Romantic Times 2008 has come and gone and as always it’s a five day, fun-filled, socializing blast! I got to the airport on Tuesday afternoon and was lucky enough to sit next to Dennis Pozzessere (Heather Graham’s husband) as I was waiting for my luggage. He and his son Shane had ridden on the same airplane with me and were waiting for Heather to pick them up from the airport. They were wonderfully sweet and offered me a ride to the hotel.

That evening I met up with several friends and gave Barbara Vey (Publishers Weekly - Beyond Her Book blog) a hug and we chatted about her new video camera. Er, which she then tried out on a couple guinea pigs: Jackie Kessler and me. Here’s the video.

Wednesday was the first official day of the conference and after setting up my promo stuff on a table, I realized I needed to be moderating a panel like NOW. I didn’t know where the panel was since I hadn’t collected my registration packet yet. Pamela Johnson was kind enough to give me directions and off I went…to a PACKED 80 person, standing-room only, vampire panel with Mary-Janice Davidson, Michelle Bardsley, Heather Graham and Caridad Pineiro.

That night was EC’s Hollywood party. I did get a chance to chat with Shayla Black and Sylvia Day. Both ladies are beautiful and a ton of fun. I snagged this photo from their blogs. *g* (L to R: Sylvia, me and Shayla)

Mark Henry took his photo of me walking across the stage with one of the Ellora’s Cavemen and once all the introductions were done, the dancing began. Woot! ☺

Thursday was another round of panels, so I spent my day participating in and attending panels, then hanging with my fellow Nocturne author and brain-storming partner, Rhyannon Byrd before I headed off to attend a few panels.

In the late afternoon, I met thriller author Barry Eisler after the conclusion of the suspense panel he was on. I was curious what Barry thought about his first romance convention. I figured it was very different from his Thriller cons. Hehe. He said it was, but they get to drink during their panels. Hmmm, I want to go to a Thriller con now. Ironically, during our discussion, I discovered that Barry and I were also at the same event just a month before — the 2008 Virginia Festival of the Book—only I was giving a book talk at the Barnes and Noble and he was at the Omni. Small world, eh?

Later that day, it was on the Palomino bar, where a crowd of us sat and sipped on the BEST mojitos. I got to sit with the fun “kids table” that included: Mark Henry and his wife Caroline, Michelle Rowen, Richelle Mead and my con buddy Anna DeStefano. Richelle was kind enough to indulge me as I asked questions about the next books that will follow her YA Vampire Academy (which I loved!). That night was the Faery Ball, put on by Eden Robins and my roommate, my critique partner and one of my best buds, Cheyenne McCray. Each year the costumes during the costume competition event are more and more elaborate and creative! It was fantastic. Tawny Taylor is amazingly talented with costumes. I wish I had a picture to show you. Instead, I’ll link to her blog where I’m sure she’ll eventually post pictures to share there.

During dinner, I also had a chance to chat with a truly sweet guy, Andrei Claude (Mr Romance 2005), who came all the way from Malta to participate in the RT 25th anniversary events this year. You can read my interview with Andrei the year he won the Mr Romance title here. That evening I got to hang with Melissa Marr (adored her YA Wicked Lovely) and Jeaniene Frost. While Melissa and I danced our toes off, Jeaniene people-watched. It was Jeaniene’s first time attending RT and her expressions were hilarious! Hehe

On Friday was the RT Award Luncheon, where I sat with Melissa, Jocelynn Drake, Rachel Vincent and Caitlin Kittredge and cheered on fellow Fangs, Fur and Fey community member Jeaniene Frost for her Best Urban Fantasy award for Halfway to the Grave – loved this sexy book!

After the luncheon, all the FFF folks took a picture before Melissa Marr had to head off to ComicCon. She was only at RT for 36 short hours. Next year, she’s stayin’ all five days if I have to lock her in her hotel room. Ya, hear me, M? (L to R: Jeaniene Frost, me, Rachel Vincent, Melissa Marr, Mark Henry and Caitlin Kittredge)

I had to skip what looked like a great Margarita party put on by the Allure authors because I had one more panel to participate in. It was a great panel and it was awesome to sit in with Monique Patterson, Senior editor from St. Martins Press, Angela Knight and Caridad Pinero where we discussed our views and different perspectives on how far we can take vampires in our books.

That evening was the vampire ball. This was the only night I dressed in a costume. Here I am snapping photos with Anna and cover model, Steve Rossi, and the lazybones leaning back in his chair (his idea of being IN the pic) is cover model/bodybuilder Brian Schell. That’s okay, Brian made up for it later when he found me to snap a picture at the book signing.

Saturday morning I met with all the Nocturne authors who’d attended the conference for breakfast. We snapped a picture, too! (L to R: Rhyannon Byrd, Me, Bonnie Vanak, Caridad Pineiro, Pamela Palmer and Vivi Anna.)

Then I was off to the book signing, which has given me a couple of funny stories to relay. Mark Henry took this picture and posted it on his blog, where he commented about the ginormous stacks of books in front of me compared to his stack. Men and their “stack” comparisons! Ha, the truth was…I was worried I wouldn’t have ANY of my May release SCIONS:INSURRECTION, since the book fair was taking place prior to the official release date of May 1st. I’d been in touch with the bookseller trying to make sure they would have my books—er, to the point the man (Mike) knew my book title off the top of his head when I called. Never say I don’t work hard for my readers. LOL!

Anyway, YEY, as you can see in the picture, lovingly provided by Mark—okay, I stealthy stole it from his blog–my books were there. So, I got settled and was calmly sitting there waiting for the book fair to begin when this man zooms past, stops, backs up and points to me. “You have your books.” To which, I reply. “I do. You must be Mike.” I shook his hand and thanked him for making sure I had books to sign. Here’s how it went from there…

Mike: “I want you to know…I think I paid for your books twice.”
Me: *secretly horrified* “Er…why?”
Mike: “I had an order with Ingrams but ended up having to place another order through Simon and Schuster to get them here in time.”
Me: *thinking Aack! I’d better sell all of them!* “I’ll do my best to sell out.”
Mike *laughs* “You’d better. I know where you live.”
Me: *blinking after Mike as he runs off to keep the book fair running smoothly.*

THREE HOURS LATER (after talking to many wonderful readers who stopped by to either buy and/or discuss my books with me) …

Me: *an author friend and I walk up to Mike at the end of the book fair* “Hey Mike. Do you want us to sign the books that are left?” I hold up a copy of Resurrection. “I sold all but one.”
Mike: “No, I don’t want any of the mass market books signed.” He points to me. “Except yours. Sign it and make it out to Lee. That’s L E E. She wants your book.”
Me: “Yey, I’m officially sold out!” *while inwardly breathing a HUGE sigh of relief*

So see (Mark Henry), there was a story behind those TALL stacks!

The other funny thing that happened was the entire ballroom went black right at the tail end of the book signing. Right before I was to announce the winner of my basket (which I want to give a shout out to Joy of Joyfully Reviewed for the awesome basket goodness!) the ballroom went totally black, no back up emergency lights. Everyone froze, and okay, a few squealed. Never say cell phones and all the blinky promo things you get at conventions DON’T come in handy. Two seconds later, all I saw were cell phones and blinking strobe-like lights. I suddenly felt like I was in a concert waiting for the music to start so I could sway in time to the waving cell phones. * g *

Saturday afternoon was the Mr. Romance competition. I sat in front of Mark Henry, Jocelynn Drake, Rachel Vincent and Jeaniene Frost, amused by their first experience watching this event. While I was snickering, Mark took an unflattering picture of me that will remain buried on his blog.

YET, when the event was over, here’s where I was able to say, IT’S OFFICIAL, I’M PSYCHIC! Yes, Chris Winters won the Mr. Romance 2008 contest at RT this year. If you don’t know what I’m talking about as far as being psychic, read the interview I did with Chris before he came to RT this year. Here I am with Chris, congratulating him while basking in my psychicness. Hehe

That night was the Dorchester party and I had a blast hanging with friends and dancing to the music by the Impalers, a band sponsored by Erin McCarthy and Kathy Love. Great music, ladies! ☺

A few other authors I got to see and chat with while I was at RT: Anya Bast and her wonderful hubby with the sexy French accent, Lauren Dane and Megan Hart, Vivi Anna and Kimberly Kaye Terry, Lora Leigh, Shiloh Walker, Janice Lynn, Jacquelyn Frank (who shuffled me off to her room to chat and introduce me to Butterscotch Martinis YUM! Thanks Jackie!) and many, many more! (The picture on the right is of the fabulous Lauren Dane and me).

On Sunday, I endured a torturous round of flight cancellations and delays and finally arrived home at 10 pm that night. Ugh, that day sucked! Needless to say, I was exhausted and that’s why you’re just now seeing my annual RT blog post! I hope you found it worth the wait! (And I can’t believe this blog is so long! LOL!)

Ahem, of course I have more pictures. I knowz what zee peeplz wantz. See below!

Here’s a picture of one of the Mr. Romance contestants and an all around sweet guy, John Fish. When I saw him at the book fair and asked where his cowboy hat was, John went back to his room and got it just so I could get my picture with a rugged, sexy cowboy. * g * John won both the readers’ choice award and the contestants’ choice award this year. Go John!

And here’s Brian, me and Chris at the book fair. One of them smelled SO good (or maybe it was both, so it was nice to be stuck in the middle).

Brian and Chris, striking a pose!

Rhyannon and Vivi at the book fair. Such a cute pic!

Me and Anna saying, “Woohoo! Congrats, Chris!!”

My buddy Anna and Me, chillin’ with mojitos!

And drumroll….who do I think will win next year’s 2009 Mr Romance? If he comes to Orlando next year, Fred Williams! He was this years first runner up and what a very nice guy!

Now I KNOW you all are ready for the prize, so here goes. Once again, I have in my hot little hands an EC Calendar signed by all the cover models who attended RT this year.

AND, thanks to a wonderful donation from Rose of A&R Photography and Crossing Realms (check out Crossing Realms if you’d like to purchase more artwork), I’ll also be giving away a few signed pictures and signed photo art work of this year’s Mr. Romance Chris Winters.

All you have to do to be entered to win one of these prizes is to post a comment. Go forth and post away!

I’ll draw the winners’ names Friday, May 2nd!

Many thanks to Mark Henry, Shayla Black, Lauren Dane, Cheyenne McCray and Rose for letting me swipe sharing their photos with me!

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UPDATE: This week has been nuts so forgive me for not picking the winner yet. I plan to post the winner’s name of the calendar on Sunday afternoon (4 pm EST), at which time I’ll also pick some winners for the signed pictures of Mr. Romance 2008.