On Wednesday, July 28th, I loaded up my car with 7 days of outfits (needed for 5 days) and with fellow Kensington author Lori Brighton accompanying, drove about 7 hrs to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
Of course after we were well on our way, I realized that I forgot my camera. Grrrrr. That burned. I have no pictures. Not a one. Sigh. Such is life. Anyway, I had a wonderful time at the conference. The first evening there, I took part in my first Literary Signing. I actually got to sign copies of my debut book, Sinful Surrender. That was très exciting! I met lots of fabulous authors, the list of which is too many to count.
Over the course of the next three days, I attended every single one of the free book signings given by 8 publishers. Needless to say, I collected a lot of autographed books–books I intend to giveaway next week during The Season’s One Year Anniversary Giveaway. BTW, if you’re interested in seeing the 150+ books I’ll be giving away, click here.
The highlight of the entire conference is the award ceremony where the RITA and Golden Heart winners are announced. I call it the Oscar’s of the romance industry. To check out the winners and their respective books, click here.
The ceremony had some of its own highlights, one being the Lifetime Achievement Award, which went to Debbie Macomber. I was so happy to hear how involved Debbie is with knitting. She and her husband own a yarn factory, and she has (or is getting) a yarn line of her own. How cool is that?
Since I’m a knitting enthusiast, I was thrilled to the extreme to find a fellow knitter. So in honour of Debbie’s win, I’m going to revive my knitting needles this fall and make a cable knit sweater for my son. Any other knitting enthusiasts out there? Who wants to join me in a Fall/Winter knit or crochet project? Everyone who completes the project will be entered to win books, and I’ll display all projects on the blog February 2011.
And while we’re (or perhaps just me) working on our knitting project, we can chat about Debbie’s October release and holiday story, CALL ME MRS. MIRACLE.
Call Me Mrs. Miracle
Author: Debbie Macomber
Publisher: Mira / Harlequin
Pub. Date: Sept 28, 2010
ISBN-13: 978-0778328193
Retail: $16.95
Pages: 256
This Christmas, Emily Merkle (call her Mrs. Miracle!) is working in the toy department at Finley’s, the last family-owned department store in New York City. And her boss is none other than…Jake Finley, the owner’s son.
For Jake, holiday memories of brightly wrapped gifts, decorated trees and family were destroyed in a Christmas Eve tragedy years before. Now Christmas means just one thing to him — and to his father. Profit. Because they need a Christmas miracle to keep the business afloat.
Holly Larson needs a miracle, too. She wants to give her eight-year-old nephew, Gabe, the holiday he deserves. Holly’s widowed brother is in the army and won’t be home for Christmas, but at least she can get Gabe that toy robot from Finley’s, the one gift he desperately wants. If she can figure out how to afford it…
Fortunately, it’s Mrs. Miracle to the rescue. Next to making children happy, she likes nothing better than helping others — and that includes doing a bit of matchmaking!
Oh wow what an interesting trip, Bev. I don’t know how to knit but I can crochet and this sounds cool.
I’m so glad to hear you had so much fun at RWA, although I am sad to hear you forgot your camera. But as you said, such is life. 🙂
WOW! The collection of books you got to give away!Holy Cow WOW!!!
I would love to do a Fall/Winter knit or crochet project….I’m not adventurous enough to do a shirt, but blankets and scarves aren’t too far fetched. 🙂
Also thanks for posting the Rita and Golden Heart winners. I will have to check out their works. 🙂 Yay more books! 🙂
I want to knit some scarves! Awesome. Let’s do this.
Bev, it was so great to meet you in person at RWA! All of my photos (and I took a bunch!) are posted in my facebook albums. Please feel free to borrow and post here if you’d like.
Hugs,
~PJ
@PJ when I met you it’s like I’d already met you. But it was wonderful to meet you in person and give you a big hug. Thanks so much, I think I will borrow from your album. 😀
And yes ladies, I say we knit or crochet something colorful and cool this fall/winter. I’m so game. 😀 I’ll have a great set of books as the prize. 😉
Way to go on getting to sign your own book 🙂 It must have been a blast to be on that side of the table during all fun 🙂 Some great books in the giveaway (some I’ve read, some I’ve been wanting to read), you’re too sweet. While I learned to sew as a young girl, I never learned any other type of needlework. I don’t really have the temperment that is needed for truely good work so kudos to you on tackling a sweater.
First time commenter, but I would join a knit-a-long!
Sounds like you had a interesting trip. ^^ I actually have no idea how to knit. My sister does and i might just have to get her to teach me.
I hate forgetting the camera. Sounds like you had a wonderful time. I sure am not a knitter. LOL. Sure wish I could. No patience. Cannot wait to see what other’s knit though. Debbie’s Christmas book sounds lovely.
Knitting and Reading are my favorite past times. I have been knitting since I was about 17 and today is my 41st birthday. I have spent many nights with a good friend teaching her how to knit when we were younger and our weekends use to consist of reading, knitting and going clubing. After the clubing ended we never stopped our get-togethers for knitting or reading, Sadly she moved to another province a number of years ago but we still email knitting patterns and have book talks all the time. I very rearly knit for myself, I love knitting projects that I give to others.
Sounds like you had a great time. Sorry about your camera. I usually bring mine and forget to take pictures! I would love to try an easy knitting project as I haven’t knitted in quite some time. Debbie Macomber is one of my favorite authors! I love her stories.
Congrats to all the winners and nominees! Debbie is an amazing author! So excited she won. I am sorry Beverley, I cannot knit but I will cheer you on as you work on your project LOL!!
I’m up for a knitting challenge!
Margay
I won’t be joining you in knitting projects. Tried to teach myself, but didn’t have much success. Of course I was living in the jungle with no one around who knew how to knit. Who needs a sweater in 90+ heat and humidity. I have all my aunt’s knotting stuff and may try again one day.
Have enjoyed Debbie Macomber’s books for years. I always look for her angel books around Christmas. I think they may have been the first of her books I ever read.
I’m holding my fingers crossed in hopes I can attend a readers/writers conference next year. They sound like such fun!
The knitting/crochet gene skipped me. My youngest takes after my mother in that area and they are both uber talented.
Sounds like really nice trip. I wish I could have gone!