by Jennie Lucas, author of Sensible Housekeeper, Scandalously Pregnant (Harlequin Presents Extra, September 2010)
The RWA National conference in Orlando, Florida that ended last month was a dream come true. It was my first time as a Rita finalist, and I was so happy to be joined by so many Presents authors, including fellow finalists Jane Porter, Kelly Hunter and Anne McAllister (although sadly Kelly and Anne weren’t able to attend). Here are some pictures of all the Presents girls having fun in Orlando!
The Disney Dolphin Hotel, where the conference was held.
On Wednesday a bunch of us (Historical and Presents writers and M&B editors) went to the Magic Kingdom in an outing organized by Harlequin Historicals author Michelle Willingham. From left: Kate Hewitt, Maisey Yates, Kim Young and Jennie Lucas. Kate and I kept commenting to each other repeatedly in shock, “My, it’s hot.” (Florida in late July – 97 degrees with deep humidity felt like breathing in warm water! My camera lens kept fogging up!)
At the literacy booksigning with my former editor Kim Young! Check out the Rita flag – turns out we get to keep them after the booksigning is over. (Either that, or I pilfered mine….shhhh.) I keep it in my office now, Jane, where do you keep yours?
“Here” is where a photo would be of Sandra Marton‘s ultra-exclusive pizza party, held this year in Jane Porter’s hotel suite. But it’s become an event too exclusive for photos IMO! Another fab year of wine and pizza and fun. Thanks Sandra!
(from left) Kimberly Lang, Sandra Marton and Lynn Raye Harris, at the big luncheon where Carole Mortimer (along with a few others) was given the RWA Centennial Award for publishing over 100 books! Somehow I didn’t get a picture of Carole with her award (did anybody get one???) but thanks to Kimberly, we got a super-close table and we were cheering and clapping for Carole along with two thousand other appreciative people!
At the Grand Floridian Hotel, right before Jane Porter hosted an elegant high tea for all her fellow authors and friends. From left: Jennie Lucas, Kate Hewitt, Jan Kenny, Lynn Raye Harris, Kimberly Lang, Sandra Marton. Many of us were dressed for the occasion in tea dresses. Kimberly and I both wished we had also worn flowery hats.
From left, Jan Kenny, Kate Hewitt and Caitlin Crews at the same party. It was an amazing tea hosted by Jane presented with champagne, tea, sandwiches, scones… and then yet MORE dessert! Thank you Jane, it was incredible!
Same tea party, two fab, gorgeous authors who came all the way from the UK: Carole Mortimer and Susan Stephens.
Here I am with the gorgeous Jane Porter herself, at the Rita finalists’ reception.
The Presents luncheon at the Grand Floridian hotel, clockwise from left: Carole Mortimer, Caitlin Crews, Kimberly Lang, Jennie Lucas, Maisey Yates, Jan Kenny, Jane Porter, Linda Fildew, Lynn Raye Harris, Jenny Hutton, Kate Hewitt, Joanne Grant, Sandra Marton, Susan Stephens.
At the amazing, incredible, to-die-for Harlequin party – from left, Maisey Yates, Kate Hewitt, Lynn Raye Harris, Jennie Lucas, Kimberly Lang. This was right before Kate and I did tequila shots (yes, Kate, I’ll never forget that or stop bragging about it *g*), and right before I went straight to the dance floor to dance like a fool all night. Dance, dance, dance – never leave the floor! Thank you Harlequin for the most amazing night of the year! AAAHHHH!!!!
Who says redheads can’t wear pink?
At the Rita gala! No one at our table won, but we all had fun – and everyone looked so glamorous! From left: Joanne Grant, Jane Porter, Kim Young, Jenny Hutton.
How does a girl celebrate not winning a Rita? By going out for a cheeseburger and fries at 2 a.m., to celebrate there’s a whole YEAR before she has to fit into her conference clothes again! (Whoo hoo!)
Thanks for another wonderful conference everyone – see you all in New York next summer! Mark your calendars NOW!
In the meantime, I’m looking forward to seeing a bunch of you in London next week for the Association of Mills and Boon Authors luncheon. What? Already time for another party and champagne?!! Well, if I must…. *g*
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Speaking of champagne and glamorous parties, my new book, Sensible Housekeeper, Scandalously Pregnant, about a handsome Argentinean tycoon who seduces his sensible housekeeper, is out this week in stores! Check it out at eharlequin or at my website – where you can also get the most amazing white chocolate caramel brownie recipe on earth, “The Housekeeper’s Million-Dollar Brownies“!
Ha! Jennie. all I could think is…what’s up with my lipstick in the harl party pic???
RWA was a blast, I had so much fun meeting you and everyone else. You looked like a winne on Rita night, that’s for sure.
(Should I leave out that we also hung out in the bar after? Though, there were no more tequila shots. you pansy)
And yes, redheads can wear pink. And purple. I think I was constantly in awe of the colors you can pull off with all your fabulousness.
Jennie, this conf in Orlando was one of my favorites!! I loved spending time with you and all the other incredible Presents authors. I am so lucky to call you all friends.
Jane
What a blast! Love all the pics — and there’s a couple of me I forgot were taken, LOL! I SO loved hanging with everyone this year. It was amazing and wonderful to spend my 2nd conference as a Presents author with all of you!
Looking forward to our Grand Tour next week!
Great photos, Jennie, and what a great conference it was. Thanks for bringing back the memories–including the tequila shots! I’m never doing that again!
Jennie, what great pix! It was a wonderful conference. Well, I don’t know about the conference. I mean, I’m sure it was great but what was totally super was all of us being together!
Ah, the exclusive pizza and wine party! I think we all just had so much fun we forgot to use our cameras. (Special thanks to Susan and Carole for joining me on our taxi run to stock up on vino and snacks, and to Jane for letting us use her suite… and for being able to snag a suite when I couldn’t!!!)
Looking forward to London with some of you next week, and (yes, already) to next July, NYC, and a fab time with a whole bunch of Presents authors and editors.
You all obviously had SUCH a good time and thanks for sharing your photos Jennie.
x
Wow, Jenny, great pictures! You all look so glamorous. I’m definitely going to make it to New York – fingers crossed…
Great pictures! And such a terrific time! What a treat to meet you all!
Thanks for sharing your great photos with us, Jennie! Looks like the conference was a blast
~Amy
Great pictures, Jennie! I had so much fun hanging out with all the Presents authors. And Jane’s tea party was such a treat!
Wish I was going to AMBA…
Can’t wait for next year in New York!
Jennie – great photos! I wish I’d been able to get there. It looks like you all had an absolute ball!
Maisey, you made me laugh about the tequila shots! Hehe! It was so great to finally meet you!
Jane, thanks again for a wonderful time at your tea party! It was fun to see you at all the Rita events too. But I’m pretty sure I still owe you a drink – you’re always so sneaky and so fast with your credit card… grrr….
Lynn, I can’t wait to see you on Tuesday at Heathrow for our fun week as roomies in London!
Kate, you know you’ll do tequila shots again next year. You get crazy at the Harlequin party *g*
Sandra, thanks again for another fab party, and can’t wait to see you next week in London!! Awesome!
Sarah, I wish you’d been in Orlando! But looking forward to seeing you in a few days too!
Christina, we missed you in Orlando but I’m so happy you’re planning to come to New York! Fingers crossed!
Caitlin, it was so great to finally meet you. You’re every bit as wonderful and funny as Jane said!
Amy, thanks for posting all my photos and captions! You’re awesome!
Kimberly, Lynn and I will miss you in London for sure! Who’s gonna correct my pronunciation of “scones” now, huh huh?
Annie, thanks for the nice words. I hope you can come to National someday, I would love to meet you! (You could travel in Anna Campbell’s luggage???) And I hope to make it to RWAust someday!
Yes, well, Jennie you know what a big drinker I am…
Lovely to meet you too! I hope you all have a blast in London!!
Great post and photos Jennie. Have a wonderful time in London and please take photos, that goes for the rest of you as well. Cheers!