The Reno Report (part three)

FRIDAY
6:30 a.m.: Awake to sounds of CP Cheryl tap tap tapping away on her computer. Groan. If only I were so dedicated.

7:30 a.m.: Breakfast. More pink ribbon conversations. Man, I love pink ribbon conversations! If only EVERY year could be my first sale year! Run into Barb Ferrer, who made her first sale on previous day, and is apparently still in a daze.

8:30 a.m.: Attend very first workshop as part of the ultra secret society PAN sisterhood. In truth, not a single person is checking ribbons at the door. Workshop is on numbers and what they mean for your print run — sell through, shipping, how ot understand Ingrams, what Amazon rankings really mean, what exactly it “takes” to get on the various lists — given by Eloisa James and Madeline Hunter. Afterwards, have a nice little chat with a girl, Julia, who was at Yale med school at the same time I was at Yale undergrad. Realize a few minutes into the conversation that “Julia” is “Quinn”. Swoon a bit. More pink ribbon moments. I swear, this thing is awesome! Everyone should get one! Hand out business cards and booksmarks like they’re going out of style.

9:45 a.m.: Duck into “Don’t bring a Snowball Redux” workshop with Lauren McKenna, Beth Kendrick, and Kresley Cole. Chill with Ally Carter, fabulous debut author who believe has been stalking me, since we appear at all the same workshops. Presenters talk about what they have learned their first year in publishing. Very enlightening stuff. They open the floor for questions. Editor is asked about fonts and binder clips. Group Sigh. Editor reveals she doesn’t know the names of fonts, but she thinks she’s heard that Times New Roman is a good one. Wonder to myself if this is the kind of enlightening stuff I’m missing at the spotlights.

We interrupt this recap for the Peterfreund Proposal: When one join RWA, one is given a sheet of “Ten things that really don’t matter and, should you have the chance for a Q&A with an editor/agent/bestselling author, is a bit of a waste to discuss. #1: Binder Clips. #2: Font.”

11 a.m.: See Blaze editor. Approach like a woman on a mission only to be greeted with, “Diana, I haven’t read [your manuscript] yet.” Tell her there is no hurry, as have this pesky deadline thing this month, but would like to discuss November Blaze cover of Sue Kearney (third cover model job), as have heard that there was a small lighting snafu that has caused the cover to take on the appearance of something that is *not* up to “graphical standards.” Explain that father would go on rampage were he to see said cover, and that Sailor Boy might not be too thrilled about the situation either. Domestic bliss and all that. Am assured that it has been fixed. Sigh with relief. Purchase mocha.

Noon: Where *does* the time go? Head to awards lunch, at which meet Karen Harbaugh, fellow Bantam author. Have lovely discussion about new house. See Sherilyn Kenyon cry. Imagine my book in print. Imagine my book in print. Imagine my book in… hey, where’s everyone going?

2 p.m.: Confront new stalker Ally Carter about propensity for showing up at same workshops. She offers me a seat. Attend Blue Moon Communications Theresa Meyers workshop on author branding. Very impressed. Think I might be on track with mine Start daydreaming about website… hey, where’s everyone going? Bond with Ally Carter, who have decided is just a very savvy workshop chooser. 😉

3:15 p.m.: Attend positively *brilliant* workshop about structuring the novel-length romance with Red Sage exectuive editor Judith Pich and authors Angela Knight and Leigh Wyndfield. These ladies do a phenomenal, bang-up job useful to anyone writing a short story, whether it’s erotic romance or a sweet little love story. Get your hands on this tape. Really. Afterwards, meet with Ms. Pich to discuss Red Sage. See giant blow-up of my cover. Swoon just a little.

6 p.m. Play dress-up in agent’s room. Eat wine and brie before heading to the Berkley Party, which agent has invited me to, as agent is Berkley author.

We interrupt this recap for a reader survey. Earlier, I posted about the advisability of crashing invite-only events. Sailor Boy has informed me that by attending Berkley party, I have made myself into a dirty, lying hypocrite. I maintain that as I was invited by a Berkley author, it’s cool. Thoughts? Opinions?

8 p.m.: Swish into Berkley party with the gorgeous Crystal Green, who is dressed in resplendent, shimmering pink and silver with flowing golden hair. She looks like a siren. She looks like a romance novel heroine. She looks, I pipe up, like one of those Harry Potter-esque sireny Fleur de la Couer creatures. Vilya? Whatever. She looked fab. Meet up with the amazing Sasha White, author of erotic romance for Liquid Silver books, and erotica for Kensington and Berkley, and blogger extraordinaire, whom I clicked with instantaneously, and we spend several happy moments drinking champagne and chatting it up on the couch. Promise to send her certain books. Will if I receive certain addresses. 😉

9 p.m.: Party winds down. Introduce myself to Anne Bohner, who I hung with in October back at the Moonlight and Magnolias conference. Very large group decides to head to Harlequin party, at which the invite is less delineated. Bow out, as that whole “hypocrite” thing is coming back to me, and duck into tex mex restaurant, where I run into Ally Carter (guess I’m the stalker now) and Jennifer O’Connell, who invite me to help them finish their nachos and brainstorm Ally’s next book. Really fun times! I love these girls!

10 p.m.: Head to Karen Rose’s birthday celebration. At the bar. bar bar bar. drinks drinks drinks. gossip gossip gossip. hang out with TARA folks. Tell regency author Karen Lingefelt (we’re all about the Karens at TARA) to embrace her inner mom lit. bar bar bar.

1 a.m.: bed bed bed.