 | 16 Nov 09 |
I’m writing this post from Nashville, where I’ve been since I left home in the wee hours of the morning on Friday. I’m here for the RWA Board of Directors’ meeting. Tomorrow will be Day 3 and another 10 hour day. Yes, I’m a bit tired, but it’s been a great trip in a lot of ways. There is so much to learn… bylaws, tax codes, policies and procedures… wow.
The hotel is the Gaylord Opryland and it really defies description. It’s very Disneyesque, with an amusement park sort of unnatural perfection. The property covers 57 acres; there’s no way to stay here and not walk miles every day. Everything is spread out and interspersed with lush greenery, rivers, and ponds. It’s not uncommon to turn a corner and see a pretty fireplace framed by intimate seating areas. There are so many little spots to sit and just enjoy the scenery. I’m really looking forward to attending RWA Conference here in July and share the fun of this place with my friends.
Last night, I went to the Grand Ole Opry and saw Martina McBride, Jake Owen, Rodney Atkins, Vince Gill, Carrie Underwood, and many others. I’m so glad I went. I’m not a huge country music fan, but I couldn’t pass up the experience. I had such a good time!
Rodney Atkins sung a song called “Friends with Tractors“. I think that’s going to be my new catchphrase. As Rodney was singing, I was thinking that I, too, have friends with tractors. Not literal ones, of course (except for one…) but I have friends who “pull you out and fix the road” and help me stay sane on this crazy publishing trail. I can’t wait to hang out with them here in Opryland.
If you’re an RWA member, I hope you plan on attending conference in 2010. I think it’s going to be awesome!
© 2009 Sylvia Day. All rights reserved.
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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Ooh, the hotel sounds nice. I hope to be there for RWA this year
and can’t wait to see for myself.
by Ali November 16th, 2009 at 7:36 amGlad you got to enjoy the Grand Ole Opry
I’ll be there! I’m MCing the National Readers Choice Awards (my first time) and it’s a fairly easy day’s drive from home. I can’t wait to see everyone again! ‘course, they may all run and hide if they see me comin’ first.
FYI? I have a tractor, too.
by Silver James November 16th, 2009 at 8:34 amNot a country music fan but the hotel and night out sound awesome! I have friends with tractors too. They’re geat.
by wendy roberts November 16th, 2009 at 8:44 amI am so excited for Nashville 2010 – I *am* a big country fan, and have been since long before country got cool. I would LOVE to see Martina McBride – she is one of my professional idols.
Thank you & the RWA board for the hard work. I bet you’re exhausted.
by Roxanne St. Claire November 16th, 2009 at 8:52 amEverything sounds so amazing. The Grand Ole Opry and the hotel. Make sure you get some sit down time.
by Jill James November 16th, 2009 at 10:07 amthen there is kenny chesney’s, She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy. snerk.
glad you are having fun. Come home safe!
by Karin Tabke November 16th, 2009 at 10:33 amthe metaphorical friends with tractors is so right. We writers have to stick together and I know my writer friends are there to pull me out when I get bogged down.
And the hotel and area sounds great!
by Vicky Burkholder November 16th, 2009 at 3:59 pmGirl! You were only two hours from me! Glad you had a good time!
by Debra Webb November 16th, 2009 at 6:45 pmI saw the title and I JUST KNEW it was going to be you!
Gang – I thought we were going to have to sedate Sylvia! She was totally out of control at the Grand Ole Opry!
But it was SO MUCH FUN. You just have to go to RWA Conf in Nashville next year and spent one evening at the Grand Ole Opry. You have to be there to appreciate it. Even if you’re not a country fan, it’s worth the price of the ticket.
And Rodney Atkins was a CUTIE!
by ArkansasCyndi November 17th, 2009 at 11:43 am