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Dallas 2007 Day by Day: My RWA National Conference Diary
Jenna Petersen

Tuesday, July 10, 2007 -- Day 1 (Code Blue)
If you read back over previous year's Day-By-Day diaries, you may notice a trend. I am forever complaining about how early my flights out are. Well, I learned my lesson from last year when I left at a decent hour. This time, no sleepy, no 4am alarm. Lovely. I connected in Chicago and met up with Kim Castillo, who is the board moderator and all-around online guru for RomanceNovel.tv. People, if you have no visited this site already, OPEN THAT LINK. It's awesome. And there will be more about that coming up...

Anyway, Kim and I were flying together and were about half an hour from Dallas when over the intercom they say, "Code Blue." Yes, Code Blue. There was much running and yanking of difibulators from the overhead compartment above Kim and I. Then there was announcement asking if there were any physicians onboard. These are the times when I lament being a writer and not being able to do anything genuinely useful. But we landed and paramedics came and the young woman who had been in some kind of medical distress appeared to be okay. Thank goodness! But it was definitely a memorable trip. Kind of makes any other whining I will likely do in this diary seem a little trite. But at least I recognize my trite... um... ness?

Anyway, we got to the hotel easily and my Mom met us in the lobby. She joined me this year for all the fun. I got my conference stuff and freshened up just in time for us to meet some other Avon authors to head over to the Tuesday Avon Lady dinner. This year we had Kathryn Smith, Sharon Page (Aphrodisia), Sophie Jordan, Jacquie D'Alessandro, Laura Lee Guhrke, Cindy Kirk, Anne Mallory and Adele Ashworth at the table and it was great fun. Here are some pictures:

Afterward, a handful of us took a leisurely stroll through downtown back to the hotel. We passed by the grassy knoll and the book depository, which were interesting to see, even from a distance. We ended up turning in early, as both of us were travel exhausted.

Wednesday, July 11, 2007 -- Day 2 (You're not Karen Hawkins!!!!)
I started out Wednesday by going to the gym in the hotel. Yes, really. I've actually lost quite a bit of weight in the past few months, so I wanted to be good. Of course, this is the only time the gym and I were friendly, but hey... I did it one day, right? After I got back and got ready, my Mom and I headed downstairs and ran into Anne Mallory and Laura Lee Guhrke, who joined us for breakfast. I really love that at conference I can just bump into people who I only get to see once in a blue moon.

Afterward, my Mom and I hung out a little, we checked out the Goody Room (where they were giving away piles of Red Sage SECRETS Volumes, including my volumes, 11 & 12). We also checked out the bookstore, where I found huge piles of DESIRE NEVER DIES on sale. Apparently they only had speaker books in the room. And holy cow, there were ton. So I did some signing of copies.

After a while, we decided we had to eat again, so to lunch we went. We had found Adele Ashworth and Margo Maguire, so they joined us. We ended up seated next to Suzanne Enoch and Karen Hawkins, which was funny since my Mom had seen at least a few people who she thought looked like Karen Hawkins in the airport the previous day.

Kathryn Smith with the Dixie Cashes (Anna Jeffrey and Pam Cumbie) at the Bookseller Tea.

Once we had eaten, I had to head up and change so that I could make my way to the Bookseller Tea. This is an annual event where authors and booksellers can meet up and mingle. I have decided I'm not very good at this event. I just feel weird walking up to someone and stalking them because they have bookseller on their tag. I would much rather meet in a more germaine setting where I don't feel like a psycho stalker with a blatant agenda. That said, will I go again next year? Yeah. Of course. Authors are neurotic. To the booksellers who come, thank you for putting up with our mauling. You know we adore you! Without you, we don't get to readers at all. Immediately after that, I made my way to the ballroom and the booksigning. A lot of people said they couldn't find me this year. Yeah. I know. I was all the way in the back, facing the wall and the magnificent Nora Roberts. I couldn't see anything else but the green wallpaper. Grrr!!

A view from the end of the table of authors and readers mingling.	Kate Smith and Millie Bullock/Clarisse.
Robyn DeHart and her Mom, Hattie Radcliff.	Robyn, Jenna and Anne. Jenna is apparently drunk. I don't remember being drunk, but I look suspiciously happy.

Once the party wound down, I headed back to the hotel with a few others and found my agent, who had been delayed by canceled flights, weather and some kind of fuel issue. We hung out in her room for a while and then I turned in, exhausted from a great day and ready for the real fun that would start on Thursday!

Thursday, July 12, 2007 -- Day 3 (Stuffed and puffed)
This morning was an early day, as we had to be up and at the Hearts Through History Romance Writers AGM/Breakfast by 7am. It was a very nice presentation of all kinds of things and they gave me the cutest little cowboy hat charm because I had additional sales last year. I had to duck out early because.... wait for it... I actually had a workshop to go to. Five days in Dallas, three of them involving workshops, and I went to one. I was just too busy! But what a one to go to. I attended the bookseller panel that PAN put on. It was hours of interesting info, new concepts and a few smiles. Thanks to Cathy Cadek (Levy), Tommy Dreiling (Barnes and Noble), Sue Grimshaw (Borders) and Margaret Terway (Books-A-Million) for sharing your insight and answering our many questions.

Then I had to sneak out of THAT early because I needed to get ready for my lunch with May Chen and a bunch of her other authors, plus a few of Lyssa Keuch's authors (since she was at home with her new baby). I ran into May beforehand. She had actually just arrived after flight hell (that seemed to be going around) and we verified info. Then at 12:45 all the authors attending met in the lobby so we could caravan over to the restaurant. There were brief flashbacks to Atlanta when we couldn't find the restaurant (in fact Sophie Jordan was calling me asking if I was having flashbacks), but we made it and eventually May, Tessa Woodward and Esi Sogah met us. It was a really nice lunch with yummy food and lots of good stories. Then we headed back to the hotel (in another flashback moment May, Anne, Margo, Sophie and I were crammed into a small cab together but the trip was much shorter this time).

I was hardly finished digesting my lunch when I headed up to the top of the Dome Lounge for the Avon Red cocktail hour which was, again, a really nice time. Very casual and laid back and I think we all enjoyed the rotating restaurant that took us for a 360 view of Dallas. I hurried out just after 6pm to meet with Miriam for... yet more food. In fact, I told her I was stuffed and wanted to eat light, so I ordered this. When the waitress brought it out, Miriam thought it was so funny that she took a picture.

Jenna eats light with this GIANT plate of food.

But aside from too much really yummy food, we had a great dinner. I got to see wedding pictures from her recent nuptials and we talked career for almost two hours. I am at a bit of a crossroads in my career at present and I am exceedingly lucky to have such a great support system in my fabulous agent. At some point we realized it was 8 and hurried back to the hotel so that we could attend the Daphne ceremony. This year I was nominated for an award in the historical category. I did not win, but my good friend Carrie Bebris did (though she wasn't there), so I couldn't really feel badly. Here's a picture from the evening:

Miriam Kriss, Jenna and her Mom at Daphne.

Once the ceremony was over, I was exhausted and over-stuffed, so I headed to bed.

Friday, July 13, 2007-- Day 4 (I'm a supah-star)

Jenna and LaceyK at the Avon Open House signing.

Friday started for me with an eBook workshop for HarperCollins authors. Did you know you can get all my books as ebooks? You can check it out at HarperCollinsEbooks. This is the same place where you'll be able to download the short erotic ebooks when they launch on July 24. Anyway, it was an interesting and productive session with lots of information and great questions from the audience. Afterward, I immediately went into the Avon Open House signing. If you've never been to National, these signings are where the publisher gives away free books! Yup, free books. I started as Jess Michaels at 10 am and at 10:30 one of my favorite Harper ladies, Carla Parker, came to fetch me and move me over to Jenna Petersen. And when I got there? A line! For me!! Which was awesome. I gave away every single copy of Scandalous and From London With Love that I had and signed for another hour solid. I love that signing! It makes me feel like a superstar.

Immediately after the signing, I met with my fellow Jaunty Quills who were in attendance and we went to the Italian buffet in the hotel for lunch, then over to a quiet corner of the bar to chat. We'd all been together in various combinations before this, but this was the first time we all got to sit down and chat in Dallas. We missed you Shana, Kim and Shirley! After we broke up our little party, I went upstairs and for the first time since arriving in Dallas, I actually got to lay down on the bed and rest. Normally, I try to take little breaks every day, but this year my schedule was so packed that it wasn't possible. And I felt it, too. By Friday I was ready for my nap and my voice was really husky. But my day wasn't over yet! I still had to go to the Avon Family Dinner. So I got all gussied up and sasheyed down to join my fellow Avon Ladies for a night of fun and frolic. I got to meet some wonderful people, talk to old friends and eat some fabulous food! Here are some pictures from the night:

Robyn DeHart, Anne Mallory, Cindy Kirk, Jenna and Margo Maguire are the attending Jaunties.

Elizabeth Boyle and Anna Campbell on the bus to the Hotel Zaza.	The Avon Ladies on Bus #1.	Fabulous (and ridiculously beautiful) Sue Grimshaw and half of the Dixie Cash girls.
Borders Rep Carla Parker and Jenna.	The Jaunties and their editors (May Chen and Erika Tsang).	Jenna and Kate (HAPPY BIRTHDAY KATE!!).

After the party, we headed back to the hotel where we gathered in the bar to celebrate Kathryn Smith's birthday. And then? Well, exhaustion and bed.

Saturday, July 14, 2007 -- Day 5 (Run Rabbit Run)
By the final day of conference, I'm always getting really ready to go home. As much fun as I had this time, it was no different. I was starting to be really tired and my throat hurt from talking too much. But I also knew that today was a really busy, really hectic, really exciting day, so even though I was tired, I dragged myself up and out to meet with Miriam and Jenna Black so we could do some final discussion about our presentation later in the day. After JennaB had left us, Miriam and I stayed and chatted for a short time. We were interrupted by a call from Marisa from RomanceNovel.tv, who wanted me to bring a jacket to the interview I was doing with Jacquie D'Alessandro later in the day. I realized I didn't have one, so Miriam took me upstairs to her room to see if one of hers would work. Seriously, that goes beyond the call of duty, right? :)

I met up with the crew and Jacquie and we started filming the first segment of a concept I pitched to them a few months ago called "Inside Romance", where one author interviews another and gives readers an inside look. This time it was Inside RITA since Jacquie D. was up for a RITA for best novella for her great story "Summer Breeze". We were both fine until they said, "Act natural.", where upon we both froze. But they say we were great, so I'll just choose to believe them.

After the segment, I went to my presentation of "It's More Than Money: The Perfect Agent-Author Relationship" with Jenna and Miriam. I think it went really well and you can buy the tape later on this month. I didn't even have time to stay for ten minutes when I rushed out with my Mom to meet a friend for the luncheon. I stayed through the awards (librarians and booksellers always make me cry. What is that about??). Then I had to run out again before Lisa Jackson spoke (DANG IT!!), to meet with my friend Shelley Bradley. We haven't talked in what seems like forever, so it was nice to catch up. 

I headed upstairs really briefly before I made my way to the DFW Tea, which was sponsored by the DFW Bookclub. I did a call-in to their group earlier this year and they graciously invited me (along with other authors) to attend this special event). It was so nice meeting and chatting with them. Once more, I ran out a bit early (this was my theme for Saturday) because I had to film the final segment for my interview with Jacquie.

Jenna, Robyn and Anne looking pretty after the RITA ceremony.

Once I finished with that (and more details will come as soon as I know when the interview is live), I went upstairs and laid on my bed for a couple of hours and ate some fruit. But no sooner was I feeling relaxed when we got ready for the RITA ceremony. We headed down and into the auditorium where Carly Philips was MC. Yay to RWA for learning from last year's fabulous ceremony. This year was quick, it wasn't too focused on odd things and it didn't get too pretentious. One of the highlights was Julia Quinn's win for Best Short Historical. It was a long time coming and when she starting giggling, it totally made me smile. After, we hung out for a bit, but I was so exhausted and overwhelmed that I said some good-byes and headed up to pack and sleep. Another great conference in the books.

Final Thought:
One of my favorite parts of conference is just hanging out and bumping into people, but this year I was so solidly booked that it never happened. I hardly got to see people like J. Perry Stone or Santa from the Avon Board, which was a huge bummer. My agent, too. We normally bump into each other a dozen times, hang out sometimes, but this time it was when we scheduled it and only then (except at the end when we saw each other at the RITAs). And Kate Smith and I kept missing each other. I'm hoping next year that I have a little more flex time to do those things.

On the whole, though, it was a lovely conference. I felt like I got some good work done, I met some people I hadn't before and I got to spend time with my Mom, who had a really fun time. I'm definitely looking forward to San Francisco in 2008! See you then!!

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