 | 13 Jul 09 |
I’m heading out to Washington, D.C. early Tuesday morning. For some reason, I’m feeling different about this conference than usual. (I’ve attended the last 5 years) I really can’t pinpoint what it is. Am I nervous? Excited? I have one important meeting while I’m there, but otherwise, I really don’t have any reason to go. On one hand, I’m very happy about that. I have meetings set up with various friends and acquaintances I don’t get to see enough of. I have plenty of time to chat and hang out and be sociable. Networking is the real jewel of the conference, and this year I don’t have to run from one place to the other. Plans can change. I can be spontaneous. I can sit and talk with someone for as much time as they’ve got. There’s a lot of freedom in that. So why can’t I tell if I’m excited or nervous? I’m not really sure. What’s there to be nervous about? Nothing. I guess I’m excited then. Funny how they feel the same sometimes.
I’m packed. That’s really a miracle. Every time I go on a trip I have a bunch of things I know I need to buy or pack, and I always forget something. I usually stay up way too late the night before the trip, doing last minute packing and shopping. The car will usually need gas in the morning to get to the airport, and I feel tired and harried until I get to the hotel. (That’s the tough part about being on the West Coast. Leaving before dawn doesn’t mean I’ll get to my destination before the sun has gone down.) This time, I’m totally ready. Maybe the excited/nervous feeling is because I freaked myself out by being organized? 
I’ll come back with lots of new books. Because I only take carry-on luggage, I ship my promotional items ahead of me to the hotel in Priority Mail flat rate boxes. I stick a roll of packing in the boxes and tuck pre-paid mailing labels in my suitcase. That way, I can reuse the boxes to send books home and I don’t have to pay UPS prices or wait in line. I always find new authors through the books I pick up at Nationals. I discovered MSW’s own Debra Webb that way. An ARC of her TRACELESS was in my registration bag. I loved it. I’m wondering who I’ll discover this year.
A few days after I get back, I’ll be off to Comic-Con. My family is really looking forward to that. If any of you are going, I’ll be on a panel Thursday afternoon.
July 23, 2009 * 1:30-2:30 Avatars, Icons, and Antiheroes— The new hero is the anti-hero: twisted fairy tale icons, magicians turned hitmen, and avatars of both Good and Evil are cold-blooded killers and worse in the pages of these writers’ imaginations. Moderator Diana Gill (executive editor of Eos Books) leads a discussion on this phenomenon with Kevin J. Anderson (Enemies & Allies), Brom (The Child Thief), Richard Kadrey (Sandman Slim), Vicki Pettersson (City of Souls), S. J. Day (Eve of Chaos), and Holly Black (Ironside). Room 7AB (There’s an hour-long autographing session directly after the panel in the Autographing Area.)
I’m definitely nervous about Comic-Con. Excited, too, but the nerves are a definite.
For those of you who are staying home this week, do you have any plans? Any writing goals you’re planning to meet? If you’re going to conference, do you have a particular goal to accomplish while you’re there?
Sylvia Day is the national bestselling, award-winning author of seventeen novels. A wife and mother of two, she is a former Russian linguist for the U.S. Army Military Intelligence. In addition to her novels, she’s written numerous novellas and short stories for both print and electronic-original release. Sylvia’s work has been called “wonderful and passionate” by WNBC.com and “wickedly entertaining” by Booklist. Her stories have been translated into Russian, Japanese, Portuguese, German, Czech, and Thai. She’s been honored with the Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award, the EPPIE award, the National Readers' Choice Award, and multiple finalist nominations for Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA® Award of Excellence.
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I signed a contract for a mystery anthology story, so that’s off my plate at last. Now I can get back to my novel and try not to think about all the fun you’ll all be having in DC.
But first — Realtor is holding an Open House tomorrow, so immediate plans: CLEAN!!!
by Terry Odell July 13th, 2009 at 3:59 amCongratulations on the anthology sale!! And good luck with the Open House!
by S. J. Day July 13th, 2009 at 10:06 amI’m not a writer so no writing goals for me. My goal is to prep for our upcoming Con in October. I just got back from Readercon in Burlington, MA and realized how far behind I am and how much our committee has left undone. I did get to meet Liz Hand who will be our GOH and get to know her since my job is The Handler. LOL
I am hoping to get to RWA when in hits NYC, close to home. I used to find new authors when I worked at Border’s in the ARCs. Now I find them on Twitter. LOL
by Ev July 13th, 2009 at 6:37 amI admire you for working on a conference committee!! I know how much effort it takes to make it look like the con runs effortlessly.
by S. J. Day July 13th, 2009 at 10:05 amMy writing goal is 2,000 words a day.
I also have to clean the house top to bottom, and go birthday shopping. Two of the kids have birthday’s in the next week and a half.
Have a fun and safe trip everyone that is going.
by HollyD July 13th, 2009 at 7:21 amMy daughter’s birthday is August 2nd, so I have birthday planning in my future, too. I love your writing goal, and I’m cheering you on!
by S. J. Day July 13th, 2009 at 10:03 amI am more nervous because this is an all author conf. as opposed to a reader/author conference. I dont have to travel as I live here, so that is a weight off my mind. I am happy that I will b able 2 spend some time with you…finally
by Joy July 13th, 2009 at 7:30 amI can’t wait to see you, Joy!
by S. J. Day July 13th, 2009 at 10:02 amI missed last years Nationals, in SF because my daughters due date was in the middle of it..She had the baby right before. This year, I’m not going because of the cost and all. I can’t say I feel like I miss it. I do think their great networking, but I don’t like the crowds and all the desperation from newbies. But I do get see friends I haven’t seen in awhile that’s always cool. As far as writing plans, I’ll be in Disneyland with the grandkids, so can’t write, but will be taking notes, and going over my latest wip…Have fun, enjoy, and be safe.
by Lee July 13th, 2009 at 8:01 amThe cost does contribute to my nervousness, I’m sure. It’s quite an expense. If I didn’t have that one very important meeting, I might have pulled out of the trip. As it is, I switched my flights so I could leave Saturday evening. That will save me some expense.
by S. J. Day July 13th, 2009 at 10:00 amI’m not packed yet (my plane is on Wed., and I’m very nervous I will be late for the literacy signing). I’ve got a bunch of stuff to clear off my desk so that I don’t leave this place in an upheaval and have to field fifty phone calls about where something is. And I’ve already realized I’ve got to go back to the store for something I forgot.
Hope to see you there, Syl!
by toni mcgee causey July 13th, 2009 at 9:09 amI was worried about the Literacy Signing, too. That’s why I have to get there Tuesday. Despite leaving California at 7:30 AM, my plane doesn’t land in DC until after 6 PM. I couldn’t find a flight leaving from SoCal that would get me to DC any earlier. I hate such early flights, because I have to get to the airport an hour prior and it takes an hour to get to the airport from my house, which means I have to get up hours before that to get ready. Moving around before dawn doesn’t work well for me. I’m so not a morning person.
by S. J. Day July 13th, 2009 at 9:59 amSylvia, I feel the same way! I’m all packed and ready to leave–SF tonight and our early flight tomorrow morning, but this is my first RWA in ages where I’m not doing a panel or workshop and really have nothing I HAVE to prepare for. I’m meeting with my agent and editor and have plans to see friends, there are a few workshops I’m hoping to attend, but the biggest difference for this one is that my spouse is coming with me. His first romance conference–I imagine he’ll spend it at the Smithsonian…and I may need to schedule therapy for him when we come back home…
by Kate Douglas July 13th, 2009 at 9:25 amThat’s a good point! Maybe not having the presentation of a workshop to divert attention is what’s causing the excitement/nervousness conundrum.
I hope to see you there!
by S. J. Day July 13th, 2009 at 9:52 amI’m planning on writing alot since I have nowhere to go, I’m checking out the Romance Divas Not Going To Conference Conference, and helping with a Brainstorming/Plotting Party at the From The Heart RWA chapter.
by Jill James July 13th, 2009 at 7:44 pmEnjoy your conferences. Wish I were going. Hope you find some new authors to share with us.
by Patricia Barraclough July 13th, 2009 at 8:15 pm