One week…And Surviving RWA Back to Blog
It’s just one week until the release of DEADLY FEAR!!! Awesome! I can’t wait for my romantic suspense to be out in the world (and I sure hope folks enjoy it!).
And…also in just a week, I will leave for the annual Romance Writer’s of America National Conference. This year, the conference will be held in Orlando, Florida. Mickey’s house–here, I come!
If you are in the Orlando area, you should definitely come to the Literacy Autographing. This event is open to the public, and over 500 authors will be signing books–yep, I said over 500! (Proceeds from the signing are donated to charity.)
Here’s the Where and When info: The signing will be held Wednesday, July 28, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Walt Disney World® Dolphin Resort, Pacific Exhibit Hall, in Orlando, Florida.
So if you’re in the area, come on in! I’ll be autographing copies of I’LL BE SLAYING YOU and DEADLY FEAR.
And, since I’m talking about RWA, I thought I’d offer a few survival tips today for those folks who are registered to attend the conference. This will be my 3rd RWA conference, so while I don’t have what I’d term vast experience, I do have a few tips:
1. Keep business cards on your person (I keep mine tucked in the back of my nametag holder) at all times. You never know when you’ll meet an author, editor, or agent who will need your card.
2. Don’t ever arrive late at the meals. EVER. With almost 2000 authors there, those seats will fill up and you don’t want to desperately search for a spot when the luncheon speaker is already talking.
3. Don’t just stay with the folks you know. Talk to a stranger–or twenty. These events are about networking, so network!
4. Don’t forget band-aids and aspirin. Yeah, don’t.
5. Bring some energy bars to keep in your purse. You’ll need them.
6. If you wanted to pitch to an editor or agent but were told that person’s appointments were already full, don’t despair yet. You can check on the day of pitches to see if any folks cancelled (or just didn’t show up). Their absence can be your gain.
7. Ask questions. If you’re attending a workshop or a publisher spotlight, don’t be afraid to raise your hand and ask those questions that have been swirling around in your head.
8. Don’t bash. You never know who is walking behind you (or in the bathroom stall, etc). If you can’t say something nice…
9. Take advantage of the freebies…because there will be PLENTY of free books.
10. Don’t become so stressed that you forget to have fun. The event is a ton of fun–so enjoy yourself!
Got any tips you want to share?
Those are great tips. I sure wish I could go to one of these. They sound so awesome.
Have fun at the Mouse House! 😀
Wish I lived near Orlando, but way up north in Canada. I’ve started looking for Deadly Fear in the stores hoping it arrives early.
I am really looking forward to DEADLY FEAR, and I will be at the literacy signing. It’s the first time I’ve been to one, and I’m really excited. Hope to see you there!
Deadly Fear looks like a very good read. I wish I could be at the conference. I attended one a few years ago in Houston and had so much fun.
OOoh, I wish I could be there. Freebies sounds great…hehe!! I’m all the way over in Germany…boohoo. I was born on the wrong continent.
Have a great time. Looking forward to all the news.
Valerie
valb0302@yahoo.com
in Germany
I so wish I lived in Florida so I could go. Your tips are sound. Have a great time.
I’ll be there, and I have business cards. I’ll look for you at the signing. Liz, Michelle and I are going to the Harry Potter theme park on Tuesday.
Those are great tips. Wish I were going.
Great tips, wish I could be there!! Sorry to miss all the freebies!:( & you!!
Have a great time! I’ll be reading Deadly Fear while your there, thinking of you!
Ohh! Wish I lived close by!
Im jealous…500 authors all waiting to sign their book sounds like heaven to me lol…hope you have a blast! And if your one of those 500 signing that day…hope your hand doesnt cramp up easily 🙂
I’m with you on the networking. Don’t live by the schedule – always take the opportunity to talk to someone instead.
Does it still shower every afternoon in Orlando? I recall that it used to once upon a time, but it was generally of very short duration so no umbrellas were needed.
With 500+ authors, I would think that someone will have to stock up on waterless hand sanitizer.
Awesome advice! Sadly I won’t be going but I’m gonna file this away for later. I’m super excited about your upcoming book though 🙂
This sounds like so much fun; I would love to go one year…