Greetings from Pittsburgh!

I'm here! I've been teaching at the pre-con workshops and catching up with my friends Linnea Sinclair, Colby Hodge, Isabo Kelly and meeting new people like Jennifer St. Giles.

 

Have I mentioned how much I love RT? Seriously. I was trying to explain it to my husband, but the feeling of community I experience here kind of defies my ability to adequately express it. Here, it's like I don't even have to explain what I'm going through or trying to figure out. Everyone here has either been through it, is currently experiencing it or has found a way around it. I LOVE that. I learn so much, even, or perhaps especially, when I'm teaching and listening to other authors on the panels. The closest thing I've experienced to this before was when I was in college and we were all going through many similar experiences at the same time and helping each other out. I just love feeling a part of this larger community. : ) Writing, as much as I love it, is sort of lonely sometimes.

 

Anyway, I arrived on Sunday afternoon and found both Linnea and Isabo at the airport. Cool beans! Never had that happen before. Of course, finding someone at O'Hare would be quite a different thing than at Pittsburgh's airport. : ) Colby picked us up at the airport and brought us to the hotel. Linnea heard about this fabulous restaurant, Palomino, so we all went Sunday night. I had one of the best meals I've had in a really long time there. Chicken Parmesan and garlic herb linguini, plus a vanilla apple como, of course. SO GOOD. Of course, we're working with hotel bar, trying to help them replicate this most fabulous drink, but no luck yet!

 

Yesterday, Linnea and I did a panel on Plotting and, as usual, enjoyed the hell out of it. We work so differently from one another and yet I think that only makes her feedback to me that much more valuable. We think differently, but we end up in the same place. I also spoke on a panel about Sensuality, which was interesting to see the range and scope of what that means these days from YA to erotica. Then another dinner at Palomino. Flatbread pizza and another vanilla apple cosmo.

 

Today was a panel on submitting and querying agents. After which, Isabo, Linnea, Colby and I headed out to do a little shopping. Had to stock up for the little mini-party we're having in Linnea's room tonight. We're assembling the goody bags for our Intergalactic Bar and Grille reader party tomorrow from 3:30-5:00. We had so much fun last year and there are so many cool giveaways this year, I wish I was eligible!

 

Okay, so that it's for now. I'm going to try to attach a picture of Colby and Linnea. We'll see if it works!

 

More later...