Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia!

I know it was poofy from the humidity of TEXAS, but after looking at my pictures from last weekend, I have realized that my new haircut has this weird mushroom look to it.

Crap.

On a Stick.

Nationalies

While I languish here with the killer headcold I developed at the RWA Conference I thought I would let y'all know how fricken cool this weekend was. Let me just put it this way, you remember all the goals I was hoping to achieve? (See previous post) Well I accomplished everyone and have the photographic evidence to prove it.

Meet Samantha Graves? CheckSuper nice lady, who seemed just as excited to meet me a loyal listener of the podcast. (Or maybe in all my excitement I just made her nervous, and she just wanted to shoo me along.) Either way, I got a copy of her new book Sight Unseen. She also took what had to be a very unflattering photo of me doing my "I curse you Lani Diane Rich for getting me hooked on bubbleshooter!"-face. Anyway I was the first one to mention Will Write for Wine and received the prize of the Coaster with the logo printed on it.

I met up with some Smart Bitches over Diet Cokes in the bar, where we proceeded to have the loudest most inappropriate conversations about male genitalia, sexual perversions, and The Office.

I listened to Michael Hauge speak. He was of course amazing... and of course I bought the 6 hour video, I am nothing if not a sucker for a good upsell.

I came home with (not kidding) about 50lbs worth of free books. If I were to add them up, I do believe that I have gotten back the conference fee in free books.
Other Highlights:

I met Sherrilyn Kenyon She is super nice. She is also one of those ladies one would speak of there in hushed, awestruck tones. (You know in the same realm as Nora or SEP)There was a huge line to get her autograph at the signing. I didn't see her there (not a big fan of lines) but I had a stroke of luck at one of the publisher signings. I was wandering about just as she was about to sit down for another signing and was able to get into the beginning of the line. Even then I waited quite a while. But it was totally worth it, she was SO nice, and funny, and pretty.... (I will stop now)

My Bed. The Hyatts food might have sucked, we might have had to wait for the down elevators for too long, the coffee shop's hot chocolate might be the worst swill imaginable, but the bed was uber comfortable

Okay that is all for now. I've decided to save some for additional posts. (actually it's now night time here and the dreaded nighttime tickle cough has arrived and I'm having a little trouble staying focused) Upcoming posts include, RWA members so nice they could be a Disney Ride, Stalking my new BFF Liza Palmer, It's a Small, Small Word, and How I am like Kathy Griffin.

Bye

OMGWTF!

It has been one of these days, weeks, and months. I am soo stressed at work right now. Its one of those times that I now dread going in. I actually have a dread feeling in the pit during my days off, knowing that I have to go back. Blech. We are just going through one of those times where almost every single person has a problem. Almost every single call is some unhappy customer looking for someone to vent their anger and frustration at. I am honestly not sure how much longer I can keep up this pace.

Who am I kidding? The other businesses in the area where I live cannot support me in the manor to which I have become accustomed.

Blech.

I am almost ready for the conference. I have been shopping like a storm. I believe that I have all the apparel I need. I have been looking into the all the authors who are going to be at the Literacy Signing. Here are the people who I am most excited to meet:
Samantha Graves I haven't read anything she's written but she is 1/2 of the awesome Will Write for Wine Ladies. (I am actually writing this while I wait for the new episode to be posted to itunes.) She writes romantic suspense under the name Samantha Graves and Futuristics under the pen name C.J. Barry.
Liza Palmer She wrote Conversations with the Fat Girl. I loved this book, not only is it on my keeper shelf but reread it all the time.
Heather Osbourn She was a publisher with Elloras Cave last year and she was on a panel for a workshop called "Pillow Talk: Hint, it's not porn". She was so funny.
Michael Hauge He teaches screenwriting. I listened to his workshop from last year and he teaches storytelling, character arcs, ect. One of my favorites last year and he is teaching two different ones this year.