Well the conference has been over for 3 weeks but I’m only now expressing my 
experiences. Had a nice vacation with the family at Disneyland and LA. Now it’s back to the real world and catching up with things.
On Tuesday 24th July, triple Rita finalist Vicky Dreiling and I head off to the airport and our conference adventure. Both of us were very excited to be rooming together and getting to meet lots of online friends. I’m a nervous flyer but managed to snooze and read my way through a 3 hour flight that had us landing at Orange County 30 minutes early.
We were picked up by the fabulous Beth Yarnall who I’d met online only a couple of months ago. Vicky and Beth are old online friends and this was the first time they met too. It was so nice of her to pick us up. She took us to lunch overlooking the ocean, for a pleasant hour I could almost imagine myself back in Western Australia, lunching at Cottesloe. I haven’t seen the ocean in 2 years so I was nice to see it again.
After lunch we were back at the airport picking up fellow friend Kiersten Krum, who I met in February at the West Houston RWA Emily meeting – which she won her category for!
After collecting Kiersten we headed to the hotel. I was anxious to get there because I was finally, after over 10 years, meeting two really good, special, amazing friends. The wonderful Dee Tenorio and the most fabulous website designer ever Katrina Glover (KIKAwebdesign). It was the best feeling to meet and catch up with them. My phone died so I couldn’t get a photo of the 3 of us on my phone but I know Kat got a photo. To be able to meet people that have been a huge part of my life for the last to years was pretty unbelievable. But I did get a picture with Dee later in the conference and here we are!
After saying a huggy goodbye I headed up to the room to get ready for dinner with fellow West Houston friends. As I walked into the restaurant I ran into a fellow twitter friend Donna Alward. We shared a hug, which I know was special because Donna doesn’t give out hugs lightly. 🙂 After a nice meal I caught up with the Aussie/New Zealand contingency. Oh to hear the Aussie accent and get hugs from people I haven’t seen for 4 years. I wish I could’ve stayed longer with them and spent a whole day with them. It made me miss home a lot.
Finally my early morning and the two hours I had gained caught up with me and I had to call it a night. But it was a fantastic start to my RWA 2012 conference experience.
More to follow!!
On Saturday 1st October it was the Australian Rules Football (AFL) Grand final, between Collingwood and Geelong. AFL is one of the main sports in Australia. But it doesn’t get shown over here in Houston. Fortunately the Grand Final was being shown. I was pretty excited, problem was it was going from 11pm Friday night to 2.30am Saturday morning. I really wanted to watch it so I thought, yep I’m going to stay up.
Another thing that was happening was the West Houston RWA Chapter’s annual writing contest The Emily was closing at midnight on the 30th Sept. Another reason to stay up late.
So at 11pm I turn the TV to the channel showing the game and started to watch. As well as watching for contest entries, I was on twitter.
Oh my goodness I had so much fun tweeting with so many fellow authors back in Australia. There was Maggie Nash – a mad Collingwood supporter. Soon we were joined by Fiona Lowe – a mad Geelong supporter – recipe for disaster – never, not with romance writers. Soon Alison Stuart and Nicola Marsh joined us. There were a few other authors tweeting now and then but they weren’t watching the game.
Between those ladies and my determination I made it to the final siren and had one of the best grand final experiences I’d ever had. A date has been made for same time next year. So thanks ladies for making it so much fun and for keeping me awake!!
This is why I love Romance Writers.
NF
Well I had a fairly good reading month this month. I read a total of 9 books, a combination of books from my paper TBR pile and e-book TBR pile. Of course, I bought another bundle of books so I don’t think my pile will ever get down to nothing!
The first book I read was started in February and I finished in March. It was Spanish Magnate, Red-Hot Revenge by Lynn Raye Harris. This was Lynn’s first book and she won a contest that was put on by the I Heart Presents blog. She got an editor for a year. It was a good book, very much the old traditional Presents story.
The second book was another debut novel by a fellow West Houston RWA Chapter member Vicky Dreiling. The book was How to Marry A Duke. It was a fun read. A historical take on “The Bachelor”. I really liked the interaction between the main characters and am really looking forward to the next book. Another rogue is going to be tamed!
My next book was by a favourite author of my Laura Iding. She writes Medical Romances and this story was, not a continuity, as such, but involved the same hospital involved in a few of her stories. It was good to see some of the familiar characters again. I always know I’m going to get immersed quickly and have a fulfilling read – this was no disappointment.
Next was onto one of my favourite Aussie authors – Trish Morey. Her book His Mistress for a Million was a good read. It was again, along the lines of the true Alpha male. I wouldn’t have minded if the heroine had a bit more spunk, but it was her character to be too trusting, so in the end it worked really well.
It was a bit of a historical month. My next one was the first in a trilogy and of course, now I must read the other two! This was another new author for me. Robyn DeHart. She did a talk at my West Houston chapter and her book was really enjoyable. An adventure that had kidnapping, treasure hunting and an exclusive club. It was a fabulous read.
Ahh the next book was by another favourite author. Had a few this month. It was After Their Vows by Michelle Reid. It was an interesting premise with the hero cheating on his new wife. Hmm kind of had a sick to the stomach feeling but she’s my fave author, she won’t disappoint me. And she didn’t. I won’t give anything away but it was a very satisfying read.
Now the next three books I read was a series about 3 brothers. It was by an author I do enjoy. I enjoyed the first book, good premise but unfortunately it felt a bit like a scooby finish. Tied up very quickly and I kind of don’t feel it was resolved. The next two books kind of disappointed me. I liked the stories but it seemed very disjointed. In the second book, there were about three passages that were repeated word for word. And the third book, seemed to jump around, I actually wonder if some of the book wasn’t printed. A scene ended and the next started in a completely different place. I felt there was so much more to the stories that I missed out on. I know how hard it is to write a book, so I’m not naming the author or the books. I was just a little disappointed.
Today is 1st April so it’s going to be the start of new adventures, and I can’t wait!!
NF
