Back from my first Romance Writers of America conference. Actually, my first ever conference. Go big or go home, right? It was...busy, overwhelming, and great. Busy pretty much goes without saying - women everywhere, a few guys (which was cool), workshop after workshop. Overwhelming because I was surrounded by published writers and pre-published writers so far ahead of the curve I'm afraid I won't catch up. Great because I met so many wonderful women, learned things I can actually apply, and I am so keyed up I think I can actually write 20 pages a day like Candace Havens - http://www.candacehavens.com. I really enjoyed her workshop - Fast Draft.

I got the chance to chat with Stephanie Tyler and Larissa Ione - tons o'fun. They're so funny and genuinely kind. I shook hands with Sherrilyn Kenyon, chatted with Keri Arthur, got Kim Harrison to sign a book for my mom, and sat next to the lovely Heather Webber for lunch - can't very well say we had lunch together - she's so sweet. Then there are the Romance Divas - what a great bunch. So funny and maybe just a little rowdy.

I attended some stellar workshops and some not quite so stellar. I loved Candace Havens, Virna DePaul, Christie Ridgway, Deb Dixon, and Tracy Wolff. Thank you - cause I know you'll see this post.

So even though I felt like a poseur-wannabe, especially when everyone congregated in the atrium, at the luncheons and outside the workshops, in the elevators...where was I? Right. Poseur. It's a darn good thing I'll go anywhere alone.

Oh, to top things off I won free registration to next year's conference. Oh yeah baby, California here I come. It pays to volunteer.