I was going to post pics from San Fran today but quickly realized if I posted all of them, this post would never end! So I'm going to do it in sections. These were all taken Wednesday night at the RWA Literacy Signing. 500 published authors all in one room. So much fun.

Me, RS Ballantine author (and double Rita finalist!), Allison Brennan, and my roommate, Kendra Elliot.

Me with Pocket RS author Cindy Gerard. While in SF I got my hands on a copy of an arc of Cindy's new book - Show No Mercy - and I hate to say...I've already finished it. AWESOME!!!! I love this new series!

Me with fellow Dorchester author, Gemma Halliday.

Me with a few of the girls from the Portland chapter - Harlequin authors Lissa Manley and Leah Vale.

The lovely Wild Rose Press author, Paty Jager (and MWV chapter-mate!).

The beautiful and talented Superromance author, Terry McLaughlin.

RS Pocket author Roxanne St. Claire and me. Not only does she write fab books, but the woman is so tan, she makes me look pukey white. I'm guessing this is a plus to living in Florida. :)

Me, Pocket author - and PRO mentor of the year (!!!) - Karin Tabke, Kendra Elliot and Joan Swan.

And if you haven't seen this yet...the Today Show did a feature on the RWA Convention while we were all there. Take a look at it...very cool stuff! (My editor made it into the footage toward the end.)

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/25966976#25966976

Tomorrow...pictures from the Dorchester dinner.

I have so many things to say about RWA National, I just don't even know where to start. However, instead of blogging about everything all at once - like how fab my editor is, how funny Chris Keesler is, how the two of them bicker back and forth like the characters in my book (maybe why my editor bought the book in the first place?), the lit signing and everyone I met, Cindy Gerard's new book (which I already fan girl gushed to her via email about this morning - oh, Lord), Leslie Langtry - OMG...hilarious!!!!, the workshops, the parties, my annual embarrass Elisabeth moment, the sleepless nights and early mornings and everything in between, I'm simply going to discuss one topic today.

My CP - Joan Swan. Who was nominated in the Romantic Suspense category of the Golden Heart.

Isn't she adorable?

You see, Joan and I have been CPs for years, but this was the fist time we actually got to meet in person. You know how you can have this totally amazing connection with someone online, and when you meet them it's stiff and awkward and not at all what you expected? This was so NOT that experience. From the moment Joan picked me up at the airport, it was like we'd known each other our whole lives. I cannot say enough good things about this woman. She's smart, funny, smiles all the time and she's just got the most amazing attitude I've ever seen. And her book ideas???? OMG...write them now, Joan!!!! I've loved her writing for years, but now I love the woman even more, and I cannot wait to read her next book and hear her scream when she sells. It's only a matter of time.

This is Joan and I just before the awards ceremony. Tomorrow I'll post more about the conference - and more pics as well.

Have you met your CP face to face?

I'm taking a break from copy edits, agent revisions and my longer-than-hell-and-back to-do list -- which all has to be finished before I leave for San Francisco on Tuesday (How the heck does everything manage to come at once?!) -- to pop in and say hello. I know I've been scarce. See above list and you'll know why.

But without further adieu, I thought I'd share my official author photo for my books:


What do you think? Personally, I love it. The photographer did a fabulous job. He took a bunch of shots, but this one just screamed I'm it! I just got it today and already zipped it off to my editor. One more thing crossed off that list!

My copy edits for STOLEN FURY are also done - thank goodness! And now STOLEN HEAT gets one more quick read-through before being sent to my editor. Then it's party time in San Francisco. I had a whole blog planned about shopping for conference clothes (and my DH saying, "Why the heck do you need new clothes again?!) but I don't have time to write it. Maybe if I get some down time in SF...of course then I'll have all this fun dirt to share with you!

If you're going to be in San Fran for the RWA conference, stop me and say hi. If not, I'm taking my camera, so don't fear, I'll have lots of juicy tidbits to share when I get back.

First things first - good news is all around!

Fellow Mid-Willamette Valley RWA chapter member (and past Prez) Paty Jager won an Eppie on Saturday at the EPICon conference, which honors the best in electronic publishing!!! Head on over to Paty's blog to read more about her win and to congratulate her.

We're starting up a new challenge over at our chapter blog. If you need some motivation to get busy, head on over and join in the fun. Everyone's setting their own goals and we have check-ins on Saturdays.

I'm still looking for a new tagline. Remember it has to have something to do with romantic adventure. On St. Patty's day I'll be drawing a name from a hat from all the people who email me suggestions at emcamp99 at yahoo dot com, or leave a suggestion in the comment section of my blog. The winner will get an autographed copy of Alice Sharpe's March Harlequin Intrigue release, Avenging Angel.

And finally...I need some help from those of you who are familiar with San Francisco. I'm getting set to book my flight for the National conference in July and because I'm flying in Wed. morning, I need to figure out which airport is the better choice. I'm wondering how far the Oakland airport is from downtown SF. There's a flight that gets me in to Oakland earlier than the SFO flight, but if the drive from Oakland into downtown is longer (and worse in rush hour traffic), it cancels out the benefits of flying into Oakland. Anyone know?

That's the question I'm grappling with these days.

I've done three so far - Reno, Atlanta, Dallas. All have been great. I've had a wonderful time, learned a lot, networked, networked, networked. I know the networking in and of itself is invaluable, but this year I'm still undecided. The first year I went it was all new and exciting (and Reno was cheap!). Atlanta was worth it because I won the conference registration in a contest and extended my stay to visit relatives in Alpharetta. And Dallas was a yes because I was a GH finalist. This year - San Francisco - is close, but expensive. The conference registration fee is higher, hotel is higher, and since I haven't sold yet, I'm not sure it's worth it. In addition to that, as great as Nationals is, the novelty of the whole thing has worn off. Until I sell, I don't know if it's worth the money. So I've decided to wait another month and see what happens before I make my final decision. I'd love to go...but...but...but...

Yeah. Lots of big ol' butts in there.

So what about you? Going for sure? Still undecided? Or definitely no?

I posted pictures from Nationals at the MidWillamette-Valley RWA Blog if you're interested. Lots of fun ones in there.

I'm back from Nationals. I had a blast, and now I'm recovering.

Since I blogged about my Top 10 Conference Moments at Romance Worth Killing For today, I thought I'd do the top 10 things I learned at conference here. So without further adieu...

Top 10 Things I Learned at Nationals

10. If you wear a red dress with white polka dots, your roommates will offer to buy you ears and call you Minnie Mouse. (Nice, huh?)

9. It rains in Texas. A lot. Who knew?

8. Agents who tell you they want to hear elevator pitches really don't want to hear elevator pitches. (And some of them are just down right strange.)

7. I can embarrass myself in any situation.

6. Thanks to a writer friend who shall remain nameless, I now know what a swinger's club is really like. (You know who you are. wink, wink)

5. Writers get really psyched up over the awards ceremony. Even writers who aren't up for any awards. Go figure.

4. The best way to get a bed to yourself when you're sharing a room is to be sick.

3. I talk in my sleep. And I say very strange things.

2. My kids can live without me. My hubby and my mother, however, are a complete different story.

And the number one thing I learned at Nationals...

1. No matter how much your roomies tell you they love you, they will not treat you like the princess you really are. Now, I must ask, what's up with that????

I'd love to hear the top ten things you learned at conference. Or if you didn't go, what you did for fun while I was gone.

That's it. I'm off to Nationals. Will try to update here during the week if internet isn't obscenely expensive. Otherwise you'll get my update next week.

Oh, and while I'm gone, if you are a writer in any way, shape or form, GO READ STEPHANIE TYLER'S POST ABOUT WANTING IT.

That's all I'm going to say. Just go read it.

Ciao!

Thank you, Lin, for reminding me that Nationals is only a week away. Eeek! While I have been dealing with teeth pulling and swim meets and the terrible twos, I have pushed aside all that other stuff I have to do before I leave next Tuesday for Dallas. Such as...

1) Get my hair done (OMG, it really needs it),
2) Clean the house so it's not a total bomb when I get home,
3) Finalize kids' schedule for Grandma who will be babysitting during the day while the DH is at work,
4) Print out my schedule for the week so I don't miss anything important like oh, say, my meeting with my agent or the GH stuff I'm supposed to attend,
5) Laundry. Everything I own is dirty,
6) Get a pedicure. The toes need it soooo bad. I wouldn't subject others to looking at these things the way they stand now,
7) Figure out how the heck I'm getting to and from the airport,
8) Finish the wip (this is wishful thinking),
9) Pack.

What's on your schedule the next week - whether you're prepping for Nationals or not?

WARNING: Naked Rant Ahead

Okay, not a totally naked rant. More like a naked mannequin rant.

The dress I bought to wear to the Rita/GH ceremony at Nationals is gorgeous. I totally love it. It's black, full length, halter style, fitted but not skin-tight. Classy. Elegant. Perfect. The problem? The back dips down just low enough so a regular strapless bra won't work. I would love to be able to go sans bra, but alas, after nursing three Gremlins it's not in my future (not without some serious surgery). So, I went looking for something that would work. And I found this: The Flex Body Bra. Touted as Hollywood's Red Carpet Secret.

I ordered it. It came in the mail this week. And I tried it on.

Oh. My. God. I have NO idea how this thing works!!! I spent like an hour trying to get it on. The sticky parts kept unsticking. The whole cup area kept falling off. And I never even got close to the "cleavage" it promised. After spending $45 on the sucker, I'm more than ticked. It came with two lines for directions and nothing else. Two lines!!! A woman with a Masters degree should be able to figure this thing out, but for the life of me, I can't.

Anyone ever used one of these torture devices?