I saw this on a few authors’ blogs and thought it was cool, so I gave it a try. I used some main words from my blurb on the Vampire Oracle: Harmony (coming out on August 1, 2008 from Cobblestone Press) Very fun!

I’m so excited! There are 27 days until I leave for Nationals.

I have so much to do between now and then, but I know it will go fast. It will be my first time leaving my family for 5 nights to go somewhere on my own. Dh has worked away from home for a few months at a time, but the most I’ve been gone is 3 nights and dh was with me (that was only this past May, so a year of firsts for me).

Nationals is the Romance Writers Association’s BIG yearly conference. This year it is in San Francisco and that’s as close as it’s going to get to me for quite a few years to come. Maybe one day they’ll host it in Seattle so that I can drive, but in the mean time this is a great chance for me to go and check it out. I even found a decent airfare (which was getting dicey, I might add, it was over $500 for the longest time then finally dropped).

I was lucky enough to win my conference fee paid (I had to write an essay and was one of three winners) from Romantic Inks – thank you to Haven and all the ladies there. I will be sharing a room in the conference hotel with two Divas. I’ve never met them, but judging from their personalities online we are going to get along just fine. Hopefully they feel the same! LOL

I bought a new dress for the awards night. Although, I haven’t technically decided if I will wear it. It’s a little shorter than I would normally go (not too short, but I don’t have great legs and I thought it was tea length – that’s what you get for buying on eBay, but it is brand new and gorgeous anyway). It is a Marilyn Monroe style halter dress in a rich brown, and I have a nice black wrap that I can pair with it. Now I need the perfect shoes. That’s harder. I am not a shoe person and I don’t want anything too high, but they need to be just right for this dress. So, now I’m thinking I will just wear my little black dress because it’s easier. We will see. I will take both and see how daring I am.

I’m going away – lol – did I mention I’m excited? All adults for six days. My Divas. Authors that I’ve only spoken with online, as well as some I’ve never met, but plan on worshipping from afar. Others that I’ve planned to meet for a cocktail. And agents and editors who I hope to pitch to. If I can find a dignified way to do it – selling myself (or anything) has never been that easy for me.

Lastly – there’ll be books. Lots of books. And I me some books. I promise you that not one book given to me will end up in a bin. If I’m not interested in it then I’ll still bring it back and give it away to a friend who is. Or perhaps I’ll do a giveaway right here. Books should never be wasted.