Here we are in beautiful San Francisco, ready to kick off RWA’s 28th annual conference.  To those here in the city with us, welcome!  To those at home who are reading the blog to find out what’s going on in the City by the Bay, welcome!!!  I hope that reading the entries in the conference blog this year will let those who aren’t here this year experience some of the fun and energy that comes with sharing space with 2,000 other people, all talking about writing and romance at once.

Along with the other members of RWA’s Board of Directors, I’ve been here in the hotel since Saturday. The board had a very productive board meeting, and the Hot Sheet announcing the board’s decisions has already been circulated and posted on RWA’s Web site.  Though I’ve spent most of my time so far working, I can tell you that the hotel is beautiful and the staff is friendly and helpful -- always a plus at conference time. 

When I arrived on Saturday, I saw very few RWA members milling around in the lobby, but by Tuesday, as more and more conference attendees began arriving, the place started rocking to RWA’s unique beat. Meeting new people and catching up with old friends is one of the best parts of conference every year. 

I have the honor of participating in a strategic planning session for PAN (Published Author Network) this morning, mingling with the leadership of RWA’s chapters over lunch, and rubbing elbows with visiting librarians and booksellers in the afternoon. This evening, we=ll be hosting the annual Readers for Life Literacy Autographing.  With more than 450 authors bursting the seams on the Yerba Buena Ballroom, I shouldn’t have any trouble finding something good to read! 

Books, workshops, friends, parties, lots of talk about writing ... If someone were to ask me which I think is my favorite part of Conference, I’m not sure I could pick just one! So let’s get this party started!  I can’t wait to see what happens next. 

Sherry

Linda Winstead Jones
2008 Emma Merritt Service Award Recipient

You know RWA has arrived because certain parts of the hotel have taken on the RWA roar, that low rumble of a couple thousand voices reconnecting after a year. People are meeting in the lobby and the bar, in the hallways and (of course) the elevators. The hotel has been great, with good food, a fabulous view, and comfortable beds. Not that we get a lot of sleep during the conference.
The weather is wonderfully cool here in San Francisco, quite a change from the 98 degrees I left behind in Alabama. There’s great shopping in walking distance, and yes, I have already purchased a new pair of shoes.

The next few days will be a blast, as always!

Linda

Thursday, July 31

Hi Everyone!  Kelly Parra here, reporting from San Francisco, California. It’s been a fast-paced ride since Wednesday morning.  Romance writers have taken over the Marriott with blue tote bags and badges made from post consumer recycled materials. The conference program has been printed on recycled paper and the workshop handouts are given out on CDs.  RWA has gone “green” this year, and it’s fantastic!
The writers I’ve met so far have been in high spirits and ready to take some classes and dish on the latest Romance gossip.  Being able to chat with other writers is so wonderful and pumps me up to write! :)
Last night was the “Readers for Life” literacy signing. The room was huge and filled elbow-to-elbow with authors.  Romance readers were lined out the door ready to gather books from their favorite authors.  Once the doors opened fans rushed inside, some even running to get new books autographed.  Soon the room was booming with chatter, pictures snapped, and many writers catching up with old friends.  This was my first year as a participating author during the signing and the excitement was contagious.  The only drawback was not being able to run around and pick up books from debut authors and some of my favorite writers.

Today I’m ready to sit in on some awesome workshops and enjoy the first luncheon with Keynote speaker Victoria Alexander. Thanks for tuning in, and I hope you visit the other authors sharing their experience from the floors of the Marriott!
~Kelly Parra  :)

San Francisco! We landed Tuesday late afternoon and by noon  Wednesday had already been to Chinatown, Fisherman’s Wharf and five restaurants. Because this town is a foodies dream and I am a foodie. By the time we’d returned the hotel was packed. The excitement is palpable (and so is the estrogen)  and the pleasure of seeing old friends is only rivaled by making new ones.  I’m looking forward to speaking—though honesty compels me to say I’m looking forward to being DONE speaking. I haven’t been this nervous since my first date!

Best, Connie Brockway

Author and RITA Finalist
Allison Brennan

Shoes!

My first RWA conference was Reno 2005. I had sold the year before, but my book hadn’t come out yet . . . I was in publishing limbo. I was nervous and excited, but I was also frustrated because I still retained all this baby fat. Literally—my youngest was 13 months old but you’d think I’d just given birth! I had been shopping for a dress for the big RITA event, and nothing looked right.  I called my critique partner Karin Tabke and she said, “Sweetie, go to Macy’s and buy yourself some great shoes.”

So I blame Karin for my obsession with shoes.

On Wednesday morning, I went down to the registration table to pick up my packet, and while standing in line noticed these great pair of shoes. They were red, classy, spiky, and had a sleight shimmer to them that I loved. I wanted them. I hoped the shoes would walk by so I could ask their owner where she got them. I look up . . . and the owner of those fabulous pair of shoes is Nora Roberts. I was a bit star-struck, so I never did find out where those shoes came from . . .

When you’re at conference, shoes are very important. There is a lot of walking involved, from workshop to workshop, from the bar to dinner down the street, and in my case . . . going to Macy’s across the street because I left some important things at home. (Okay, I didn’t forget my shoes . . . but I forgot the clothes hanging up in my closet that I’d washed the night before but needed to hang dry. Yep, walked right out of the house without them because they weren’t next to my suitcase.  But I digress . . . )

But at a conference, we walk all over the place and feet can get very sore. And unfortunately, many of the cute shoes I love aren’t made for walking. My favorite conference shoes are Coach. They’re pricy, but one thing I realized is that one good pair of shoes goes a long way. (Sidenote: About three years ago, I had intense pain in my foot. I went to the doctor thinking I broke something. He said I had fallen arches because of the shoes I was wearing—and he pointed to cheap (but cute) shoes from Payless. Told me to get these arch supports in every pair of shoes and I’d have to wear them for the rest of my life. Well, I learned that these supports don’t look good in cute shoes, sandals, etc. So I bought one pair of really good athletic shoes, put in the supports, and wore them almost exclusively for three months. The pain went away and I tossed all my bad shoes. The pain had not returned, and I don’t have to wear the supports again. Yeah!)
Anyway, I found a pair of Coach sneakers that I walked all over New York in during the PASIC conference last March. They last. They’re still cute, and more than made up for the cost.

Conference travel—that is, walking while at conference!--is all about comfort and protecting our feet. Talk to any nurse, and she’ll tell you that she’ll pay anything for a good pair of shoes. In fact, my mom, when she was managing a retail store and on her feet for 8+ hours a day, went to a nursing store to buy her shoes. Paid a pretty penny, but her feet thanked her.

Okay, as a side note . . . I had another fan girl moment.  As I was writing this blog, THE incredible, fabulous Linda Howard was sitting behind me giving an interview. I wanted to go up to her and tell her how much I love her books, but of course, that would have been rude since she was in the middle of giving an interview. And I always fear that I’ll put my foot in my mouth and say something really stupid. When I first met Heather Graham, two years ago, I dug myself into a verbal hole and finally, beet red, I mumbled I just love your books. When I met Tess Gerritsen for the first time, I talked so fast she probably didn’t understand a word I said. And a couple months ago, I interviewed Lisa Gardner over the phone and sat there for about fifteen minutes thinking, I can not believe that I’m talking to Lisa Gardner and having this conversation.  Then I realized, oh no! I’m interviewing her and I keep forgetting to write down her comments  . . .
In the end, though, I think most authors, even the big names like Roberts, Howard and Gardner, like to know that people enjoy their books. So I’ll just swallow the panic and tell them, “I love your books . . . and by the way, great shoes.”

Jade Lee
Author and RITA Finalist

I’ve been coming to RWA nationals since 2003 when I first started to write, but this is my first year as a NEW OFFICIAL PUBLISHED  AUTHOR (complete with secret handshake and decoder ring). Avon released my debut series back to back Apr-Jun 2008 – NO ONE HEARD HER SCREAM, NO ONE LEFT TO TELL, & NO ONE LIVES FOREVER. And the first book of my next series (Sweet Justice) will be released Feb 2009 with EVIL WITHOUT A FACE.

My first literacy signing was last night and I had a BLAST!!! A real hug fest and a rite of passage.
The RWA national conference really gets me jazzed about writing. And that high lasts for a long time. All these wonderful authors under one roof is invigorating and the energy level is palpable.  And I especially love talking to all the first timers here at the conference, hearing what they are writing and what they hope to accomplish. And networking with all the pubbed authors that I’ve admired for so many years has been wonderful too.

I belong to many other writers’ organizations but RWA offers so much to its members that I attribute my learning the craft of writing to all the great resources available to aspiring authors. And the networking really sustains me as well. So I’m getting my dose of adrenaline in San Francisco and loving every minute of it.

Best wishes to all of you in your writers’ journey.

Niki Burnham
RWA Service Award Winner

Each year, I attend RWA’s National Conference with certain expectations.  I’ll drink too much coffee (check), reconnect with writers I haven’t seen in months or years and stay up too late chatting with them (check), meet new readers at the literacy signing (check), and, most likely, batter my feet (check…though I discovered the Nordstrom’s across the street has Footpetals on sale.  Every conference attendee should take advantage of scooping up a few.  They’re the best shoe inserts ever created.)
But what I love most about conference are the unexpected elements.  The conversation that brings on a light bulb moment (huge thanks to my wise agent, Steven Axelrod), the discussion with an editor that reminds you how much you love delving into the odd aspects of a character’s personality (thank you, Margaret Marbury), or the opportunity to taste fried green tomatoes for the first time (courtesy of a boisterous dinner I shared at Annabelle’s Bistro with authors Lisa Gardner, Leah Vale, Terri Reed, Lissa Manley, and Stephanie Rowe.)  I even had the chance to reconnect with a California-based friend I haven’t seen since sixth grade.  We were inseparable back in elementary school--until I moved away, thanks to an Army transfer--and it was wonderful to discover that many years later, our minds are still in tune.  The unexpected is what stimulates writers’ imaginations and gives their work both depth and texture.  Whether you’re reading this at home or in between conference workshops, I urge you to embrace the unexpected. What you discover will make you a better writer.

Suzanne Brockmann
RITA Awards Emcee

Suz Brockmann here, with greetings from cool and breezy San Francisco!

I've been having a blast – hanging with writer friends from all across the country, and schmoozing with agents and editors.

On Wednesday, I attended a party celebrating the fabulous Steve Axelrod's 25th anniversary as an agent.  He is, as we call him at my house "The Man," but the best part of the event was meeting his assistant Lori.  (Ah!  Finally to meet the voice on the other end of the phone!)  I was very glad he let her come out and play!

Wednesday evening's literacy signing was particularly fun for me – not only did I get a chance to connect with hundreds of readers (some of whom flew in from places as far away as Australia!), but I also found out that afternoon that my brand, spanking new release, INTO THE FIRE (Troubleshooters Book #13) hit the New York Times Hardcover Fiction list at number seven!  Hoo-yah, as the SEALs say!

My husband Ed and I have been busy, stocking the RWA "Goody Room" with copies of my INTO THE FIRE Extras – a special 56-page booklet.  It contains a new, never-before-published short story called HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS, and a written version of my popular writing workshop, TALL, DARK & BELIEVABLE.  (You can access the booklet as a PDF download from my website home page -- www.SuzanneBrockmann.com )  We made the booklet specifically for RWA – you can't get these puppies in bookstores!  (So if you desperately want a hard copy, email a friend here at the conference, and ask him/her to pick one up for you.)  I'll have plenty to give away at the Ballantine signing which is Saturday afternoon from 2 to 3:30.

My parents are here in SF, too – they so love attending the literacy signing (I've heard that from many, many readers – attend one of these awesome events, and you be back next year for more!), they decided to fly out and visit family all in one fell swoop.   While I was busy signing books for readers, I sent my mom around as my minion, uh, helper.  She waited on lines and picked up signed books for me – including Jess Andersen's NIGHTKEEPERS and Virginia Kantra's SEA WITCH – the first books in two terrific new paranormal series.  (Both get the Suz Brockmann Double Thumbs Up SEAL of Approval.)

RWA has been crazy/madness/wonderful as usual.  I met SEP in the lobby, had my usual blushing farley-filled fan grrl moment (almost knocked my husband over – isn't it crazy how meeting your favorite authors can turn you into a total idiot?).  I can just imagine what goes on in her head when she sees me coming, "Oh, no, it's Brockmann.  I wonder how many times she'll say, 'your books are AWESOME' before she stumbles away..."

Last night I had dinner with Eileen Hutton and Cheryl Zajechowski from Brilliance Audio, my audio book publisher.  We had a great time, and I was able to wax poetic about the terrific actor who reads the male POV's in my books – Patrick Lawlor.  (Trivia: I write my recurring SEAL character Izzy specifically for Patrick to read!)  Patrick gets double hero snaps, because he always, ALWAYS emails me, after spending a solid week in the studio, with a list of typos that he's found, which helps with the final proofing of the printed book. 

So.... I'm Emceeing the Rita/GH Awards ceremony on Saturday night, and almost everyone I meet says (with barely contained glee), "I can't wait to see what you do Saturday night dot dot dot"   As if I'm going to spontaneously do a trapeze act, or wear a dress made entirely of Obama '08 buttons.  (Ooh, good idea... <g>)  But I've promised the RWA President, Sherry Lewis, that I will stay (mostly) on script, and do my very, very best to bring the awards show in under two hours – because really, we all want to get to the super fun part of the evening – the post award ceremony party! 

And Laura Hayden's script (which I get to read from a teleprompter – what fun!) is terrific, so I will be on my best behavior.  I will, however, be wearing my red Stephen Colbert "Wrist Strong" bracelet and my cowboy boots, but I'll keep my Obama pin home.  Or pinned to my underwear.  Ouch.  Maybe not.

I've gotta go have some more fun, so signing off from SF,
Suz Brockmann

Simone Elkeles
RITA Finalist

Hi everyone!  It’s Simone Elkeles here.  I’m a Young adult romance author, who loves reading romance novels and writing teen romances more than anything.  My first RWA national conference was in 2001 in New Orleans. People from my local RWA chapter were there, but I was still “new” and felt pretty alone. While everyone was nice, I remember ordering pizza in my room, rooming alone, having brought uncomfortable shoes and needing to go buy new ones so my blisters could heal, and looking at everyone laughing together and looking like best friends.  I remember thinking I’ll never have writer friends like these people in RWA - I’ll never be in the “in” crowd or have a clique of my own. 

Now it’s 2008.

 I’ve been to 7 conferences since that time, only missing the Dallas conference.  I’m going to show you the differences in my experiences from my first conference to this one.

Simone Elkeles’ THEN (my first conference in 2001) and NOW (2008) 

THEN: I had no roommate
NOW: I have a wonderful roommate who is a good friend of mine, Marilyn Brant.  Her book According to Jane is coming out next year. We were both unpublished together, and now we’re both published! 

THEN: I looked at all the people with those ribbons running down their name tags (volunteer, contest judge, chapter president, board of directors, PAN, RITA finalist, Hall of Fame, Speaker…the list goes on and on) and they resembled bridal trains running down their chests.  All I had was my name tag.  No ribbons.
NOW: My name tag says PAN, Speaker, Volunteer, and RITA Finalist 

THEN: I felt lonely, not having people to hang out with
NOW: I can’t get up to my room, because every time I look up there’s someone I know waving me over to talk to them.

THEN: I brought my laptop to the RWA conference thinking I would get a lot of writing done
NOW: I bring my laptop, but know I’ll be too busy to get any writing done (I bring it to tell my husband this is a “working conference” because he accuses me of having fun and thinking this conference is a vacation. Please don’t tell him I do have fun, loads of fun!)

THEN: I looked at agents as if they were all-knowing demi-gods and thinking the only time I could talk to one was at an editor or agent assigned appointment.
NOW: I hang out with my agent, have meetings with her, and go to dinner with her.  She’s not a demi-god, but she does sell my books so she is higher than human.  Last year at the RWA national conference I was invited to her “spa day” and had a full day of massages and manicures and facials with a bunch of editors and agents – wearing nothing but robes, no less.

THEN: I walked around the Literacy Signing standing in line waiting for authors I love to autograph books for me.
NOW: I signed books at the Literacy Signing, and people waiting in line to have me autograph their books

THEN: Going to the RITA/Golden Heart ceremony and thinking “I’ll never in a million years be nominated for a RITA…it’s only for those elite authors.”
NOW: I’m nominated for a RITA and will be sitting in the VIP section up front.  I can’t tell you what a thrill that is for me, and being nominated is a dream come true.

THEN: Eating breakfast by myself in the café and ordering pizza in my room by myself for dinner.
NOW: Having too many plans for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  If you can believe it, I had two dinners on Tuesday…one with my blog sister from www.booksboysbuzz.com Heather Davis at 4pm and then with my critique partners Karen Harris and Erika Danou-Hasan at 9pm.

Okay, so some things haven’t changed:

THEN: I overate at every meal
NOW: I still overeat at every meal

THEN: I think I’ll never be a good enough or talented enough to be a real writer
NOW: I still think I’ll never be a good enough or talented enough to be a real writer (and I have my fourth book coming out in December)

THEN: I stared wide-eyed at Nora Roberts (once I was riding up in an elevator with her and was so starstruck I forgot to press my floor number…I rode up with her and felt like a complete idiot)
NOW: I still stare wide-eyed at Nora Roberts  

After I finish this blog post I’m going to the RITA reception.  I wonder when they’ll find out I’m not a good enough or talented enough writer to be invited to “the ball.”  I won’t tell if you won’t.  Shhh…

Heather Michele
First Timer & RWA Scholarship Recipient

Heather Michele (Orange County Chapter/Chick Lit Writers):

Let me just sum up the San Francisco RWA National Conference in one word: INCREDIBLE!  I was fortunate enough to be a scholarship recipient (what an honor) and have been anticipating this experience for months now.  Thank you, thank you, thank you to the gracious sponsors/authors who were so generous in creating this opportunity. What a gift you have given me and other RWA members. 

Being an official “First Timer,” all of my senses are on overdrive.  I see smiling faces and enthusiastic writers/editors/agents everywhere, I hear laughter, stories and chatter, I smell Starbucks coffee, and taste chocolate (Hershey kisses can be found in almost all conference rooms—dangerous!), and I have stacks of books burning the tips of my fingers (how I will lug all these books onto the plane is beyond me, but if I need to donate my clothes to Goodwill to make more room in my suitcase, then so be it. I know what my priorities are!).

It is so inspirational to be surrounded by individuals who are passionate about the written word in some form or another.  There is an essence of oneness and unconditional encouragement amongst everyone I’ve met.  The speakers are a wealth of knowledge and it is a struggle to choose which workshop to attend.  I don’t want to miss any of them!

One thing that I will take away from this conference is this: Becoming a published author takes perseverance.  We are creating our lives as we go, just as we create our character’s lives.  What a beautiful journey we are on.

Caridad Pineiro
RITA Finalist

I want to thank RWA for letting me blog from the conference!  I’m Caridad Pineiro and I write romantic suspense and paranormals for Silhouette and Grand Central Publishing.  I’m also a wife, mom, attorney and President of my local RWA Chapter in New Jersey which always has people asking, “How do I manage to find the time to write or attend conferences?”

I confess it takes a lot of juggling, but after the last few days here at the conference I know that it's worth every second of hard work to free up the time to make it here. Why? The amazing collection of women at every level who are here to learn, share, meet old friends and make new ones. Allie Pleiter and other authors at the RWA Literacy Signing.

On Wednesday night there was the wonderful Literacy signing where over 500 authors came to sign books, meet fans and help raise money for literacy programs. It's inspiring to be surrounded by so much talent and to know that you're doing something for a positive cause. At the workshops, authors, editors and agents shared information to help others build and bolster their writing careers.

I always find myself coming back from the workshops with new insights into how to improve not only my writing, but the business aspects of the publishing business. And what do I do when I'm not at the workshops? Well, there's the friends. Old ones from years back and the wonder of sharing those ongoing friendships, our successes, challenges and fun. Then there are the new friendships from reaching out to new people at the workshops, parties or while waiting on line at one of the various events. I always make a point of trying to meet new people at each and every conference as well as to maintain the relationships from past years. Here's a photo of me with one of my long time NJ friends, Deb Mullins, a wonderful historical writer.

When I think about the experience I'm having at this year's conference, it reminds me that it takes positive people and energy to make a group or event special.  At this year's RWA Conference, that's exactly what I've found!

Vicki Lewis Thompson
2008 RWA Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient

Cinderella, here, the morning before the ball.  It’s a surreal experience writing this blog in my “business casual” wear, and knowing that in a few hours I’ll be transformed into the belle of the ball.  My blue dress looks as if it were whipped up by magical birds and bunnies while I waltzed around the room trilling happily and clasping my hands together the way Disney heroines tend to do.

All this is so that  I’ll look good on the Jumbo-tron in front of 2,000 of my fellow RWA buddies when I accept the Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award.  It’s a huge honor, and I’m trying to get my mind around it before tonight, so I can enjoy the heck out of the experience and avoid the knocking knees and  quivering voice syndrome.  I feel the need for  a fairy godmother and a pumpkin carriage.  And a Valium.

Just kidding about the Valium.  I’ve never taken one, so it wouldn’t be wise, especially because my feet, which usually see only running shoes or flip-flops, will be introduced to a pair of three-inch silver heels with peek-a-boo toes.  I’m not the most coordinated person on the planet, and a pratfall in front of 2,000 horrified writers would not end the evening well.   I bought the shoes because they didn’t hurt too much, but I just found out that the peek-a-boo toes are trendy.  The new thing is toe cleavage.   Being otherwise cleavage-challenged, I’m excited to hear about toe cleavage, and that apparently I’ll have some when I put on those peek-a-boo shoes.

I tell you this because I doubt the Jumbo-tron will pick up the toe cleavage.  But you heard it here, so when you think of me up on that stage, you’ll have the inside scoop on the real fashion statement I’ll be making.   The other statement I’ll be making will be about four minutes long, and filled with gratitude.  This truly is one of the coolest things that’s ever happened to me.  I wish I could wave a magic wand so you could all be here!

Hi from Hank Phillippi Ryan--

Just when my brain is bursting from all the wonderful seminar tidbits and info from every fantastic writer—whose photos I’ve seen on so many covers and now are here in real life---just when I think  there  can’t be one more fabulous thing…it’s time for the Harlequin party!

So since I’m a reporter in real life, let me take you there…and give you the inside scoop.

Not only does Harlequin publish fantastic books..they also know how to throw an amazing party. Up the elevator in the gorgeously modern Four Seasons Hotel…all chic and slick and taupe and chocolate…to the ballroom.  Which transformed into a glittering and twinkling gala.

A huge replica of the Golden Gate Bridge atop a double sided full bar—white table-clothed displays of beautiful Asian food…a fountain gushing with warm chocolate… individual crème brulees—and cosmos and martinis abounded.

But what really makes it a party—is the people. And here at the Harlequin party--the music. A roomful of writers and agents and editors—all loving the same thing--words and writing and reading and sharing. And all coming together from around the world.

Brenda Novak, sparking in black sequins, Alex Sokoloff and Heather  Graham fashion-forward in fabulous vintage, Sharon Sala resplendent in red, Jessica Andersen regal in midnight blue,  Kristan Higgins  sophisticated in a black sheath…My fab agent Kristin Nelson and Harlequin exec editor Tara Gavin in elegant black and white. Harlequin mogul Donna Hayes, of course, fabulous in couture, Margaret Marbury in a gorgeous chic print, Valerie Gray and blockbuster author Robin Reed swathed in opulent shawls.

And then, the music started..and it was nonstop. And at one point—I almost burst into tears. Why am I misting up  at a party? Last year, at my first RWA, my first book Prime Time had just come out .I was new as new could be—and it’s been a long time since I was the new kid!  Last year in Dallas, my first Harlequin party—and the DJ blasted out We Are Family.  (I’ve got all my sisters and me—you know it!) And I felt like part—maybe? If all went well? Of a brand new family.

This year, they played the song again This year, my book is up for two RITAS(!) and again surrounded by a group of smart, talented, hip, intelligent and fabulous…and I again felt like part of a loving warm family. And of course…that filled me with delight.

And now…if you’re  humming We Are Family?  You are part of it too—the supportive, enthusiastic fun-loving and hardworking world of romance writing…a place we are always loved and welcome.

Thanks to Romace Writers of America…what a terrific convention! See you next year in Washington.

Sherry Lewis
RWA President

I can't believe it's time for me to write the closing blog entry for this year's conference!  The days since I wrote the opening blog entry have passed in a blur of activity. This year, more than 520 authors gathered in the Yerba Buena Ballroom on Wednesday night to participate in the Readers For Life Literacy Autographing. For the first time in many years, I had a chance to wander through the ballroom and check out the incredible diversity represented by the authors in that room and by their books. I also bought way-y-y-y-y too many books (evidenced by the fact that I went way-y-y-y-y over budget) but I certainly wasn't going to put any of them back!!!!!  Books first, that's what I always say.  The non-essentials in life, like groceries and utilities, can be adjusted as necessary. Anyway, I'm thrilled to announce that together raised over $58,000 for Pro Literacy Worldwide this year. 
 
Thursday brought our Opening Session (new on the schedule this year.)  Theresa Behenna was funny and entertaining, and she kept her promise to keep us all awake!  After the opening session, we moved into the Annual General Meeting, and from there into the Keynote Luncheon where I had the great pleasure of awarding the Emma Merritt Service Award to the very deserving Linda Winstead Jones, and where Victoria Alexander managed to both entertain and inspire us all. 
 
Friday's Awards Luncheon gave us all a chance to honor this year's Steffie Walker Bookseller of the Year, Dianne DeFonce and RWA's Librarian of the Year, Susan Gibberman.  It was my honor to present the RWA's Vivian Stephens Industry Award to Sue Grimshaw of Borders, to give two RWA Service Awards to Jill Limber and Nicole Burnham. 
 
And now it's Saturday.  In a few hours, the last of the workshops will end, and the halls will grow quiet while we all disappear into our rooms to get ready for the RITA/Golden Heart Awards Ceremony. The program should be fun and entertaining as we celebrate with this year's finalists. After one last chance to get together with friends at the Awards Reception, the 2008 Conference will be a piece of history and we'll start looking forward to 2009 in Washington D.C.
 
But it's not over yet!  I'm supposed to be downstairs for an Awards Ceremony rehearsal in 45 minutes and I'm still sitting in my room, in my robe!  Guess it's time to stop blogging and get back to work!  If you're here in San Francisco, I'll see you tonight!  If you're not, please remember to check the Web site as the names of tonight's RITA and Golden Heart winners are posted!  It's the next best thing to being here.