I'm deep in revisions mode, but checking in to post the last of my conference photos.
On Friday afternoon the RWA Board of Directors hosted a reception for all the Golden Heart and RITA finalists where we were all presented with certificates of our achievement, applauded, toasted with champagne, and fed scrumptious items from the chocolate food group. At the reception I met lots of lovely folk and learned that being from Australia was no novelty when compared with GH finalist Jennifer Smith who lives in, and had travelled all the way from, South Korea. Also chatted with the delightful Linnea Sinclair, who won the RITA for Best Paranormal with Gabriel's Ghost. Linnea took this photo of me proudly displaying my RITA certificates.
Saturday night was the BIG night but first, in the afternoon, there was a short rehearsal where we all had the chance to cross the stage and practice with the microphone and podium. Just in case we had to do so on the night. At the rehearsal I sat with Kylie Brant and Cindy Gerard and their very sophisticated up-dos (all the more impressive when neither lady has very long hair!) Later my editor spoiled me with a very posh meal at a very posh Russian restaurant, Nikolai's, and the souffle was to die for even without all the mmmmm stuff that went before. And after the awards ceremony, where I unfortunately didn't get to renew my acquaintance with the podium and microphone, the conference ended with a dessert reception. I didn't need any more dessert but I enjoyed a quiet Zin with my good friend Lisa Childs who writes women's fiction for Harlequin NeXt and spooky paranormals for Silhouette Nocturne. Isn't her dress just the prettiest colour? I keep telling myself "no more black!" but do I listen???
posted by Bronwyn Jameson @ 10:36 AM
