Woke up the morning of the final day of the con and realized…I’m on deck! Susan Grant and I were set to go back to back as the morning speakers to kick off the day. I was surprised and delighted by how many people were able to wake up to listen to us that early after the prior night’s gala. Susan talked about her path to publication and how her writing intersects with her other full-time job as a United Airlines pilot. (How kick-ass is that?)
I talked about the different phases of readership and my own discovery of the romance genre. There is something a little daunting about writing a speech that is supposed to be funny. In any case, I had so much fun up there, and it sounded like the audience enjoyed it.
After lunch we had the second book-signing event. There were still tremendous numbers of people coming up to us even after signing the day before. It was so lovely. It occurred to me that I would have loved to have a kind of yearbook of the event. Maybe next time, anyone who wants to participate can pay an extra $5 or something and email a picture along with registration. All the names/pictures would be compiled into a sort of yearbook. It would be a great way to collect both signatures and contact information from the people at the event…but would also go a long way in terms of keeping names associated with faces. I don’t know when I’ll see everybody again (sniff) and it would be great to have that. Well, if you’re reading this and want to stay in touch, you can find me on facebook. That way we’ll at least have the pictures there.
After the booksigning, I had my last set of panels. This one was about cross-genre writing and featured Jennifer Brassel (who was a brilliant, prepared moderator), the effervescent Denise Rossetti, Sherrilyn Kenyon and yours truly. Another panel full laughs, what can I say. I think my smile hurts.
Sherrilyn and Dianna Love closed the conference with a special session. (Double yay for all of the Dark-Hunter/BAD fans!). And then suddenly it was over. I couldn’t stop thinking about how different this was–at events in the states it’s very much, “Well, see you in a couple of months or so!” Here, it could be a year or two. Alas.
Well, I want to thank the ARRC organizing committee as a whole for inviting me. I had a brilliant time. (Even though I accidentally ordered a tall instead of long coffee AGAIN this morning.) I seriously can’t wait to come back. Next time, I’m bringing a suitcase full of books–I had no idea what you Aussies were up against with the pricing.
I should mention that just because the conference was over, it didn’t mean the fun was! Susan and I went to “tea” with writers Erica Hayes and Tracey O’Hara. They’ve got some pretty kick-ass books coming out, and I can’t wait.
Ack! I’ve got to catch the shuttle bus to Melbourne airport. It’s time to start the voyage home. And here I didn’t tell you about me trying to buy a pair of Uggs in this town. Well, more later.
Liz
Filed under: General Babble
I had no idea what you Aussies were up against with the pricing.
And here you thought I was just doing that whingey, woe-is-me faff that I do so well – ha!
Have a lovely day!
Hey Liz!
The conference was such a blast. It was so great to have so many authors attending from the US as well as Australia.
A special yay! for you and Susan! So many science fiction authors, so little time… and was that Malaysian food amazing or what?
Thanks so much for coming — hope you survive the trip home. Can’t wait for next time.
Erica.
It was great meeting you at conference Liz and for signing “Wired” for me. I really enjoyed reading it.
I also enoyed your comments on the different levels of readership and have learnt a new word “glomming!”.
I felt like a newbie reader when I learnt that some of the attendees owned thousands of books! “Sainthood” is definitely beyond me, lol!
“Kiss or Kill” was the first thing of yours that I read. Then I learnt about the conference when I checked out your website to see what else you had written! So there is a double thank you there! I had a fabulous time, especially meeting you and Susan as I am such a sci/fi romance fan. We definitely need more cyborgs!
Once again, thanks so much for making the time to come and visit us, even if you had to come out cattle class! Hope the trip home isn’t too bad.
Tez, it makes me want to fly out there with a suitcase of assorted ARCs just to feed you all.
Erica, I’m so glad we had time to chat over lunch. (That food was incredible. I did go to the “crispy BBQ” place the next day but the Malaysian was actually even better.
Alison, I’m so, so glad you found out about the conference just in time through my site. Isn’t it amazing to be with so many like-minded readers? Yeah, sainthood takes a while, but before you know it…
Liz