April 20th, 2008
Boy, the blogs have been pouring in about RT and I must say that I’m kinda glad that I missed it. Seriously. Gennita Low’s pictures and descriptions alone have frightened me. And I know she’s not alone. The reports are trickling in and many are far from pretty. It’s a shame. Hopefully next year will be better.
I’m meeting up with friends for brunch the first couple days of this week. On Tuesday night we’re going to see Taiko drummers. How cool is that? I can’t wait. Doing anything cool this week?
Yeah. Really sorry to have missed NINC. Not feeling like I missed out on RT.
by Charli April 20th, 2008 at 7:20 pmCharli, Yep, NINC was good. Definitely worth attending. RT this year…not so much.
by Jordan Summers April 20th, 2008 at 7:24 pmAgreed though I would like to go at least ONCE LOL
by Amie Stuart April 21st, 2008 at 9:12 amAmie, *g* I plan to attend next year, but I am thinking that a different hotel than the conference one may be called for.
by Jordan Summers April 21st, 2008 at 10:31 amRT was freaking awesome! I guess it all depends on your attitude about it.
The hotel was going through renos…but I personally hardly noticed, because it didn’t mean much to me, I had a great room, hung with great people, authors and readers alike, and had a great time.
by Vivi Anna April 21st, 2008 at 10:43 amVivi, I’m so glad you had a great time.
Well given that I know at least one of the authors LOVES RT, I don’t think attitude played a part in that particular case. 
I think you lucked out on the room and perhaps your room’s location. I’ve been reading that other people weren’t so lucky. (ie banging outside their windows at the crack of dawn, holes in the ceiling, bathroom doors missing, etc.) I’ll be honest, I don’t know if I would’ve been able to stay if that was the case. I had to be moved in New York due to the noise.
by Jordan Summers April 21st, 2008 at 10:50 amGesh, that hotel looks like Paris Hilton’s face after all the make up came off.
by Gabriele April 21st, 2008 at 2:36 pmGabriele, LMAO!
by Jordan Summers April 21st, 2008 at 4:28 pmI had a blast at RT, but lucked out with my room (not too noisy, not too much ambient dust, amazingly comfortable bed with 5 feather pillows), plus I got to hang out with some totally amazing people (like Vivi Anna)
by Ann April 21st, 2008 at 9:55 pmFor the most part, I did have a good time at RT.
A few down spots, one of them having to do with the hotel itself, because I am now sicker than a dog. I’ve got allergies and they trigger my asthma, but it’s not anything I can’t control with meds and my inhaler. At least not until I hit the Hilton.
Within 36 hours, I had no voice, I felt like an elephant was on my chest. Even started on a maintenance inhaler that I brought just in case didn’t do much. Well, it might have kept me out of the hospital.
Whenever I left the hotel, the symptoms cleared up.
Yeah, my biggest gripe has to do with the fact that once more, I’m on routine meds for my asthma, something I haven’t had to do in two years. All I needed up until last week was my rescue inhaler right before I work out. Now I’m looking at probably the next few weeks on the maintenance drugs. along with my rescue inhaler to get me over the crud I inhaled at the Hilton.
There were a few things I could have done without, but I had fun and those down spots weren’t anything that I would let overshadow the good stuff.
I got to chat with readers, got to talk with friends I only see every few years, and the DH and I had some time away from rottens. All good.
by Shiloh Walker April 21st, 2008 at 10:40 pmAnn, I’m glad you had a good room. As for hanging with Vivi, it’s always a pleasure to hang with a cool chick!
by Jordan Summers April 21st, 2008 at 10:44 pmShiloh (((Hugs))), you aren’t the only one who said your health suffered because of the stuff floating in the air.
I hope you get better real soon. Glad to hear that you still had a good time. That’s all that’s important. 
by Jordan Summers April 21st, 2008 at 10:46 pmOh, I’m shameless…. I know what would help. Reading material. Always good.
Heh, heh.
Seriously, I’ll be okay in a few more days. Fighting an asthma flare takes a while, but I’ll be okay.
by Shiloh Walker April 21st, 2008 at 11:49 pmHey Jordan! Love the new digs!!
Yeah, the construction at the hotel was a bummer for sure, but we managed. I had a great time at RT and didn’t see any of the “goings on” that people have mentioned on other blogs. How do I manage to miss this stuff? LOL!
by Patrice Michelle April 22nd, 2008 at 9:30 amLOL! You are shameless. I can send you the unedited version of it, but it really has changed quite a bit since the first swipe at it.
by Jordan Summers April 22nd, 2008 at 10:22 amThanks Patrice!
I’m glad you managed to miss most of the drama. I probably would’ve too. Well all but the dance floor incident, since that’s where I’m normally found at these conferences.
by Jordan Summers April 22nd, 2008 at 10:23 amI’m definitely doing a different hotel. Just can’t take another RT experience like St Louis and like Pittsburgh sounded. I like sleep. Running water. Edible food. Toilets that flush, you know, the basics. Otherwise RT is just too stressful. Hubby was thinking a golf vacation, so I’m checking out some decent golf resorts. Wonder if I can convince hubby the Ritz with it’s day spa and golf course is a worthwhile expense!
by Sarah McCarty April 22nd, 2008 at 11:20 amSarah, I’m going to check to see what the hotels nearby in Orlando look like. Good luck convincing dh that the Ritz is the answer. If you do manage it, share your secrets.
by Jordan Summers April 22nd, 2008 at 12:36 pmWell, they do have a fly fishing class too…
I checked out the conference hotel layout map and they have 16 separate buildings that house guests and it appears one has to walk across hill and dale to get to the main function building at the front of the large resort. Doesn’t appear to be any covered walk ways. I figure if I have to leave the building and hike through the weather to get to the goings on, I can do a five minute car ride and just travel in comfort. Isn’t it rainy in April in Florida?
Hmm, just checked and the Ritz has town cars to deliver me to my destination. *dreaming on*
by Sarah McCarty April 22nd, 2008 at 3:31 pmSarah, Oh boy. It sounds like they may be staying in the hotel they used years ago in Orlando. Do you have the name of the hotel by chance?
As for fly fishing, that may be the tipping point.
by Jordan Summers April 22nd, 2008 at 4:00 pmWell, hubby is always trying to get me to go camping. Fly fishing is a step closer!! (actually always wanted to do that) Pretty much, I’ll do anything outdoorsy during the day as long as I get to go back to comfort at night.
Wyndham Orlando Resort?
by Sarah McCarty April 22nd, 2008 at 4:12 pmIt’s funny you should mention fly fishing. We were thinking about doing a weekend getaway where they teach you how to fly fish. I’m just wondering how many times they’ll have to break the pliers out to unhook me. LOL!
by Jordan Summers April 22nd, 2008 at 4:17 pmProbably only half as many times as me.
There is not a graceful bone in my body!
by Sarah McCarty April 22nd, 2008 at 4:22 pmSarah, Wouldn’t we be a pair?!
by Jordan Summers April 22nd, 2008 at 4:49 pmI had an awesome time, despite the hotel. Personally, I think it’s all about what you make it and who you hang out with it. I never even noticed half the crap that went down lol – too busy having fun.
by Jaynie April 23rd, 2008 at 6:10 amAh, Jaynie, I envy you. Unfortunately, if I don’t get enough sleep or have adequate, mold free ventiilation in the room, no amount of positive attitude will keep a migraine away and I really don’t want to spend all of RT incapacitated. I am, in essence, hedging my bets for a positive experience because I intend to party hard. *G*
And you know, the JW Marriott offers the same experience as the Ritz without the fancy name… *still building my fantasy vacation*
by Sarah McCarty April 23rd, 2008 at 6:44 amSarah, one of my mates was at the overflow hotel which was way more awesome than the hilton – so as long as you budget in cab fare then staying somewhere else is always an option.
Of course next years hotel might just be great – who knows? I liked the hotel last year in Houston so it’s just pot luck.
by Jaynie April 23rd, 2008 at 6:50 amThere’s always hope! Had I been able to go to Daytona, I would have been fine with that hotel.
by Sarah McCarty April 23rd, 2008 at 7:02 amJaynie, I really think it depended on what your room was like at the hotel. A bad room can dampen any conference.
by Jordan Summers April 23rd, 2008 at 10:13 amSarah, I phoned the hotel that RT is using next year and spoke with a lovely gentleman, Gary Church in customer service. He says that they just replaced all their carpets and are in the process of replacing all the bed linens. Other than that, he hasn’t heard of any remodeling plans for the foreseeable future.
by Jordan Summers April 23rd, 2008 at 10:15 amThanks, Jordan
by Sarah McCarty April 23rd, 2008 at 11:06 am
by Jordan Summers April 23rd, 2008 at 11:11 amI had a fantastic time, Jordan. But you know me, I’m pretty laid back. The multicultural panels were simply amazing. hehe…not just saying that because I was the moderator over all four of them, either
L.A. Banks and Caridad Pineiro had the audience alternating between straight up guffaws, and scribbling down the wonderful industry tips they so wonderfully shared. Marjorie M Liu was a total sweetheart on the panel, as well as all the other panel members, Maureen Smith, A.C. Arthur, Gwyneth Bolton and Camille Anthony. It was wonderful.
The editor panels were again, awesome. Jozelle Dyer from Tor, gave the aspiring authors in the panel a special treat. I can’t share it, cuz uh…you had to be there to be a recipient
. All the editors, including my fantastic editor from Kensington, Hilary Sares, did an absolutely WONDERFUL job on the panels, and that was what was most important to me.
I guess for me, I had a clear cut plan. I wanted to showcase multicultural romances and the authors, along with editors, who are trendsetters within this genre. I planned for a solid year for the panels, despite meeting back-to-back deadlines, it was something I did, because it was important for me. EVERY author who attended, every editor, and quite a few audience members have contacted me to say how much they enjoyed the panels. To me, that overruled any negative things that may or may not have happened at the conference.
Vivi and I had a nice room, so, I can’t complain about that, although I have heard horror stories. I have asthma, but, was lucky I guess (I like to think it’s all that positive mojo I send out to the universe, lol) in that I had no problems. Although my heart goes out to those who did suffer because of the dust. I feel their pain. Been there done that, and it’s no fun when your breathing is impaired.
Next year, the hotel, from what I learned from Carol Stacey, is very nice and not planned to be under construction. Although, to be fair, the staff at RT had NO idea the Hilton was going to be under construction while we were there. All in all, I enjoyed the conference, and am greatly looking forward to next year’s convention!
xo
by Kimberly Kaye Terry April 23rd, 2008 at 7:31 pmKKT
Ack! Forgot to mention Ann Christopher, in the author line up! The editors represented Kensington, St. Martins Press, Harlequin, Tor, Ellora’s Cave and Samhain. Next year, I’m adding two agents, my own (the fantastic Ethan Ellenberg) and Brenda Jackson’s agent, whose name escapes my old brain at the moment! Also, all four panels were standing room only…how cool is THAT?
by Kimberly Kaye Terry April 23rd, 2008 at 7:36 pmSounds like you had a ball, Kimberly!
by Sarah McCarty April 23rd, 2008 at 8:05 pmKimberly, I’m glad you had such a great time. It sounds like you got a lot out of the conference.
by Jordan Summers April 23rd, 2008 at 11:25 pmKimberly, Nice spread of editors.
Ethan will give a nice talk. He always does. And way to go on the standing room only. 
by Jordan Summers April 23rd, 2008 at 11:26 pmJordan – I wish you’d have been there. I was so bummed last year because when you popped by to introduce yourself it was when I was in full “holy crap overload” mode and I didn’t get much of a chance to visit with you at all!
I had a good time. Our room was nice and I didn’t have any problem sleeping. There wasn’t any construction near us but I know other floors didn’t have the same experience at all, sadly.
I’ll be at Orlando next year and the Wyndham looks very nice! So I hope we can find some time to grab a drink or some dinner and chat!
by Lauren Dane April 25th, 2008 at 11:13 pmLauren, I’m glad you had a good time. Yes, I did a lot of hit and runs that year. Couldn’t be helped.
I’ll see you in Orlando and we’ll definitely catch up. 
by Jordan Summers April 26th, 2008 at 1:09 am
The search is over. I have booked my hotel room for RT 2009. Serious vacationing here I come! *preparing for the long swan dive into 4/09.*
by Sarah McCarty April 29th, 2008 at 8:18 pmSarah, LOL! Good for you! I wish I could book that far ahead. I have to get through RWA first. *ggg*
by Jordan Summers April 30th, 2008 at 12:06 am