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I did manage to sneak in a Braves game at Turner Field! There I was, sitting among the hated Mets fans as they cheered their team beating the crap out of my poor boys. Me in new Braves hat, eating a big hotdog, beer by my side, nice sunny weather that wasn't too hot...ahhhh, it was simply too cool! I know this isn't part of the RWA experience ;-) but hey, it's my first live experience of my favorite sports in the world! I can't tell you how awesome it was to see the field right in front of me and 50,000 people sitting around the stadium.
And all for less than 10 bucks! Honest to God! It was so easy to get to Turner Field from the hotel--walk through Peachtree Mall, down to MARTA (the rail), pay $1.75, take one stop south, then walk through Atlanta Underground (you have to go here, girls--it's like an underground flea market, with lots of jewelry, African American artwork, food, arcade fun, handmade handbags, just tremendous shopping fun!), then take the waiting shuttles there for $1. The shuttles take you straight to the Stadium without any traffic headaches! And since the game was sold out, I paid 5 bucks--FIVE BUCKS--for standing room only to get in. And walking in and finding any spot I want to watch from for that amount of money--it was sweet. Well worth the price of admission. In comparison, I pay $50 for an Orlando Magic game, if I'm lucky. Heck, for $5 I don't even mind the Braves losing as long as I get to be close to Marcus Giles, teehee.
Okay, so you're yawning that I'm waxing poetic about my first baseball game. I have this thing about men in tights bending over, I don't know why.... This is the backside of my one of my favorite players ;-). I like to watch him play a lot.
********Right, onto MORE IMPORTANT THINGS....
Before I regale you in another post about my Uber-Brush With Homeland Security (sigh, someone UNCROSSED their toes too soon!!!), here are notes and photos of the RWA RITA and Golden Heart Gala that was held on Saturday night.
For a good article from AP about romance and the RWA signing, click HERE. It's actually a pretty good article.
Actually my Homeland Security Brush-In, although very frustrating and crazy, was nothing compared to Michelle Willingham's experience in the homebound aircraft. I spent hours at ATL airport trying to get a ride home without an ID; she had to deal with engine failure. While in the air. Yikes! She wins.
The list of winners:
Golden Heart
BEST SHORT CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
Sweet Surrender by Yvonne Harris
BEST LONG CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
The Memory of You by Laurie Kellogg
BEST PARANORMAL ROMANCE
Blood Squad by Kelli Shewey
BEST INSPIRATIONAL
When Angels Fall by Lora Bale
BEST SHORT HISTORICAL ROMANCE
candal's Daughter by Christine Diehm
BEST LONG HISTORICAL ROMANCE
The Education of Mrs Brimley by Donna MacMeans
BEST YOUNG ADULT
Do You Really Want to Haunt Me? by Heather Koenig
BEST NOVEL WITH STRONG ROMANTIC ELEMENTS
Snooping in Stilettos by Kathleen Beaver
BEST ROMANTIC SUSPENSE
The Watcher by Jo Robertson
BEST CONTEMPORARY SINGLE TITLE
Dangerous Choices by Donna Meier
THE RITAS:
BEST TRADITIONAL
Princess of Convenience by Marion Lennox
BEST SHORT CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
The Marriage Miracle by Liz Fielding
BEST LONG CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
Worth Every Risk by Dianna Love-Snell
BEST PARANORMAL
Gabriel's Ghost by Linnea Sinclair
BEST INSPIRATIONAL
Heavens to Betsy by Beth Pattillo
BEST ROMANTIC NOVELLA
The Naked Truth About Guys by Alesia Holliday
BEST FIRST BOOK
Show Her the Money by Stephanie Feagan
BEST REGENCY
A Reputable Rake by Diane Gaston
BEST SHORT HISTORICAL ROMANCE
The Texan's Reward by Jodi Thomas
BEST LONG HISTORICAL ROMANCE
The Devil to Pay by Liz Carlyle
BEST NOVEL WITH STRONG ROMANTIC ELEMENTS
Lady Luck's Map of Vegas by Barbara Samuel
BEST ROMANTIC SUSPENSE
Survivor in Death by J.D. Robb
BEST CONTEMPORARY SINGLE TITLE ROMANCE
Lakeside Cottage by Susan Wiggs
2006 LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD to Susan Elizabeth Phillips
So here are some photos taken during the gala, showing off the glamorous side of uber-authorness:
Here is me in my usual roofing outfit, only without my toolbelt and tar smears, of course.
Arianna Hart and me. In case you're still wondering, Arianna is the tall blonde.
I Heart Jacquie d'Alessandro's gator purse. One day I will steal it. I think all Cherry Bombs will understand why ;-).
The totally glamorous Marjorie Liu in bold leopard print. And that's her third plate of chocolate strawberries. GAH. ;-) Luv you, ML! Woof.
I'm sorry, I don't know who this is. I just love that dress so much and she looked so elegant that I asked to snap her pic and forgot to ask for her name and email. So if any of you recognize her, please let me know! Again, my apologies. I'm really, really bad with remembering names and faces.
And the following photo is for Jude at Blogging National. Here are pretty gala shoes!
And here are the uber-authors wearing them (plus a few late-joiners):
And that's all I have for now! Whew! Posting photos on Blogger is like walking through the Tunnel of Doom and Torture. For some reason it gives you options, like Centering or Right or Left, and these buttons don't FREAKING WORK!
For fab pictures taken of presenters at the RWA awards ceremony, here is the link to Jude's pics. She really did a fantastic job covering the RWA experience. Kudos to that Cherry Bombette!
Click HERE to see all the beautifully coiffed uber authors! More about my RWA week later!
Monday, July 31, 2006
Gala Notes and More Spy Pics
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4 comments:
Hi, Jenn! It's so good to be able to read your blog again. I'm so behind in my "favorite author news". I was looking through who won the awards and there were very few who I have even heard of. The only book I've read on that list is Survivor in Death. Are there any of the long contemps or paranormals that you would personally recommend?
hi Casee!
Where you been, girl? I'd definitely recommend Marjorie Liu and JR Ward--they are simply fabulous! I really enjoyed their books and their styles. For long contemporary, my two recommendations are Dianna Love Snell and Kylie Brant, one a rising star and the other a rising goddess!!!
Don't be a stranger!
SQ,
I know. It hurts to lose to the Mets. It hurts to sit among snarky Mets fans and hear them snarking. But it did hurt less to know I only paid $5 and could actually move away to another location if I chose! ;-) Shea Stadium sucks, and I got this out of a NY Mets fan who was talking to me.
As for the Yankees. Bah. Okay, they have a bunch of great players but Bah. If we still have Ted Turner as our patron saint, we would be Owning Some of Said Yankee Doodles. Bah. Darn Time Warner Cheapos.
And wow, you've got a good eye, girlfriend, to see which one was my shoe! I love my faux gator shoes. I have a similar pair in silver ;-). I'm like that. Like one, find it in all colors to match all clothes. Simple.
As for the Mission Impossible...man, your favorite uber-spy was humming that tune all yesterday at the airport. Mission Impossible was almost a reality when it came to getting home, esp. without an ID! More later!
Oh, I am *obsessed* with JR Ward. She was my greatest find of last year. I really love Marjorie Liu, as well. I am really looking forward to 9/5 when JR Ward's next book comes out. *g*
I'll be around more. I love reading your entries. And the pics are great!
I had no idea that was your first baseball game! If I would have known that I may have ventured out into the great beyond with you. Well, now that I will be a local we'll have to look at the schedule for next year and plan a baseball game date!
Thanks for sharing the pics, I love seeing them and I was there, LOL.
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