By Jennie Lucas, author of Reckless Night in Rio (Harlequin Presents Extra, July 2011)
The RWA National conference was held this year at the Marriott Marquis right on Times Square, with approximately 2,000 romance writers and readers! It was crazy busy, packed with people both inside the hotel and at the front door! Check it out…
The first night at conference, a bunch of us went out for dinner at an Italian restaurant. From left: Janette Kenny, Abby Green, Sandra Marton, Michelle Willingham. Abby, with her Irish lilt, quite famously managed to charm our waiter out of a free cannoli. (The scandalous hussy!)
The next morning we went on a speed tour of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, followed by brunch at the Upper East Side home of Presents author and gorgeous Rita finalist Kate Hewitt.
At Sandra Marton’s annual post-booksigning party! Always such a blast! Here I am (left) with Lynn Raye Harris.
Lynn is known as the shoe diva among Presents writers. Check out her idea of a comfy walking shoe…
At Sandra’s party, the irrepressible Sharon Kendrick shows off the brand-new coat she might (or might not) have snuck out early from the booksigning to procure…
Louis Vuitton queen Carole Mortimer models her latest handbag, aided by the saucy Susan Stephens.
The next day, all the Presents authors were invited to Jane Porter‘s fabulous annual event, her High Tea – held this year at the world-famous Plaza Hotel! Check out the gorgeousness:
Inspired by the recent royal wedding, Maisey Yates (on right) and I plotted for months about our fascinators for Jane’s tea. (Maisey ended up very 1940s, while I went for the 1950s.)
At tea, from left: Jane, Kimberly Lang, Melanie Milburne
From left, gorgeous Lynn and awesomely super-talented Caitlin Crews
Smiling over a little pre-tea-and-crumpets champagne, Carol Marinelli and Abby
Note from Amy: Jennie has so many great photos, we need two posts to share them all! Check back tomorrow for part two!
Jennie, dahling, we were FABULOUS.
YOU were fabulous Maisey!!
Maybe next year *everyone* will wear hats to Jane’s tea. That would rock.
Seriously, going through the photos I couldn’t believe how much fun we packed into just a few days. I’m still recovering!
Photos of our white stretch limo, editor luncheon and the Harlequin party tomorrow.
Great photos. It is so great to see how everyone looks. I’m so sorry I missed NYC but will be in California next year.
These are sooo lovely…..brings it all back. If I close my eyes for a moment I can almost imagine I AM back. Sigh.
Thanks, Jennie.
ps. I won’t wear a hat unless told specifically not to wear one; I hate dress codes!
Thanks, Sir John!
Sharon: next year you are absolutely FORBIDDEN to wear a hat. And you’d better not wear a brightly colored fascinator with a feather, or else.
Wonderful pictures!!! But those shoes aren’t too high. What are you talking about?!
That is not a very nice picture of me. I assure everyone that I was not a bored, sullen, party-pooper at Jane’s lovely tea!!
Hi everyone! I am finally back from the US. Wasn’t it fabulous? It was so wonderful meeting you all. Thanks for sharing the photos with us.
Can’t wait till next year.