Cool, I'll probably have my camera w me too!
Kirra

YES! Bring it! There will be lots of photo ops.

Hugs,
Liddy

I'm still raising an eyebrow that Jim's stuff isn't romance, and Shannon's is...yet Shannon isn't on any panels, and Jim is on 3.

Undoubtedly due to the heights of visibility that the TV series has created for Jim. His fan base has spread far beyond mere readers.

Shannon's got one release under her belt at this point, which is barely on the RT radar. At the time that the program was cemented, she had no track record whatsoever. (The program for next year is already in the works.)

Hugs,
Liddy

I am the official dogsbody and fan picture taker.

And thus one of the most important people there!

Sherri Kenyon has a dogsbody named Janet, who has an attitude that caused Bruce Campbell to term her the "lippy minion."  She wears that moniker with pride.

I aspire to warrant a lippy minion of my own.

This is going to be a fabulous week! I can't wait to meet you.

Hugs,
Liddy

Does anyone know what books Jim is bringing to sell at his table? I gave one of my sisters several of mine to read and need to go back and fill in my collection.

Kirra, there's a diferent local bookseller each year who provides the book stock for the signing. (Gotta love it, Kathryn goes for an indie instead of a chain!) This year, it's Katy Budget Books. http://www.katybooks.com/ Generally the publisher has the biggest say in what's on the table, although I did get to select three titles I wanted.

This is, of course, the view from the peanut gallery. The Name Authors at the larger tables around the perimeter of the room will have a wider selection and far more copies of each title.

I'm curious to see what shows up. It's common for some books to get lost or misplaced, and there will be authors sitting at a bare table or with only a couple of copies. Cathy had this happen, where only two or three copies made it to the signing. Since I get in before the general public, I race around and scoop up what I want, to make sure I get them. Call it compensation for helping distribute the books in the ballroom that morning. It works off excess energy - Crikey, I have to sit for three hours! Right through lunch! - and has a few perks.  Yeah, I'm one of those few writers who aren't drained by the constant socializing at this kind of event. I've been called a psychic vampire by a couple of frustrated introverts because my energy level tends to rise over the week. (I'm not feeding off them, I'm not, I say!)

Be sure to navigate the throng to find me. I look forward to seeing you there!

Hugs,
Liddy

Goody Bags???

Mickey's right, my publisher (Ellora's Cave) hosts the Wednesday night fantasy party. This year, it's got a Moulin Rouge theme. Authors and the EC stable of cover models get together in the late afternoon to stuff those 800 bags full of all kinds of things. Mostly promotional items from the authors and the publisher, but also some really cool giveaways - including the two decks of EC cover-art playing cards.

That party is what starts at 9. Most of the evening events at the convention begin at 9.

RT is one party after another although in recent years, Kathryn Falk has been leaning toward scheduled workshops and writing classes rather than the all-day reader-author schmoozes it used to be. Before the advent of all the e-publisher start-ups, it was a lot more print authors and die-hard readers. I know a number of NYC-pubbed authors who stopped attending when the balance tipped from mostly readers to writers and writer-wannabees. They now prefer to spend their promo dollars with a purely reader-focused event like Celebrate Romance.

But that's a digression.

My definition of the difference between a conference and a convention is this:

At a conference, you attend workshops and take notes and network diligently to advance your career.

At a convention, you throw glitter in your hair and dance with cover models.

Oh, and if you're at RT, anyone who wants to share the ride is welcome to meet in the lobby - maybe around 5:30? I'll be the rather tall, zaftig redhead with glasses and interesting jewelry.

See you next week!

Hugs,
Liddy

I like the looks of Image 44 on the Google gallery. Mysterious. Seductive.

Having red hair and gun-metal blue-gray eyes, I've always been partial to her. 

I kinda like personal avatars, but if the general consensus (i.e., Fred decides ) to go with themed avatars, I'm not going to squawk.

Fred, will you accept submissions of themed avatars for addition to the "stable"?