Draggin' in Dallas

Got back from Atlanta yesterday about 3:30 - ate and went promptly to sleep. You have to understand, I am one of those asleep by 10:00pm, extraordinarily boring people who don't party and I just spent a solid week - seven full nights - where I didn't even see a bed until 1:00am or worse. Then it was back up at 6:00am every morning for a new round of excitement.

This was by far my best conference yet. Of course, I've sold a book so that makes it different, but this time I also met the most fun people in the world and have a new set of fabulous friends. I met my editor, who is soooooo nice and smart and sweet, and I am ridiculously happy to be working with her. I met with my agent several times and we plotted and planned career opportunities and ideas.

And all of this was usually done over drinks. I am fairly sure the Coors Light warehouse has experienced a drop in inventory since I showed up in Atlanta.

So now I'm back home, back in the office and trying desperately to remember the laundry list of things I have to do - not to mention the actual laundry I have to do. I'm sure I'll think of it all as I go along.

More tomorrow when I've gotten more sleep and can think in compound sentences.

What day is it in Atlanta?

Okay, I lost track of days. What the heck happened? Oh yeah, it's that whole having a great time thing. :)

So since last we talked, I've met with my editor and found out great things about my book - which aren't for public knowledge, so sorry, but I couldn't help but tease. My editor, Leah Hultenschmidt, is so nice and cute and wonderful and I am SOOOOOO happy to be working with her! (see how cute she is)

I went to the Dorchester dinner last night (my first official publisher party - YEA!) and had a blast. Met cool people like Gemma Halliday, who's first book, Spying in High Heels releases August 1st! She's one of the official Dorchester "mystery hybrid" girls, so if you like your reading with a cool blend of genres, check her out.

Attended a couple of helpful workshops and am frantically plotting more marketing schemes with my friend Colleen Gleason. We're single-handedly going to figure out self-promotion if it kills us.

Every night included drinking somewhere but it's all a blur now. I'm fairly certain Coors Light has seen an increase in profit since I've arrived in Atlanta.

More later - the RITA's are tonight!

Day #3 in Atlanta

Day #3 was a blast! So many things happening. This blog might run a little long.

First off, here's a pic of me & Cindy with our new friends (Colleen's buddies). From the left Cindy, Kelly, Tammy, Holly, me & Colleen. I asked yesterday and someone's name is definitely spelled with an "i" but I've since forgotten who. Hey, we were in a bar when they told me. You don't have to remember things during karoake.

We started the day with breakfast, checking email and general lounging. I had lunch with my fabulous agent, Kristin Nelson, then headed back to the hotel for more gabbing and a short dip in the hot tub to relax. Then it was time to prepare for the book signing! Here are pics of some of my favorite authors. Me & Stephanie Bond (make note for husband to fix exposure) - me, Jacquie D'Alessandro & Cindy - me & Jennifer St. Giles - Nora Roberts, signing my book - Susan Elizabeth Phillips hearing that I absolute LOVE the foot file she recommended last year - SEP and I posing on well-manicured feet. :) FYI - I got a really cool Bond Girl t-shirt from Stephanie Bond!!! Whoohoo!!! Will try to remember picture later.

Then it was off for a night of fun with our new friends and the Wet Noodle Posse. We went to a sorta pub/bar (served fantastic food) but also had karoake!!! The place was small (about the size of a large garage and had waaaayyyy too many good singers for us to buy it. Turns out we're in the middle of the art's district and most of them are local performers. We had a blast! Check out the photo of the Wet Noodle Posse in action. And NO, I do not sing! Finally hailed cabs about 1:00 am and went back to hotel to collapse.

Still forgot to get picture with pink "First Sale" ribbon. Will try for tomorrow!

More on Thursday!

Day #2 (continued)

Day 2 finished up fabulously! I met my great friends Diana Peterfreund and Colleen Gleason for late lunch. We had awesome seafood, champagne and incredible desserts. This is a picture of us with the champagne about to toast Wendy & Elly (the two non-Bombs who couldn't make conference), my sale, Colleen's sale and Diana's launch last week. It was a great time. We were there for about three hours gabbing and catching up and eating, did I mention the food? We had the works and shared everything for a sampling. Atlanta is definitely going all right in the seafood department (says the girl from Louisiana - so that does carry some weight!) Check out the desserts.

Notice Colleen's t-shirt in the dessert picture? That's an advertisement for her debut novel coming January 2nd. Check out the back - it is way cool!

After hours at lunch, we headed back for the hotel for our next appointments - well, Colleen and Diana had appointments. :) I ran into Cindy in the lobby and we ran into my incredible agent, Kristin, shortly after. Which, of course, resulted in drinks in the bar. Then when Kristin had to leave Cindy and I ran into Colleen again and met her best buds Tammy, Holly and Kelly. (I hope the spelling is right, guys - I gave you all a "y") :) They were all a lot of fun and we sat around drinking till almost midnight!

The only patch of uhoh all day was at registration when I didn't get my pink ribbon in my name tag kit. For those of you unfamiliar with RWA conference, the pink ribbons says and denotes a "First Sale" and is the primary reason debut authors pay a lot of money. There could have been a throw-down over this one, but it was easily solved by me showing proof of my sale (I brought cover flats) and the women at registration finding the box of pink ribbons. I will get a picture of me wearing the ribbon sometime today and post that later.

Oh well, off for now - must mingle!