I got in just in time to spend the very last ten seconds of my fifth anniversary kissing my husband   I had to book, but it was worth it.

Conference was amazing, and crazy, and more than I expected it to be.  I haven’t ever had so much fun in my life, or met so many amazing people, or come away from an experience so exhausted and energized at the same time. I’ll post more later, and some pictures, too.

I have a dozen stories roaming around my head. Some pushing harder than others for dominance. Some simmering on the back burner of my mind (I bet you didn’t know my head was a Kenmore, did ya’? LMAO) And I keep getting new ones. I’m actually really looking forward to the travel part of my trip as a time to organize my poor, overfilled head.

I’m leaving Sunday sometime, probably late afternoon for Elko. It’s a three hour drive, which I don’t really mind when I’m by myself. No fighting kids! HA! Then I’ll be staying in a hotel, because my train doesn’t leave until 3:45 in the morning on Monday. So I’ll have all that time to work. Plus the 15 hour train ride. I figure I’ll be the most prepared little writer at the conference! I wish, wish, wish I had a laptop. It’s notepads and ink pens for me, baby.

Okay…off to pack, and print out my novel so I can read it on the train. And maybe my WIP because I’ll have another 15-hour train ride and a hotel stay on the other end. The return train gets in at about 10 p.m. I’m scared to sleep…what if I end up in Chicago? LMAO

The only thing I love better than going on a trip, is coming home.

I am home. Just for a week, and then off next Sunday night to San Francisco. I bought pretty purple luggage in Las Vegas, and found the perfect dress. I also got cute new shoes. I am ready. This week’s plan is to finish my rewrite of Devil You Don’t, so that it’s ready to go out immediately should anyone ask for it during the conference. And to work on pitches for that novel and my WIP.

I have an author page up at Pink Petal Books. Isn’t it pretty?

I’m headed off with all three of my kids in a few minutes for sunny SUNNY hot Las Vegas for the weekend.  I have my advocacy class, the kids are visiting their father (Adrienne and Nick) and grandparents (Ruby.) I’m not looking forward to that sunny SUNNY hot part. But I am glad I get the opportunity to look for some appropriate clothing for the conference.

At the moment I’m printing out the balance of Devil You Don’t that I didn’t get a chance to do a final polish on yet. I’ll take it with me, since I’ll be spending a lot of time in a hotel by myself. By the time I pay for my spur of the moment trip to San Francisco, I don’t have much in the budget for Las Vegas. I’ll probably see a movie (a huge luxury, since our only theater has one screen, is 100 years old, and plays one movie every two or three weeks. Usually a kids movie. They had Kung Fu Panda for most of June!) But otherwise, I plan on using the time constructively. You know, besides scouring the thrifts, praying that someone my size has donated a dress appropriate for something called a ‘Gala.’

So–I’ll talk to ya’ll on Sunday. Have a fantastic weekend!

I just found out about the RWA Conference in San Francisco in two weeks.  San Francisco is only about 600 miles from me.  I know to some people 600 miles is far.  But when you’ve lived in the vast, empty state of Nevada as long as I have, it doesn’t seem so bad.  Especially when you consider that next year’s conference is in Washington D.C.

So, I’m going. I decided I wanted to yesterday and everything is falling into place with such grace that I have to think it’s a good sign. A sign of good things to come. Within fifteen minutes of deciding to come, I found three lovely ladies from points East who wanted a fourth to share their $300 a night room. I’ve missed the registration deadline, but when I called RWA and told them that I just found out about it, and just made my first sale, and please, please let me in–they were happy to.

Also, my kids were already going to be in Las Vegas that week. That’s a freaking miracle. Because I’m not exaggerating when I say that it’s h-a-r-d to get out of town when you have a toddler and a teenager with autism to find care for.

I’m going to take the train. I’m a little excited about that. Kevin will have to drive me into Elko to pick it up. It’s a 15 hour trip, but I’m kind of looking forward to the solitude. Plus–how romantic, right?

Also. I feel a little giddy about Christine Feehan being there signing books to raise money for literacy.

And I get to wear a ribbon that says I made a sale this year. Yes, I am a dork. And yes, I will be wearing that puppy proudly.

So I’m furiously finishing the final edit on my book. And I hope to polish up and solidify my ideas on the WIP that has fallen by the wayside the last few weeks. My wonderful editing partner has some ideas on that, so I’m going to just see what I can do.

I’m going to bring my camera, so expect some pics. Actually, when I’m in Las Vegas this week I might try to pick up a little camera, because I’m not entirely sure about lugging my big monster Nikon around all day, OR leaving it in the room all day. I would cry a river if it were stolen.