning ritual says more about you than any other thing you do. That’s a wee bit far fetched, but the article got me to thinking . . . I mean, the way you start your day is bound to indicate a little about your personality.

A little.

For fun, I thought we’d see if this interesting theory works for our group here.

According to the article, if you shower, dress, and primp BEFORE you eat, then you’re an A — which is the kinda gal who finds order peaceful and enjoys time just with herself and her special peeps first thing in the morning.

Sort of an Oatmeal Traditionalist, if you will, all about comfort and snuggly mornings.

On the other hand, if you eat FIRST, dressed in your robe or jammies or what not, AND THEN prepare for work, then you’re a B — which is the kinda gal who is social and more group oriented.

We’ll call you the Eggs Over Easy because you’re willing to come to the table sans make-up and even shaving just to join the group and share your sparkling personality.

If you mix it up and SOMETIMES DO ONE OR THE OTHER, then you’re a C — which is the kind gal who likes to go with the flow and is comfortable in either a group or with just you and your special peeps.

We’ll call you all the Granola Greats because you’re spontaneous and willing to try different things.

I find that I’m an Eggs Over Easy gal. I get up, toss on my robe, and fix breakfast for whoever is staying in my house. I’m no Betty Crocker, but I love having the morning meal with my family, watching the morning news together and chatting about our coming day. It’s the highlight of my entire day. Personality wise, I guess that does sorta sums me up — I’m group oriented.

So, what was your morning ritual this morning? Is it the norm? Are you an Oatmeal Traditionalist? An Eggs Over Easy gal? Or a Granola Great sorta free spirit?

72 Comments »

That’s right. I was on a team in college. You didn’t think I had it in me, did you? Here’s how it happened.

I went to a party in the guys’ dorm. Now, now, let’s keep it clean, shall we? Anyway, I was at this party and this guy starts talking to me and it turns out that he’s on the freshman crew. Because I’m on the smallish side (my nickname as a kid was alternately Squirt or Shorty), he thought I’d make a good coxswain.

Will you please get your minds out of the gutter, ladies?

Naturally, I’m full of questions, the first of which is to ask what a coxswain is. (Pronounced coc-sun.) He explains that it’s the person who sits in the stern (that’s the back) of those long, skinny boats with all the oars. The coxswain is in charge of the boat, makes all the decisions, tells the rowers what to do, and steers. Being in charge of eight, twenty year old men? I can do that.

I get the job. It’s not exactly a walk in the park, or a row on the lake, for that matter. First of all, being the lone woman in charge of testosterone-filled jocks is, to put it mildly, a challenge. The way a crew works is that, because the shell (the boat) is so long and so fragile, because the oars are so long and so deadly, because no one can see anything but the coxswain, the coxswain is in complete control of everything. The rowers aren’t even allowed to touch the boat to take it out of the boathouse without the coxswain’s command. That particular command is, “Hands on.”

Gutter, ladies, gutter.

They lay their hands on and then it’s, “Ready, up” and up and up it goes, way up over their heads. Yeah.

And on and on until the boat is in the water, which is quite a task since this boat is not light and is very unwieldy. Rowers have to be very strong, their bodies covered in muscle, lots of muscle. You get the idea, right? Ahem.

The coxswain’s job is to tell the rowers how to row, to tell the rowers where they are in comparison to everyone else in the race, to time the strokes with a special stopwatch tied to her leg, and to steer. What all this means is that the coxswain is explaining, shouting, exhorting throughout the 2000 meter race.

I was so right for that job.

The seats are numbered, which means the rowers are numbered. The guy in the bow is One, the guy in the next seat is Two, the both of them together are the Bow Pair. The seat closest to the coxswain, facing her, is seat Eight. His oar is to port and he is called The Stroke.

Okay, I give up on trying to keep this clean and wholesome.

From the vantage point of the coxswain, the only head I should see is the Stroke’s. If I can see Six’s face, we’re dipping. Six gets yelled at from me for that. I told you I was right for this job.

The oars all have to enter at the exact same moment, at the exact same angle of entry. This is called The Catch.

All the oars have to leave the water at the exact same instant. This is called The Release. In and out, in perfect rhythm, based on my commands.

I can hear you laughing. I feel so dirty all of a sudden.

There are weight limits for the entire boat, which means there are weigh-ins at the race. The crew gets weighed in order, from bow to coxswain, and because we’re dealing with twenty year old jocks…well, one story sticks out in my mind. The guys, all eight of them, stepped out of their shorts and t-shirts and stood there in their jock straps to get weighed. Ha ha. Very funny.

I kept my clothes on. I told you this was a clean story.

I have so many stories about my life as a coxswain. I’ll post another tomorrow, but in the meantime, is there something you’ve done that was out of your comfort zone, that once you did it, you realized that you were better and stronger than you thought you were?

70 Comments »

I have decided that there are two kinds of television shows. Not dramas and comedies, but those with mass appeal and those for a more…specialized audience. Or a more limited audience. The kind of audience which signals that the show won’t be on the air all that long – just long enough, in fact, for me to get hooked on it.

Yes, I enjoy The Office and Doctor Who and I was a big fan of Friends and Magnum, PI. They had (or are having) long, healthy runs with story lines that play out as they should.

But then there are those other shows that I just adore, and that I know can’t be long for this world. I loved Veronica Mars, which managed to survive for three seasons. I own the complete DVD set of The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr., a brilliantly funny western with a sci-fi influence. Speaking of western/sci-fi shows, I still mourn the swift death of Firefly, from which we at least got a movie.

I’ve become hooked on Burn Notice, which I think is actually returning for a second season..sometime. I enjoyed The Dresden Files, though I’ve finally come to accept that it won’t be returning for a second season. And I’m afraid for Moonlight, today’s version of Beauty & the Beast, because it has such a lousy time slot and I like it so much.

What show have you or do you truly enjoy that other people just don’t seem to get? Is there a television program you watched that suffered an early demise you don’t think it deserved?

59 Comments »

As an Army Brat, I lived a lot of places when I was growing up – six states plus two different cities in Europe.

 And as an adult I lived in five more states (and several locations in two of those.)

People sometimes pity me for having moved so much, but truthfully, I enjoyed it since I got to make new life-long friends and see great places and get a fresh start every so often. Although I confess, now that I am (ahem) a bit older and more staid in my ways, I’m glad to be settled (hopefully!) in one place for a while.

My fave places to live? I loved Atlanta because of the greenery and humidity (yes, I relish humidity because of what it does for my skin) and because many of my best friends are there. I also loved living in Cincinnati because it had four seasons, great equestrian options, and fun cultural stuff. And San Francisco for the great weather and fab sights to see.

As for visiting places, I’ve played tourist a lot in the U.S. But I haven’t seen even a fraction of what I’d like to see.. And I want to know what I’ve missed by having lived and visited so few places in my life *grin*. So please tell me, Goddesses:

91 Comments »

I come from a family of pranksters. My brothers tormented each other endlessly, and my dad used to regale us with tales of the pranks he and his buddies played on each other in college. Once in a while, even my mom would get in on the act.

But I lost my interest in pranking in 8th grade, after my two girlfriends and I pulled a truly spectacular stunt. We got mad at the boys in our class (I don’t even remember why), and decided to write them love notes signed “Your secret admirer.” We put a note in every guy’s locker. For a short while, they walked around with smug smiles on their faces, but it didn’t take them long to compare notes and figure out that they’d been had. They were furious.

It was great fun to watch … until the prank backfired. One of the boys didn’t get his note (it fell behind a piece of paper wedged in his locker) and the other guys started speculating that HE’D sent the notes. We felt awful about it! With all of them so mad, we weren’t about to fess up, but that did put an end to my prankstering.

What about you? Are you a prankster? Have you ever unscrewed the tops of salt shakers or made joke phone calls? What was the craziest prank you ever saw or were a part of? And have you ever had a prank backfire on you?

36 Comments »

Jack London and I try to be as green as we can. We have all the new curly-que lightbulbs, the energy efficient air filters, and we follow the guidelines for water consumption. We walk where we can instead of drive (although walking to shops and restaurants is really very difficult in suburban America—a real pet peeve of mine).

We could do more, but we are conscious of the need to be green, and we are working on it.

The one place we can’t seem to get on board is the grocery store. Yes, we understand plastic is bad. But look at the chick in the picture. She has ONE tote bag, the sort of bag you get at RWA conventions, and we are to believe she has her week’s worth of groceries in that bag. What planet does she live on?

Okay, granted, maybe we eat too much, but with a baby, dogs, and two grownups who try and eat fresh and healthy (down 21 pounds, thank you very much) we can fill up a cart in no time—bottom and top. And as we wait for the bagger kid to sack it all up, we look at women strutting in with their two or three green bags.  And then then we look at the dozens of little plastic bags filling out cart. How does the math work on that? How many canvas bags would we need to haul our grocery load each week? It seems like dozens, and I have to admit—it’s embarrassing.

You might be thinking we should cut down on the number of groceries we consume each week, and you’d be right. If Jack London gave up his chips and the ingredients for his special salsa that no one else will eat because its too hot, and his beer and—get this, I swear it’s true—his SNOBALLS, not only wouldwe save money, we would not need so many plastic bags.  But he thinks that I should give up the dove dark chocolate (because he’s a rube), and the weight watchers giant fudge bars (he can just bite me).   So, since he won’t listen to reason, we are stuck in plastic bag land.

What do you do to be green? Do you use a canvas bag to carry your groceries? What is your one must-have item from the grocery store each week?

68 Comments »

My nephew loves insects. Bugs. Six-legged arthropods. Little antenna wigglers. I do not like bugs. Butterflies, okay. Ladybugs, I can tolerate as long as they fly away home.

But as I said, the six-year-old loves the buggies. When he was younger he would lay on the grass and hang his tongue out of his mouth – playing dead in the hope that flies would gather and he could catch them. And so I wash out my peanut jars and parmesan cheese containers and when he comes to visit me, we go on bug hunts. I’ve had to catch grasshoppers in my bare hands. Tell me, is that green stuff that always ends up on my hand vomit, or poo?

At home he’s raising grubs that turn into beetles, caterpillars that turn into butterflies, ants who farm, and he has various “habitats” for grasshoppers and flies and moths. He calls it “The Bug Zoo”. And I ooh and ahh over the ugly little beady-eyed ickies and hope they never get loose in the house.

Now even when I was a kid, I didn’t like bugs. But man oh man, could I ever name every dinosaur. Do all kids go through this phase of obsessing over something? Is it just boys who love bugs? What was your “thing” when you were small?

30 Comments »

I suspect that tomorrow’s FROS blog will feature some lovely Easter hunks. In a preemptive strike, here are a few of MY favorite Easter hunks – of chocolate. And sugar, and marshmallow.

Yes, I believe I’ve mentioned my chocolate addiction. My favorite holidays are therefore Halloween, Easter, and Eat-a-Pound-of-Chocolate Day. Unfortunately, it is my understanding that EaPoCD was discontinued in 1951 due to health concerns and having an unpronounceable acronym. Halloween and Easter, though, seem fairly well entrenched.

So come on, ‘fess up. Do you eat Peeps? Have you made off with your kids’ chocolate bunnies? Do you start with the ears? What about those Jelly-Bellies? And those hard sugar eggs with the little scene of spring inside?

52 Comments »