We Can Get This Re-Engraved Overnight!

Thursday evening I had dinner with my new editor, Jessica Alvarez (left). Here we are at the National Readers Choice Awards afterward. I DIDN’T WIN. But, they had a lovely reception with ice cream and champagne. I sat at a table with Maureen Child, Cherry Adair, Catherine Mann and Jill Shalvis–we ALL lost. It was the LOSER TABLE, which Cherry Adair pointed out repeatedly. :loser: Maureen Child picked up an award for a friend who couldn’t be there and threatened to have it re-engraved overnight. Both Cherry and Maureen were hilarious and made losing more fun than winning, NOT THAT I WOULD KNOW SINCE I NEVER WIN ANYTHING. No, I’m not bitter, why do you ask? One of Jill’s daughters went to pick up our finalist certificates and came back and told me, “Here’s your LOSER PAPER.” Something tells me she spent too much time with Cherry Adair.:lol:

Thursday was a busy day. My workshop on emotion was first thing in the morning. I was exhausted, having barely slept, and feeling nervous, but it seemed to go well. The room was full–there were about 70 people there for my workshop and I’d brought only 40 handouts, so I collected business cards and am mailing out handouts this week to attendees who didn’t get one.

Lunch was at a restaurant outside the hotel with my eHarlequin editor, Cindy Watson, and many authors. I was lucky enough to sit at a table with big wig Isabel Swift of Harlequin, James Pearson, Jill Shalvis, and Elizabeth Bevarly. James was from Audible, who was there celebrating a major new deal with Harlequin to produce our books for MP3 and Ipod downloads. James is a super sharp and fascinating guy who has worked for Oprah and John Hughes, so he provided quite a bit of entertainment over lunch. (Right: Isabel Swift, left: James Pearson.)

Friday’s SIM Cocktail Hour was an opportunity to meet new Silhouette Intimate Moments senior editor Patience Smith, and mingle with the editors and authors. Here I am with author Loreth Anne White (center) and editor Jessica Alvarez (left).

Beautiful SIM babes, left to right, Carla Cassidy, Maggie Price, Deb Cowan.

I practiced my papparazzi photography whenever possible. Here is Debbie Macomber (center of shot) at the charity Knit-In following her luncheon speech. There were so many people there my roommate Michelle had to learn to knit with pens!

More photos from Thursday and Friday are on my photoblog now, and be sure to see Michelle’s and Kacey’s photos, too–which includes a photo of me in my PAX League t-shirt and pj bottoms before the eHarlequin pajama party Thursday night, and Michelle in her award-winning pajamas. I was too exhausted to go, but if I had, I’m sure I would have beaten out Michelle with my PAX t-shirt. Next year, Michelle. Next year. I’M TAKING YOU DOWN!

Tomorrow I’ll put up pictures from the fabulous Harlequin party Friday night, including more stealth shots of celebrity authors on the dance floor!

Also, I’ve just had some updates done to my website including a darker color to make link text more readable, a printable booklist on my Books page, a separate page for my backlist, and other minor improvements. I’m always looking for ways to enhance the usability of my site and these ideas were generously provided by fabu reader blogger Maili. If you ever have any ideas for ways I could improve my website, let me know!!

And don’t forget to check the photoblog today for the latest pics!