RT 2010 Roundup

Oh, wow, okay, I'm back from the RT book lovers' convention in Columbus, which is a giant gathering of romance, fantasy, mystery, urban fantasy, thriller, erotica, and a few sci fi authors, plus readers and industry types...pictures!

One of my favorite parts of the convention was rooming with Lisabea (aka LB Gregg) We loved rooming together, or at least I loved it, and we agreed on almost everything except she wouldn't let me dental floss in bed.

I was so happy to meet friends I've known forever online, and make some new ones. Here's Mary, Nath, Jill D., and Kristie J.! We all met for lunch the day this was taken, and rendezvoused here and there throughout the convention. I also got to meet Angela of Dark Fairie Tales and Jackie of Literary Escapism. We huddled on some stairs for a while and chilled out and ate party food.

I shared a cab from the airport with the lovely Diana Rowland, author of everybody's favorite demon police procedurals. Diana brought along creepy doll, a scary, zombie-esque doll who freaked everybody out, and even showed up in Jackie Kessler's bed.

Here are Dakota Cassidy and Mark Henry being a zombie family! Don't buy the scary act: they are two of the funniest and warmest people I ever met. And Dakota won a Reviewers' Choice award for her wonderful Kiss & Hell. Yay Dakota! Another fellow leaguer, Michelle Rowen, won for Tall, Dark & Fangsome.

Ellora's Cave had a ball the first night, and the stage show was super racy, though I understand it was toned down from last year, and the party favors went right along with that. Exhibit one: the calendar that Jaye Wells is displaying here; I brought home mine as a gift for Chris. Also pictured: Kat Richardson and Mark Henry. Everybody in the League of Reluctant Adults really welcomed me and helped make the convention fun - those pictured on this post, as well as Nicole Peeler, Mario Acevedo, Jeanne Stein, Caitlin Kittridge, Michele Bardsley, Michele Rowen, and Jackie Kessler. As well as Heather Osborn.

Me signing a book! Okay, this is one I didn't take. Lisabea, did you send this to me? The signing was SO fun. I got to meet all kinds of new people, and people who'd read Mind Games (xxoo!!) or who'd been waiting for this con to pick up a copy (xxoo) You can't know what all that meant to me! Also, Keri Arthur stopped by and bought one of my books! I signed it for her. With a shaking and fawning hand.

At the fairy ball. Poor Mr. Romance 2009 thinks he's alone...little does he know,
five lovely and evil fairies have snuck up behind him.

Here is Lisabea/LB Gregg and me before the Fairy Ball. You wouldn't know we worked pretty hard on these costumes. We were sewing for like 30 minutes before the ball. My dress didn't quite work out, but I was the element of fire, and she was water. (That was the theme.) Somebody in the elevator called my dress a rag dress. Also, note that LB looks pregnant, whereas in real life, she is quite svelte. Get a good look at this picture; she'll make me take it down as soon as she sees it. Too late: cropped the picture. Sorry LB. Why didn't I do that in the first place? Will you still be my friend?

Oh, here we are in the elevator where my dress was impugned.


Miss author at her signing. Yay LB Gregg!

The lovely, talented, fun and RT award-winning Kate Davies sat across from me at the signing. She won a Reviewer's choice award for best contemporary for her fabulous book, Lessons Learned, two stories about royals and the Americans they fall in love with. I met so many authors, it would be hard to name them all. People were just so generous with their time, and welcoming me to do stuff, even though I'm a newbie and a stranger, and answering my questions, sharing their potato chips and on and on.

Oh, what is this? A book that I got that I am currently reading that is the BEST BOOK EVER and is also not available until May 25th, but I got this advanced copy in the goody room. OMG! So into it. HIS AT NIGHT by Sherry Thomas. Preorder now. You won't be sorry.

Here is Stacia Kane, author of the fabulous Megan Chase/Demon books reading something saucy to a hotel room of drunk and/or chocolate-fueled authors and others. Richelle Mead in the foreground with the excellent purse. Gah! Spacing on the name of the woman with the camera, dammit, and she was really nice. Update: mysterious and elusive camera woman is Renee George! Thanks for the tip, fellow leaguer STACIA KANE!

Here is Limecello and Ali at the fairy ball. Oh, wait, it's not them at the fairy ball! Limecello would not allow cameras near her, so you'll have to settle for these shots, that may look familiar to some of you. These two were fun.