>RWA Nat’l 7/11 & 7/12

Posted on July 22, 2007 by Annie Rayburn/Carol Burnside

>Okay, a couple days late, but I promised you “famous authors, a woman with a swan hat on – no, really – and more shoes!” So, let’s get started. My roomie and I slept in before attending the book fair and goody room and lunching with friend Lynn Raye Harris. Later in the day there was the literacy autographing with well over 400 authors signing. And that’s where the famous authors comes in.

Rita Herron – chapter mate and one of the nicest ladies I know. How can such a sweet person write such dark, suspense-filled books?

The awesome Alison Kent – who writes for both Kensington and Harlequin Blaze.

Nalini Singh, writes for both Berkley and Harlequin Desire. OMG, how cute is she?

And the woman with a swan hat on?

Yep. That’s none other than chapter mate Sherrilyn Kenyon/Kinley McGregor who delighted her fans with her elaborate outfit, complete with fanged teeth and green glittery eye makeup!

And I didn’t see them all individually. On Thursday, I met up with the Brainstorming Desirables online group at Monduel’s (bar) in the Hyatt.

From L-F: Marilyn Puett of the Writing Playground, Gail Dayton, Emilie Rose and Theresa Stevens, Managing Editor at Red Sage.

Another shot of the group:

From L-R, back: Tessa Radley, Me, Gail Dayton, Emilie Rose, Theresa Stevens. Front: Nalini Singh, Marilyn Puett.

And that’s still not all…

L-R: Michelle Celmer, Franny Karkosak, Juliet Burns and Tessa Radley.
Fun time, but SRO in the bar that afternoon – okay, most anytime during the conference. LOL It was a popular place.
Tomorrow: Spotlights on Red Sage and Kensington.
Posted in Everyday blather | 3 Comments

>RWA Nat’l – 7/10

Posted on July 19, 2007 by Annie Rayburn/Carol Burnside

>I’m back. I survived Nat’l and had a great time, but the telling of it requires a little backtracking. So bear with me, okay? An upper respiratory infection has kept me from blogging earlier in the week, but the doc gave me great meds.

Let’s go back in time to…Tuesday, July 10th. I’d already been in Dallas several days, visiting friends and my youngest older brother (I’ve got two.), so I returned my rental car to the airport, caught a pre-arranged shuttle ride to the hotel and checked into my room. Those Hyatt bellmen certainly do angle for the tips.

May I tell you about our restaurants and amenities?

May I fill your ice bucket?

Is there anything in the area you’d like to see?

Now he was a cutie, albeit a tad (ok, a lot) too young, but I had places to go and people to meet. (I did get him to tell me the quickest/cheapest way to the West End though.)

I’d finished unpacking and sent out a few phone messages when my roomie showed up. We squeeled, hugged, and chattered while her bellman tried the same number.
Here’s your bucks, dude. Now scram! We have catchin’ up to do.
Morag’s unpacking was a tad…er, more extensive than mine. For instance, shoes:
Yep, that’s the stash of an even dozen for a maximum of 6 days. And not a closed-toe in the bunch, seeing as she’s from Hawaii.
Eventually, I got responses to my messages and Morag and I had drinks at the bar before heading our separate ways for the evening.
Oh! Picture of my roomie. I have one from the booksigning.
Here we go…
Ain’t she cute? There was some snafu with her books – nearly all the Dorchester authors books actually – and all she ended up with to sign were her new cover flats for Perfidia. She doesn’t look too broken up about it. Of course, I wouldn’t be either if I were published and had a seat at the RWA Nat’l booksigning. Must be nice.

Okay, so where was I? Met friends. Yes. Elisabeth, Brooke, and Randy Jeanne. I LOVE these gals! (I’ll have to find a link for Elisabeth when I unearth her card from my suitcase.)

We ended up at Gator’s in the West End. My suggestion since the few times I’d been there it was a really packed, fun place.

Only this was a Tuesday. We were just about the only patrons in the joint, which meant attentive service (mostly). My Cajun Crawfish Nachos were yummy and the Alligator appetizer Elizabeth ordered was too. Can’t say much for the piano entertainment later on. Maybe he sounds better when there’s lots of noise and laughter in the place? Just for grins, Randy and I went up to the rooftop patio and took pics of each other and stuff like this Gator’s sign.

The picture above is of the last night. The one below is Randy with the too-cute outfit. Of course, she’s got the figure for it.

And that’s Day 1 of Nat’l in Dallas. We’ll skip the other pics, since I have boocoos with either Randy or me in them. You’ll get your fill of us before this recounting of my RWA Nat’l experience is complete.
Let’s see…tomorrow there’ll be famous authors, a woman with a swan hat on – no, really – and more shoes!
I know, huh? Always leave ’em with a cliffhanger.
Posted in Entertainment, Going Places | 5 Comments

>Jumping the gun

Posted on July 3, 2007 by Annie Rayburn/Carol Burnside

>As sure as I post this, I’ll think of something else to say before leaving town, but what the heck. In case you didn’t catch that – I won’t be posting for awhile. I’m heading out on Thursday for the RWA Nat’l conference in Dallas. I’m looking forward to visiting with some friends before it starts and visiting with online friends once it’s in swing.

So y’all stay cool (Literally! It’s HOT out there.) and check back with me after the 15th. You never know who’s picture might end up here. It might be YOU. 😉

Posted in Going Places, Here at home, Tues Tidbits | 4 Comments