Well, the first day of RT has passed and I’m still here and still standing.
There is nothing quite like RT. Enthusiastic readers treating themselves to a vacation, enthusiastic aspiring writers and jaded writers, editors and publishers all crowding together in one huge hotel.
Actually, no. Because you can’t help but get enthused and excited by such a great bunch of people. Honestly, jaded though I sometimes get with the publishing world, RT is something else.
So, what did I do? I reconnected with my lovely friend and roommate Desiree Holt, and we went to various events. The panel I was booked to appear on, about pseudonyms and should you use them, went beautifully, ably chaired by Celeste Delaney. We told our avid audience that they should think carefully before using a pseudonym and be careful to create it properly. For most writers, writing under more than one name, even if you let people know it’s really you, includes creating two identities, two websites, two sets of promotion plans, so it has to be good. Writing under a pseudonym to keep your real identity private could be because you have small children or work in a profession where they might not like your name associated with what you do. Although, saying that, my husband teaches at a school whose patron is the Queen, and he told them about it, so if the Queen is okay with me writing erotic romance, then other people maybe should be less prissy!
I was fortunate enough to be invited to a reception for the booksellers and librarians at the suite of Kathryn Falk and Kenneth Rubin. That was fun. Packed, but the food was great and the company even better.
The Ellora’s Cave ball was a blast. We had a great demo from The Geek Squad, a hip-hop troupe who intimidated me into not even trying to dance, but I did get my ten seconds of fame when I walked across the stage on the arm of a cute Caveman. I sat next to a lovely lady who turned out to be Lynn Raye Harris, so it was great to catch up with her at last.
After that I went to bed. Actually, I didn’t. I met with Susanna Kearsley in the bar, to discuss the panel we’re to be on the next day, and she, Lauren Willig, and Molly O’Keefe had a blast. Business over, we set to discussing the “trumps” game. You pick a gorgeous man, and he is your starting card. Then you pick another one, and decide if he trumps your original. Believe me, the more Cosmos you drink, the more fun it gets.
In case you’re wondering, Richard Armitage and David Gandy came up tops. If you don’t know them, look them up. You won’t be sorry. Tell you what, I didn’t take any pictures yet, so here’s a picture of David Gandy instead.
