Post #2: Overheard in Pittsburgh

I'm in between planes, and suffering from Hotel Hilton Sawdust/Plaster Inhalation and Rash, so I'm jotting down these Romantic Times moments because I know I'll be braindead and sick by the time I reach home.

THRILLER AUTHOR BARRY EISLER is no longer an RT Virgin.

If you've never read Eisler, and want to know more about a half-Japanese assassin named John Rain, get thee an Eisler thriller. Hot hero-assassin. Hot sex. Methinks you'll likee.

http://www.barryeisler.com/books.php

Oh. And a hot-looking author too ;-). Knew that'd get you to click to his website. Seriously, I have had several wonderful conversations with this bestselling author, and he's very excited about getting more romance readers to try his books. I'm all for it too.

I SPIED ON J.R. WARD

Yes, I was pretending to be drinking as I listened to Many Plot Details from the next J.R. Ward book. You know, the one about PHURY. Oh, baby. My Sistahs, you will wanth to readth this book. Big things are going to happen, things that will rock the world of the Brothahhood as you know it. And there is a new Dudth in town that you'll immediately want. Yes, yes, the Black Dagger Crack is going to up its addiction factor.

I SPIED FABIO GRAZING A BOOBAH

The hand. The smirk. Heh. For this story, you'll have to read it at Liz Maverick's and Marianne Mancusi's Rebels Of Romance blog. Liz and Marianne write some of the most innovative books (Dorchester's Shomi line) and I love the videos of RT they've been filming together. Check out Day One and get a taste of the Goody Room. And of course, check out how Fabio grazed Liz's boobah.

MEETING GREAT AUTHORS

I want to put down the names here before I forget. It was such a pleasure to meet the following authors up close over meals and drinks:

1) Anya Bast, her wonderful husband and her beautiful baby

2) my dahlink Lauren Dane who was as scintillating in person as online

3) Cheyenne McCray, prolific and magnificent, with new trademark shoe (grin)

4) Mark Henry, who writes twisted books about zombies, who is just as killer witty in person

5) Sasha White, a quick hug

6) Judith Rochelle, another quick hug

7) Jeri Smith-Ready, my patient roommate who tolerated my dropping stuff in the room at night

8) Ann Aguirre, my other patient roommate who tolerated my kicking her in bed at night

9) Samantha Kane, whom I tried to kill when I found out she won the raffle ticket to SIT NEXT TO ADRIAN PAUL at a dinner function

10) Caitlin Kittredge, debut author (Night Life), with four or five books coming out, who made me feel my age when she announced that she just turned 22. Arghhh. :::headdesk:::

That's all I remember right now but these authors and many more made the whole week so much fun.

I'm also thankful for all the readers who made RT such a great experience (I have photos later). Wow, wonderful costumes this year, folks. Thank you, especially, to those readers who came by my spot during the Book Fair, helping me almost sell out all my books! Meeting happy readers and booksellers is always my most favorite thing at RT, and to have them come to me to talk about my books and demanding more, made my whole week of HOTEL HELL worth it. And yes, answering questions about His Jedness all four hours is always fun ;-).

Lastly, meeting up with good friends: Marjorie Liu (that awesome author with 2000 books out), my drinking buddies Jill Smith (RT reviewer) and Michelle Buonfiglio (Romance B(u)y The Book blogger), Kathy Love (who has an entire rock and roll band as her entourage, how 'bout that for awesome?), Bonnie Vanak, Stacey Agdern, the best New York bookseller who shared Cambodian Food Orgasms with me on the last day at RT, Su, my RBL sweetheart whose crazy sexiness captured John de Salvo's eye, J.R. Ward, Kayla Perrin, Rosemary Potter (all the way from Australia!), my dancing partner, the sexay and lethal Cherie, over whom I have a total girl-crush, and so many more.

Awesome, awesome memoments (my new word). I hope to write more about the whole RT shebang when I'm back home in one piece, hopefully with most of my brain intact. Thank you, Romantic Times, for organizing a great convention. I always have a great time being author, reader, and amazed observer through the whole week. I heart RT.

And so, Glow Peeps, how was your week?

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