When you wish… RWA17 National Conference Photo Recap!
At RWA 17 When you wish…
I had the joy of spending the majority of last week in sunny, sometimes stormy, always humid, Orlando, Florida at the 2017 Romance Writers Of America National Conference. What a time it was! So much so, that I’m still exhausted an at a loss for words.
The conference was at the Disney Swan and Dolphin Hotels with workshop schedules jam packed with so many informative subjects it made making your hourly choices quite difficult. Thank goodness for recorded sessions. And the fact that the conference was held on Disney grounds also made, at least for me, a bit difficult to stay focused on the business at hand since the call of the amusement parks were quite loud and the 10-year-old in me was just itching to go out and play. I found myself watching they clock at times like I was back in elementary school watching for the recess bell.
That said, it was a great conference all in all. I got lots of writerly knowledge, while catching up with some of my very best friends, (thank you to all who supported diversity by wearing your #WeNeedDiverseRomanceTee shirts) and to top it all off I got to go out and play like a kid again.
Not to mention I was in the room when Ms. Beverly Jenkins received her Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award!
Now please check out my recap collages and see if you can spot some of your romance faves who were in Orlando at the conference too!
Some of the fab folks in this set: Katana Collins, Falhuni Kothari, Robin Lovett, Kate McMurry and come on me with over 17K steps. that is insane!
With our lovely Disney tour group! Thanks so much Deb! Marie Long, Dana Kaye, Joy of Joyfully Reviewed!
Shawntelle Madison, Creah Demps, Laurel Cremant , Sage Spelling & Aliza Mann, Pintip Dunn, Priscilla, Oliveras, Alyssa Cole, Adrienne Mishel, Farrah Rochon
Kate McMurry, Falguni Kothari, Sonali Dev, Alyssa day, Carolyn Jewel, Adrienne Mishel, Callie Hutton, Beth Yarnall, Faith Salle, Damon Suede, Alyssa Cole, Falguni Kothari, Synithia Williams, Kristan Higgins, Farrah Rochon & Lifetime Achievement Award Winner Beverly Jenkins!
Cheryl Etchison, Megan Frampton, The incomparable Ms. Brenda Jackson, Yarrah St. John & Synithia Williams, Beth Yarnall, Sofia Tate, Shelly Bell, Holley Trent, Tracey Livesay
Pricilla Oliveras, Sabrina Jefferies, Megan Frampton,
The fab women of The Ripped bodice Bea and Leah Koch.
Sally Kilpatrick, Heather McGovern, Sally Mackenzie, Dee Davis, Adrienne Mishelle and some of the rip roaring members of the RWA board, Nancy Holland, Fran of Frannie’s Romance, Joyfully Reviewed
Me, Jamie Wesley and Flaguni Kothari kicking up at Animal Kingdom. Adrienne Mishel,
Farrah Rochon, Mari Mancusi, Karen Lynn
Wishing you all… dreams coming true and may we all live like Farrah Rochon on a ride at Disney!
Best,
KMJ
And P.S.
In anticipation of Book 3: THE BETTING VOW coming out at the end of the month.
Both Book 1: INSERT GROOM HERE:
And Book 2: TO ME I WED
Are on Sale for a limited time! Now’s the time to check them out if you haven’t already!
Thanks so much for your support!
RW… hey, hey, hey! My time at #RWA15 in pics
This post is late in coming and I apologize for that, but here it is. Last week most, well many in the romance community, convened at the Marriot in Times Square for the annual Romance Writers of America National Conference. A fun and enlightening time was had by all, ok I’ll say most because what do I know? What I do know and can say is that I had a good time, though it was quite the whirlwind.
I’d love to know how is it a day could speed by so fast?
I want to thank so many for their amazing support of #WeNeedDiverseRomance by wearing their Tee Shirts on conference Thursday. Seeing so many Diverse Romance tees around the conference was just amazing and I do think made quite a bold statement that those in the gate keeper positions could not ignore (I do believe I heard some keys rattling).
Also I’d like to give thanks to all who came to the multicultural workshop I participated in on Thursday with Alyssa Cole, Lena Hart and Falguni Kothari. Your support was priceless and so appreciated.
I was also so happy to attend the other workshops held on diversity this year. As a longtime member of RWA I feel there was a much more open and truthful vibe to the conference dialogue this year all around when it came to diversity, self -publishing and the state of the industry. The dialogue, for the most part, was well received and for the parts that were not, let’s just say, they needed to be said. I’m so happy to hear that RWA will now be forming a special committee on diversity so this will not just be a one year buzz hashtag type of thing.
Thank you all so much once again for helping make this happen. Please keep up your support by continuing to voice your opinions and get the word out about the need for more diversity in romance and all genres of publishing. #WeNeedDiverseRomance
Now onto the pics…
So many beautiful faces! Can you spot some of your faves?
Lauren Dane, Members or RWA/NYC, Flappers at Passionate Ink party, Me & the fab Nora Roberts, Holley Trent, Vanessa Peters, Falguni Kothari, Trent Hart, Elizabeth Mahon, Jenn Le Blanc, Trent Hart, Falguni Kothari, Carolyn Jewel & Carolyn Crane, Vanessa Riley, Jamie Wesley, Farrah Rochon, Synithia Williams, Tracey Livesay, Alyssa Cole, Laura K. Curtis, Megan Frampton
Sugar Jamison, Kianna Alexander, Ginger Merante, Falguni Kothari, Kianna Alexander, Farrah Rochon, Rebekah Weatherspoon, Adrienne Trent, Jeannie Lin, Me and Farrah again 🙂 , Me and the Carolyns (again LOL) ! Carolyn Jewel & Carolyn Crane, Seressia Glass, Jamie Wesley, The panel of Diversity in Romance: Why it Matters : Corrina Lawson, Sugar Jamison, Rebekah Weatherspoon, Farrah Rochon, Alisha Rai, My panel Multicultural Romance: When Keeping it Real Goes Wrong and How To Make It Right: Alyssa Cole, Me, Falguni Kothari, Lena Hart, Me and Laura Von Holt and finally the lovely: Synithia Williams, Lena Hart, Mia Sosa and Karen Manns.
Wowza! Looking back at all of these pics I see how great the conference was and how incredibly lucky I am to know so many amazing, talented and lovely people. Thanks for making this an unforgettable RWA.
All the best,
KMJ
Where’s Waldo? … #RWA13 in pics
So I’m back from #RWA13, Romance Writer’s of America’s National Conference, which was held this year in beautiful Atlanta, Georgia. Not that I got to see much of Atlanta with all the workshops, and happenings at the hotel. It was quite the high time. Talk about busy and with so many attendees (the number was around 2000) I barely scratched the surface of all the creative greatness in that hotel. What a blast. I tell you was just honored to be in the house.
So here it is my #RWA13 in collage form. Can you spot some of your favorite authors? There are plenty of mine and these are only the few I got pictures of. Wowza!
All the best,
Kwana
Pin Me Down… ATL bound!
This week I’m heading to Atlanta and the Romance Writers of America National conference. I can’t wait. As a romance writer I’ll get to attend workshops on both craft and career and as fan all get to see, meet and interact with some of my favorite authors and some new and old friends. It should be a fantastic time.
If you are in the Atlanta area on Wednesday please come on out to the Literacy Autographing which is open to the public. Details here. You’ll get to purchase books from many of your favorite authors and have the signed. I can’t wait. I’ll be getting quite a few books signed by my faves and it’s all for a great cause. And if you happen to see me, though I won’t be signing, don’t hesitate to ask me to get pinned.
You see, I have these fab pins made up for the conference. Wouldn’t you love to be pinned by Mark Thorn, my hero from Seduction’s Canvas? I know quite a few people who would. I’ll be back with you all soon and checking in on twitter as the week goes on. Have a great one!
Now if I could just stop packing shoes….
All the best,
KMJ
One Word At A Time
Going on right now is the annual Romance Writers of America conference in Washington DC. No, I’m not there this year I’m here in NY, but keeping up vicariously though twitter. Sigh. Of course this would be the year that they give out the most awesome conference bag ev-ah.
Thanks to Sarah from Smart Bitches for the twitpic of the bags from Harlequin. How cool are these? Like I need another tote, but… Sigh again.
Oh well, that is not what this post is about. This post is all about my love of Nora Roberts/ J.D. Robb. See Nora is a member of RWA too and is always in attendance being most gracious in her fab shoes and giving out very meaningful advice. Here she is at a Washington Post event. Click here to read the full article. Oh, and check out the beginning. Is that my friend Laura there? Hi Laura!!Best,
KwanaP.S.
Shout out to Nana. I promise to make up for the lack of signed a Nora book next year. Love ya!P.P.S.
That muse can kiss my, well, ya know.P.P.P.S
Thanks Twitter and YouTube for the clip.Party Time
What’s Jack up to? As I’m typing Dear Jack is winding down. He’s too funny. When Jack is on and raring to go he’s raring to go but when he’s tired you’d better not mess with him. He’s so cute curled in his crate with his butt to us in his ‘stay away from me and you won’t get hurt’ pose. We get the hint Jack. Goodnight.
Here are a few party pics from Nationals. Man did I have a good time. San Fran is my kind of town and these are my kind of people. It was so wonderful to see so many good friends. The funny thing about these writer chicks is that you only see them once and if you’re lucky maybe twice a year, but once you get together it’s like meeting an old friend for a weekly lunch. So great. No strangers here. Notice I threw in the photo of me and Nora again. A girl can’t get too much of that vibe, eh? And check me and Megan out with the fabulous Barbara Vey!
Best,
Kwana
Go Today!
Check out this great story from The Today show on the RWA conference last week. It actually puts a positive spin on the genre. Wow! And check out the cool Sarah from Smart Bitches who I got to meet at her lovely meet and greet along with Candy. Thanks Sarah and Candy! And the Fabulous Beverly Jenkins. Love her! Scroll below for more pics and posts… with Nora and The DH!
Inspiration for Life
What’s Jack up to? Dear Jack is still missing Nana. Yesterday he ran out to circle the car and wouldn’t come inside the house. My theory is that he saw her leave in the car and he was convinced that if he got in he could go and find her. Or her just wanted us to chase him around for a while. Nice work Jack.
On Wednesday night in San Fran was the Readers for Life charity literacy autographing where fans could go and buy books and meet their favorite romance authors. Over 500 of them! The event raise $58,000 for literacy. How fabulous was that? And here are a few pics from that night.
The first is my great friend Marley Gibson participating is her first RWA signing for her Sorority Series. How great does Marley look and how fab do those books look? Yay!
The next is me along with my PIC Megan making a Liz Carlyle sandwich. The amazing Liz totally blew up my DH’s head by signing my book “To Kwana with the HOT husband” how cool and cagey was that? You know my DH happily paid for all my books after meeting Liz and seeing that dedication.
The final STAR meeting was our encounter with the Nora Roberts. Check us out. First up is me getting a book signed for Nana as payment for watching the Dear Twins for us. She is a huge Nora fan and I must get her a signed Nora Roberts book at every conference. I also must have it signed to ‘NANA’ and not to her real name. She strangely prefers that which Nora found cute and shared with me that she is a ‘Nana’ to her grandchildren also.
I have to go on a sidebar here and say that this woman is pure inspiration. Her line was a mile long but she was gracious and kind to each and every person she met, always seeming to have a kind word no matter how nutty or how star struck they were.
During her workshop “Chat with Nora Roberts” I will never forget her words of advice to the young writer who asked what do you tell the writer who some days feel that they can do it and other days feel like they can’t?
Nora’s advice? “Oh grow up!” I think I’ll have it framed all over my house and maybe made into a needlepoint pillow for my couch. In the very least it will be a screen saver for inspiration along with this picture. Hey, with 193 books under her belt. “Oh grow up!” can’t be bad advice.
A final pic is the DH with Nora Roberts. He had to get in on the action after waiting with me on that line. He even had to be different and switch sides on her. But he’s happily now reading his first J.D. Robb signed to him and telling all the women in his office about his meeting with greatness. How thrilled is he to meet her?
And big shout out to the fabulous and patient Laura! It was wonderful to meet you (time and time again!). We hope to see you again next year.
Sidebar: I have to say here how much I love the DH for being such a sweetheart during the signing. While I gushed over all the the authors he gushed over me telling me that it was just a matter of time before I was in their place signing my own books. How much do I love him for that?Best,
KwanaI Left My Heart…
What’s Jack up to? From what I hear Jack has been a total doll while we’ve been away. He seemed so happy to see us. Jumping and nipping and rolling around. So sweet.
Well, I’m back home from Nationals. I had such a wonderful time. It’s going to take me a day or so to get all my thoughts together. So many amazing workshops and so many amazing friends and writers. I found it so hard to leave. Fun pics to come.
Now I’m back and newly motivated in myself and my writing. That’s what what it’s all about.
Big shout outs to: Megan, Marley, Elizabeth, Carolyn, Amanda, Kristen, Louisa, Liza, Eileen, Megan, Pam, Andrea (new bud), Roxanne (new bud) and many more who I’ll think of once I get my head on straight. I love you all. Thanks for being so wonderful.
Sidebar: Add on shout outs now that it’s later and my head is on straighter… Hey Maureen! Miss you already.
More shout outs… Wendy, Aryn, Kristin, Napa was so much fun with you all and how much do I love Matt?
Mel!!! You were way missed out there. But your blog makes up for that. You are cra-zy!
Best,
Kwana
No Whining From Me
What’s Jack up to? From what I hear he’s being a sweetheart for Nana and the Dear twins but who knows they may be pulling my leg. What do you think?
The DH and I have arrived in San Fran after two lovely days in Napa Valley sipping wine and enjoying the beautiful country. So no whining from me. I’m a happy girl! I hope you’re enjoying your week. Workshops start soon so I’ll be hitting the books. I can’t wait!
Best,
Kwana
