So this was my first year attending the Romantic Times Con, and holy dancing Christmas, I can’t believe I almost wasn’t planning to go. I met so many  amazing readers, authors, editors, agents, booksellers…*sucks in a deep breath*… and even many of the fabulous RT staff members that support both what I love to do as a writer, and what so many of us love as readers. Truly phenomenal.

And let me just say, I love ALL of you guys. Seriously. I can hardly think of a single person I met who wasn’t totally cool, friendly, and enthusiastic. ESPECIALLY the readers, and you guys are what it’s all about. Thank you so much. I particularly love the reader I overheard saying that she intentionally went up to each author’s table at the book fair to say hi, so none of us would feel like we’d been ignored. She didn’t manage to make it all the way around the room, and I don’t think she made it to my table (which is just fine!), but I thought it was the nicest thing that she was concerned for of our collective feelings. That’s a thoughtful reader, right there.

Laura Kaye organized a fantastic Name That Vampire gameshow-esque panel with Caridad Pinero, Laurie London, Lisa Kessler, Joyee Flynn, and myself. It was off the hook, and we had so much fun. People had to guess the vampires from passages quoted, and if they got it wrong they had to wear a vampire bite temporary tattoo. Some people guessed wrong on purpose just to get the tattoo!

I also managed to attend a couple of panels as well, although not as many as I would have liked. There was a lot of scurrying to and fro! Bob Mayer’s panel on military information for writers had some good nuggets though, and “Sex Scenes They Won’t Skip”  with Damon Suede, ZA Maxfield, Marie Sexton, and Heidi Cullinan which was both informative and hilarious.

I met all the fabulous folks involved with my publisher, Sourcebooks. Awesome folks, especially my publicist, Beth! She really went the extra mile, and the RT staff said the Sourcebooks publicists are some of their favorites to work with! I had drinks with my release buddy, Tes Hilaire. Her paranormal, Deliver me From Darkness, came out the same day as King of Darkness! Do check it out–it’s awesome.

In between all the getting stuff done there was a teensy bit of downtime, and it was wonderful to meet authors and readers I’d corresponded with online but never met, and to see my critique partner, who I only get to hang out with a couple of times a year. Lack of sleep and blisters from pretty shoes aside, it was all good. Couldn’t have been more thrilled.

What a powerful, mind-boggling, exhausting week. I can’t wait to do it all again next year! I hope you’ll join me.