RT Convention 2017 - Wrap Up & What You Get Out of a Conference

Let's face it - conferences are expensive. Nobody is disputing that - even before you count in the bar bill :) So are they really worth it? What actually happens in that marathon of panels and parties? Hopefully my wrap up of last week's Romantic Times Booklovers Convention in Atlanta will give you some insight (spoiler - I love conferences, so I'm going to try and convince you they are awesome!).

Reader Parties - there are a lot. You will usually get some sort of snack and drink and swag. The truly awesome authors give books (raises hand and waves). I did a Beach Blanket Bingo party with probably 20 other authors (tip - we all shared swag. So when you get home, you can empty the bag and decide what to #1click). My bag was filled with a reader-a-holic bracelet, nail polish, 2 books, notepad, candy, book magnets...and some fellow authors did even more (#showoffs :) ). If you attend a party, you will walk away with your hands full and a smile on your face.

Avery Flynn, Lea Nolan, Eliza Knight and ME!

Craft Panels - I did three of these. The interesting thing was that I spoke to several people who came to listen who were not aspiring authors. They were just big-time readers who wanted to hear how the writing process works and soak up more of their fave authors in the flesh. Even more shocking, they seemed to truly enjoy themselves?!?!? The takeaway being that we authors do truly try to not just each, but make it a fun learning experience. I definitely got a lot out of the Newsletter workshop by the awesome Sarah Wendell of the Smart Bitches blog.

I presented on Seeking Your Voice, Seven Steps to Sensual Tension, and Worldbuilding in Every Genre. It was especially fun when Penguin Random House came to video our entire sensual tension workshop. Considering how many times Laura Kaye and I said the word 'cock', I'm really not sure what they plan to do with it...I met the awesome Lexi Blake, and immediately started reading one of her novellas on the train home.

Speaking of video, Random House also did a super fun ten minute interview video of me. Stay tuned for the Youtube link where I make up a story on the spot about a pirate and a tough-as-nails cop...

Book Signings - Here's where you can really rake in the free books. I *tried* to go to the Harlequin breakfast. For an event that was scheduled to last 90 minutes, they apparently ran out of bags and books from the biggest authors in only 15 minutes. By the time I got in I saw a mass of lines, no way to tell what author they went to, and no books left. But, had I gotten up early (anathema!)it would've been a haul. We did successfully do the Kensington party/signing - also a mad crush of people. But I got to hug Sonali Dev, so all the waiting in line was worth it. (Also full of snacks and drinks, for those of you keeping score). The Avon party/signing had the most books of all (and the best treats) by far (*note for strategizing next year!) and it was fun to hang out with all my new publishing peeps there. I got to sit next to the sweet and wonderful Kelly Jamieson at the Random House signing, and was thrilled to run out of my books in twenty minutes. The Giant Book Fair was loads of fun - loved sitting next to Lenora Bell - go buy her historicals!

No pictures to protect the innocent - yes, there were late nights in hotel rooms catching up with my friends. Yes, there was a wonderful dinner with my editor. And the noise level from the bar was still going strong every night no matter how late I went to bed. The best part - and what is always the best part of any conference - is the concentrated time with literally thousands of people who care just as much about books as you do. Everyone is friendly. I stood in the interminable line for coffee with Laura Stone - awesome! Did I know who she was before we started chatting? Nope. Didn't matter. We love reading (and/or writing). Period. So no matter how long you have to wait for the elevator or hate paying $5 for a muffin or, yes, have to stand in line for 20 minutes to get facetime with your fave author (#priceless) - it is worth it.

Trivia & Wisdom from #RWA13

Conferences are both great and frustrating...because quite often three terrific panels occur at the same time. There's no way to soak in everything. So here's a list of things I learned at #RWA13, from trivial tidbits to seriously worthwhile wisdom:

Always ask for a room on a low floor. The elevator wait time disappears, and it won't kill you to walk a flight of stairs. Especially if you skip your planned gym time twice for a friend who really needs to talk.
 
Dress for the job you want, not the job you have. Despite the misleading fun of long sessions at the bar every night, this is a business conference. Every interaction, no matter how small in a bathroom or elevator or luckily ending up next to them at lunch, is a potential job interview. You are selling yourself and your professionalism along with your book.

If your publisher is awesome and puts your book cover on an elevator wrap (even if your room is on the 1st floor!) you will find an excuse to walk past said elevator multiple times a day.

Does your chapter want to release an anthology as a fundraiser? If you license the rights through a publisher, your royalties are passive income and not taxed. If you self-pub it, you must pay taxes.

The annual Harlequin party at RWA is the stuff of legend. I've heard of people who wanted to contract with them just to get INTO the party. Well, all I'll say is that the hype - 100% correct. They had chefs hand-frosting cupcakes with a toppings bar. Amazing.


If your publisher asks you to participate in a spotlight, find out what time it is before agreeing. I kid. In actually, being a featured author in the Carina spotlight was one of the best things I did all week. At least half a dozen people stopped me throughout the conference to say how helpful my comments were. And that is what this conference is about: sharing your knowledge, and paying it forward.

Liliana Hart is amazing. Her success, and work ethic, are remarkable. If you are at all interested in ever self-publishing (or being a hybrid author, which was the newest, hottest trend this year), go see her speak. Or Bella Andre. Both will blow you away.

You will go home with many, many books. I was much more selective this year, and only came home with 38. Have stuffed all but four onto my bookshelves. Good thing we're moving so I have an excuse to buy another one!

Good newsletter tidbit - try to keep them under 600 words. Short and snappy, with only five sentence paragraphs, holds attention better.

There is apparently a huge problem with rabies in raccoons all along the Appalachians (learned that at the fascinating workshop by the CDC's Elite Disease Detective Corps).

Don't miss a single opportunity to brand yourself and your books (as illustrated by the awesome author of 1920s erotica, Stephanie Draven). Knowing your brand and sticking to it can make a huge difference.

Be sure to accept any and every offer from your publisher that could equal exposure. You can nap when you get home. Complain about the bags under your eyes (like I did, when I found out the interview I agreed to oh-so-happily would be videotaped), but suck it up and do it, because opportunities don't always repeat. Do everything. Talk to everyone.

Although the food may be questionable (I was served an identically sauced chicken breast three days in a row), go to the keynote luncheons. Go to the RITA awards. You will hear profoundly moving speeches that will motivate you for months to come. Kristan Higgins made me laugh uproariously, weep three separate times, and made me feel so unbelievably proud to share my gifts as a romance writer with the world.

Take lots of pictures. Because you and your chaptermates (waves wildly at MRW peeps) will never look so fabulous as at RWA.