The Reno Report (part two)

Hey, y’all! Back again for part two of the Reno report. But first, a Very Special Announcement:

My friend and fellow Chick Lit Board Member Marianne Mancusi arrived home from Reno to discover that her house had been hit by lightning and burned to the ground. She lost everything. Please visit Literary Chicks to become involved in the fundraiser to help her. I’m giving away a critique and a promotional hoodie.

Also, Natalie Damschroder, if you can possibly tear yourself away from the posting boards at the TKA blog ;-), please email me your address. I haven’t forgotten about your prize!

Okay, back to Reno.

THURSDAY (continued)
::insert:: That’s Deidre and yours truly at right, in a picture that does neither of us justice, yet does in fact illustrate how in sync we are, fashion-wise.::

Noon: Meet Knight Agency clients by front entrance for our fancy dancy schmancy wancy party, including ( and here’s my Big Secret News that I was hinting at prior to Nationals) my friend and critique partner Marley Gibson, who signed with the Knight Agency last week!!! Meet Flipside and Signature author Mary Leo and her bombshell author husband, erotic romance author Jaci Burton and *her* husband and muse, Charlie, agency sistah Shannon McKelden, fellow Extraordinary gentlewoman Novelique, a.k.a. Gena Showalter, freshly-sold YA author Jennifer Echolls, and so many others! Drive to Lake Tahoe in a big bus.


TKA
Originally uploaded by dianapeterfreund.

1-ish p.m. After harrowing trip down steep and narrow road (apparently never before navigated by a vehicle the size of our bus) we arrive at the charming lakeside resort known as Thunderbird Lodge. Servers meet us at the door with glasses of chilled wine and plates filled with proscuitto-wrapped melon (Sailor Boy informs me that I’ve been pronouncing the word proscuitto incorrectly all week! How embarrassing. Pam, why didn’t you tell me! Ah well, guess I can no longer make fun of a certain agent and her affinity for neckties, huh?) and stawberries with brie (Brie, I can pronounce!). I meet tons of Deidre Knights’ other clients, including inspirational author Lauraine Snelling, who tells me how she was praying for me the day of my auction! I feel so blessed by the kindness of this former stranger. What an amazing woman. (Prayer obviously works!) We proceed to lunch (salmon, pesto pasta, cucumber salad, and lots more wine) and, towards the end of the meal, are each handed a little blue box with a white bow.

“Cute,” I say. “Looks like Tiffany’s.” I open it. It is Tiffany’s.
Now, despite Sailor Boy’s marvelous generosity and enormous affection for moi this writer has never received anything from Tiffany’s. However she is now the proud owner of a silver Tiffany’s bookmark engraved with TKA, the initials of her agency. It’s GORGEOUS! And so precious. And yes, also the blue Tiffany’s box.

2:30-ish to 5 p.m. Tour the Lodge and hear the stories about the owners and their wild affairs, widl adventures, and wildcats (including a lion named Bill). This place is truly gorgeous, complete with stone gardens, waterfalls, lagoons, and hidden tunnels. I adored the tour. Gena got restless, and Marley played budding photgrapher. (By the way, if you are noticing a pink theme to my wardrobe, I don’t know what to say. I got all girly this conference. Guess i wanted to match my ribbon!) I would love to come and spend more time here. It was a truly extraordinary event, and I feel so very fortunate to be part of such a fantastic group. A certain lunchmate and new agency sistah of mine got a little teary-eyed, however, I will give her the benefit of the doubt and say that it was due to the allergen walnut in her salad. But for now…. back to the conference!

6 p.m. Return to room. Get in long chat with CP Cheryl Wilson about Life, the Universe, and Everything. Head over to buddy Chris Feehan’s suite for a quick convo and glimpse at her astoundingly exquisite new cover for her next “Dark” novel. Tied for best cover I saw all conference.

6:30-8 p.m. Dinner with Cheryl

8-10 p.m. NAP TIME

10 p.m.-late More bar time. Are we sensing a theme here?

Whew! Enough for today. I’ll get back to y’all tomorrow with Friday. And don’t forget poor Marianne!

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