RWA – Mags Rocks
Hi All,
I’m finally home from the 2010 RWA Conference held in Orlando, Florida. It’s great to be back, on my computer, and finally dry. Even in air conditioning, the air is moist. I’m still dizzy from the wonderful whirlwind of a trip, so I’ll be posting several aspects of the conference, rather than one long blog. The tentative topics at this point are: Roommates and social aspects, Workshops, the Fabulous Harlequin Party, Professional contacts, the Pitch, Ceremonies and Keynotes, and book signings.
After a hugely uncertain beginning for this conference, including a change in venue from Nashville to Orlando due to floods, multiple changes in hotels and dates, and both of my roommates with immediate family members who had been critically hospitalized, it all worked out wonderfully.
My first blog post is dedicated to someone who made my maiden RWA experience enriched in so many intangible ways that I can only scratch the surface. I’m so in awe of your talent and productivity that I often wonder what you see in me, a chronic underachiever. Thank you for all you do, and for who you are, Margaret Ethridge.
During the conference, I was lucky enough to stay with Margaret Ethridge, an incredibly talented but prepublished author, who I know will hate this gushing – but she’s put up with my praise for almost two years, since the first story of hers that I ever read and was compelled to reviewed – so, she’ll have to put up with a bit more.
Before the conference, I’d only met Margaret two times in person, and both times I’d had to share her with 20 or so other ladies from our group. The other times were fun, but I’m greedy. So having her alone for a few days was even more wonderful. It was so great to have someone else new to RWA to share the awe with. We did our own thing during the day, but each time we ran into each other, it was like finding home base and having a family member to share the “squee” moments with. She even made husband bashing fun.
We had fun volunteering for the literacy signing together and shared time waiting in line to have Nora Roberts sign her first book, Irish Thoroughbred, which Margaret had since she was a child (just a baby, right, Mags?).
If you do end up going to a conference of this magnitude, I highly recommend choosing a roommate who you can already call a friend. The anticipation of seeing Mags and the days leading up to the conference sharing notes, obsessing over what to pack, sending links, and loosely synchronizing our schedules was almost as much fun as the conference itself.
If you’d like to check out more of Margaret’s work, here’s her website and always fun, insightful blog.
http://www.margaretethridge.com/
I heart you, Mags! Do it again next year?
~Maria
My next blog will be dedicated to my dear friend, mentor, and after conference roommate, Olivia Gates.
