A Wench Abroad

Anne here, reporting in on my first-ever Romantic Times Readers Convention, which was in Las Vegas.  I went with wenches Pat and Mary Jo -- and here we are just after our hero panel. For more about that, read on. . . 

It was a huge conference —over 3,100 delegates — which is much bigger and busier than anything I've ever been to. People had come from so far away -- there was even a small group of French readers who'd come from Paris, bringing French editions of books by me, Mary Jo and others. Merci, Karen, Elodie and friends.

The hotel was also huge and spread out and just to get from our rooms to the convention area involved a lot of walking — in fact my friend Keri wears a fit-bit and she averaged 15,000 steps per day just going back and forth at the convention. The hotel even had two little indoor 8 seater shuttle buses that ferried people back and forth and they were in constant use by people who were not enjoying (or coping with) all the walking.

But there was so much to see and do and hear and look at and read! I attended an international authors' welcome reception on the first afternoon, hosted by Kathryn Falk — the founder of RT, in her amazing suite on the 51st floor. I met writers from the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. I also attended a librarians and booksellers reception there for historical authors, where I caught up with wenches Mary Jo and Pat, and other authors like Eloisa James and Julia Quinn and Susanna Kearsley. Pretty fabulous, eh?

The same day I was in a "Meet the Authors from Downunder" readers event, for which I brought 100 little toy koalas, and numerous packets of TimTams — Australia's favorite cookie — chocolate cookies sandwiched together with chocolate and then dipped in chocolate. The other authors were mainly writers of paranormals, so I wore a feather boa wrapped around a hat, to brand me as a historical writer —  they write claws and fangs and fur, I wear feathers . ;)

It was standing room only (Keri Arthur and Nalini Singh were the stars) and we held a quiz — with questions like this:

1) Australians warn tourists of the dangers of Drop Bears because:
a) Drop Bears kill hundreds of tourists each year
b) Drop Bears are harder to spot than snakes
c) Tourists think koalas are sweet cuddly things, not dangerous Drop Bears
d) it's fun to frighten tourists  

2)  The most dangerous snake in New Zealand is:
a) The Picton Python
b) The Green snake of Rotorua
c)  The Brown-bellied Viper
d) None of the above

3)   The famous New Zealand Haka is performed
a) for weddings 
b) when declaring war and before important sports matches
c) for funerals
d) for all of the above  

(See below for the answers)

The next day wenches Pat  and Mary Jo and I were on a panel, called Rakes, Rogues and Warrior Poets — which was about creating heroes. We also branded ourselves as historical writers by wrapping feather boas around our hats. What do you think? Pat in particular looks like she'd just stepped out from Downton Abbey. 

On Friday we three wenches escaped the convention and went exploring the countryside, courtesy of Pat's husband, who drove us up to beautiful Mt. Charleston for lunch. During lunch I became quite excited as it almost snowed — we rarely see snow in my neck of the woods — but it turned into light hail, which I'm used to. Still it was a moment — and there was snow on the mountain above us.

After that we drove through Red Rock Canyon, which was magnificent country. It was a very welcome escape from the smoky atmosphere of the casino (which was in the center of the hotel) and from the business of the convention.

That evening there was  the Cirque Du Steampunk event — and the costumes were wonderful. Here are just a few.

The next day it was signings, signings and more signings. I don't know how sitting at a table for hours, signing books and talking to readers can be so tiring, but it was. It was also wonderful. I met so many people who'd read my books and came up to talk to me about them. Thank you.

The convention is over now — and I'm exhausted.  It's always that way — conferences and conventions are exhausting for most writers. Mary Jo says writers conferences are full of introverts madly pretending to be extroverts. So true.

 It was my first RT Convention, but I suspect it won't be the last.

Have you ever been to RT? Been to another readers convention? Do you enjoy such things, or would you just prefer to get the books. Have you ever been to Las Vegas? And how did you go on the quiz questions?

Answers to the quiz questions:
1 - d (there is no such thing as a drop bear;
2 - d (there are no snakes in NZ);
3 - d)

 

Comments

[Sonya Heaney]

I think there's a rule that you're never allowed to tell the truth about drop bears... ;)

The pictures I saw on RT's Instagram made the entire event look pretty impressive.

[Anne Gracie]

Oh dear -- well, shhh, hopefully nobody will notice. ;)

It was an amazing conference, Sonya. I'm still processing stuff.

[Karen]

Failed the test. Never been to Vegas. Would love to attend one but on a much smaller scale! It sounds like it would turn an extrovert introverted in sheer self defense! :-)

[Laura Boon]

It sounds like a wonderful conference. I've been to the ARRA readers conference in Australia and it was also wonderful although a much smaller affair. I hope to go again in the near future.

[Sue McCormick]

I am envious, and I wish I had been there BUT the size of this convention is too large for me! I continue to attend the Science Fiction convention that is the heir to the 1968 convention where Bob and I met; some years that convention is too large for me.

There is a genealogy convention in Salt Lake City, early in the year that I also yearn for, but will never attend. (I thought of it because a well-known (internet) genealogist from Sydney attends RootsTech every year. I think you are both very intrepid to fly all those miles to get overrun by all those people in those differing fields).

I KNOW it would be impossible, but I'm still yearning for a nice cozy meeting between ALL of the WW plus your devoted readers. (The hotel could be cozy, but the airlines would wonder why they had so many international travelers!)

[Anne Gracie]

It's a bit like that, Karen, but it's also fun. Vegas is amazing -- so over-the-top -- cool stuff and crazy stuff and just . . . wow! Mary Jo will be blogging about it on Friday.

[Anne Gracie]

Laura, I think you'd love it. The next ARRA conference will be in Melbourne next year -- people in Vegas were already talking about it.

[Anne Gracie]

Sue, that word-wenches plus readers get-together would be lovely, wouldn't it? I sat beside an Egyptologist in the plane, going to Tucson (where I am at the moment) and she' was coming from an Egyptology conference, which sounds very interesting.

[helen sibbritt]

Oh Anne

Thank you for the photos I have never been to RT but I have been to the wonderful ARRA convention here in Australia and I do love them I have also been to a few RWA conferences and they too are fab love the catching up with everyone meeting new friends and of course the books :)

Have Fun
Helen

[Anne Gracie]

Thanks, Helen -- I think you would LOVE it at RT -- so many authors you've read and loved, as well as so many fellow readers to talk favourite books with and get recommendations from. And loads of books to lug home. ;)

[Shelagh Merln]

I'd love the chance to go to something like an RT convention. Preferably not in Las Vegas. You lost me at casino and smoky atmosphere.
I loved your stellar outfits. Feather boas seem to be go to fashion accessories in so many circumstances!

[Anne McAllister]

Going to the RT convention vicariously through you and the WW is a great treat, Anne. It's my favorite way to attend. I appreciate the photos -- and I do regret missing the chance to visit with readers and other writers, but I'm content at the moment to experience it second hand. Thanks for sharing!