Day Two, San Francisco: Is this hotel huge, or what?

Someone obviously did not get the shoe memo. To say that I am a little jealous of the women walking around here in stilettos is an understatement. (If I tried that, I’d be in traction.) There is lots to report. Of course, I am skipping out of the PRO retreat to do so. Linda Howard is speaking. I love Linda Howard. I can get the CD’s of all the speakers, though. (Sorry, Linda.)

Let me make a brief reference, then I will start with this morning’s fun and frolic. I just came back to the room from the keynote luncheon, which was delicious. The server staff here will make it tough to go home. The food’s very good and the service was even better! Victoria Alexander was our keynote speaker. I could go on for quite some time about what she had to say, but here it is in a nutshell: When one gets to a certain time of life, one realizes that no, some things are just not going to happen. We’re not going to be 25 again, no matter how much we spend on Creme de la Mer or Botox injections. We’re probably not running off to the Riviera with Brad Pitt. (Angelina Jolie already did that. Aren’t you dying to ask her if he does stuff like drink straight from the milk carton, or leave his dirty underwear on the bathroom floor? C’mon.  You KNOW you want to know!) Where was I? Oh. As a writer, I can do it all, even the things that scare the pee out of me in real life, in the pages of a book. For a few hours, authors get to help someone else escape from the every day. It’s not that the everyday is bad. We’d all like a break, though. Susan Mallery said the other day that she writes for the woman whose husband is on an extended business trip, the kids have the stomach flu, the washer’s broken, and finally, finally, those kids are asleep for a few hours. The washer repair person will be there in the morning, along with the husband who’s finally coming back. That exhausted mom sinks into a hot bath with her book, and it’s an hour or so, just for her.

Victoria was hilarious. At the same time, she spoke about things that we all find very, very true. We work alone. We talk to ourselves. The only people who are ever going to understand us is someone else who writes. There’s rejection and heartbreak and publishers who go belly up and agents who want to “go in a different direction”. Still, it’s the greatest job in the world — the ability to tell our stories.

I’ve been going to RWA National now for three years. I’ve heard some wonderful keynotes, and I don’t want to take one bit away from anyone who’s spoken before. At the same time, I just heard the best keynote I’ve ever had the pleasure to listen to. Thanks, Ms. Alexander, and thanks for the great room and pillow spray and the two books I can’t wait to dive into when I get back home again!

Okay. This morning.

The world’s greatest roommate, Heather Higgins, brought me a ham and cheese croissant from the bakery. It’s a good thing to eat.

I ran into Jane Porter and Anna Campbell in the lobby. Anna is my new BFF. She is the BEST. Jane, of course, said something so wonderful to Anna about me and my writing that I could hardly keep from bursting into tears. How lucky am I?

We headed out for the musical performance that opened the conference. I expressed a LOT of misgivings when I initially read the conference was being opened with an entertainer. It seemed odd. At the same time, the woman in question did a very nice job, even if she made everyone sing “I Left My Heart in San Francisco”. (Okay, fine, so I’m a musical snob. I loved Tony Bennett’s music long before his career resurgence. I think he’s a better singer than Frank Sinatra. Debate amongst yourselves.)

I had a nice chat with Megan Crane. I’m hoping she will be able to present a workshop at Emerald City Writers Conference next year.

The business meeeting: There was no quorum. There was another debate about the definition of what comprises “erotica”. There were a lot of (pointed) questions about how the cities that host the RWA conference get chosen. I’m still mad about the handouts thing, but I will express myself via letter. Later.

Now? I’m going back downstairs. I’m going to sneak into the back of Cherry Adair’s workshop and hope she’s okay with it if I’m late. (I’ve heard this workshop twice before; I will go AGAIN if she teaches it, because it’s hugely valuable information. Plus, Cherry is the wittiest, the sassiest, and one of the more wonderful people I’ve ever met, period. Any time at all with her is a treat.) After that, I need to run an errand (personal to The Dauphin: No, honey, I’m not going to Bloomingdale’s this afternoon,) and then it will be time for the Cherries dinner.

All good thoughts and healing go out to our friend Aurrora from the Greater Seattle chapter, who is a very sick young lady right now. Get well soon, sweetie. We are all thinking of you and hoping you will be feeling much, much better ASAP.

-S

San Francisco, Day Two: Big, BIG News!

News FLASH!

It seems the RWA National Conference will be making its debut this Friday morning on the “Today” show!

Sarah from www.smartbitchestrashybooks.com has the scoop:

http://www.smartbitchestrashybooks.com/index.php/weblog/comments/big-news/#com

Friday morning on the Today Show, Jane from DearAuthor, Kassia
Krozser, Marcella White Campbell, and yours truly will be on during
the 8am (eastern) hour talking about economics and global warming with Beverly Jenkins.

Just kidding – we’ll be talking about romance novels on The Today
Show. Tune in and see how awesome Marcella is discussing the genre.  Jane too.

Go get ‘em, Sarah and friends, and we’ll be tuning in to watch!

-S

San Francisco, Day One and a Half: The literacy signing is over. Plus, Susan Elizabeth Phillips is following me around!

See? I try to take a picture, and that pesky SEP sneaks into it. What is up with her, anyway? She’s a RWA lifetime achievement award winner, a multiple NYT bestselling author… She’s the one in the peach jacket, running away from me. Again. Hopefully, she doesn’t know about the shrine to her in my office.

Ahhh. It’s a couple of hours since I was in a ballroom with several thousand conference attendees and 450 romance authors, but the memories (and the fact I was much, MUCH too warm – ewww!) live on. The line you see above is but a fraction of the line we endured to even get into the ballroom. I heard a nasty rumor that the “Today” show was filming this evening, so perhaps The Dauphin will spot me in the crowd.

This is my strategy at the literacy signing these days: I hate waiting in an hour-and-a-half line to pay for whatever I’ve bought, so I give a donation on my way out the door, and visit with my author friends instead. It’s fun to see the people that don’t have the GIGANTIC lines in front of their tables (see Roberts, Nora and Kenyon, Sherrilyn). I did wait in a couple of lines to say “hi”, of course. Here’s how it went.

Kristan. If I didn’t love her, I’d have to hate her.

Yes, she has looked this beautiful and unruffled since 9 a.m. this morning. She was greeting many, many people, who all wanted to tell her how much they love her books. I had to make my appointed rounds, so off I went.

I stopped to talk to Leslie Langtry, whose books make me laugh till — well, it’s embarrassing. Leslie writes romantic comedy. She has two books out about a family of assassins (!). Of course, they only kill the bad people. They’re funny, wonderfully written, and I am a huge fan.

Susan Mallery was there! She got some chocolate from me, and another huge “thank you” for treating us to lunch. She is the greatest. If you ever have a chance to hear her workshops, do whatever you have to do to get there, and take notes like crazy, because you’ll refer to them over and over again.

Next on my list was Jane Porter. I had to go and visit her to see how she’s doing. (The Seattle people have to stick together.) She had many adoring fans as well.

Of course, the hall was packed with Cherries. Cherries hang out on Jennifer Crusie’s fan loop. Cherries are as intelligent, sarcastic, hilarious, and dazzlingly beautiful as their leader. The Cherries dinner is tomorrow night at a certain local restaurant. I trust the authorities have been alerted.

I went to stand in line to thank Julia Quinn for sending an autographed book to our grandma. Grandma decided she was down with the whole romance novelist thing when she heard on NPR that they take massive amounts of research to write. I asked her if she wanted to read one of Julia’s books, because she is the master of her genre — the beautifully written and funny Regency. Grandma really enjoyed it. Julia, thank you again, and the book’s now making the rounds of our aunties!

Okay, I’m wandering through the room. My next victim stop was Anna Campbell. She published two wonderful books last year — “Claiming the Courtesan” and “Untouched”. Here’s my thing. Yes, I am a fangirl, but I own it. It is HARD to write a book, and even harder to write one that people reread and want to keep. Both of the above books are keepers for me. Plot, character arc and development, dazzling writing — she has it all.

Here’s the deal amongst those of us who write. If the author in question makes me forget about the mechanics of plot construction and I’m reading because I love the story, she’s on my ”keeper” list.  I’m somewhere else during the hours I’m reading that book – in the world of characters, setting, and how it all plays out.

I visited for a few minutes with Joanna Bourne. This all goes for her, too. My friend Leinie told me about “The Spymaster’s Lady”. (Think James Bond set in the 1800’s.)  I could not put that thing down till I was DONE. Wow!

Of course, I had to visit with Sandy Blair. She is a wonderful author, and someone who always makes me smile, because she’s just a sweetheart. She also gives great advice. She asked me what was going on with my career since I last saw her. I realized that yeah, I’d made a lot of progress since last year! She’s working on three different projects right now, one of which is a contemporary! I can’t WAIT to read it. Sandy’s also a member of the Wet Noodle Posse, one of the more famous critique groups within RWA.

The bar in the lobby was wild. There were hundreds of people downstairs. I said to the guy sitting across from me, “You must be enjoying the people-watching.” We started chatting, and lo and behold, he’s Marianne Stillings’ new husband! He and his bride left for dinner, and I decided to come back to the room.

Guess who was in the elevator? Susan Elizabeth Phillips, out of all the elevators in this city, you end up in mine AGAIN? (I’m teasing. SEP’s the greatest.)

Tomorrow, I’ll try to report about some of the workshops I’m going to. I’m also going to (hopefully) hear Linda Howard’s remarks at the PRO retreat. Till then, it’s time for bed!

-S

Yes, we’re here in the city by the bay: RWA National in San Francisco, Day 1

It’s the best breakfast in San Francisco, and possibly the best breakfast in the world — Dottie’s True Blue Cafe!

Our story begins on a sunny day in beautiful San Francisco, during which a dazed and sleepy redhead learns she’s one of 2300 women descending on the San Francisco Marriott until Sunday…

I don’t wake up easily under the best of circumstances, and asking me to get out of bed before daybreak — there’d better be something special in the offing! The Dauphin dropped me off at Sea-Tac yesterday morning at a little after 6:30 a.m. I was in San Francisco by noon. There were four other National-bound authors on my flight. In the meantime, I was lucky enough to be sitting in the seat in front of Jane Porter yesterday. Jane’s sweet and funny. Plus, she kept me talking through most of the flight, which distracted me from the bumpy stuff going over the mountains. We were having a chat about the plot of her new book. I can’t wait to read it. Plus, I think the subject matter of this latest book will resonate with even more women than “Flirting With Forty”, “Odd Mom Out” and “Mrs. Perfect” already have.

Kristan (my friend, the RITA nominee!) and I went across the street to a bistro for dinner. Note to self: Get another raspberry Mojito as soon as humanly possible.

The fog rolled in during the night on little cat feet. It was really tempting to roll over and go back to sleep, but I have been dreaming about visiting San Francisco’s Dottie’s True Blue Cafe again for ten years. I pulled on my clothes, went outside, and found a cab. My roommate, the lovely Heather, was nice enough to join me, and we had a wonderful breakfast!

I picked up my registration stuff and got a hug from Vicki Lewis Thompson. I’ve been going to National for three years now. The first year: “Oh, my God, there’s so-and-so. I want to talk to her, but — she looks busy.” The second year: “Hey. She’s nice. I should say “hi”.” This year: “Hey! I remember you! How are you? What’s going on?” It is great to see people I finally worked up the nerve to say “hi” to or ask them a few questions about their work, and they not only remember me, they’re warm and friendly.

Speaking of warm and friendly, I got to have lunch this afternoon with two of my favorite people, and one of my new favorites! Susan Mallery (brand-new RWA Honor Roll member, and Ms. New York Times bestselling author,) Kristan, Dee and I spent a wonderful afternoon at a local restaurant. I wish I could remember all the gems Susan shared with us about plotting, character arc, and how it feels to have written and published 111 books. Yes, you read that right. I have learned so much from Susan over the last three years, and I look forward to all the stuff I’m going to learn from her during the seminar she’s teaching this week as well. Something really sweet happened while we were at the restaurant. Susan had just mentioned a few minutes before that people don’t recognize her when she’s out in public, unless it’s other authors. Surprisingly enough, one of the chefs working in the restaurant this afternoon recognized her! The manager of the restaurant asked if Susan would be willing to sign a menu for the employee. Susan was only too happy to do so. A few minutes later, an amazing complimentary dessert arrived at the table, and the chef was finally coaxed out of the kitchen to say “hi”.

It is thrilling to watch readers react to those we all know who are bestsellers. It is such a thrill for them to meet someone we know well, and it’s a thrill for the author to hear how much someone loves her work. If you’d like to learn some more about Susan, please go to www.susanmallery.com.

We arrived back at the hotel, got into the elevator, and ran into Susan Elizabeth Phillips and Kristin Hannah!

I’ll write more later after the literacy signing, which is 450 authors, lots of conference attendees, and raising money for a cause we’re passionately supportive of. Let’s just say that it’s a great time at National, and we only wish YOU were here, too!

-S

My friend Kristan’s new book is out TODAY!

There are few things better in life than something wonderful happening to a dear friend, and today, I get to celebrate with her! Kristan’s third book hit the shelves at a store near you this morning. I read it almost a month ago. (I sucked up to the author till she sent me an advance copy.) I loved it. I think you’ll love it, too.

Chastity O’Neill is six feet of girl power that’s been stuck with the “just one of the guys” label since she can remember. It doesn’t help that she has four older brothers and a father that are firemen. There’s also an unofficial member of their family, Trevor Meade, that Chastity’s loved ever since she could remember. Of course, Trevor is oblivious — or is he?

Join Chastity as she and Trevor finally figure out there’s much more than they ever dreamed between them.

I love Kristan’s books. They make me laugh, make me cry, and make me remember what it was like to fall in love with the everyday guy who stole my heart. As I’ve written before, I also love her characters. Kristan’s readers want to visit the diner Maggie runs, spend some time with lobsterman Malone, watch Joe on a construction job, or visit the bar that Chastity hangs out at with her older brothers. She makes them (and their East Coast hometowns,) come alive in the pages of her books.

Kristan, I am so excited for you! I know this book will be a huge success, and here’s to many, many more!

-S

p.s. If you’d like to buy Kristan’s latest, please go to http://www.amazon.com/Just-One-Guys-Kristan-Higgins/dp/0373772998/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1217396631&sr=1-1

 

The book has gone to the agent

It only took me a year.

Thanks, Kristan, for all your help. I could never have done this without you.

-S

It’s Julian Peterson’s and my birthday today!

Julian Peterson, asking the Qwest Field crowd for noise, noise, NOISE!

Photo/Seattle PI

Even if I am president for life of the Patrick Kerney Fan Club, Julian Peterson is STILL My Favorite Seahawk. After all, we share a birthday! He is the best outside linebacker in pro football, and he gives great and funny interviews. If I am ever fortunate enough to meet Julian, I’m going to have to ask him how he got his first name. I’m sure his parents had it all picked out before he made his debut. My parents, on the other hand, quibbled over my first name. A lot. One couldn’t take a baby home from the hospital in those days till a name was duly recorded, so I’m named after the month of my birth.

In the meantime, it’s always a good excuse to post my favorite cake recipe. This cake is dense, and not so sweet. It’s also so rich that the only people who should be eating it at all are professional athletes, who probably burn the calories in their sleep. The rest of us can just have a sliver!

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/CHOCOLATE-STOUT-CAKE-107105

Chocolate Stout Cake

Cake
2 cups stout (such as Guinness)
2 cups (4 sticks) unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder (preferably Dutch-process)

4 cups all purpose flour
4 cups sugar
1 tablespoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
4 large eggs
1 1/3 cups sour cream

Icing
2 cups whipping cream
1 pound bittersweet (not unsweetened) or semisweet chocolate, chopped

You’ll have to visit the link for the rest of the directions. One thing’s for sure, this cake is a bit of work, but it’s worth every second when you take your first bite.

What am I doing today? Well, I’m getting ready to fly to San Francisco for the RWA conference. I’ll probably have some cake later. Our favorite restaurant is closed today (www.nanacarmelas.com) , so I’m thinking I may wait for that big birthday dinner till I come back. In any case, I plan on having some fun!

Happy Birthday, Julian, and happy birthday to me!

-S

p.s. Just in case you forgot to go shopping (and have $650 burning a hole in your pocket), I need these in a size 8. My feet are probably too wide for them, so I’ll just put them on my desk and admire them…

The Mariners’ Dave Niehaus is inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame today

Photo: Dean Ruiz, Seattle Times

Congratulations, Mr. Niehaus. There’s nobody that deserves this more. We love you!

-S

No conference workshop handouts: Thanks a lot, RWA

I have to make a general announcement to the readers of The Little Pink Clubhouse. For the next week, I’ll be blogging the Romance Writers of America’s conference in San Francisco. I will be covering other subjects (my Seattle Seahawks are in training camp!) but it’s all romance, all the time till next Sunday!

Without further ado, let’s introduce a subject that’s left a thorn in the side of a large number of those attending RWA’s national conference this year. The workshop handout binder that’s typically given to all attendees? They’ve decided not to print them this year.

Another attendee has spoken her mind on this issue.

http://www.leeannburke.com/blog/2008/07/16/rwa-national-conference-handout-fiasco/

Ok so I have to print my own copies of 279 pages pack it and hope like hell it won’t increase my luggage weight over the minimum now enforced by air carriers. Have they refunded us the amount of this cost? No. Are they sending out a clear and precise note to everyone who registered that they are to print their own copies? Nope, the note they sent told us we could now download the handouts and hidden deep in the email was a tiny little note about not having handouts at the conference.

Rawk on, Leeanne.

I’ll be attending my third RWA national conference this year. I am a note-taker to the tenth power, because it’s how I learn. When I am taking notes, I’m taking them in the conference binder attendees have been given for years now. Yes, it’s 250+ pages. I pack that thing around for several days. When I come home, I read over the notes I’ve taken again, and again, and AGAIN. (I have the notes I took from Deb Dixon’s “GMC” class in Atlanta two years ago on my desk right now, for instance.) It’s a handy method of keeping them all together. Plus, I can read the handouts from other classes I didn’t have time to go to. This is how I justify the expense of National — the classes are something I can’t get on a local level, for the most part. If they were so concerned with “going green” and the expense involved in printing 2,000 handout binders, why not print them for those who expressed the desire at registration to receive one, and give “the majority” the CD they asked for instead? RWA can negotiate much more favorable printing rates than a conference attendee standing in the hotel’s business center can (which is one of the suggestions they’ve made for those unhappy with this decision).

There are probably those who are wondering why I have my panties in such a wad over something that ultimately, I can do nothing about. The decision’s been made. (We’ve received three different excuses as to why the decision’s been made. I’m wondering why an organization populated by writers can’t seem to improve their communication skills, but that’s a rant for another day.) Here’s my damage: This is the latest in a long series of takeaways by conference organizers, and I’d sure like some truthful explanations as to why.

Our conference is in San Francisco this year. San Francisco’s expensive. Most would agree. Our conference fee went up $75.00. The conference hotel “sold out” almost immediately, as it does every year. The official word is that the hotel “won’t give more rooms”. I’d like to know how the hotel doesn’t give more rooms to a group of two thousand when we’ve rented it for the week.

We lost two meals. Not a big deal, you’re saying? One of those meals is the Saturday afternoon luncheon. Saturday is the longest day of this conference, seeing as how classes begin at 8:30, run till 5:30, and attendees are then getting ready for the awards ceremony at 8. We have a forty-five minute lunch break at noon. I talked to a restaurant one block from the hotel last Thursday while making a reservation for three on Wednesday for lunch. They had no idea there was a conference in town. Imagine how fun it will be for them (and every other eatery within running distance of the hotel) when they’re descended on by conference attendees that have 45 minutes to order, eat and run back for the afternoon sessions.

I’m at National this year for the classes and for my RITA nominee friends. Yeah, I have a good time. At the same time, this is my career. When the frustrations involved in attending National outweigh the value received, perhaps it’s time to really “go green” and offer another alternative. How about suggesting that the three main regional conferences — New Jersey, Chicago and Seattle — be used as “mini Nationals”, with $upport from the main organization?  How about streaming National’s workshops and the awards ceremony on the Web for a fee?

It’s ideas. In the meantime, I’m back to packing!

-S

Top DOJ lawyers spoke “in code” for fear of being wiretapped by the White House

Yup, that warrantless wiretapping program is completely benign. It would never, ever be used against our own citizens — or the government employees tasked with enforcing the laws of our country. Ohhh, noooo. :sarcasm:

Just one more story that should get steam shooting out of the ears of the average freedom-loving American…

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/07/26/doj-codes-lunatics/

Last night on PBS, Bill Moyers interviewed investigative journalist Jane Mayer and mentioned that in Mayer’s new book, she notes that FBI agents refused to participate in the CIA’s interrogation of terror suspects at Guantánamo Bay because they determined it to be “borderline torture.” Moyers then asked, “Who were some of the other conservative heroes, as you call them, in your book?”

Mayer remembered one top Justice Department lawyer and “very conservative member of this administration” who said that after participating in White House meetings authorizing torture, he believed that “lunatics had taken over the country.”

Mayer said two other top DOJ lawyers had to develop a system of speaking codes because they feared they were being wiretapped while others described an “atmosphere of intimidation,” mainly from Vice President Dick Cheney.

Please make your way to Think Progress to read the rest of the story.

Here’s a question: Have you censored yourself on the phone lately? How about your e-mail communications? The vast majority of our elected officials may not find it chilling and upsetting to read stories like the above, but I’m betting most Americans would.

-S