Confessions of a Romance Author: The RWA Diaries, Day Two

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Alcohol units: 0

Social gaffes: 0

Ego boosts: 3 (I have a line at signing! People claim to have come in specifically to meet me! My publisher notices I have a line and tweets about it on Twitter!)

6:00 a.m. The phone rings and wakes me with a start. Ugh. The wake-up call I ordered before we went to bed at two a.m. Sleep is for wimps, I tell Julie. The Animal Kingdom awaits!

7:30 a.m. Julie O. and I are showered, dressed, and ready for adventure. We meet Julie K, Dee, and Dee's daughter at the bus stop. The bus never comes. But aha, author Jessica Scott, waiting with her adorable family, saves the day by suggesting we all share a cab. We're at the AK by the 8 a.m. opening.

8 a.m. Julie O. doesn't like big coaster rides. The rest of us can't wait to encounter the Yeti at Expedition: Everest. We split up, Julie heads to the Kilimajaro Safaris with plans to meet us at Dinosaur later. As we walk along, we're all truly overcome with the beauty of the park and Disney's painstaking way with details. Well done!

By ten, we've conquered Everest twice, met back up, and rode Dinosaur twice. Julie O. and I separate off to make lunch reservations and grab FastPasses for the safari (Julie's second of the day) while the rest of us ride Everest again (it's that good). We meet back up, go on safari and see all kind of animals (giraffes, elephants, hippos, warthogs, lions, hmm no zebra, must have been hungry lions.). The ride ends with a capture of some nasty poachers (some guys never learn) and we're off to lunch at the Yak and Yeti.

Among us, we have many tasty dishes: Seared Ahi Tuna, sesame crusted, with wasabi aioli and sweet chili slaw. Crisp Lettuce Cups filled with minced chicken breast, chopped vegetables, and a maple tamarind sauce. Tempura Shrimp with chili-plum sauce, coconut-ginger rice, and stir-fried veggies. Crisp Honey Chicken with broccoli and carrots. And Shaoxing Steak and Shrimp, marinated skirt steak with tempura shrimp, jasmine rice, chili-plum sauce, and stir-fried veggies. The veggies are crisp and delicious. The steak is tender and flavorful. The shrimp, yum, and that dipping sauce is a great touch. Everyone is very happy with their meals. After a wonderful, but filling, lunch, we all waddle like the ducks that wander around the park back to our bus. So much accomplished, and it's barely after noon!

It was pretty hot in the AK and an air-conditioned bus ride is not quite enough to undo the damage of a day in the heat. We're all looking scroungy. Fortunately, not many people are milling around near the elevators for the walk of shame back to our rooms. It's time for some R & R before the big multi-author RWA autographing to raise funds for literacy efforts in Orlando and Nashville (where the conference would have been if not for major flooding).

4:00 p.m. My dilemma begins. What to wear? What to wear? I ask my roomie Julie. Batik sundress with sweater? Or black cardigan with patterned white-black-green dress? Julie chooses the one I wasn't going to wear. It looks more "author of Jane Slayre." Though, none of my clothes actually look like "author of Jane Slayre." Hmm. Julie recommends I develop a signature style. Food for thought. (Fortunately not actual food, since I am still stuffed from our amazing AK lunch).

5:30 p.m. I went against Julie's recommendation and chose the batik print sundress. I feel good. Have a little trouble finding the autographing room. Go wrong way down hall, feel overwhelmed by huge line of waiting book fans, finally turn around and find my place. I set up and expect to have a few hours of sitting and watching the crowd line up for other authors, with the occasional buyer stopping to look at my book (my usual RWA signing experience).

Surprisingly, I stay on my feet awhile. People keep coming, stopping, not just walking by. People say things like "I saw this at the airport." (Yay!) Or, "I bought this last week." (Love it!). One woman (Colleen) has the book, loved the book, came in to the event hoping to meet me. (So cool!). And it's all a blur for a bit because people keep coming and picking up the book. (An actual line!) Then Linda and Gene from MA introduce themselves. They were vacationing at WDW and saw that I would be signing. (Wow, fellow MA residents meeting me in FL!). Then a line again. And Suzie Townsend from FinePrint Literary Management (I'm with Stephany at FinePrint) apparently recommended my book to a few people (xo Suzie, Thanks!). It's an incredible signing for me and I am overwhelmed by the turnout and the number of people who picked up Jane Slayre.

7:30 p.m. The signing is wrapping up and it finally feels quiet enough to leave. I sign the four books left just in case anyone comes in or wants them afterwards.

8:00 p.m. Julie, Dee, Dee's daughter, and I change clothes fast and head to Disney Hollywood Studios park. We can't get enough. The line for Rock n Roller Coaster is too crazy, but we manage to ride Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Toy Story Mania, and Great Movie Ride plus grab a bite before park closing time. (Thank you, evening Extra Magic Hours). I tried the chicken and ribs with baked beans and coleslaw at Fairfax Fare. The beans are good, though not the New England style I prefer. The cole slaw, not bad. The chicken and ribs, though, have a fake smoky taste and are not that good. I recommend giving Fairfax Fare a pass. Dee and her daughter fared better with a cheese pizza and a hot italian deli sandwich at Catalina Eddie's.

We head back and I get to bed just after midnight. A good thing, because Thursday is the first full day of conference and I expect a busy day. But before bed, at midnight, a phone call to my daughter. It's her birthday! She's turning 17. And yes, I am at Walt Disney World without her, but I know she forgives me. "It's business." :)

Confessions of a Romance Author: The RWA Diaries Day One

Julie Ortolon, Sherri, and Dee Davis.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Alcohol units: 1 margarita, 1 wine flight (three 2 oz glasses).

Social gaffes: 1 *appearing at conference in disarray.

Ego Deflators: 2, not recognized by bigger authors in the room. Put off for seating at Kouzzina (do you know who I AM?!).

3 a.m, my bedroom. Radio alarm goes off. Tainted Love. I try not to take it as a sign... at least it isn't Bad Romance.

5:30 a.m, Bradley Airport. Have cleared security after five scans of carry-on bag. Who knew eyelash curler could be confused with a deadly weapon? March to gate and prepare to board plane. Flash smug grin to suckers who did not sign on to Southwest early enough to score prime A21 seating number as I have. Choose window seat in front of wing. Wonder if the Lost crew would approve my choice.

8:30 a.m. Orlando. Smooth flight, easy landing. Now to find ground transportation to whisk me to the Dolphin Resort, site of the Romance Writer's of America 2010 Conference, the 30th anniversary of RWA. At Mears counter, run into fellow romance authors. End up in motor coach with 5 women en route to RWA, and one lone businessman who looks very scared indeed. "Please drop me off first," he begs the male driver, as he moves from the back into the front passenger seat. The men will stick together. Safety in numbers. "I have appointments. And stuff."

9:00 a.m. I'm going to Disney World! I can't really see anything out the windows of the motor coach from my middle seat, but excitement builds. Especially after we drop off our businessman. Almost there!

9:30 a.m. At the Dolphin at last! I glance around the lobby as I head for the check-in line. It's beautiful, with whimsical decor and a large Dolphin fountain at the center. Disney theming, check. Though, technically, the Dolphin is a Starwood property, located at Disney, and not a Disney hotel. As I realize when they let me check in and my room is ready (actually ready!) before 10 a.m. (this almost never happens on Disney property for me). I check in, check my 10th floor view (of the Tower of Terror, yes!), fix my hair, hope I won't look like too big a dork in the lobby in my park clothes around other romance authors (navy polo dotted with Mickey silhouettes, tan shorts, white socks and Asics running shoes), and head out.

All clear, no authors spotted. I sprint past the Dolphin fountain to Guest Services to buy my park pass. My new publicist calls to discuss our PR plan. Not now, Tom, I'm in Disney World! But of course, I talk with him. He's sorry he can't make it. He would have been at conference if it had stayed in Nashville as originally planned. We'll have to meet in person some other time.

10:15 a.m. Time to get my ride on! I'm supposed to meet friends (authors Dee Davis, Dee's daughter, and Julie Kenner) at the parks, but I can't seem to get in touch. We discussed possibly meeting at the Animal Kingdom, so I head there on the bus. Halfway there, a text message. They're at Hollywood Studios. I get off the bus at Blizzard Beach (a water park, one stop before the Animal Kingdom) and change buses to go back to Disney Hollywood Studios. I wish I had managed to connect with them before bus. The Studios is an easy boat ride from the Dolphin. But-- I'm at Disney World! All is well.

11:14 a.m. By the time I arrive at the Hollywood Studios, my friends are on to the Great Movie Ride. I decide to wait at the ride exit so I don't miss them. (How did we survive before cell phones and easy texting?) I sip a frozen lemonade while I wait. Good stuff. I've been in Disney World for over an hour and I still haven't ridden anything! I'm sweating and I start to panic. What if I miss my friends and wait here all day while they are having fun? What if they think my park outfit is dorky and unprofessional? What if they notice the pounds I've gained and they all look fit and trim? What if... They come out and end my torture. They look the same as they always do to me (adorable and welcoming-- they're my friends! And also in park clothes and sweaty, yay! Hugs all around.)

11: 42 a.m. But everyone is hungry, so we head to the Backlot Express. It's air-conditioned, bonus. Dee's daughter grabs a table. The rest of us order and bring the food. I have the double cheeseburger (though I only want a single) with fries. Dee's daughter has chicken breast nuggets with fries. Dee has the grilled turkey and cheese with arugula and red peppers with fries. And Julie has the Southwest Salad with Chicken, mixed greens with tortilla strips, black bean relish, avocado, and cilantro vinaigrette. We all agree our food is okay, meets but does not exceed expectations with the exception of Dee's turkey sandwich, that she declares really good. The addition of the red peppers moves it beyond the ordinary. I remove a patty from my cheeseburger. It's just too much food. Even if I wasn't painfully aware of every pound I have gained since last RWA conference.

12: 30 p.m. After lunch, we head for Star Tours. Julie claims it as her favorite ride. I don't reveal that I get nauseated on Star Tours. Usually, I do better with a full stomach and the lunch was fairly filling. I think I will survive. And I do. Star Tours has a minimal wait, maybe ten minutes in line. We get the front row. I've ridden many times, but have never been in front. We all agree that the ride is dated and could use some updates, but it's still a lot of fun making our simulated journey to Endor that goes awry.

1:00 p.m. After Star Tours, we split up again. My friends have FastPasses to Rock n Roller Coaster and I decide to browse the Star Tours gift shop for a gift for my editor, a suspected fan of Star Wars. I find something that she probably already has, but pick it up in the off chance that she doesn't, and meet my friends outside of RnRC. We opt to ride Twilight Zone Tower of Terror next, and I'm thrilled. One of my favorite rides! And it does not disappoint.

2:00 p.m. We're all hot and tired and ready for a break. But, we're disheveled and a bit sweaty. Dare we walk through a hotel lobby of romance writing professionals? We call it our new Walk of Shame and brazen on through, of course running right into Teresa Medeiros, Christina Dodd, Emily March, and other professionally-attired authors who eye our appearance with suspicion, but manage warm and friendly greetings. Except, no one seems to know who I am. Perhaps that is best in my current attire. The worst has happened. We have been spotted in our natural park-going state. After picking up our registration packets, we might as well head for the lobby bar.

We run into my conference roommate, author Julie Ortolon, who is all checked in and of course lovely in fresh citrus colors and crisp white. Trademark big hair, chunky jewelry, and no sign of perspiration. Julie! She'll get to stand out in comparison to the rest of us. "Look, we do clean up nicely. When we clean up."

Claire Delacroix aka Deborah Cooke joins us at the bar and Eloisa James pops in to introduce her friend Laurie Kahn, who is producing a documentary on the romance genre. Julie O. and Deb get into a heated discussion of... well, what happens at the RWA bar stays at the RWA bar.

4:00 p.m. We all head to our rooms to unpack, refresh, and get ready for dinner. I feel much better after a shower. We all choose park clothes that will be acceptable for a casual restaurant, with plans to hit Epcot after the meal.

7:30 p.m. Julie Kenner, Dee Davis, Dee's daughter, Julie Ortolon, and I meet in the lobby and proceed to meet Whine Sister and friend Jacquie D'Alessandro at the Dolphin's sister resort, The Swan. Jacquie is, of course, adorable in peach sweater and skirt. We walk across the Boardwalk to Cat Cora's Kouzzina, admiring the sights and stopping for pictures along the way.

At Kouzzina, check in does not go smoothly. They mistake me for another party. I correct it on the way to the table. We return to the hostess desk and wait some more. They give us a buzzer so that we can wander around until our table is ready. The buzzer buzzes. They find my name, but try to seat the 6 of us at a table for 4. We return to the desk and wait some more. Finally, we're seated and eager for a great meal.

We opt to share some appetizers. Crisp Calamari and Lemon - Coated in Three Flours with Spicy Yogurt and Garlic Yogurt. Spanakopita - Traditional Phyllo Pie of Spinach, Feta, Leeks, and Dill. And some sort of grilled goat cheese served with thick crispy toasts. The calamari is the big hit. Yum.

Some of us order wine flights with our meal, like the Cat Flight, 'Cat Flight' - Cat Cora's Own "Coranation" Wines $17.00

Coranation, Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley - Well structured, with ripe apple, blood orange, spice and pear notes that are juicy and refreshing, with terrific focus.

Coranation, Chardonnay, Russian River - Cat Cora designed the perfect Chardonnay for her cuisine with tropical fruit, vanilla, and spice.

Coranation, Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast - Cherries, cranberries, cinnamon, clove and rose petals with clove, vanilla, and roasted pecan nuances.

Yum, yum, and yum. All good. We toast our absent sisters, Kathleen O'Reilly (joining us tomorrow), Julia London, who could not make it to conference this time, and Kathleen Givens. But the big highlight of the evening, besides the love and laughter that flows faster than the wine, is the food at Kouzzina. Once the food arrives, we all sample each others and the conversation ceases except for occasional exclamations like "OH." "Ohhhhh." and "Oh my gosh." I joke that we were having foodgasms. Yes, the food is that good. Jacquie and I have the Fisherman's Stew - Scallops, seasonal Fish, Shellfish, Fennel, Grilled Bread, and Ouzo Butter. Julie, Julie, and Dee's daughter have the Slow-cooked Lamb Shank served with Oven-baked Gigantes Beans and Pepper Sauce. Dee orders the Kouzzina Trio - tasting size portions of Pastitisio, Char-grilled Lamb Burger, and Cinnamon-stewed Chicken with Orzo, and the lamb burger was the biggest surprise of them all. Not your ordinary burger. Well worth a try.

And finally, dessert. We decide to split the traditional Baklava, and it's amazing, served warm with a scoop of pistachio ice cream. We linger and say our goodnights to Jacquie, who will not be joining us in parks. (I don't know how she could pass it up).

10:00 p.m. We fight off our urges to descend into food coma bliss and move on to Epcot, where the Cast Member (Disney employs cast members, not mere employees) at the gate goes above and beyond the call of duty to make our night extra special (I can't say more, but yay for CMs who go above and beyond). It's just after IllumiNations, and the crowds are headed to the main entrance. Epcot is open till midnight for Disney resort guests only. It's dark and the countries are all lit up and twinkling. I enjoy showing Julie O (who has never been) all the sights and she is obviously impressed, as we all are, by the beauty of World Showcase at night. But we're here to ride and Test Track awaits.

The standby line at Test Track advertises a 40 minute wait, but we don't have long to enjoy the park. We opt to break down the group to take advantage of the much shorter Single Rider line. Great idea! We're on the ride in 10 minutes. Julie K and Julie O (our first timer who declares herself scared of roller coasters) get to ride in a car together with a really sweet family. The rest of us are all broken up. But it's so fun! I love the rush of that last high speed ride around the track. Julie O says "Can we do it again?!"

But no, we're off to Spaceship Earth. The animated ending and Judy Dench narration is new to Dee and daughter, and they laugh when they see their future selves. After Spaceship Earth, we decide to wait in the long line for Soarin. It's a half hour to park close, so why not give it a go? And no one is disappointed. The wait is just about the whole half hour followed by one excellent ride (even though we end up in the bottom row). After a wonderful time, we drag our way back through World Showcase, keeping each other from falling down in exhaustion along the way, to the International Gateway, straight onto the boat, and to our beds.

Tomorrow, it's the Animal Kingdom, the big booksigning, and maybe more time at Disney Hollywood Studios at night.

Signing at Disney World

If you're in the Orlando area on Wednesday, July 28, please swing by the Dolphin resort to say hi! I'll be one of hundreds of authors signing books to benefit literacy efforts in a fundraiser by the Romance Writers of America. Signing authors listed here.

Park admission is not required to stop by for the signing in the Dolphin's Grand Ballroom, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM. Three hour parking is available at the Dolphin. You can find authors alphabetically. I'll be in the E row, for Erwin. See you there!

In Loving Memory, Drake 11/02/1999-6/29/2010

In September of 1997, I started sending my youngest child to preschool so that she could reap the benefits of socializing with kids her own age (and not just her older brother), and I could finally devote more time to writing. My dream was to publish my first novel before turning thirty, and that big birthday was looming, just over a year away. Tick tick tick tick...

I'd written two full manuscripts, medieval romances heavy on period drama, and hadn't had much luck at interesting an agent or editor. I decided to try something new, try writing something more like my favorite Jane Austen books, just to see what would happen. At about the same time, I started researching dog breeds to find the ideal pet for my family. We weren't ready to add a dog, but thought we might do it in the next few years, when the kids were old enough to learn about animal care but young enough to really bond. I discovered pugs and added one to my Work-in-Progress, the one that went on to become my first novel, contracted for publication by Dell Books in August 1998 (two months before my 30th birthday, huzzah!). And, with my newfound author confidence, I convinced my husband that we should look into bringing a pug into our lives sooner than planned.

In January 1999, we brought the kids to a local kennel to see some pugs up close and decide if we could make a match. The four of us huddled on the floor surrounded by pug puppies. Puppies everywhere! They wiggled and bounded right into our hearts and we knew we had to bring one home. But which one? My husband's only caveat- choose a female. We have to have a female (easier to train, in his opinion). But the tiniest, most tenacious of the bunch happened to be a male. He bit on to my daughter's flopping shoelace and would not let go. We all looked to my husband. "Please please please! We love him." And so the runty little male became a part of our family.

What to name him? All the way home (over an hour ride), the pug shared my lap and the four of us tried out names. Riley? Munchkin? Peanut? I finally suggested Drake, in honor of a rakish charmer in my first book and the name of our favorite tavern in our favorite vacation spot, the Sir Francis Drake in Wells, Maine. A Drake's Cakes truck drove by as we deliberated, and it seemed like fate. Drake! We had a Drake.

Drake was never the brightest dog on the planet, but he was lovable and so sweet, the most good-natured creature I've ever known. He hated to be alone so much that even as a tiny puppy, he learned to climb over the child safety gate that separated my work space, the kitchen, from his safe space, the living room. Maybe he was brighter than he let on after all. Two years after adding Drake to the family, we added a corgi, mostly as a companion for Drake. Before long, the corgi decided she (yes, a she-- the husband was right about training a male) was boss and Drake was her minion. But he didn't care, as long as he had more company.

About a month ago, Drake started bleeding from the mouth. He still managed to eat (not much could keep that boy from food) but it was gruesome and trying. The vet discovered squamous cell carcinoma in his mouth, and she told me what to expect, and that short of removing his jaw, not much more could be done. I brought him home and told the family, who nearly refused to believe me. But he seems so happy. Look, he's still eating. Maybe the vet was wrong. But I knew.

Some days, he seemed fine. Other days, the blood was overwhelming. Many times, I ended up on the floor, feeding him out of my hand. And then he started skipping meals. And he started losing weight. And then he became weaker, lethargic. His breathing became labored. And... more unpleasant things started happening to poor Drake until finally, he couldn't eat at all. We had one last weekend. The kids finally accepted what was happening. I called and made the appointment with the vet. Drake preferred the floor to my lap. Maybe it was easier to breathe. I almost expected to wake up and find him already gone, but no. There he was, attempting to wag his tail, ready to go out for his walk. As long as I carried him.

I carried him, his precious weight in my arms, all the way to the vet's office while my husband drove the car. I stroked the velvet wrinkles of his forehead as he drifted off, and looked into his chocolate brown eyes. Just like that, he was gone. But he'll always be with me.

The way he used to run into the dishwasher in his haste to get to his food bowl. How he would lick my pants before settling into place on my lap. His occasional attempts at speech that sounded like he was saying "Golf!" The cock of his head as he tried to make sense of my end of the conversation. Drake, my beloved pug. Always in my heart.

Happy Father's Day!

Father's Day here is filled with the sound of vuvuzelas. My husband is recuperating from unexpected surgery on Friday (Wednesday, excruciating neck pain. Thursday, all day at the ER. Surprise, you need immediate surgery to save your spinal chord from permanent damage- yipes! Friday, operation. Saturday, Sunday, recovery mode) and is struggling to find a pain-free position in front of the World Cup soccer on TV. I'm about to go visit my dad and my grandfather with gifts and good cheer.

One of my best memories of Dad? Sharing his lap with my big sister as he read us the Sunday comics in funny voices. One of my best memories of my grandfather, who was like a dad to me in many ways? When my big sister got invited to cool parties and I was left out, he would have my mother dress me up and he would take me as his "date" to fancy restaurants, just the two of us. Good times! And probably why I listed frogs legs and escargot among my favorite foods when most kids were appreciating pizza and mac n cheese. Yay, Dads!

Wishing fathers everywhere a very happy day! What are your best memories of dads?