After days of anticipation, nail-biting tension and many anxious moments wondering who were going to be this year's winners of the RITA and Golden Heart awards for best novels and yet-to-be-pubbed manuscripts respectively, seems all anyone can concentrate on is where the chocolate desserts are, and how long it'll take to get to the front of that dessert line.
Amid the glitz and glam and gorgeous shoes, the talk among those who just attended the 2009 RITA awards presentation isn't of the show -- though bestseller Anne Stuart as emcee was thoroughly entertaining in costume and ingenuous delivery -- and revelation of Nashville, TN, as the location of the 30th anniversary RWA National conference in 2010. It's pretty much about attendees winding down, making plans to see each other again next year (like YTBP Keira Soleore, left, and I, who're making a tradition of meeting at the RITAs), and getting set to get back to the serious business of writing novels once back home tomorrow.
The RITA and Golden Heart winners -- check out the full list here -- probably will be partying late into the night. But despite the joy and, well, chocolate, for most of us, Saturday night at RWA National is bittersweet. Sure, we miss our homes and families and want to get back to real life -- and the writing life. Yet we'll miss the atmosphere of National, and the nurturing support of colleagues who lend an ear to hear career woes, who help hammer out vision and who share triumph -- or tears -- after agent and editor appointments.
And RWA National reminds us how fortunate we are to be working w/in and amidst an industry that's so woman centered, in which one never has to work twice as hard to be seen as competent. One simply is seen that way by virtue of the fact that the romance biz seems to draw chicks who are Type A overachievers who can't help but make good things happen for themselves and, in turn, others.
Phrases like "we've turned the page on another RWA National," or "we've closed the book on another chapter of an RWA conference cycle" would be doing up the prose a bit purple. Perhaps it's best said by comparison: Like my swank RITA shoes, this year's RWA National conference was absolutely fabulous. As was bringing you a little of the "National" flavor here at H2H.
Who knew that flavor'd turn out to be chocolate?
How many of the RITA winners have you read? Which ones would you like to check out?
Amid the glitz and glam and gorgeous shoes, the talk among those who just attended the 2009 RITA awards presentation isn't of the show -- though bestseller Anne Stuart as emcee was thoroughly entertaining in costume and ingenuous delivery -- and revelation of Nashville, TN, as the location of the 30th anniversary RWA National conference in 2010. It's pretty much about attendees winding down, making plans to see each other again next year (like YTBP Keira Soleore, left, and I, who're making a tradition of meeting at the RITAs), and getting set to get back to the serious business of writing novels once back home tomorrow.The RITA and Golden Heart winners -- check out the full list here -- probably will be partying late into the night. But despite the joy and, well, chocolate, for most of us, Saturday night at RWA National is bittersweet. Sure, we miss our homes and families and want to get back to real life -- and the writing life. Yet we'll miss the atmosphere of National, and the nurturing support of colleagues who lend an ear to hear career woes, who help hammer out vision and who share triumph -- or tears -- after agent and editor appointments.
And RWA National reminds us how fortunate we are to be working w/in and amidst an industry that's so woman centered, in which one never has to work twice as hard to be seen as competent. One simply is seen that way by virtue of the fact that the romance biz seems to draw chicks who are Type A overachievers who can't help but make good things happen for themselves and, in turn, others.
Phrases like "we've turned the page on another RWA National," or "we've closed the book on another chapter of an RWA conference cycle" would be doing up the prose a bit purple. Perhaps it's best said by comparison: Like my swank RITA shoes, this year's RWA National conference was absolutely fabulous. As was bringing you a little of the "National" flavor here at H2H.
Who knew that flavor'd turn out to be chocolate?
How many of the RITA winners have you read? Which ones would you like to check out?
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It was a great conference! I've read about 1/3 of the RITA finalist books. I was glad I had stuffed my purse with tissues once the acceptance speeches started. There were many tear inducing moments.
Becke, I didn't get any of the chocolate at the reception either. I went for the healthy stuff first (didn't eat dinner) and by the time I got to the chocolate bar it was all gone. Good thing I had a stash back in the room. 
Love meeting both Michelle and Becke in person for the first time. They're lovely ladies who I hope you will all have the opportunity to meet someday.
