By Jennie Lucas, author of The Innocent’s Dark Seduction (Harlequin Presents, Sept. 2009)
Last month was the annual RWA conference, and I’m already looking back with a glow of nostalgia! So I thought I’d share a mini photo album of some of the week’s best moments with Presents authors and editors…
Welcome to Washington DC!
At the start of our “speed bus” tour of the city on Wednesday–we saw the sights of DC in a hurry, crammed between our lovely late breakfast at the hotel and the Literacy Booksigning in the afternoon.
From left to right: Jennie Lucas, Sandra Marton, Kate Walker, Executive Editor Tessa Shapcott, Senior Editor Sheila Hodgson, and Janette Kenny. (Sharon Kendrick had wandered off someplace…was possibly flirting with some handsome man nearby?)
Sandra and Tessa on the tour bus. (Watch out for that Sandra–she’s a troublemaker. Got “shushed” by the bus driver for talking! Can you believe it??)
Taking a break on a spot along the Mall to cool down in the shade with lemonade (and a big carton of French fries, in my case!). Clockwise from top left: Sharon Kendrick, Janette Kenny, Jennie Lucas, Tessa Shapcott, Sandra Marton, Kate Walker.
For the past few years, Sandra Marton has hosted a party for HMB authors after the Literacy Booksigning. This year, she was feeling a bit under the weather, but still insisted on hosting a party for all of us at the hotel bar. (So gracious, with such class and such a kind heart–that’s Sandra!) A baker’s dozen of us from all lines out of the London office were there, some from Harlequin Romance and Historicals, many from Presents. The bar was packed but we managed to snag a few tables and push them together, then waited for 45 minutes for someone to come serve us! The bar was lamentably understaffed, with two poor waiters trying to satisfy about a thousand thirsty romance writers!
This picture from Sandra’s get-together that night just cracks me up. Can’t you just imagine what they’re thinking?
Lynn Raye Harris (on the left): “The table is EMPTY. Where are the drinks? For the love of heaven, why are there no DRINKS?”
Kimberly Lang (in the middle): “This is the smile that won me the title of Miss Toddler Alabama 20 years ago!”
Sandra: (on the right) “That waiter who looks like George Clooney keeps winking at me! I already autographed his book! For goodness sake, why won’t he leave me alone?”
Here I am with sweet new Presents author Janette Kenny, and the fab Kate Hewitt whom I’ve been dying to meet for ages!
On Thursday, we went to our Presents lunch at the Lebanese restaurant, which was totally amazing. But that story was already posted and you can see a picture of that here.
On Friday night, the Harlequin party was once again the MOST AMAZING PARTY in the history of the world! Once again our party ROCKED and it was the one that everyone who writes for different, less cool publishers crashed. How the heck do they do it every year? THANK YOU HARLEQUIN!
Three gorgeous editors who know how to light up a dance floor–Joanne Grant, Kimberley Young and Sheila Hodgson!
Somehow, Julie Cohen and I got dragged up onto the stage by the DJ, where we were forced to dance to the 1980s tune “Maniac” quite against our will! (Thanks to Harlequin Romance author Donna Alward for sharing this photo!)
Unfortunately, I didn’t get many photos at the party as I was lost in my own little dance world. (Those of you who were there know what I’m talking about!) Did anyone else take great photos to share from the conference? I would love to see them! (I’m looking at you, Sharon Kendrick–I want to see the one of you trying on that $5,000 Chanel coat when we went to Neiman-Marcus! Ooh!)
C’mon, girls, where are your pics? Link to them on your websites if you’ve got ‘em! And yes, I’m resigned to getting some payback from Lynn, Kimberly and Sandra after the way I put words in their mouths…I’m sure you girls will drag out some incredibly goofy photos of me as your revenge. But it was soooo worth it! 
Jennie‘s sixth book, the September release The Innocent’s Dark Seduction, comes out on shelves today!
Great photos Jennie! Love that photo from the HMB author dinner and, of course, you Maniacs!
BTW, everyone click the link to the wikipedia article about “Maniac”. Did you know the original lyrics were about a serial killer?! I’ll never think of that song the same way again…
~Amy
Oh, Jennie, Jennie, Jennie…
First of all, bless your heart for thinking I was a toddler 20 years ago. (And I’m probably smiling like that because I am responsible for the missing drinks…hic! ). Lynn’s picture and caption caused some tea-spewage on my keyboard, though.
Now… Let’s go see what’s on my camera, hmmm?
(To be continued…)
How did you KNOW what I was thinking?!?!? ROFL! I do look a bit shocked about something, don’t I?
I can’t seriously believe the bus driver shushed Sandra! The woman could barely talk! I wish I could have joined you all, but had to do that presentation at the Chapter Leadership Seminar. Breakfast was great, though! And meeting everyone. What a fun time. (I didn’t know you got dragged on stage. I must have been searching for a drink right about then…..)
Hi Jennie. Love the photo’s. BTW just finished reading Virgin Mistress Scandalous Love-child – one of the books I won in Kate Walkers comp. recently. Loved it! Take care. Caroline x
Looks as if you had a really fantastic time, Jennie! Thanks for sharing the pics.
I love that one of Kimberly. Though I reckon, if she was waiting for a drink, she might’ve been thinking about a certain Mr Bon Jovi…
It’s true, I did get shushed by the bus driver. Imagine being that horrid man’s wife!!
I was, truly, sick as heck during most of the conference–I had the sort of cold one starts to imagine might be fatal!!!– but I had an absolutely wonderful time, thanks to all the great HMB authors and editors and fans who were there.
Amy, thank you so much for posting everything for me! You’re the best!
And not only did you insert all my hyperlinks, you even added a few interesting ones of your own, like the “Maniac” bit. (Although it looks like the link has one extra “http” in there–just google it.) I had no idea about the background. That’s hilarious! (And clearly a good marketing move to change the lyrics–HA!)
Kim, I’m so glad you liked the picture–hehe–I loved it. Classic “action” shot. Your comment about the drinks made me laugh. If you really HAD taken all the drinks, I think twelve angry women would have knocked you to the floor!
Lynn, I’m so glad you’re not mad about my caption. (Although I suspect I will get my just deserts from you or Kim. Sometimes when I least expect it…WHAM!)
We missed you on tour! Please make a mental note not to sign up for ANYTHING like a leadership seminar in Nashville. National is for one thing only–seeing your friends! (Okay–also eating out, drinking cocktails, dressing up and dancing…guess that’s five things. I’m a writer, not a mathematician!)
Caroline, thank you so much for your lovely words! I am so happy you loved Virgin Mistress, Scandalous Love-Child. And congrats on winning Kate’s big contest!
Kate, I’m so sorry you weren’t in DC! And bummed that I won’t be able to party with you British girls in London next month. But hope you can come to Nashville? Or if not that, I’ve heard rumors that quite a few Presents authors might be coming for the 2011 New York conference…
As for Kim and Mr. BonJovi, I do seem to recall a raucous singalong (shoutalong?) to “Livin’ on a Prayer”!
Sandra, thanks again for the lovely night out, and for being so kind and gracious to everyone even though you were so sick! Ahhhh. Another famous Sandra Marton post-booksigning pizza party on the books!
These are great–and I love the captions! That photo of Lynn, Kimberly, and Sandra was priceless–what three different and yet unique looks! I’m trying already to make Nashville happen, I had so much fun this year!
Thanks to everyone I met there who made it such a wonderful conference.
Oh, what a fun week! It was great being welcomed so warmly into the Presents family. What a classy group of ladies! I can’t wait for next year’s conference.
Lynn, looks like my comment to you came out of moderation–yay!
Kate, I’m crossing my fingers for you to come to Nashville! You absolutely have to come! NOt taking no for an answer!
Janette, so glad you’re planning on Nashville already. See you next year!