What I Learned at RT This Year
1) I am no longer twenty-one and can’t recover from a night of debauchery as quickly as I used to.
2) I talk a hell of a lot.
3) Authors, readers, book sellers, and bloggers are all equally hysterical, kind, smart, and fun.
4) The famous BBQ of Kansas City does not include a lot of vegetarian options.
5) I need to learn how to pack better.
6) Signing books for fans makes me blush and tear up.
7) If you visit Kansas City in May, do not be surprised to see snow.
8) I will never read all the books I want to, and my TBR list is competing in size with the Eiffel Tower.
9) You can’t be in two class sessions at once and will always be forced to miss something you wanted to go to.
10) My author-heroes are incredibly generous, kind, and fairly normal. Note the ‘fairly’ part of that—you can’t write an amazingly tortured hero without being a bit ‘off’. Ha
11) I need to figure out how to take a decent picture on my phone 'cause almost all of them are blurry and dark. Grrr. Scroll down to see the only ones that came out. :(
12) The people who go to RT are so frigging great. So if you're great, then you need to be in New Orleans next year.
This was the first year I went to RT as a published author. It was a very different experience from 2012–equally enjoyable but very different. Last year, I went as an ‘aspiring author'. Although thanks to Joe Konrath, the ‘aspiring' part of my nametag was blacked out. I really enjoyed that moment and the advice that came with it. Because a month later, I was published.
This year I went into the conference thinking that I should behave myself, be professional and cool. That idea died shortly after my plane landed, and I spent the rest of the week being myself. That is the beauty of RT–people are themselves. Regardless of what they do, where they're from, or how famous they are, everyone is there to celebrate books and romance. And hot fictional men, of course. We all share the same obsession and understand each other in a way our families rarely do. We can talk and laugh until the wee hours of the morning or strike up an intensely intimate (but really loud) conversation with complete strangers because we aren't really strangers. Because we share a bond, a love, a passion.
The people I got to know this year are incredible. Truly incredible women (and a few incredible men) who I hope to keep in touch with via my new twitter addiction, and who I'd better see again next year. Thanks, all!
- Best workaholics ever. I think it was around 4 AM when this pic was taken.
I learned that Lauren Stewart is AMAZING and that making her laugh is one of the greatest feelings on the planet which then inspires you to do and say things you probably shouldn’t… *fingers crossed* I’m one of those people you want to stay in touch with because….well….restraining orders just aren’t a great way to kick things off….
Renee
i had a blast chatting with you. I was totally telling Kylie what a genuine person you are and we are both set to pimp the hell outta Hyde 3 when it is released!!!
Angie,
I was shocked to learn that you are even greater in person than you are via email. If I ever get you and Kylie in the same room, it may get ugly. And I don’t even swing that way. ;)
Lol <-- See, you're still making me laugh. And you are indeed someone I want to stay in touch with. Btw, it's not stalking if both parties are doing it. :)
Meeting Lauren at RT13 was one of the highlights of my trip.
Yup, those post-midnight work or in my case liming (hanging out) sessions on the Mezzanine level were the best :)
Looking fwd to catching up in NOLA