Call Me Uber Speaker!

The Colorado Romance Writers conference is done. It was, IMHO, a total success. I made new contacts, reconnected with good friends, and actually survived being a closing speaker ;-).

The food was fab. I'll have you know that Bob Mayer was impressed at how quickly I destroyed this beautiful work of art.

That's Mr. Bob Mayer, with his books (also the one he co-wrote with Jennifer Crusie), and moi, with mine. I sold out of all my copies of Virtually His, hurrah!

We had fun and informative workshops. Just ask multi-talented author/pal, Pamela Clare, who somehow lost the key to her handcuffs ;-). Let me tell you, there were some doubletakes as she walked around the hotel like that.

Here's me, looking like a dork:

Yes, the closing speech moment. Notice the deer in headlights stare. The clenched fist. You can't see the wine glass hiding behind the podium ;-).

BUT

I KILLED IT, BABEEEeeeeeeee!

Woohoo!

I talked about desperation and what it meant in my life, how it developed me into the person and writer that I am today. I joked a little about my crazy background--the day I was lost in the market back home, the day I flew to the States with all my luggage, the day I had no money and no electricity. It was all somehow tied back to my love of writing a good story. Anyway, it worked and my audience was very happy with me, which was the goal, right?

I came away very relieved and very shocked that everyone loved the speech. I was even invited by a few people to do this again at several other conferences. Hahaha. Hahahahahahaha. You know that big NO was hanging at the tip of my tongue, right? They then SNEAKILY added that this would really help promote me and my books. Sigh. I dunno. Maybe it's just a fluke today that I didn't embarrass myself.

I talked to Sue Grimshaw, Romance Book Buyer from Borders and an all-round great romance reader/friend/expert, and she told me that Virtually His is selling quite well at Borders. She also confirmed, through her own sources, that Walmart and Target were cutting down on their romance buying. Sue told me that this gave her the opportunity to buy more stock for certain authors and promote them. She gave many tips to attending authors on how to get their name out there. This is why conferences/networking is important.

I have more pics to share but need to do some packing now. Just wanted to show off our SUITE. The bed was take-homeworthy. And we had a whole sitting room to party in, with a little kitchen-bar. This is the way to do it, girls and boys ;-).

Now all I need is to borrow Pamela Clare's handcuffs and we're set! Heeheehee.

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