Romantic Times 2010: A Virgin Fangirl’s Perspective Part 2
Thursday, April 29: Okay, today I decided I wanted in on the major goodies that the readers were getting instead of following the writer path, especially after getting jealous over my other roommate Ann’s ever-growing pile of books while she followed the seller/librarian route — she is a librarian in WV (Hi Ann!). So, off I went to the “Mystery Chix and Private Dix” event for breakfast, then off to a Reader event with Lora Leigh and Sylvia Day, which was fun and cool cause I got another sleep shirt to round out my collection. After that I went to an informative seminar about ebooks, and had some ice cream for lunch. Then came my dilemma of the day: I had to choose between listening to J.R. Ward or playing some Bad Boy Bingo. I have to say I started out in the J.R. Ward room, but as I was in the last seat in the last row I was seeing and hearing nothing, so I slipped next door to the bingo game, which was fun but I didn’t win, as usual.
Right after I was swept into the large hall to watch the RT awards during which a certain someone dropped her award in an awkward moment. Here’s where my day gets a bit murky, as I tipped a glass of champagne after the ceremony, which immediately went to my head, with spins and twirls accosting me. I am not really such a light-weight, but realized that the only things I had had to eat or drink all day were a muffin and tea in the morning and the Klondike bar at lunch. Whoops — off to find some food in the food court, which rolled up most of its shutters at about 4 pm.
After food was found and eaten, it was time to break out the wings and get dressed for the fairy ball. I had made a promise to Angie Fox that I would go all-out for this event, and I did — wings, corset, and shimmery costume, et al. I had spent weeks sewing and creating this one-of-a-kind dress only to look like a giant blue blob in all the pics that were taken. Note to self: take the pics, do not pose. In any case, here are a few of the people who posed with the hockeyvamp disguised as a fairy: Mark Henry, Angie Fox and Victoria Dahl.
The night finished with just hanging out in the lobby/bar with a lot of crazy authors and having a fun time. But alas, the night had to end sometime, and waving my wand goodnight to the League of Reluctant Adults that held court at the far end of the sitting area I was off to sleep in my little cot.
Friday April 30: This was the start of a very long day. The Kensington Morning mixer started out the day, then I was on to a seminar which I didn’t decide on until the very last minute. I wanted to go to four different ones at the same time, as four very talented authors that I love were giving separate seminars at 10 am, which lead me to a coin toss, figuratively. “Top 10 Dead Sexiest Hero Types” won out — who would have thought? Smile
It was then off to the Wild and Wacky reader party put on by Kayla Perrin and Jamie Rush. I never laughed so hard in my life! The women were asked questions about their sex lives, and the Mr. Romance contestants were brought in and asked some of the very same questions. I must say that it was very fun and informative, and I was amazed when I answered a question and one of the guys answered the same thing. Seeing me recording it with the camera, he came right over in front of me and gave me a full-frontal description, in reaction to which I nearly dove out of the room searching for some elusive chocolate. Yep, let your imagination run wild… Smile
The Carina Press launch event was a fun lunch diversion. My friend, author Leah Braemel, was one of the authors featured in their first series of books to be released in June. BTW, Leah, I want my copy soon — cowboy menage, very yummy topic of choice. Smile But to add to the excitement of the luncheon, I sat with Caridad Pineiro and Nina Bruhns for a very cool discussion about what Caridad should write next in her sports-themed series (sorry Virginia, I told her no more Nascar). I think I worked her into a hockey-themed book with my sexy Ryan Miller as the star attraction. Well, it was suggested anyway… Did I mention that the food for the event was mashed potato martinis, and they were amazing!!
I did another toss of the hat to figure out my next event, and ended up at a YA chat with some amazing YA authors that left me with a very interesting view of what events in their own lives shaped their characters’ evolution. The reader Vamps and Scamps party with Shiloh, LuAnn McLane, and a bunch of wonderful ladies was next, then it was off to the Ebook and Magna bookfair where I met up with a pair of women who had also left their families behind to share in the RT fun and lose their virginity to the awesomeness of the weekend.
My fellow BBB reviewers Lyda and Virginia came in Friday night to catch up with some of BBB’s fave guests, and catch some of the Mr. Romance eyecandy. I followed along with my plan to attend the Dusk to Dark mixer and catch up with another amazing author friend, Joss Ware, who traversed through Michigan to make a library visit to my town last winter with her Mom in tow. The final event of the night was the Vampire Ball, and although I was excited about this event I found that sitting at the back of the room while the actors put on a play that might have been awesome if I could follow it was a bit of a disappointment. We couldn’t see or hear from where we were, the dinner was being served while it was going on, and thus the wait staff was continuously in front of our view, be it the live stage version or the two big screens.
So, after the dinner was served we headed out to find some amusement. It didn’t take too long as I found my fellow cohorts in the bar along with a bunch from the League of Reluctant Adults, which included the blue-haired Stacia Kane, the shoe- stealing — I mean borrowing — Dakota Cassidy, the snarky Mark Henry and the — what is the word I am looking for — indescribable Michelle Bardsley, to name but a few. Oh, and of course there was Creepy Doll. The night was not to be done as early as I had imagined when I was once again a part of a party of people who made the night a very memorable one. I must say that I do NOT have a Canadian or Australian accent, and if anyone thinks I do, please send me to live with BEC in Australia. Smile
Saturday, May 1: The final morning of major events started with the Street Party, then lead up to standing in line for the book fair — and utter chaos. I have never seen so many people sitting at their tables full of books just waiting to be attacked en masse. I was quick to grab a ticket to the J.R. Ward signing, but didn’t get to the Charlaine Harris line in time for an early ticket so I passed, which I thought I might regret later, but was happy wandering the aisles chatting with so many of my faves that I had missed during the week. I was one of the few who didn’t bring a suitcase full of books to get signed (not wanting to put myself into question at the border), but instead brought a few of the ones I had gotten during the week that were not already signed to get autographed.
It was a fun and amazing afternoon as I talked to many people I stalk — I mean follow — on twitter. This lead to me being asked to be interviewed by RT television, on, what else — Historical Romance. I do read historicals, and in fact the first series that I really got into was by Valerie Sherwood, which I still have today. But Smart Bitch Sara and I muddled through by mixing up a couple of historicals I have read recently with other titles from both Victoria Dahl and Jennifer Haymore. Sorry, ladies, I was trying hard to keep them straight. Smile I have yet to see the video, and maybe that’s a good thing…
Right after the book fair I was taken for a walk down the street by Bad Barb, a very nice lady by the name of Lori Foster, and her hubby for a lunch down in the bowels the Bluejackets Arena. There we met Lucy Monroe and a few others for a nice sit-down meal for a change. It was really cool. I do not know the name of the place, but we ate in the Pope room at a table big enough for all 15 of us and had some amazing pasta.
Back at the hotel, BB and I sneaked into the Mr. Romance competition, which was already going on, and watched as Mr. Cute and Shy won all categories. He was really sweet, as were most of the guys, although as the week went on we could see those who were more determined than others to win. Glad to see Jamie won, although I heard through the grapevine that the write-in votes for Mark Henry were really close.
Speaking of Mr. Henry and the other league members, I spent the last night of my extended vacation in the suite with dueling rockband events. And although I informed Michelle B. and Mark that I was taking over the party as my very own birthday party, I wasn’t really serious — well not really. 
In any case it was one of the most fun nights I have had in a very long time. The snarks were flowing freely, my vodka was getting drained, and my voice, which I had started losing the night before, was belting out a raspy version of a GoGo’s song. All in all, it was one amazing way to finish the week off!
Sunday, May 2: Homeward-bound first thing — well, that is after smushing 5 people and all their swag into a Durango, but we made it. After saying goodbye to Netti and Mike, and to new YA author Shannon Delany, Barb and I were off to Detroit where I dropped her off and raced home in the hopes that I could catch the boys in a final hockey game. Unfortunately, they did well but didn’t make it to the finals so I was not entertained by a game, but I got to watch the final tryout and sign the papers for next season’s roster. At least the border crossing back had been a breeze as I took the ferry and got out of the two hour line-up that was awaiting me at the bridge. Smile
So, I have been home two weeks now. My voice took over a week to come back, I am still going through stuff and saying, wow I wish I had snagged more of those, or why in the heck did I grab that? But all in all, I am still amazed at the spectacular awesomeness RT 2010 was for me, a Canadian Virgin out on her own. I know I would not have been there if not for BBB, Angie Fox, and Leah Braemel, to name only a few who encouraged me to live the dream and make it work, and also Mimi, Netti, and Bad Barb who networked together to help me find a roommate when plans kinda fell through for a bit. Also, thanks to Ann who, although always off at the cool librarian functions, was an awesome roommate who gave me a few goodies extra.
Did you miss part 1 of HockeyVamp’s adventure? Read all about it here:
Wow!! It sounds like you know all the authors and I do believe you were the bell of all the balls! Great reporting. Lisa D.
Sounds like a wonderful time had by all. I love your gown.
That sounds like a rocking (no pun intended) good time. See me awash with envy.
sounds like So much fun!!!! your gown was amazing. I am green with envy
By the sound of it, reading both part one and part two, you really enjoyed yourself!
Yep it was fun….. thanks I did enjoy myself…. a great adventure…. can’t wait to see if I can go again if it comes near me again. We will have to see if there is one that we both could get to…
Great post! I wish I were there, too!
I loved it! Sounds like you did too. Awesome Party!!
chirth7@yahoo.com
I really envy you. Sounds like you had a great time.
jellybelly82158 at gmail dot com
Sounds like an amazing event! I’d love to read a hockey-themed book by Caridad Pineiro (hockey players are hot!). Glad you gave her the suggestion!
Going to have to remind her…. see if it is in the works.
Oh! I am so JEALOUS! I have got to get me to one of these events! Lol, what has been your most favorite part of the entire event? (Sorry if have already mentioned this, but I don’t think I missed anything!)
Cheers!
That would be very hard to pick…. probably a 3 way tie between the hanging out with Lora Leigh, eating at the tea party with Shiloh Walker and the rock band party…..
Oh my! When’s the next event?? Sign me up!
=)
I agree with Kate N. I am seriously jealous! And is it me or do all these events end up with everyone at the bar?! I hop the champagne didn’t have the same effect as the mysterious green drink adventure from the previous nights. It sounds like it was an absolute ball!
Yep at the bar was where all the contacts were made…. thankfully the bar was right between the convention rooms and the elevators to our rooms…. so it was really convenient…. champagne, green mysterious liquid…. no actually the best was the vanilla vodka and the cherry Dr Pepper…. made really good use of the coffee cups left in our room daily…. none of my roommates or myself indulge in that type of caffiene so I had to use them up….
Wow, sounds like you had such an incredible adventure. I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall at some of those events. I Twitter stalk ah I mean talk to a few authors myself. Getting to know and talk to authors via Twitter or even Facebook for that matter is so kool. I am so jealsous of all the authors you got to hang with. Mark Henry for instance seems like he would be such a kool person to hang out with on lets say a Friday night.
What a great time you had. I loved getting to hear all about it.
Thanks for the article. I really wish I could go sometime. Maybe in the future, I will bust my cherry, but for now I can sort of experience it vicariously thru you!!
Sounds like you had a lot of fun. Are you going again next year?
I’ve already started putting money aside to try to afford to go to L.A. next year. It will be my first RT convention.
lol the whole rock b and thing made me laugh
and the reading of part one and two seeme dlike u were enjoying it
Bad Boy Bingo….hmmmm….Angie Fox….Griffins, Kilts, Uniforms. THE Bartender…..I think I am having an idea…..
I think you did a wonderful job on Dress for Fairy Ball
Must have been fun, more pictures please!
What a blast you had!!! I really wanted to head out to RT, but I was at a conference for work. I think the League would be the perfect people to drink with…totally jealous.
J.R. Ward seems like a cool person. I would have loved to hear her speak but not more than Charlaine Harris! I’ve been her fan since the second Sookie book came out. Sounds like an awesome time!
Wow, sounds like you had a fantastic time. I’ve never attended a convention but did get to go to the RT Book Fair last year in Orlando. It was fantastic and I’m looking forward to going to the RWA Literacy Signing in July since it was moved to Orlando.
I was there so I know it was great….I wish I would have ran in to you guys…
HeidiS
Love those fairy colors. The timeline sounds a lot like mine when I go to comic conventions.
Always so much to do and see and costume contests to enter. 
I
It’s nice to live vicariously through your adventure. Someday I hope to attend one of these events. I live in GA and hope to go to Dragon Con this year.
Having attended RT myself staying to the writer’s track it was fun to read about some of the events I didn’t make it to! Great costume btw
Great post. Thank you for letting me experience it with you. And I think you look lovely in your costume!
Honestly, I’m just amazed by the costume you made! Sounds like you had a great time.
man you make me so jealous. I so want to do this. Maybe year after next it will be closer and I can go.
That looked like a lot of fun! I love the mask too, is there any chance you could post a closer picture of it?
I am definitely jealous..sounds like a great time was to be had and you had it. Maybe next time you can see the authors that you didn’t get to talk to this time around. But I’m glad that the ones you did see rocked the party too….lol
I’d love to go to one of these events, I’ve never attended any of the conventions – looks like so much fun!
WOW, that sounds like so much fun! As much as I read you would think I have been to something like this but nope…I haven’t.
Maria S.
Love the colors….looks like everyone had a great time!!
Sounds like fun!