Daytona Beach and RT

I recently returned from a fabulous trip to Daytona Beach Florida. I attended the 23rd annual Romatic Times Booklover's Convention. OMG...what an experience...imagine about 1300 people...approx. 400 writers, and 20 cover models running around a hotel for 4 days! Yup... was there =) I got to meet some authors that I've been reading for years...Laurell K. Hamilton, Christine Feehan, Mary Janice Davidson, Charlaine Harris, Kim Harrison, Kelley Armstrong, Lori Handland, Maggie Shayne, and Angela Knight just to name a few. In addition to that, I was privy to panel sessions with these authors...where I got to hear how they plot their stories, where they get their inspiration from and ask them other questions (usually about characters in series)...and in doing so I became very interested in a few authors that I never read like L.A. Banks, Majorie Lui (she's signing my book in this picture!! Here's her blog), Jade Lee, Denise Hamilton, Morgan Hawke and Marcia Colette (she's AWESOME...here's her blog). I had a great time and came home with over 60 books...FREE...plus a got a few autographs!
So not only did I have an awesome time during the day....I had an awesome time partying every night! Wednesday night was the fantasy ball...Thursday was Vampires of the Carribean (I was a vampire pirate) and Friday night was the faery ball!! What fun dancing the night away every night at a costume ball! I met some great friends!!!
Oh..and during breaks...I got to lay on the beach and work on my tan...one day I even went in the water...the weather was gorgeous...70-85 everyday!
I have to say that I haven't had that much fun in a long time...for that long (4 days consecutively)...
AND...because the convention was in Daytona Beach...I stayed in Palm Coast with my grandfather...who I LOVE to death...and he let me borrow his car!
Despite the fact that this trip started off on the wrong foot (Delta lost my luggage for a day, my RT registration was lost for a few hours, and my friends hadn't shown up until late Wednesday afternoon) it all worked out and I had a great time. Next year, RT is holding the convetion in Houston, Texas...wonder if I'll be there?
For now it's back to work..