July 29, 2008
My RWA Greatest Hits
Written by EmilyMcKay in Jaunty PostI’m writing this blog early because by the time it posts, I’ll be in San Francisco at the RWA National Conference. National is one of my favorite times of the year, second only to Thanksgiving and Christmas (or would that be third only?).
So what exactly do I love about National? Besides the general feeling that it’s the best pajama party ever, I just love being with that many people that love books—romance in particular—as much as I do. I love being somewhere where you can strike up a conversation with almost any random stranger and have something in common with them. Love being able to start a conversation with the question, “So Darcy or Knightly?” and have people know just what I’m talk about. Or for that matter, “Morelli or Ranger?” (For the record, I fall firmly in the Morelli camp, but love both Darcy and Knightly so much, it’s impossible to choose.)
But in addition to all those wonderful reasons to love National, I also love randomly running into famous writers. Or even the not-so-famous ones that I just happen to love. So here’s a quick list of the authors I’ve met and gushed over:
• Judith Arnold – At my very first national (Dallas ’96), practically trembling with excitement, I walked up to Judith Arnold’s spot at the booksigning and poured out to her how much I adored her book, Loverboy. We’re talking a good five or ten minutes of gushing. Only to have the person sitting behind her name tent say, “Judith just left to go to the bathroom. She’ll be right back.” I slunk away, embarrassed. It was another seven years before I had the courage to approach the real Judith Arnold and tell her how much I loved her book.
• Rita Clay Estrada – Yep, that’s one of the Ritas that the award was named after. I ran into her on the elevator at the New Orleans conference in 2001, where I was proudly sporting my Golden Heart pin. It was truly an honor to meet her.
• SEP – That same year I sat just two people down from Susan Elizabeth Philips at the Rita ceremony when she won her third Rita and made it into the RWA Hall of Fame. That Rita got carried down the row past me. I was proud just to be there.
• Iris Johansen – I ran into her on the way to a “first-timers” workshop, asked her directions and then asked if she was going there too. Only then did I glance down, see her name tag, and realize my faux pas. Thankfully, she was very gracious.
And I guess that’s the thing I really love most about National. Every time I turn around, I’m meeting someone who is talented and absolutely amazing. Someone I’ve admired for most of my career and in some cases, most of the life. Someone who doesn’t have to be kind and gracious to complete strangers, but who is anyway.
In short, National reminds me over and over again that romance writers (and readers!) are just the best people out there.
Now, if only I could get them to serve turkey and dressing …
So what about you? Who would you gush over if you could?
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Victoria Janssen Says:
Laura Kinsale and Carla Kelly are the two writers I would fangirl with all my might.
Shana Says:
Well, I’ve already gushed over SEP and Nora Roberts. I guess I’d like to gush over Julie Garwood and Diana Gabaldon. neither of them will be there this year, though.
See you tomorrow night at the booksigning, Emily!
Dorothy Says:
I’d probably be in awe of all of my favorite authors, the Jaunties included. I’d get so tongue-tied that I probably wouldn’t be able to utter a single word or I’d sound like an idiot if I said anything at all.
Emily McKay Says:
Oh! Laura Kinsale and Carla Kelly are great! And, of course, SEP. I’d never get close enough to Nora to gush. She pulls quite the crowd!