Julie Miller's Blog - Posts Tagged "nyc"
Julie Miller's RWA 2011 Conference Report
I'm here today to report on my 2011 RWA Conference experience in NYC. I had a terrific conference--the perfect mix of business and fun.
From the moment I stepped into the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Times Square, the buzz was all about ebooks and indie publishing (I dipped my toe into that pool last month with the release of my very first novel, a ST paranormal romantic suspense, IMMORTAL HEART), and how it was affecting traditional publishing and the big publishers. Trust me, this will be an ongoing conversation. I heard every side of the issue, from author frustrations and successess, to publisher concerns and strategies. It's an exciting, changing time in the publishing world. And with all the changes taking place and coming down the line, it really affirmed to benefits of attending such a conference.
Actually, I hadn't been to RWA for about 5 years, so I was feeling long overdue. I always learn something new, and the networking with publishing professionals and fellow authors is invaluable. Throw in a little fun and it turns into the kind of truly wonderful conference I had. So, here's a list of 10 things I learned or did at RWA this year. I hope others who got to attend will jump in and share their highlights. And if you didn't get to attend, please feel free to leave comments or ask questions.
Julie's Conference Highlights:
1. Lunch with my editor at this awesome Scottish pub, St. Andrews. (I could feel my Scottish roots flowing through my veins! It's fun to go to a new city and feel right at home.)
2. Meeting with my editor, Allison Lyons, and agent, Pattie Steele-Perkins. Very good meeting. Smart, sharp ladies. Covered lots of important info. (Now I have to get busy writing!)
3. Staying in Times Square. They had the premiere for the third TRANSFORMERS movie about 18 stories beneath my feet. Red carpet and a really cool display. I got my picture taken with Bumblebee. Cool! My 21 year-old son (who's been a Transformer nut since he was a little boy) was jealous!
4. Rooming with fellow Intriguer (and Nocturne & HRS author) Elle James (it's not everyone who'll break into show tunes with you)
5. Dancing at the Harlequin Party (Intrigue authors love to dance!) (although, one downer was the terrible rash I had on my legs the next morning--it's a circulation/too much pressure on my feet in the wrong kind of shoes kind of thing) But fun!
6. Breakfast with my ICE LAKE anthology buddies B.J. Daniels and Delores Fossen. Two truly wonderful women to hang out with! (Like I said, the networking at a conference is invaluable!)
7. Going to see MARY POPPINS at the New Amsterdam theater with my roomie Elle James (hence the spontaneous show tunes!). Hey, Bert the chimney sweep walked up the side of the proscenium arch and danced on the ceiling. What can I say? Magical!
8. Attending the Daphne du Maurier Awards with B.J. Daniels. There was yummy chocolate involved. We were runners-up. Fellow Intriguer Paula Graves won!
9. Going to the Intrigue authors meet & greet at this really cool nightclub called NIGHT. I felt so New Yorkish! And I got to meet brand new Intrigue author Robin Perrini. Plus, I got the get better acquainted with Carla Cassidy and Kerry Connor. And I hung out with some of my Intrigue buddies.
10. Meeting and sharing a fabulous lunch at Nougatine with Delores Fossen, Marsha Zinberg and the Toronto Feature & Custom editors who worked on the ICE LAKE anthology with us. Victoria Curran joined us (it was delightful to get to know her, too--we're both community theater veterans). The waiters were choreographed and the food was so delicious!
There's so much more...the eHarlequin Pajama Party (lots of silly pix), the workshops, other Meet & Greets, some cool restaurants, touring Times Square, getting great feedback from Malle Vallik and the eHarlequin pros on my website, networking (aka sitting and chatting) with many authors--Intriguers and those who write for other lines and/or publishers, and on and on. But 10 is a nice even number, so I'll stop there.
I'm giving away a copy of my new August Intrigue, PROTECTING THE PREGNANT WITNESS, to one lucky poster. So be sure to leave a question or comment.
Julie Miller
PROTECTING PLAIN JANE--March 2011 (4 1/2 *s RT!)
IMMORTAL HEART ebook--June 2011
PROTECTING THE PREGNANT WITNESS--Aug 2011 (4 1/2 *s RT!)
NANNY 911--Dec 2011
Enter the Pregnant Witness contest at www.juliemiller.org
From the moment I stepped into the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Times Square, the buzz was all about ebooks and indie publishing (I dipped my toe into that pool last month with the release of my very first novel, a ST paranormal romantic suspense, IMMORTAL HEART), and how it was affecting traditional publishing and the big publishers. Trust me, this will be an ongoing conversation. I heard every side of the issue, from author frustrations and successess, to publisher concerns and strategies. It's an exciting, changing time in the publishing world. And with all the changes taking place and coming down the line, it really affirmed to benefits of attending such a conference.
Actually, I hadn't been to RWA for about 5 years, so I was feeling long overdue. I always learn something new, and the networking with publishing professionals and fellow authors is invaluable. Throw in a little fun and it turns into the kind of truly wonderful conference I had. So, here's a list of 10 things I learned or did at RWA this year. I hope others who got to attend will jump in and share their highlights. And if you didn't get to attend, please feel free to leave comments or ask questions.
Julie's Conference Highlights:
1. Lunch with my editor at this awesome Scottish pub, St. Andrews. (I could feel my Scottish roots flowing through my veins! It's fun to go to a new city and feel right at home.)
2. Meeting with my editor, Allison Lyons, and agent, Pattie Steele-Perkins. Very good meeting. Smart, sharp ladies. Covered lots of important info. (Now I have to get busy writing!)
3. Staying in Times Square. They had the premiere for the third TRANSFORMERS movie about 18 stories beneath my feet. Red carpet and a really cool display. I got my picture taken with Bumblebee. Cool! My 21 year-old son (who's been a Transformer nut since he was a little boy) was jealous!
4. Rooming with fellow Intriguer (and Nocturne & HRS author) Elle James (it's not everyone who'll break into show tunes with you)
5. Dancing at the Harlequin Party (Intrigue authors love to dance!) (although, one downer was the terrible rash I had on my legs the next morning--it's a circulation/too much pressure on my feet in the wrong kind of shoes kind of thing) But fun!
6. Breakfast with my ICE LAKE anthology buddies B.J. Daniels and Delores Fossen. Two truly wonderful women to hang out with! (Like I said, the networking at a conference is invaluable!)
7. Going to see MARY POPPINS at the New Amsterdam theater with my roomie Elle James (hence the spontaneous show tunes!). Hey, Bert the chimney sweep walked up the side of the proscenium arch and danced on the ceiling. What can I say? Magical!
8. Attending the Daphne du Maurier Awards with B.J. Daniels. There was yummy chocolate involved. We were runners-up. Fellow Intriguer Paula Graves won!
9. Going to the Intrigue authors meet & greet at this really cool nightclub called NIGHT. I felt so New Yorkish! And I got to meet brand new Intrigue author Robin Perrini. Plus, I got the get better acquainted with Carla Cassidy and Kerry Connor. And I hung out with some of my Intrigue buddies.
10. Meeting and sharing a fabulous lunch at Nougatine with Delores Fossen, Marsha Zinberg and the Toronto Feature & Custom editors who worked on the ICE LAKE anthology with us. Victoria Curran joined us (it was delightful to get to know her, too--we're both community theater veterans). The waiters were choreographed and the food was so delicious!
There's so much more...the eHarlequin Pajama Party (lots of silly pix), the workshops, other Meet & Greets, some cool restaurants, touring Times Square, getting great feedback from Malle Vallik and the eHarlequin pros on my website, networking (aka sitting and chatting) with many authors--Intriguers and those who write for other lines and/or publishers, and on and on. But 10 is a nice even number, so I'll stop there.
I'm giving away a copy of my new August Intrigue, PROTECTING THE PREGNANT WITNESS, to one lucky poster. So be sure to leave a question or comment.
Julie Miller
PROTECTING PLAIN JANE--March 2011 (4 1/2 *s RT!)
IMMORTAL HEART ebook--June 2011
PROTECTING THE PREGNANT WITNESS--Aug 2011 (4 1/2 *s RT!)
NANNY 911--Dec 2011
Enter the Pregnant Witness contest at www.juliemiller.org
