Two things that you think I’d have learned by now:
1.) Mothers can make you feel guilty about most anything. Even free books.
2.) If you decide to read a book before bedtime, don’t get so engrossed that you lose track of time until you hear your alarm go off at 6am. It makes for a very exhausting, fog-headed day. (Damn you, Babs, and you’re insistence that I read Stephanie Meyer’s The Host. Geez, can that lady tell a good story, or what?)
Must. Stay. Awake.
Half of my books from the conference arrived today, and I practically bounced up the stairs to my apartment when I saw the stack of boxes sitting on my front stoop. I’d known that I’d ship the books I got at conference, but what I didn’t know was how anxious I’d be for them to get here. I almost felt like I’d left my laptop or a favorite necklace behind when I got home and didn’t have anything for my bookshelves. But patience, while a cruel mistress, teaches her virtues, and I happily unpacked all 41 of my new books.
Yep, that’s right—41 glorious, wonderful, and mostly signed-by-the-author books. And that’s only half of them. I shipped the first set of boxes midweek and the second set on Sunday, but I’m already so giddy with the headiness of the paperbacks stacked beside me that Lord knows what I’ll do when the last shipment comes in. Faint, maybe? *Grins*
Life is good.
This means, of course, that I’ll have to redo my TBR list. While I won’t do the challenge like I did before, I’ll readily admit that I’m pretty much set up for the next year, at least. Heck, I still have one or two books from the 2007 RWA National Conference that I haven’t read yet. No worries, though. All my pretties will get their turn, and I now have a bunch of historicals, paranormals, comedies, and suspense to keep them company. The hard part will end up being not reading them, so I can get some of my own work done. *Sigh* The difficult life of a wannabe writer. Don’t you just feel so sorry for me? 
I’d planned on returning the blogging sphere last week with my trip to Washington D.C. and the start of the RWA National Conference, but the hotel did not offer free internet services, and I just couldn’t bring myself to pay $13 a day for the privilege. (What can I say? I’m cheap.) But oh well–I’m just picking back up a week later than planned.
As this was my second conference and I wasn’t as overwhelmed, awed, and giddy that–Omigod! That’s Nora Freakin’ Roberts! And–Gasp!–Maria V. Snyder! Ooh! Ooh! Alyssa Day and Elizabeth Hoyt, omigod I love them!
Heh. Yeah, now that I’ve been able to internalize my squealing and at least appear to be a mature, professional adult (okay, okay… so I did tear up when I finally got to meet Jennifer Crusie, but I managed to walk away first so I at least maintained some of the illusion), I thought I’d offer my ten tips to surviving the RWA National Conference.
1.) Those beautiful business cards you had printed up months in advance? Pack them. If you think to yourself the night before, “Maybe I should put them on top of my purse so I don’t leave them behind”, do it, even if you are already tucked in a half-asleep. Trust me.
2.) If you have an agent or editor appointment, prepare a list of questions for her or him along with your pitch.
3.) Also for the appointment, prepare yourself for any number of questions that the editor or agent may ask you so you don’t end up rambling and saying something really, really stupid. (Like I did. *Sigh*)
4.) Budget an additional $200- $400 more than what you think you’ll need. Beside the fact that, no matter how disciplined you are, you’ll likely have drinks and eat out more often than you planned, it’s amazing the number of ways various fees can get tacked onto your bill.
5.) If you can’t bring your own boxes with you when you arrive, buy them from a nearby store as soon as possible. As the conference closes, more and more people will have the same idea about shipping all those beautiful new books home, and supplies run out fast.
6.) Create a shipping account with UPS or FedEx and use that number to ship books home. It’s much easier and much cheaper than using the hotel’s account. (See tip #4 about the fees.)
7.) Get there early if possible. Otherwise, expect to wait in a long line at the registration desk. Bring a book or better yet a friend.
8.) A week or two before the RITAs, put on the shoes you plan to wear at the ceremony and walk around your home for a few hours, even if you’d walked around the store before buying them and are convinced they’re comfortable enough. Hobbling around on blistered feet after the first twenty minutes does not make for a graceful presence.
9.) Carry both your credit/debit card and plenty of cash. Splitting bills can be a messy business, and you want to be able to adapt to whichever payment method works easiest for both yourself and the group.
10.) Remember why you’re there. Whatever your reason is, let it put everything else into perspective.
