Stuff I've been thinking about...
I'm excited about a few things. Don't you love it when you have something fabulous to look forward to? This Saturday I'm going to meet with some of the SoCal bloggers from our little corner of Romancelandia. Well a couple of them anyway. On Saturday Wendy, the mighty and wonderful Super Librarian and Holly of Book Binge and What Were You Expecting will be meeting me to talk books, blogging and cheesecake. Not necessarily in that order and not necessarily the cheesecake you eat. :P
BTW, is Rowena joining us? Anybody know? Nikki, you get the all clear yet? Let me know ladies. The more the merrier I say. Email me at RnG1180@aol.com and I'll send you the details.
Since this gathering is in the interest of grilling (maybe that's not the best word choice there) Wendy about RWA it is sort of short notice. So we are planning another gathering in the Fall sometime. Everyone in SoCal interested in joining us keep it in mind. We will brain storm a bit and chat about it on Saturday and see what sort of consensus we come up with.
Besides the excitement of meeting up with people on Saturday, I've been thinking quite a bit about RWA next year in San Francisco. Primarily because I've been looking at the hotel site and day dreaming about making the trip. Has it deflated any of you reader/blogger types at all about attending the RWA next year in San Francisco in light of comments by some writers and RWA members who may be uncomfortable with reader/reviewer/bloggers being there? Frankly, before this was even mentioned online yesterday, I was wondering if the authors were feeling a bit stifled by non-writers being there.
I'm not a writer. I don't profess to be one. I am not an aspiring writer either. I'm also not an editor, an agent or work for a publisher. I'm not a librarian, and I don't have a blog or review site with huge numbers or traffic. I'm just one person who has been reading romance novels for almost 30 years. That's a lot of book purchases and a lot of reading. Even so, do I belong at RWA? I sure hope so because I have every intention of going. The timing is right, it's in my home state and I don't know if I will ever make it to another convention, but I sure want to go to this one.
What do you other readers think? Even if the RWA membership doesn't mind or care if we are there, should we be? Is there a place for the fan/blogger/reader/reviewer at RWA?
In the meantime...San Francisco here I come.
Labels: RWA 2008, San Francisco, SoCal Litmos
Posted by Rosie at 12:56 AM
17 Comments:
I can see a little of why some writers were uncomfortable but, from a distance, it seems as though the readers and bloggers brought new life to the event, and I am ALLLLLL for that. Speaking as a writer, I can't wait to meet you next year!!
Having been to RWA last year, I'm sure it does appear very overwhelming to have a lot of non-writers there, but I agree that we are there to show our support for the industry because we have something at stake in it as well. Would there even be an RWA if there weren't readers to buy all those books? I'm not saying turn it into a reader event at all - that seems to be what the RT event is about already - but getting feedback from the source (readers) directly seems like it would be invaluable, plus a lot of us are there for our favorite authors, possibly some of whom may not have met many of their fans. And I think most readers are rather respectful of a writer's time while at these types of events.
I don't really know where I'm going with this other than to say writers and readers can co-exist at RWA and not make it about choosing different sides on a battlefield. We're all there because we passionately love these books.
If I still lived in SoCal you can bet I'd be there! Instead I'll just wait to hear about it from you.
Don't let the recent kvetching scare you off from attending San Fran. Honestly, I was sort of surprised to read about this online when I got home, since I had nothing but an extremely positive experience in Dallas. I met a ton of people, who were all genuinely nice (even though I'm sure they were dog-ass tired) and seemed happy to see us there.
Listen, readers can attend - you just have to pay the cost of attending like everyone else. But readers should know that this is a conference geared mainly towards writing and the business of. You won't find "fan events" outside of the massive Literacy Signing. There is a lot of interesting stuff to do, people to see - but if you just want to mingle with "readers only" or attend costume balls then RWA isn't what you're looking for.
And we'll talk more on Saturday :)
Have a fab lunch and know I'm thinking I'd love to be there too, but it would be a heck of a trip for lunch :)
Definitely go to RWA next year what a wonderful opportunity. If I lived that close I'd be there in a heart beat.
As it is I'm thinking about RT next year in Pittsburg. And I'd rather go to RWA than RT.
We're having a version of your enchilada casserole tonight, ground beef instead of chicken, since it's already defrosted.
Oh....jealous ya'll get to meet. :-(
What wendy said...
To answer zeek yep there are dues to join and a conference fee to go. So it isn't like anyone can say lets go and just attend. So I don't really think authors have anything to fear.
The lit signing is open to anyone and everyone who wants to stand in line and pay for books.
The parties, dinners and events are invite only. Are there 'fan' events? No, not other than the lit signing. Do you want to put one together during RWA? I would say no because it is such a bitch finding time. So much already overlaps and is missed. And it is expensive.
I have to say though if you wanna hang in the bar that is where most people end up. And I think just about every major review site gets passes and have gotten them for a while. The difference this year was blogging allowed us to bring the experience home for more people.
I hope you have fun this Saturday!! :D Don't forget, we want pics!
Honestly, I couldn't care.
Yeah, talking shop, so to speak, is fun, but I usually keep it to a few close friends anyway and not huge hoards of people.
Most of us all love books and the romance genre so that is one huge thing we all have in common. No reason we can't do it all together.
It's not like there's some secret handshake that only romance writers know... or if there is, nobody has shown it to me yet. ;)
I think if you have been reading for 30 years, that pretty much makes you in like Flynn at the whole RWA. I mean let's be honest, where would they be without the readers/buyers anyhow? I am sure they would love to have you there just as much as you would love to be there. Heck, you should be an honorary member for all of the books you have purchased and read over the past 30. I am pretty sure there is an unwritten rule that if you have been active in anything for 25+ years - you can do whatever the hell you want! ;P
Zeek: The swan hat was worn by an author - at the literacy signing. Us bloggers all behaved professionally. Any squealling that was done was done on the inside. :)
And I can only hope and pray it never turns into something like the RT convention. It's a professional and business convention and I would hate for it to lose that. And it's also a place for those wanting to write. There are lots of times where agents and editors will meet with aspiring authors to hear what they have written.
It wasn't a party atomosphere - except sometimes in the evenings around the bar and even then it was restrained.
Well, I know they have the Literacy Signing each year, and I know that Suz Brockmann holds her readers dinner there each year (I went in Reno, and it was a blast!). I'll definitely be going to SF.
As for this weekend, I'm bummed - I'll be in Pebble Beach for the hubby's grandmother's 95th bd. So y'all will just have to do it again, damn it. So there :)
Giselle, it's a mutual admiration society because I can't wait to meet you either. I've been to the hotel site now and am really excited.
Stacy, what sort of events did you attend, if you don't mind sharing.
Jen, it would be so cool to meet you. Stranger things have happened. You never know.
Zeek, I don't know about the conventions. Writers already have RT for the carnival like atmosphere which I have to admit doesn't appeal to me. Especially the whole cover model contest doesn't appeal. Which isn't to say the authors themselves wouldn't be a draw, but I have had my eyes rolling into the back of my head over all things RT since Kathryn Falk purchased herself a title and uses it. Just too over the top.
It's way fun to meet other bloggers. I hope you can get the people in NE together soon.
Wendy, I just hate feeling like the uninvited bastard child at any event. I'm wondering about what sort of workshops and things I might attend out of curiosity. But like you said we can talk Saturday.
TM, what I said to Jen applies to you too. Maybe one of these days we will be in the same place at the same time. If you go to RT you have to tell us all about it.
Mailyn, I'm still waiting to hear all about your wild and crazy visit with DC.
Sybil, yeah I figured you swell chicks got invites to some of the more exclusive shindigs. Which is okay as long as you tell us all about 'em.
On a serious note though maybe it's not so much reader/reviewer/bloggers attending RWA that's the problem as much as them breaching the more private events like Nora's party. Think?
Nath, I can't wait to meet everyone.
Shiloh, so if I were to come up to your table to get a book(s) signed should I introduce myself as Rosie who has a blog and who sometimes comments on yours? Are there too many people and not enough time or should I go for it?
Jodi, I like the way you think. I should wear a button that says. "Hi, I'm Rosie I've been reading romance for 30 years and I help support this industry."
Kristie, I was sort of stunned when I saw the picture of Ms. Kenyon. I think that might intimidate me from getting in her line. Stuff like that is a little too oevre for me. I have to say I really do think you had an RWA experience of a life time. Who knows though an even better one might be awaiting you when you go as a published writer yourself.
Thanks everyone for your thoughts and comments. I'll probably worry and wonder a few more times before next July about going. But worrying is all a part of normal here at NOBODY ASKED ME.
Lori, yay! More people I'll know. How do you find out about the Suz Brockmann breakfast. That sounds way cool. My sister is a HUGE Brockmann fan and she just moved back to SoCal. She'd go nuts to do something like that.
As for our SoCal group. Hey I'm hoping this is just the beginning. Hopefully we will keep meeting in different places and pairings. Whatever works for people.
Have fun at the birthday party. Wow 95 is a milestone!
Shiloh, so if I were to come up to your table to get a book(s) signed should I introduce myself as Rosie who has a blog and who sometimes comments on yours? Are there too many people and not enough time or should I go for it?
;o) I might remember you better that way, but then again... my memory sorta stinks. But chatting is always fun, so yeah, I'd say go for it.
Shi, well, if it ever happens I'll probably say hello, but I always think it's presumptuous to think people remember you. Besides, it's not like there aren't other people named Rose, Rosie, Rosemary, Rosa,...
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