I will be on my way to San Francisco for Nationals!

I am so excited and scared all at the same time.

Excited to meet my Divas, and so many of the authors that I chat with regularly online. Excited to learn more about writing and talk to editors and agents. Excited to stay in a nice hotel and have all adults to deal with for five days. Excited to dress up in fancy clothes. Excited to volunteer at both the literacy signing (as a cashier) and for editor/agent appointments. Just excited over all.

On the other hand I’m scared about pitching to an agent, scared I’ll say the wrong thing at the wrong time to… well, to anybody. Scared about leaving my family for five nights. My baby is only two. The longest I’ve ever left any of them, to date, was three nights earlier this year and I was with my husband. So now, I’m leaving all of them for five nights and it worries me. I know they’ll be fine, but it’s their last week of school and there are all sorts of activities that they need to get to and bring stuff to and… my anxiety builds. My daughter is just over a week away from being out of Kindergarten. My big guy will enter grade 4 in September. Technically, this is his last “primary” grade. Since my husband has to work (he’s self-employed and if he doesn’t work there is no income) we will have someone babysit for two of the days to help out. Which means I am relying on an outside party to take care of my kids and since I am normally home with them every day, this is new for us. Again, I know it will be fine, I just get worried about this stuff.

But mostly I’m excited. Not that you can tell from that previous paragraph, but really – I am.

The Romance Divas annual Not Going to Conference Conference will make you feel a bit less deprived! Amazing workshops, a star-studded guest list and awesome giveaways, all on the Diva forum! Don’t miss it!

Coordinated by Seeley deBorn!

Here’s a bit of a schedule update for the Q&As and Workshops…

Wednesday, July 30

Paula Guran, Editor, Juno Books
Q&A on Creating Kick a** Heroines

Laurie Rauch, Editor, Samhain Publishing
Workshop on What Happens After the Contract (aka Editors are People Too!)*

Thursday July 31

Joyce Hart, Hartline Literary
Q&A on Inspirational Romance Stories and the Inspy Market

Sandra Schwab, Historical Romance Author
Workshop on Historical Accuracy and Anachronisms

Friday, August 1

Yolanda Sfetsos, Author of Guarded by Stone
Q&A on Paranormal and Urban Fantasy World Building

Katie MacIver, KatieDidDesign
Workshop on Website Design and Color Selection

Saturday, August 2

Joey W. Hill, Erotica Author
Workshop on Plotting Erotica and Erotic Romance

Rhonda Stapleton, Editor and Author
Workshop on Style and Voice

How about if I list some door prizes?

• What Gwen said” mug donated by Gwen Hayes
• 3-chapter critique of a YA by Simon Pulse author Rhonda Stapleton
• 3-chapter critique of a YA, chick lit, or rom com by Golden Heart Finalist Amanda Brice
• An ebook of your choice from Nell Dixon’s backlist
• An ebook of either Second Sight (paranormal romance) or Dragons’ Choice (fantasy romance – dragon-shifters) from Debbie Mumford
• Ten dollar Amazon gift certificate from Jodi Henley
• Lush stuff from Seeley deBorne
• e-book copy of Chasing Shadows from Erin Richards
• Paperback copy of Iron Horse Rider OR Smiling Eyes from Adelle Laudan
• Book thongs from Angeleque Ford
• 3 chapter critique from Sela Carsen
• winner’s choice of ebook copy of “Not Quite Dead” or “Heart of the Sea” by Sela Carson
• e-book copy of HEATWAVE by Eden Bradley
• e-book copy of BREAKING SKYE by Eden Bradley
• a box of goodies, trade and paperbacks, bath products candles, etc… All for a fun and relaxing home spa day treat. courtesy of The Midnight Moon Cafe
• 1 download each of Natasha Moore’s Samhain books, The Ride of Her LIfe and The Passion-Minded Professor
• a copy of “Painted Soul” by Mary Quast
• e-book copy of HER CINDERELLA COMPLEX by Jenna Bayley-Burke – Samhain
• e-book copy of PAR FOR THE COURSE by Jenna Bayley-Burke – Samhain
• e-book copy of FOUND by Jenna Bayley-Burke – Wild Rose Press
• e-book copy of NIGHT OF INSPIRATION by Jenna Allen – Phaze
• e-book copy of ON AGAIN by Jenna Allen – Phaze
• $10 gc to Amazon from Kendal Corbitt
• ebook Vampire Oracle: Harmony by MG Braden

Plus a lovely bar of wonderful Chagrin Valley hand made soap, Caramel Pralines jar candle, handmade jewelry, Tarot readings, a Lush box for European Divas/Dudes, a $10 fictionwise gc and much more!

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.

Me – that’s who! I was recently notified that I won a registration scholarship. That means my conference fee is paid. I just need to pay for my flight, hotel and other stuff. And that’s ok, because that’s all arranged. I was just worried about the conference fee. Woohooo! I am so excited.

Can you tell?

Who’s joining me? Stop by and let me know if you’re going. If so, maybe we can arrange to meet up.

Well, it’s more than likely I do. I will be working my butt off and applying for scholarships wherever I can.

In the meantime Romantic Inks is holding an auction to raise money to help support an author or author(s) (I’m assuming it depends on how well the auction does) in their conferences fees. See details below:

**permission to forward**
Charity Silent Auction on Romantic Inks
Did Santa leave you cold? Romantic Inks has just the thing to warm you up!

RI is going to help send some lucky aspiring author to the 2008 RWA Conference and we’re looking for your support! For our Silent Auction we’re offering fabulous books including books from many genres, critiques from authors who will make your toes curl, web designs and even promotional space. Take a look at the list we have…
Romantic Inks Auction

Bidding begins January 20th!