Romanticon-Kinda Like Christmas

Just returned from Ellora's Cave Romanticon 2010 and I have to say, in retrospect, it felt a lot like Christmas. You know how it is on Christmas morning. Everything is warm and cozy, lights are twinkling on the tree and the house smells like a mixture of coffee, chocolate, and cinnamon. The kids are tearing into presents and you smile deep in your heart at the comforting 'family feel' of it all. That's how I feel when I go to Romanticon. It's like homecoming, family, and fun all wrapped up in a bright, glittery ball. Before packing my bags and catching my flight to Ohio, I wondered if the event would measure up to last year but it did...in spades.

From the overworked, harried hotel workers to presenters at each of the wonderful workshops (for both authors and readers) every second was top notch and more fun than I can say. There is nothing greater than re-connecting with those author pals I know through this crazy writer's life and then there are the new faces to get to know. Smiles were definitely in fashion and everywhere I went, I was greeted with hugs, smiles, and lots of laughter. We were just all so damn happy to be there. And what can I say about EC's hardworking staff? They performed spectacularly on every level making sure everyone had what was needed, that the event venues were decked out for us, and smiling through it all. Talk about Grace Under Pressure! I was simply in awe of them and I don't think there was a reader or author present who didn't recognize and appreciate the fabulous job they did in making us feel welcome.

Love was in the air. Admiration, too. In the end, it wasn't about the ME of a person. It was about the US. We were a family for those few great days. Life doesn't get any better. Now on to next year. I simply can't wait. If you haven't been to Romanticon, please reserve your space. Come and feel the love. It happens every year in a small town in Ohio.

Oh and pardon this last wee bit of self-aggrandizment but I won an award for my Texas cowboys. :-) I am so unworthy but it was such a wonderful feeling to hear my name called. Here is a pic of me (snapped by my bud, Nic Austin) with a wall of Caveman Hotness at my back. Yes, I am soooo unworthy!

Time to Pack!

As we speak, I'm looking at my empty suitcase and preparing to get down to the business of packing for Ellora's Cave's 2010 Romanticon Convention in Richfield, Ohio. To say I'm excited doesn't begin to cut it. Have to say there are some nerves too. I don't know about you guys but I always just KNOW I'm going to forget something super important. Had to laugh at myself when I dreamed I'd forgotten my curling iron. Figures. But what made me laugh was realizing I would be among friends and there would be plenty of curling irons headed my way assuming I DID actually forget. That's the cool thing about partying down with a bunch of women...we are mostly prepared for any and every emergency.

I don't do a lot of conferences. Went to an RWA convention many moons ago and then nothing until heading to Ohio for EC's first ever get together last year. Before it was over I knew this is something I would never want to miss. This year I'm doing a couple of workshops and thanking my lucky stars that I won't be doing these ventures alone. That helps calm the nerves some! This year Ellora's Cave will celebrate ten years of misbehaving and will feature a Roaring 20's party on Friday and a big anniversary dinner on Saturday. Sandwiched amongst the festivities we'll have workshops for authors, aspiring authors and readers. I must confess that last year the 'reader' workshops were the most fun. I loved hearing what readers liked and didn't like in the books they read. Lots of food for thought there. Cerise Deland, Allie Standifer, Desiree Holt and I are presenting an 'author track' workshop that deals with writing series and co-writing. Later, many of us are participating in a reader workshop about Cougars. Now doesn't THAT sound like fun?

Of course one of the best things about attending Romanticon is meeting up with friends and touching base with editors and EC staff. My own editor is flying in from Australia and I'm just so happy she will be with us. Have you attended conferences for writers and authors? What are some of your best memories? And if you've never attended one, what would appeal to you enough to make you want to sign up?

In other news...check out what I'll be signing at Romanticon. Lone Star Beasts (books one and two of my High Plains Shifters series) is now available in print and was just released last week. So if you are a fan of the series, please pick up your copy HERE.



Highland Beast

The moment she looks into the antique mirror and sees him change from beast to man, Martha wants him. The brawny Highlander makes her body burn. When he pulls her through the glass, her fantasy became reality.


Trapped by a curse, Silas MacAdam, yearns for the woman who stares so innocently at him through the mirror. The need to claim her, to possess her, burns through him. The beauty can help him return to his people if he can convince her that she belongs to him—as his mate.


Lone Star Lycan

She came to dusty west Texas to bury the dead. But one look from Joe’s smoldering eyes made Quinn Harlow wet and needy. Though just a visitor, she wants to stay and find her destiny with Joe on these desolate plains.


Joe McKinnon, alpha of the Wolf Creek pack, takes one look at his destined mate and knows he’ll have his hands full. One touch has him willing to move mountains to claim her, but he knows it won’t be easy to tame the woman who holds his future in her hands.

Live and NEVER Learn

You know that old saying Live and Learn? Well, I live and NEVER learn. Seems like when I am distracted by things my house goes to hell. Been writing quite a bit lately and getting ready to head out for Ellora's Cave's Romanticon and my mind is well...occupied. There is no room in my head for anything else, I reckon. At dinner time, the other evening, I put on water to boil pasta then headed back into my office to get a bit more wordage on the work in progress. I toodled along, typing away and suddenly I SMELLED something. I jumped up, dashed through the place and realized the house was filled with smoke. I'd completely forgotten the pot of water boiling on the stove. What a damn mess! I yanked the pot off the stove and started opening doors and windows to let the smoke out then went into the master bedroom. Mr. Regina was sprawled on the bed watching the news and I managed to say...hey, don't panic but I almost set the damn house on fire. He looks at me over the top of his 'readers' and goes...Damn, honey.
He was actually so calm about it, I began to realize that, to him, this was no cause for alarm. Just standard stuff.

Now I'd like to blame this on the fact that I write but truthfully, when we have lots of crap going on, it's super easy to screw up things. Most of my disasters are kitchen related but this could simply be due to the fact that I don't have a 'day job'. I've exploded eggs, burned stew (three or four pots last winter), forgotten to put meat out to thaw. What's really weird about that is that I'm normally not a 'kitchen klutz'. I am descended from a long line of superb southern cooks who would be rolling in their graves if they only knew of my recent screwups!

I'm chalking it up to distraction!

In other news: Three Wicked Writers plus Two are CHATTING TODAY!!! Yes, we are! Please stop by Two Lips Reviews Chat Loop, hang out for awhile and meet Anne Rainey, Madison Scott, Tess MacKall, Natalie Dae and Moi at 1 pm est.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TalkingTwoLips/

Ellora's Cave RomantiCon-Don't Miss It!

I'm ready to do it AGAIN!

Everyone is already rushing to register for Ellora's Cave's RomantiCon 2010 and this year promises to be even more fun than last year...and the LAST RomantiCon would be pretty hard to beat. What a blast! Rubbing shoulders with other EC writers, all the wonderful readers and reviewers was just more fun than I can say and this is an event I wouldn't dream of missing. So mark your calendars for Oct. 7-10 and head to Richfield, Ohio.

Be prepared for ANYTHING. Ellora's Cave is ten years old this year so come party with us. Ten years of providing the best in erotic romance fiction and the celebration is ON. As usual they'll pull out all the stops with workshops geared to both authors and readers and every night will feature something outrageously FUN. And of course, the CAVEMEN will be on hand! 'Nuff said, huh? The Roaring 20's theme is sure to bring out the flapper, gun moll, and gangster in all of us so 'get your party face on', put on your dancing shoes and get ready to have some fun with the insanely wicked Ellora's Cave folks.

Expect door prizes. Last year, giveaways happened at every party and attendees walked away with so many cool goodies. I've already gone to work on a Regina Carlysle Sensuality Basket (my little contribution) and once I put it all together I'll be sending it off to Ohio to be added to the stash of truly superb gifts that will be given away during the course of the four-day event.

If you are looking for a fun readers and writers convention and you are a fan of Ellora's Cave this is truly a Don't Miss event.

Want to know more? Sure you do. Head over to the RomantiCon website today and read all about it. http://www.jasminejade.com/romanticon