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by Lynne Connolly

Since Syb has done her bit, I thought I’d add my mite.

Main reason—expense. I live in the UK, so I can only afford one US conference a year. So I go to RT. Lots of reasons for that—more below.

I’m not a member of the RWA. I belong to the RNA (the UK Romantic Novelists’ Association). I was a member of the RWA, but I didn’t get enough out of it. Only because I live abroad. If I lived in the US, hell yeah, I’d be a member. Even though the RWA has snubbed me twice, and my fellow authors. It’s not personal. But first, ebooks aren’t good enough for them. If you write ebooks, you don’t count. You can, by earning $1000 join PRO, and I do that with most of my releases, but before that stipulation, it used to be by publisher. Secondly, they don’t like writers of erotic romance. My paranormals are of the erotic variety. I’d still be a member, though.

I get a great deal from the RNA, the local chapters and the national conference (which was earlier this month and was totally awesome). Unlike the RWA, you only have to be published by a royalty or advance paying publisher, and to contribute nothing towards publication to join. And there’s the totally awesome New Writers scheme, where unpublished members can present a full manuscript to the RNA and get it critiqued. If the RNA thinks it’s good enough, they’ll even submit it to a suitable publisher for you.

Anyway, back to the RWA. My main reason for visiting the USA is to promote my books, and catch up with friends. I wish it could be different, I wish I earned Rowling-money so I could visit when I wanted, but I can’t. And Romantic Times is far better at the reader-meets-author thing. It really is. They have two big signings during the conference and many readers come to party with the authors and publishers and booksellers. That conference has done a lot to further my career. I’ve met people who have helped me, and I’ve been able to meet people face to face. Although I’m not the greatest socialiser in the world (most writers aren’t) I do need to get away from the laptop from time to time.

The RWA conference looks like a blast, and I have a friend who’s popped over to give it a whirl. Others have visited, and one day I’ll go. Just to see what it’s like. And oh, San Francisco! I’ve never been, and I’d love to go. And at Nationals, Mary Jo Putney might not have stopped me in the lift because she recognised me. Oh wow, I squeed all the way to my room. Sorry, I was so ultra-cool when I met her, but I still squeed later.

Lynne Connolly

syb note: I will enter comments here into the ‘betcha contest‘ too