a.k.a. My unpopular opinion/Tis about me not you
a.k.a. I will share anyway cuz I rawk like that, a.k.a. this is so in sybilish you might want to stop reading NOW for fear of brain damage/migraine, a.k.a. gwen isn’t going to edit this into English (but will hopefully fix spelling & add links-HINT), a.k.a. I am prolly not even going to edit it (RUN), a.k.a. this shit is long and you aren’t gonna read it but I can point to it from now on when asked /end warnings
Otherwise known as the answer to…
PART IYou may or may not know but I went to RWA Dallas Conference last year. Why did I go? Well there were 2 huge ass big reasons I wanted to go:
- There were things I wanted to do for the blog that I thought the conference would help since I had decided to shift TGTBTU from a sole reader bitch board to more of a review blog.
- It was in Texas.
Easy whore be thy name sybil. ::shrug::
Now many a person has asked me if I would be in San Fran this year and I made the decision a while ago not to go. You have NO idea how happy that makes me because I wouldn’t be able to go @ this point in time (crappy shit here) and it would blow big ass chunks if I had signed up and paid. And I DO plan to go next year… so why didn’t I go this year? You don’t care you say? HA! I am gonna tells you anyway…
Last year was FAB. I had the best time and was able to do tons I wanted to for the blog. I was sharing a room with Jane of Dear Author, who I was lucky enough to have helping me with the blog at the time because we were both in something of the same place of changing a mind set of what we wanted to do with our blogs vs. what we first started with. (It is her post here that made me think “coolio I can post about this in public”.)
I asked her, at the time last year, if she would mind more roommates, selfish reasons mind you cuz I had no clue how much much this was gonna cost me and a 4-way split rocks more than a 2-way. What? Sybsisnottehlawyerbabe. Who did I want to invite – again had a thought and selfish motive behind it (almost EVERYTHING I do does – yes, the blog has changed but it is still all about me me me to a point and my interest – I suck like that).
KristieJ had (at the time) recently lost her husband, had her first vacation trip in a while cancel on her and I often heard say – one day I am going to write a book. RWA is for writers. Are they all published? NOPE. Do you HAVE to be a member to publish? Nope. But I think many a person can say RWA helped them greatly move from wanna-be-someday-writer to published STAR! So all those factors made me say a flippant comment to KristieJ one day about joining our ‘lil RWA-Blogger-Train.
I was going, Jane of Dear Author was going, and the SmartBitches, so I knew/thought/assumed (in syb’s IKNOWALLFASHION) that KristieJ wouldn’t feel left out. I had seriously hoped she would go to some of the workshops and it might push her to write that someday book. Yes people, sybs is a buzy body. I suck like that too sorry.
Once she signed onto the lurvetrain, I also stuck my nose into biz and contacted a friend I knew KristieJ would die to meet. Why? Because I could, have no issue with being told “no” (HA! I made myself giggle – really I hate being told no – it irks me but if by friends I get over it 😉 ). I forget what Wendy said/posted/emailed/blogged that made me again say a flippant ‘come to Dallas’. Her response, IIRC, “Were you serious?”
I emailed Jane “Am I serious?” and she shrugged [while no doubt thinking “goddamnit sybil stop putting so many people in the room”. I am a pushy lil duck – sort of. As Gwen sez, one must learn to tell Sybil “NO” or she will have you doing WAY more shit than you can. This is true. OCD be thy name and a lesson Gwen learned the hard way *eg* yes and I ramble but I like to think of it as ‘SIDENOTE’.] Long story short (too late) Jane was all sure, fine, whatever….
Why did I think Wendy should go? (Yes, once again there was reason behind my madness.) At the time THE WENDY was not at all apart of TGTBTU, her blog isn’t (wasn’t?) anything other than a reader blog. Of course, it is one of THE reader blogs, as in we all would not be here without Rosario, Wendy and McVane (a.k.a. THE Maili) (who I so hope touches base someday or at least fucking tells me what the fuck name she is posting under these days). And I, selfishly (yes, yes, yes I am – I admit it – I know I shouldn’t – too lazy/seenoreason/amnotstoopid, a.k.a. why hide the obvious), wanted to meet THE WENDY (oddly I had no designs to put her to work at TGTBTU @ that time, came later 😉) but I was thinking she should go cuz of her job. It would be fab for us, the romance reader, even RWA sees that as they have a day just FOR the wendy’s of the world.
And BAM! our room was born (at least in my mind who the hell knows what they were thinking).
PART II
Some point during the conference I started to think “FUCK we are presenting this wrong…” because so many reader bloggers started to make noise about coming next year (this year) and I said so to Jane… who I think/thought (might-still-I-haven’t-asked) I was being my normal vain self and was saying “le gasp we won’t be TEH SPECIAL anymore” and she was of the mindset that any and all readers should be welcome. We are paying so have just as much right to be there.
I didn’t agree. (Jane and I OFTEN disagree, her coolness with that was always the thing I luv.) I think the highest of INTERNET MEDIA. I think if you are a blog that reports on the industry, does things to promote romance or aim too, you should be there if you can be.
My thought is the RWA Conference is not a fan event. The book signing, yes – the rest, not so much. I don’t see how having ‘star gawkers’ wouldn’t be distracting for authors. And most of all, holy hell, it is expensive, so it doesn’t make sense in my head as a fan get together. And I don’t get that type of ‘fangrrlish behavior’ that would make people travel just to meet THEIR FAVORITE AUTHORS EVAH. (I am not saying any reader blogger there is there for these reasons – haven’t asked – don’t know.)
Again… I AM NOT SAYING ANY READER AT THE CONFERENCE IS A BAD PERSON. I AM NOT SAYING THEY ARE DOING THE WRONG THING. I am not even saying they will cause a problem. I have seen MANY authors be all for them being there but in my normal selfish way IF there is fall out from having reader blogger there (with no author aspirations or a blog that is geared toward reporting on the Romance Industry), I didn’t want to be guilty by association. See? All about me…
Dear Author and Smart Bitches (in my ‘lil no one agrees with me opinion) SHOULD BE THERE. In my mind they are JUST as much members of the press as any fucking one else. And THAT is why I am still so not amused RWA said they weren’t (for all I know that has changed by now, couldn’t say). But this is the first year (I think) fans have gone in such numbers, so I don’t think RWA has/had a way to qualify who would be ‘internet press’. And maybe they got stars in their eyes and saw coin. Not sure… I plan to follow up with them after the conference. Again that is NOT a dig at RWA, as I think the organization, while flawed, RAWKS SOCKS. They do a fucking fab thing for romance writers.
So what do I mean?
A perfect example is katiebabs (co-blogger with the fab KristieJ), when she first said she was going, I thought she was going as a reader fan. When the ever smart LLB saw the window to have her report for All About Romance, and I think Katiebabs works for All About Romance in a publisher contact way once she stopped reviewing for them. Again I think – could be wrong – too lazy to check… So iIMHO (just me) Katiebabs now SHOULD be there as she was ‘internet press’.
Does that make sense as to what I was thinking? If not… situation normal *g*.
But the RWA Conference in my ‘lil mind is for writers (published or would-bes) NOT a fan event. Jane’s thought was I over think shit (I do), readers belong everywhere, their money spends just as well, you are no better than anyone else sybil (which wasn’t my point) and other thoughts I forget now.
So when we got back, Jane was allllllllllllll over planning for the next one. Jane is THE awesome and so organized it is sick. I? Not so much. And you may have noticed I tend to take on too much, over think (see above), distract EASY and can’t make a decision to save my fucking life. So when she started making plans in AUG 2007 for this year… ::dies:: I was like “you are on crack.”
None of this is secret ;). But my unease grew with more and more reader bloggers deciding to go. And, le sigh, I felt guilt because I am like that and thought we might have presented it in a star gawker way. Jane did a lot of twittering and reporting. I did mostly behind the scenes stuff, setting up guest days, contests, making contacts and pimping out the Romantic Advances (le sigh, again, another post which makes me ashamed). That means you, our reader here @ TGTBTU [HA! as if anyone is still reading this ramble] didn’t see why I was there so maybe I looked like a star gawker?
I went back and forth… there were things I wanted to do for the blog and I thought again “I should go…” “omg! san fran fucking coolio…” “omg! san fran too expensive for me to invest in a hobby blog…” and then RWA made their decision that unless an Internet outlet was tied to a MAJOR print or TV media they couldn’t apply for a press pass.
I have made no secret I HATE that decision (working on coming out of my shell and saying what I think – how I doing?) not because it means “no press pass for sybils” but because the volume of traffic in that thinking doesn’t compute. Tell me I can’t go because my numbers are not good enough. Tell me you don’t think TGTBTU does anything for the Romance Industry. Even tell me you I don’t belong, so if I want to go I have to pony up cash. DO NOT tell me I don’t ‘count’ because I am just internet media.
I have, and still will, argue that Smart Bitches and Dear Author reach more readers than what stoopidlyy counts as ‘true press’. Again, I know… most, if not all, don’t agree with me. ::shrug::
So that sealed the deal for me. In my mind, RWA told me Internet doesn’t count. Might not have been their point but that is what I heard. I hate being told “no” without an intelligent reason and saying “gosh a year isn’t enough time to figure out how to understand (or attempt to figure out) how to measure traffic” smacks of greed, laziness and I thought a clear message of “readers not wanted”.
And most of all I am a bad, bad, bad, suckyass fan. I admit that… I am NOT a good fangrrl. I can love an author to pieces and still not like a book they write. Ask me my opinion – regardless if I think you want it, agree with it or if it will piss you off – ask, I tell. Hell, don’t ask and I tell. Blogger be thy name.
PART III (a.k.a. syb gets to her point – sort of)
So what do I think now, for those of you seriously bored and still here *g*.
- I still don’t think the RWA Conference (as I saw it last year) is worth the coin for readers to go.
- I have NO clue if they [the readers] will prove to be a distraction to the point of the conference for writers, and if they do, I think that is bad, bad, bad, bad for them to be there. Cuz I am greedy and I want the conference to be for writers so they can write me nifty books to read.
- I LOVE the idea of a reader blogger event with authors cuz I think that idea rocks socks. Someone should make that happen.
- I plan to try and attend one of the ‘reader’ events in 2009. Haven’t decided which one… either RAW or Lori Foster’s thing… unless something else comes up and that could be a possible too *g*
- I think if RWA wants the conference to welcome readers they should do things to include them and make it interesting for us on that level. Gwen had a nifty thought on this I think but I forget it [Gwen: it was to do what ComiCon did – have a concurrent “Alternative Media Expo” in the same hall or a meeting room where bloggers, etc., could get face time with whomever attends the conference]. Cuz tis too much money to spend to just hang at the bar and/or meet up with other bloggers. Of course, that is just my general opinion, if you have that money to blow and/or that is your want AND RWA/authors wants us there, rock on with your badself.
TGTBTU will have a few odds and ends on the conference (which, correct me if I am wrong, but that is a different word than convention – and if this was the RWA Convention I would have completely different thoughts on this). Sandy is a wanna be author, who will one day write THAT book. And I hope to hell she reports on some of the workshops she goes too. I think that is interesting from a reader stand point, but as a reader, wouldn’t want to attend unless I planned to blog about it. I think (as I have said) RWA is for her. And, like KristieJ, I HOPE it pushes her to start and finish that book that is in her. Do I know if either will be good? Nope – but I think if you wanna you should try. Wendy is going to a dinner for me and I will be reporting on all things Harlequinish that go down. Her other blogs on the conference will be at her blog (I think).
Everything else – I would point you to Dear Author, Smart Bitches and All About Romance. And most likely if you are a reader – you know that *g*.
So as an author or reader, tell me why you disagree with me, tell me what changes (if any) you would like to see at the RWA Conference, tell me what your dream convention is and what you would like have planned as events, tell me you agree with me (cuz hey I would love at least one person *g*), tell me you think the RWA Conference is useless for writers or readers, tell me whatever you wanna…
CONTEST INFO MOVED HERE – will close contest at end of this week Sunday August 10, 2008.
The Internet vs. Trad Media things is an interesting debate.
In addition to being a romance author, I produce for a show (Better TV) that is an hour long nationally syndicated television show (airing on affiliates like NBC, CBS, FOX, etc. all over the country). We also post all of our segments online at http://www.better.tv and on YouTube and other online places. When I approach PR agencies about our show, I always have to push the TV angle. That gives me so much more legitimacy than saying the segments air on the web. And yet the amusing reality is we have WAY more internet traffic than we do television viewers. For every 200,000 that might see the television program we probably get a million views online.
And yet if I went to book a celebrity or a hot chef or a cool fashion designer, I always have to go on and on about the television stations we air on. If they hear Internet, they stop answering emails.
It’s an old fashioned view of media that seems to be perpetuating in the PR industry. And here’s why. The Public Relations Dept has to go to their accounts and say “I got your product/event/person on 30 television shows and mentioned in 3 print magazines!” Or they can say, “You’re on the web at http://www.whatever.com.” It doesn’t matter if http://www.whatever.com gets a cool million hits a day – the company is going to think that’s low rent. They want that clipping in “Parents Today” magazine, even if the circulation is 20,000. They just see that as more legitimate cause it is more traditional.
So RWA has evidently decided it would rather get a twenty-second mention on the morning news in San Fran that only locals will see (and may even be slightly mocking in tone toward the romance genre)then have internet bloggers who will gush and promote and excite readers from around the world. That’s their perogative, it’s their show, but I, coming from a traditional media background see it as a bit short-sighted and imagine that in future years, they will be forced to change this policy.
One other thought. RWA may feel the traditional media can be controlled more than internet bloggers. Bloggers can write anything without recourse. RWA knows the San Fran Chronicle isn’t going to write about agent bad behavior in the bar or the author who might have hooked up with the cover model. They’re going to show up, do a puff piece and go home. The blogger is an insider. They stay overnight, they go to the bar, they get the real scoop, behind the scenes, and have no problems posting the dirty laundry for all to see. And there would be nothing RWA could do about it.
Something to think about. 🙂
Marianne
Have to say that Marianne makes great points–on both fronts. That said, if readers want to pony up their money, more power to em.
My Q is, does media get a cost-break? I had another Q but my co-worker distracted me 😀
Yes, Sybil my dear, you are long winded. I stuck around til the very end. My attention span is pretty gosh darn good! Any whoo, I think you make some very good points about the conference. I don’t think RWA is for fans – RT is for fans. The only event for fans is the book signing and I can’t see spending all that money for a trip to San Fran for a two hour event. If I lived in CA, yes.
I would love to meet fellow romance readers and bloggers but it is just so expensive and what would be a central location, yada, yada yada. Lots of problems to overcome.
I really enjoyed the coverage on the convention last year by you and Jane. I was glued to the computer that week. It is a shame that RWA doesn’t see the big blog sites such as DA, SB AAR as big publicity. To me, it doesn’t make any sense. Hopefully someone will smarten up in the future and take advantage of this resource. They are stupid not to, harsh but true.
Looks, like I can ramble with the best of them. Take Care,
Jill
You should write a book, Sybil!
Got to agree with you, and probably also that the RWA conference is only of peripheral interest to non RWA authors (yes, we exist!)
I, too, think Marianne made some excellent points. It’s frustrating that internet media isn’t really considered media.
That aside, as a reader, I’d like to attend the conference, because I really enjoy learning about insider writing stuff (some of those workshops sound amazing), but I do agree that this is a writer function and should therefore be about writers.
As a reader, I would love to attend the RWA book-signing event, but it sounds like it’s going to be a zoo. They have allotted a measley 2 hours to meet authors and get books signed. It seems like most of that time will be wasted standing in lines. I wish someone would host something just for readers. I would love to meet authors, hear their speeches, get books signed, and meet fellow romance fans.
Marianne Mancusi – you rabble-rouser you. Brava to your points. And it’s a shame that we don’t see a more “traditional” media view for the Internet outlets.
I think that will change with time, of course. Until then, we’ll have to be the step-child of media.
I still think that conferences/conventions should do the “Alternative Media Expo” idea. Giving “us alternatives” to traditional media a legitimate face at these events will go a long way to fostering the environment that is needed to change minds. Once you have a toe in the door, it’s tough to take the foot out, if ya know what I’m sayin’.
I read/skimmed because reading that straight through would have given me a headache but I think I got the gist of it. (I usually pick on Syb so please pay no mind).
I’d have to disagree. I think readers should be welcome and can be an integral part of the conference and as to whether or not it’s worth the money is subjective. KristieJ and her her blogging partner were planning on sight-seeing among other things and meeting up with other bloggers (not sure if they are attending the conference but I stand corrected for any misinformation as I read/skimmed their blog, too.)
The trip ultimately would be what you make of it and maybe it’s worth going to RWA convention(s) to network (as many authors do) – Dear Author has certainly done it’s share in promoting authors and supporting reader issues and in such a balanced fashion that’s it’s impressive as hell (to me).
I guess it is good to put some things into perspective for other readers out there who might be getting the wrong impression about who this conference is for. Anyway, I’m all for reading about the scandals, who flashed some boobs, who got groped, who got drunk and etc, and so forth and the backlash about reader bloggers having the audacity to show up again this year. Peace.
I completely agree it is a personal choice – IF – it doesn’t disrupt the conference for the writers.
I agree with “why the media gets no respect” BUT I do not agree that makes it ok or right. And I wonder if ‘we’ as the reader bloggers help enforce it by trying to turn a conference into a convention.
This is the year that will make that point. IF (which I don’t think the ones going will be) are a disruption to the conference than I ‘think’ regardless of if a reader WANTS or can afford to go they shouldn’t. That is selfish. It isn’t for that.
BUT if it doesn’t bother the authors it is just a fangrrl thing. Wanna spend the coin? Gots that coin? Gonna just star gaze and hang in the bar? Gonna just met up bloggers and have a good time…. why the hell not?
Of course I never saw the huge OMFG thing about THE outfits of Liz or Mar. So what the hell do I know ;). But hey – if you are saying This is WORK…. no no no dress up cuz that is WRONG… doesn’t that nail home the point of CONFERENCE not Convention?
I don’t want to think [and also I like being an ostrich duck with my head in the sand], so I probably won’t comment on what you said. [I mean, I just learned about… oh random conferences this year.]
I will say, however, you’re back in fine form picking on me 😛 – and that I should win something, dammit because I read this whole post. [That and I tend to ask for things in a public forum b/c I hate myself like that, as opposed to asking for things on the group like others.] I failz.
And yes – actually, commenting, I agree with your points and uh… conference != convention. And… maybe if you showed them your numbers/if there was some way of comparing yours vs “legitimate” print media you might have a better claim. [Tee hee. Claim.] Some day I’m gonna bone up on IP (read intellectual property) stuff. Like super soon.
And I really liked Marianne’s points – though I have to admit I focused on the author hooking up with the cover models. [Heh.] Might be the authors I pictured [or models] and hello, squicky. [Or age.] Hahahaha (ok – self edited the rest.)
Fascinating post, Sybil. Your point about the difference between a conference and a convention is well taken. As much as it might be fun to meet some authors, I honestly would never dream of attending RWA because I’m not a writer and don’t plan on becoming one. Even if I had the time and money to go (and I don’t so this is all moot anyway), I would not. If I’m ever going to meet the people whose blogs I read and sometimes comment on, it will have to happen somewhere else.
Also, as cheryl c. said above, the book signing sounds like such a zoo. I think that despite the fact it’s for such a terrific cause, I’d end up staying away because I’m the type of person who’d be very frustrated with spending an hour and 50 minutes in lines for 10 minutes of face time with an author or two. I just wouldn’t do it.
What I do like is your suggestion that perhaps there could be more reader events. Sadly, I’m not about to organize one. I do live close enough to Cincinnati that I would like to attend Lori Foster’s event some year. I’m afraid RT sounds a little too much over the top for me, but I’m stodgy that way.
There are all kinds of SF cons around the country, big and small. Maybe some day we’ll see more of these for romance readers.
I also want to address Marianne’s comment. I think she makes an extremely important point. We need to get used to the idea that the internet is a far bigger media outlet than we can imagine. Groups like RWA need to adjust their thinking and practice to deal with this fact. Bloggers are part of the “new” media. Which ones are “legitimate” or “official” members of the media–well, that’s a hairy mess I’m not going to touch, LOL!
I read all of that too. So Lime, you aren’t a lone duck. Although you are a lone ostrich duck. I don’t even want to imagine that.
Could you claim TGTBTU is affliated with media outlets since are posts are sometimes picked up? Actually, that might be a good thing to point out anyway – many news sites see bloggers as a content resource.
I agree that Nationals is for writers–published or aspiring writers–and that bloggers as bloggers/fans would ‘profit’ much less than bloggers-who-wanna-get-published-someday from it.
Of course, if I were anywhere near one of these shindigs (one day *sigh* one of these days…) I would be there for the signing like you wouldn’t believe–but *that* one is a reader/fan event.
On the other hand, I really enjoyed last year’s “live blogging” and am looking forward to it this time.
😛 [Liv] I didn’t mean I’d be the only one to read it. I said it b/c Sybil decided to pick on me again. Clearly she’s cultivating my spine in a convoluted and slightly sadistic way. (So normal behavior, right 😉 ?) – and the ostrich part is b/c I hate dramaaazzzz. Blech. That and I’m so not up on romance bloglandia.
Maybe part of this is blogs with more influence than “legitimate media” shouldn’t have to prove their case. Or, the J-school degree really does matter that much. Anyway I’m interested in what RWA’s reasons are/will be. Ugh. Back to paying attention to Article 3 and HiDC’s
I don’t get that type of ‘fangrrlish behavior’ that would make people travel just to meet THEIR FAVORITE AUTHORS EVAH.
That pretty much hits the nail on the head of why I’ve never seriously considered going to RWA. I’m not an aspiring writer and though there are authors I’d love to meet – and lots of bloggers, too – is it worth it to trek all the way to a conference (an expensive one, especially)? So far, my answer has been “no”.
Still, I’m fascinated by the marketing, etc. side of things, since it is an industry that is hugely successful, in spite of itself (it sometimes seems to me). So, eventually I’ll probably break down and go.
I can ramble too. 😉
again moving this away from ‘TGTBTU’ should be allowed to go because that is SO not the point
I think all internet media should be allowed to ‘apply’ and be judged on each ones numbers, content, affliations. And RWA should judge from that….
Saying that Dear Author is a member of the same site as we are, as is Book Binge. BB is much more like TGTBTU than DA with the guests, contests, reviews and the like. Where as DA is more ‘reporting’ on everything from industry news to gossip.
DA has a HUGE audience. And I would argue more page views (and readers) than the lifetime blog or Barbara Vey with PW. As well as I would look at the ‘audience’ Lifetime and PW are MUCH bigger numbers with – authors.
Nothing like selling the info to the people writing the books vs the one ‘just’ (because I am sure authors spend a mint on books) buying and reading.
Would DA take a press pass? Couldn’t say – I know Jane had NO issue with paying and wanted to do so this year. I also know (unless this is changed in the last year which is possible) she had no designs on writing the next best selling romance novel.
Saying all that if she wants to pay – she should be able too. If she wants a press pass – Dear Author SHOULD get one. point blank end of story…
At the same time I see what MM is saying. Michelle of lifetime things no ugliness should be posted in public and everyone should play nice where it can be seen. Barabara Vey is just about one of the NICEST peeps I have meet. So if I was looking for spin vs ‘reporting’ I would want them (regardless of numbers) over Dear Author or Smart Bitches who would report the news.
THAT is my issue with the whole no no no internet thing but many authors didn’t agree and were don’t care if you are there and don’t plan to be a ‘writer’. LOVE for fans to go… but I pay so should you. And the scope and reason for being there as well as WHAT it does for the community SHOULD (imho) mean something.
But I think we shoot ourselves in the foot. Why take interenet media for serious when 10 or 15 peeps are showing up for a convention @ a conference? It is a catch 22… it if doesn’t distract or hurt… who cares… but if we are saying respect our authority well…. ::shrug::
really there is no answer until after this conference and we see how it goes
YES! I TOTALLY agree azteclady!!!!!
And THAT hits it for me. readers love that shit… so for readers blogs that focus on the ‘industry’ THEY SHOULD BE THERE
at least a few and there should be a way to qualify that – saying nope you don’t count you silly lil ::bad taste in the mouth:: blogger PISSES ME OFF
cuz you are saying – hey you wanna work your tail off or the industry – score! You wanna do it for free – score! You wanna help promote the RWA, Romance and get readers excited – score! You can go ahead and do ALL THAT FOR ME!!!!!!!!!! oh and pay for it – regardless of what you are doing for me
I am sorry there is a diff in sitting in a ‘spotlight’ to tell readers – OMG this is coming and this is being looked for and starting conversation about ‘what do you think of this genre they are looking for or say is the next BIG thin’ – and attending because you want to write the book of your heart and be a best seller.
Or maybe I am on crack – but ‘reporting’ vs ‘participating for personal use to sell’ seems like a different thing.
I used TGTBTU in that sentence because I would’ve felt awkward putting another site here, but I meant it as a sort of general suggestion.
(Does anyone else have that song in their head now?)
got cha
see I am on the otherside… it makes me more awkward for people think I am meaning JUST TGTBTU. Which is odd cuz god knows I think we rock. And take credit whenever I think it is due 😉
I am just odd. *g*
you can do whatever you want of course, I don’t expect you to be odd like me but in your own way 🙂
god I suck
Going back to read in a sec but Cheryl there are two reader events–one put on by Lori Foster and one by Lora Leigh. And of course RT which frankly, is horribly expensive even for the authors.
And freakshow…. I would LOVE to go to RT for the sheer popcorn factor but would NEVER pay that kind of coin.
I am pretty sure Lori Foster thinks I am the devil (even though I adore her writing). And as I ADORE Lora Leigh as a person and writer (HOLY SHIT SHE has some AWESOME books coming out)AND Raw is affordablish…. that is what I am leaning toward.
Or the grand reader blogger/author event to be planned later by someone with mad skills…. 🙂
Hmmm…when I first learned about the RWA Confrerence and the RT Convention, people said that RWA was for writers or people who would like to be published. The only part of the event that was held for readers that was mentioned at the time was the booksigning. I don’t think that the situation has changed. On the other hand, RT was said to be for both readers and writers, again I don’t think that has changed.
Hmmm U and Texas come to mind 😀 😀 😀
I am indifferent when it comes to arguing about who gets an Internet pass and who doesn’t. Who has the largest audience, who has the most influence – who the heck cares.
I just want to read about it when Jane posts about it. I promise to not interrupt your discussion again because you all are clearly talking about something else entirely. I am only but a tiny bit of the Internet after all so it shouldn’t and really doesn’t concern nor matter to me [I could of kept that last part to myself but what the hell]. Yep, if I had to gauge my mood today it would be bitchy. [g] Peace.
Off to read my book(s).
Now that is what I am talking about.
I’m a loss to the rest. Sorry for the interruption. Carry on…
😛 Sybil – you may have volunteered yourself as a convention planner 😉
It isn’t about caring whose traffic is higher or not it is about DISMISSING bloggers out of hand.
hmmm something I totally didn’t think of that an author emailed to me…
for every reader paying and staying at the conference Hotel @ the conference rate (which again they are paying a fee to get) that is an author who isn’t at the conference hotel @ the conference rate who is there for work.
I guess I thought authors were first in line. That’s not good if a reader is taking away from that.
Keishon,
I think Syb’s point is more that it’s not fair for RWA to say internet media isn’t a valued source. Major media outlets are allowed, but internet media outlets aren’t. I don’t think it had anything to do with any specific site, only that if the site was internet based only, they aren’t allowed. I don’t think that’s very well done of them.
I’d ask if the fact that there were no [sole] internet passes was the point. But my head hurts and figuring all this out is too much to process while trying to listen to Spak lectures. [Haha – I just love that name]
Sybil, did I read right? There’s a limited number of seats (so to speak) so if a reader-who-doesn’t-want-ever-to-write takes one, that’s one less seat available to actual authors (published or looking to get published)?
’cause that would suck, me thinks.
Or is there a set number of ‘seats’ for RWA members plus a set number of ‘seats’ for non-RWA members? in which case, nevermind me.
There are ‘press passes’. If you are a member of the media and NOT be a member of RWA (there is a special associates thing you can join and get a ‘press pass’) you can apply for a ‘press pass’.
It was decided this year – if you were INTERNET media without a major print or tv affiliation – you were discounted out of hand:
“ABC Blog” is connected a TV ‘station’ but doesn’t play on tv – they can get one even if they have an average of 10 people who visit a day
“DEF Blog” is ‘just’ a blog – reports on the Romance Industry without any print (blogburst or syndication doesn’t count but Publisher Weekly an industry [aka authors – tons of them prolly) subscribe would count even if the ‘reader’ visitors was MUCH smaller… think singing to the choir] or TV (think lifetime even though no romance ‘blog’ stuff shows up on the Lifetime tv channel only on the redheaded step-child of the INTERNET it was decided this year the ‘blog’ couldn’t apply for a media pass without ponying up dough….
IMHO you either say no media passes without coin or you allow any ‘media’ or person/blog/paper/whatever who reports on the romance industry to apply.
regarding what Keishon said – “I” = am not saying “ABC blogger” is the shit and ‘popular’ so omgwtf they should get a pass…. I am saying (once more with feeling) Do NOT Discount “ABC blog” (who reports or promotes the ROMANCE industry) JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE THE TRASHY NET.
And ‘I’ say you need to set a number of passes, THAT then needs perimeters in order to measure. YES traffic SHOULD come into play in terms of scope of audience a blog reaches.
If that blog doesn’t WANT to apply FINE. Don’t. If a blog WANTS to and can pony up coin for a hobby they love to report to readers (WHICH SELLS ROMANCE) Woot they should go on with their badself. BUTBUTBUTBUT they should have a CHOICE. They work JUST as hard.
If RWA wants to say – ONLY the NICE Need apply. Only THOSE who are going to NOT ‘gossip’ or whatever…. well really they need to STOP allowing print media who do NOTHING but mock.
I mean seriously…
“ABC blog” is ‘tied’ to REAL print media (doesn’t have to have their content PUBLISHED just be TIED or under the umbrella of BIG or even small NAMED PRINT MEDIA) and reaches 100 readers (I don’t care if they reach 100000 authors – I am talking READERS aka the peeps romance authors are SELLING too even if authors buy books)
“ZYX blog” is NOT affiliated to any form of print media but reaches 100000 READERS and countless authors (again who pay books) a DAY.
HOW does that make since to say “ZYX blog” can’t even send in a request? REGARDLESS of if they want to OR are going to – THEY can’t cuz they don’t ‘count’.
That is my point I am badly trying to make:
DO. NOT. DISCOUNT. THE. INTERNET.
Say NO for a reason not cuz you think the internet is a gossipy rag that ‘doesn’t count’. Or say NO to any and all media (which I think would be TEH DUMB.
I WANT romance to SELL. I want it to reach an audience. EVEN IF I DON’T care for a certain book… I want it to do well. Why? CUZ I am selfish and WANT more books.
I thought to go the RWA this year, because I am in the States in early August, so I thought I would fly to Frisco before heading to Florida, but the convention fee plus hotel money where just too much.
So I save the money for next years RT in Orlando. But I really would like to attend a RWA convention in future, so far I only have convention experience from two RTs
LOLOLOL I think Keishon already said this but we are friends 🙂
I am in no way, shape or form annoyed/mad/pissed at her. So please do not read that as directed at her in that way.
A. I say what I think (shock) and WANT/EXPECT (would demand if I could control shit) everyone do the same
B. Keshion knows that *g* and even guest reviews here sometimes ::COUGHLATELATELATE::
so any and all omg sybil don’t be a whore to keishon she is a nice girl will be ignored or mocked
I am frustrated at RWA and @ myself for being too much of a rambly moron that I can’t covey my point so that people can understand.
Of course the above long ass comment was done a long time ago and I then went night night and just hit send :). oops and now… I need to go get my fucking Dr License so I can get to work at some point. le sigh don’t ask
Interesting reading.
Marianne’s comments are very interesting. Now I don’t know a ton about RWA, but it seems to me that they definitely lag behind the times on a number of issues. It’s interesting, and odd.
There should definitely be a reader event! Like a SciFi Con. Preferably low on the cheese. I think lots of people would love to meet their favorite authors and talk to like minded folks.
Someone get on that please.
So here’s the deal, not so rambly or Sybilishious:
RWA is a writer’s event. Workshops and networking for and about writers. They have a reader’s event or two, but it’s for the writers. Conference organizers charge (don’t know how much) money for tickets to the conference – presumably different rates for members than non-members.
Last year (2007) conference organizers offered their free press passes to any media outlet – Internet or otherwise. This year (2008) they decided that media outlets that were solely Internet-based – like TGTBTU and Dear Author, etc. – would not receive the free press passes.
This means that the only media outlets that would qualify for free press passes had to be associated with mainstream print or broadcast media – like Lifetime.com, MSNBC, RomanticTimes.com, etc. This decision has left 100% Internet-based media – the media least likely to have spare cash lying around – to have to pay our freight to buy a ticket, which is a bit expensive if memory serves.
As a separate, but related note, conference organizers work out a group deal at the hotel for their attendees. If a reader/gawker snags one of these discounted hotel rooms, that means an author isn’t in the room and had to stay elsewhere at a presumably non-discounted rate. Not good for the conference or the author.
RWA has reader events (book signings), but they’re short and getting shorter. The conference is meant for the authors.
Okay, so if I understand correctly…
The big news outlets–who focus on swan hats, for example–get unlimited free passes to all the events, i.e. events for readers, events limited to RWA members. Whether these news outlets actually use the passes is moot, they have them. And, 99 times out of 100, all they’ll do is print a short fluffy, quite likely mocking, piece on ‘romance’ (in quotes because omg, that trash! look at the crazy hysterical wimmin)
Whereas none of the romance-focused reader blogs, regardless of traffic, readership, or actual industry impact, gets a pass. They wanna go, they have to pay. If they are RWA members, they get that rate; if they are ‘only’ readers, they pay full.
That sums it up?
And if that’s the case… no, it doesn’t make any sense whatsoever.
If one must give the big press boys passes, I would definitely a)limit the number, and b)demand confirmation of what events they’ll attend. If they are only going to troll around the literacy signing looking for something funny/outrageous/ridiculous to print the next morning, they don’t need a press pass.
Whereas there are several blogs–Dear Author and the Smart Bitches being the two that more readily come to my mind, but definitely not the be all, end all–with huge traffic and that actually have an impact on romance readership. Further, these are blogs whose owners and contributors care about the romance genre, the industry, the authors, the image, the quality, etc. And while it’s true that they dare *gasp* criticize stupid behaviour, poor quality, poor editing, poor marketing decisions, what have you, , they also work tirelessly to promote the genre as a whole.
If RWA needs some mechanism to select which readers’ blogs it’ll consider important/big/significant enough to offer them press passes, perhaps getting the different blogs’ statistics, and select the top… three? five? or something like that.
/rambling
Yes, AL, that’s the issue in a nutshell.
I’d love to be invited because of Book Binge, but if I was told I couldn’t go because our numbers weren’t that great, or because we don’t have the right “feel” for coverage or whatever, that would be fine. But to be told we can’t go because we’re “internet media”, well, that bothers me. A lot. (and I’m only using my own site as an example, we’re super small time, so I doubt we’d get an invite regardless)
I really wish they’d become more open minded, especially considering the kind of traffic sites like DA and SB get. That’s a potentially HUGE outlet for them, and they should take full advantage.
Yeah, what she said!
😉
Readers have always attended RWA. Always. It’s just now some of those readers have blogs and are more visible. I don’t think that’s a bad thing, and I do think readers can get something out of the conference. Readers love to read (like duh!) and many of them find the writing stuff interesting. Hey, I have no aspirations to write – but hearing about the process, and how authors and the industry “work” intrigues me. I just find it naturally interesting. And I don’t think I’m the only reader who feels that way.
I attend RWA mostly because of my job. I’m a librarian. They host a Librarian Event. I get to learn about new books, meet new authors, and even meet aspiring authors who might one day be the next Linda Howard or Nora Roberts. Yes, that means something for my work, but the average Joe Schmoe reader in me finds it interesting as hell too.
And as far as a reader taking a seat away from an author….I cry bullshit. Readers have to pay too. And in many cases they pay more if they aren’t an RWA member. Hey, it’s first come first serve. I registered early because I knew I wanted to come. I didn’t hog tie any author to keep them from registering early. And how does including more people at the conference make it a “bad thing?” It just means that more people would like to attend, RWA gets a bigger turn out, and the event grows.
Is there “fan girl” behavior here? Sure….at the Literacy Signing. But let me assure everyone, I have yet to see any of the heathen readers at the conference tackling unsuspecting authors, running through the lobby and screeching at the top of their lungs, “OMGOMG I LURVE YOU!!!!!”
So on this, we’ll have to agree to disagree.
Wendy,
THAT is the awesome to hear… thanks!!!! (yeah has issue with fangrrls… sorry fangrrls… I think you are NEEDED but 🙂 ) I would say paying that kind of money to go to a conference is fangrrl behavior if you aren’t going to ‘report’ or ‘for your blog’ but paying that kind of coin because you can and to meet up with friends – not fangrrlish. LOL you know…. sez me *g*
But honestly I had no idea this wasn’t higher numbers. I knew some readers went, paid the fee and took rooms but I didn’t think it was near as many as this year. As in readers who flew/drove in vs hanging in the bar cuz they live in whatever town – good to know – and proves you are the smartest.
And with the room thing – just to say – yes they take rooms from the conference allotment @ whatever hotel – BUT – do keep in mind most are going to be sharing rooms (since it is mucho moneys to be there). So THAT does cut down on how many authors are displaced because they are there.
Just wanted to clarify that….
So interesting to read this post and then all the comments. It is interesting to see all this kind of discussion because we are having our first ever Romance Readers Convention early next year and I can’t wait to go! Having said that it is a Readers Convention and not an Author convention so it is a different matter again.
What I would like to see coming out of the RWA though is more information about some of the sessions simply because whilst I love reading a post by someone who is excited about meeting their favourite author ever, I also would like to get more of a feel for what is really happening.
You whore, are you trying to say that is a bad thing? ::tosses hair::
I agree with you about press passes being denied to internet sites. I think that they should spend the time to determine which sites are legitimately providing news on the industry since the internet is the future. I have heard predictions that many newspapers will eventually only be available on the internet so you might as well start setting up your standards now as to what criteria a site has to meet in order to be eligible for a press pass.
long answer ::shocking I know:: – IMHO – JMO – and all that rot…
on 7/31/08 @ 11:23am azteclady sez:
To my knowledge it isn’t unlimited but they are the only ones that can apply.
on 7/31/08 @ 11:23am azteclady sez:
that is mostly what I have seen…
or you have people like lifetime [say we are wimmin, there is enough in life to beat us down, the only way wimmin can/should support other wimmin and romance is to be POSITIVE (lie and only tell people their books ROCK cuz who gives a fuck about honesty or you know… readers). While saying gossip is fun, only it has a time and a place.
The place being no where on the net in public where it is achievable but a party with 15 or so peeps where you expect confronting a person will force them to be a liar too and say OMG sorry you rock didn’t mean to speak my mind) is coolio.
Stoopid/bitchy me thinks if you can do it in private, among friends or where you think it will force someone to be nice to you – you should be an adult an own it. I think that is called…. hmmm… what is the word… oh yes TWO FACED. Or stick to your guns and play the sugar can’t melt in your mouth card in public, private and where it can’t be arch’ed for later mocking or pointing. Regardless of what you say you and the fingers you wag that behavior still equals condescending bitch and makes a person just like the nasty bloggers they think suck.
If that sounds like it happened it is cuz it did… and no… I didn’t say omg sorry for pointing out on my blog you only kiss ass, I don’t agree, and as a reader demand respect as well as honesty not author ass licking, and yes I can do that cuz I am blogger and no you can’t demand I stand there – say sorry and agree with your opinion.
::shrug:: I suck like that…. and my answer remains (a year later) the same. I speak my mind because I am honest. I think I can do it because I am a BLOGGER. And no, you don’t have to agree with me but yes I think you suck as a rep for romance and women in general when it is said we are the weaker sex so must be pussies and only be ‘nice’ in public. Heaven forbid men think we are bitches.
on 7/31/08 @ 11:23am azteclady sez:
yep unless that has changed…. you are allowed the watered down bloggers who think supportive=’nice’ and honestly (again unless it has changed) Jane WANTED to pay. “I” think Dear Author does MORE than enough for romance. She should get to make a choice. ANY blogger who does news, review and the like SHOULD be about to make a choice and APPLY…. and as a reader I want the Dear Author or Book Binge view. Do NOT tell me what you ‘think’ is nice. Do NOT tell me what you think the authors want to hear. DO NOT LIE TO ME. As a reader that pisses me off. And I am sorry, some may think that means something else, but I SUPPORT the hell out of authors, romance, readers and the industry. Just because I don’t always agree and am a whore enough to think it is ok to SAY so as well as own my opinion doesn’t mean I do not support authors or women. It means I am not going to fucking lie to you. I do not want others – anyone – to decide ‘this is what I can handle’, ‘women “look” better if we are NICE in public” or whatever stupid ass ideas go into that way of thinking (for lack of a better word)/tangent
on 7/31/08 @ 11:23am azteclady sez:
Well bloggers do the same. Like MM said it could be cuz they think SB, DA or the like are just ‘gossips’ and looking for conflict or ways to point and laugh. Remember (I think) SB is where the omg look how they were dressed thing started (although I can’t recall if it was from the SB or the comments.
The thing is you are going to get a balanced view. Jane may not like something but will post both + and – (AS SHE SEES IT) on Dear Author. Sarah & Candy will do the same at SB. Holly & co would do the same @ BB. We would here. Yes it would be opinion reflecting of the blogger (whoever it was) but it would be HONEST. To me, as a reader, that means more and is a fuck load more supportive than just being a fangrrl/positive/everythingisshiny/cheerleader.
on 7/31/08 @ 11:23am azteclady sez:
heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee you said that in less words than I did and we agree *g* but YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS that is my point. DO NOT SAY it can’t be measured.
You know Maureen it would be fine if they put that back on the blogger. If they said you must provide us with this, this and this to apply all they would have to do is check it off and decide.
I know RWA is busy and has a shit load of work on their plate so I don’t expect nor am I asking them to even do the leg work.
My point is and has been –
DO NOT discount us.
Thing is the ones they WANT there, who are gonna spin it like they want, wouldn’t have higher numbers than the blogs that will be honest and show both sides.
To be completely honest though, while this sounds good in theory, if you put ANY of these types of limitations on the traditional media, they’ll simply say “FU, we’re not covering your stupid event, have a nice life.” Traditional media is used to getting their asses kissed and has more than enough choices of what to cover to fill a newscast or newspaper on a daily basis. (There’s ALWAYS a kitten up a tree somewhere, people! And don’t think the media would hesitate to throw one up there themselves if there wasn’t. Just sayin’.)
If you want traditional media to cover an event, you have to promise them something unusual and untraditional. That’s why RT does the costume mornings every year and always gets mainstream media coverage of crazy romance writers parading around as fairies, vampires, and victorian maidens. That’s what makes good tv. Insulting to romance biz? Maybe. Media doesn’t care. RT doesn’t care.
So RWA not only would have to change their way of thinking of Internet media, they’d also have to accept the fact that mainstream media may not come to the party if there are any restrictions on them. RWA would have to decide whether a 30 second shout-out on KRON-TV will promote their organization effectively (which is, after all, RWA’s mission, not the book selling of their members) or if a week’s worth of blogging on the SBTB would be more worthwile.
I know this because I’m guilty of the same thing during my day job. If a publicist makes it even the teensyist difficult to cover a story, I’ll just cancel on them. (Unless it’s about a celebrity – then we bend over backwards, haha.) For non-celeb news, my boss doesn’t care if I cover a romance convention or teach people to make vodka martinis from the comfort of their own homes. I just got three minutes to fill in the show and I can put whatever I want in there. And let’s just say the vodka publicists are probably trying to shove free drinks down my throat over email they’re so desperate to get me there. It’s hard for a conference to compete with that. So they have to bend over backwards for the “honor” of the media to grace their hotel.
And yet does it make a lick of difference in the long run? Probably not. I really doubt a 30 second blip about romance writers converging on San Fran has made a single San Fran’er head out to B&N and discover a secret love for romance they never knew they had. On the other hand, I think romance bloggers make a HELL of a difference on sales in the industry. I read about new books coming out daily – ones I’d never have heard of otherwise. ANd hell, just reading all the RWA blog posts and twitterers this year makes me want to sign up for next year already.
But I think RWA perceives this differently. They think two things, brutal honest truth:
1) They think ya’ll are housewives with a blogger account who want to scam a free trip to San Fran.
2) They can’t control the gossip and fire that spirals from those reports. (aka the costume controversy I was involved in last year.)
Remember, it’s much easier to dismiss you as a whole then to individually analyze who’s “legit” and who’s not. So you’re going to have to fight hard if you want that legitimacy. Keep track of your stats and profile your readers. When legitimate media applies for events you have to have all the facts: your demographic(women 24-54, for example) your reach (37 television stations across the country) your viewership (this is hard with tv, but easy with Internet) etc. Bloggers need to act professional and be able to provide the same.
Okay I’ve rambled way too long and now I’m going to be late for work. But just some more to think about from someone who IS the evil traditional media. 🙂
Marianne
Marianne Mancusi on August 1st, 2008 7:58
TOTALLY agree…
You know, I am ok with that. I am not even thinking it needs to be equal. I am more of the set aside 2,3,5 whatever passes for internet media. Judge those sites against others like them. I am sorry but if you get 100 aps (which I would bet money there wouldn’t be) anyone could look at the numbers and names of the blogs – and get rid of more than 90%. The other ten you would be able to weed down with a click…. or even picking out the ones RWA is aware of… I am against (HA! not that they care) just saying NO Internet Media cuz omg so many of you are now coming we can’t judge it.
Of course it is something to also think about as far as… having Trad Med there to mock…. which in turns enforces the romance author and reader sterotype…. IS that a good thing? Yes you reach more people but why do we want that if it paints us in nothing but a bad light?
Marianne Mancusi on August 1st, 2008 7:58
RT should ban ALL Traditional Media BECAUSE of this…. sez me 🙂
Marianne Mancusi on August 1st, 2008 7:58
uh huh but if that 30sec shout-out makes people nod there head and say yep… stupid, woman need to get lives and/or write a ‘real’ book…. Does that meet the mission?
Marianne Mancusi on August 1st, 2008 7:58
uh huh…. while the traditional media sez that of the authors and readers
And last year? DRIVING, with RWA in my state, and 4 roomies, I spent around a grand. Next year I will (even if/with a would be press pass) spend more if I go.
Marianne Mancusi on August 1st, 2008 7:58
And they control you, as trad media on how you spin a topic? Or do you go with whatever you would think will sell your paper/tv whatever?
Marianne Mancusi on August 1st, 2008 7:58
Again TOTALLY agree… and they dismissed that out of hand… while NOT asking if of ones tied to ‘tv’ or ‘print’ even if they were NOT on ‘tv’ or ‘print’. THAT is why I think tis wrong…. again not that they care what I think 🙂
It was painted as they are real, they most have more viewers or they are legit…. but oddly enough the ones that were ‘ok’ are also the only ones that will be nice in public.
Marianne Mancusi on August 1st, 2008 7:58
YAY I want more to ramble! So I am not the only one 😉
yep and late to work as well… LOL thanks for your thoughts… you give excellent insight to the ‘otherside’ even if you dress like kid *eg*
They can’t control trad media, but two things:
1) Trad media doesn’t know enough insidery stuff to understand what’s going on. For example, they’d have no idea that wearing a costume at a booksigning was anything out of the ordinary.
2) They’re too busy to delve deep. RWA will send them a press release with the basic “facts.” Reporters will take that and use it when writing the report, adding a few soundbites from authors – which, I might add, ARE HANDPICKED BY RWA.
When you go to the press office at RWA Nationals, they will not let you leave ANY information about yourself or your books for the media to pick up. You can simply put down your name and contact number and if the media is interested in talking to you then they will supposedly contact you and set up a time to meet. However, since you aren’t allowed to provide any info on WHY you’d be a good person to talk to, the media will have no idea you might be a potentially interesting story and different from the same old same old they come there to expect.
This way, the RWA folks can spoonfeed the trad media their interviewees and control the story. “Oh we’ve got the lovely Nora Roberts to chat with you.” And of course Nora will be lovely and the reporter will leave the hotel with a feeling that romance is completely professional and nice and ladylike. Which is how RWA wants to be perceived. (Not necessarily a bad thing – just showing how the spin works.) And the media is too busy (and, let’s face it, doesn’t care enough)to bother to delve deeper into what’s going on behind the scenes at the conference. The reporter and photog want lunch, damn it. They’re saying: “I can’t believe Reporter Schmuck David got the Obama story today and I got stuck covering housewife porn. Let’s get this silly assignment over with so we can swing by Starbucks.” I promise you, that is ALL the thought that goes into these reports.
Of course sometimes this backfires when bestselling authors like Sherrilyn wear swans on their heads at trad media attended events like booksignings and RWA loses some of their control. (and the reporter looks like a hero back at the station/paper cause he actually found something interesting!) But on the whole, I’d say if you look at trad media coverage over the last five years of RWA, the reports are likely pretty standard — cute and harmless.
Women who write romance, gathering in our town at local hotel. Did you know 50 percent of paperback books are romance. Yup, it’s true, even though this reporter has never read one. I talked to Sally from Ohmaha who says, “I just love a happy ending.” Now back to you.
Bloggers on the other hand are a WHOLE different ballgame. You stay there. You eat there. You drink with writers and editors and agents and hear the true loose-lipped drunken stories. In fact, you’re probably even SEEKING OUT the scandalous stuff – cause let’s face it, that drives traffic to a blog. So you’re a dangerous beast to RWA and the pristine, pro-romance image they’re trying to project.
LOL. Oddly enough I dress a bit differently when in “producer mode.” hehe.