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I found the perfect fashion accessory guaranteed
to make your RWA National Conference a once-in-a-lifetime
experience. This darling little accessory doesn't
have a designer label, correct figure faults or
enhance the bust, but the effects are even better.
And it doesn't cost a thing.
But sadly you can only wear it once.
My perfect conference accessory?
A First Sale ribbon.
How did this delightful little ribbon, in a fetching
shade of pink, make such a difference you may
ask. It was the perfect ice-breaker, the perfect
conversational aid. Strangers in workshops, on
elevators and passing in corridors would stop
and exclaim, "Congratulations! Please tell
us your story." It was a bit like being a
bride for five days in a row.
And who gets more excited about our writing successes
than other writers? Who else understands what
we've gone through to make that first sale? This
is a business of hope and dreams and fantasy and
that little ribbon is a reminder that hard work
does pay off. That unpubs do become pubs. That
dreams do come true. Every time I told the story
of how I'd sold my first book (a three book sale
actually, to Harlequin Temptation, Blaze and Duets)
I'd get a pleasant zing and re-live for a moment
the thrill of selling.
For those who'd already sold, whether two or
fifty books, I could see that little spark in
their eyes as they relived their own story, that
thrill of their first sale, and there was an instant
of bonding, of shared excitement in a business
that has enough ups and downs that the ups should
always be celebrated.
For those who were working toward that first
sale, it was an affirmation. Yes, it does happen.
It can happen. It happened to Nancy, it can happen
to me. And perhaps they'd get off the elevator
heading to an agent or editor appointment with
a little more confidence, a little more determination.
Then there were the moments where one pink ribbon
would see another pink ribbon and wave. If anything,
those were the best moments. "Isn't this
great?" we'd exclaim. "Do you know how
to get to the PAN retreat? Are you going to the
Harlequin Party?" Call me shallow, but this
has been one of my career goals ever since I discovered
that while some of us were spending the Friday
night of conference at 'How to write a synopsis'
workshops, the Pubs were dancing to tinkling music,
drinking champagne and generally having a whole
lot more fun.
So here, in no particular order, are the moments
that stick out for me from the New Orleans RWA
National Convention. My Pink Ribbon moments:
Pink Ribbon moment number one: Well, this should
have been my first book signing as my Temptation
was out in July, but sadly, my books didn't make
it for the literacy book signing. I pouted for
a few minutes then used the opportunity of having
all those romance writers alphabetically listed
to find my new on-line friends. I visited and
chatted, stocked up on books by my favorite authors
and talked until my throat was sore. The highlight
was approaching Jennifer Blake, who is the reason
I write romance. I felt a little nervous since
she's been a real inspiration to me for a long
time. She was delightful as I gushed all over
her. She caught sight of that little pink ribbon
blushing on my chest and congratulated 'me' in
her soft southern accent as she autographed a
book for me. I walked on cloud nine the rest of
the night.
Pink Ribbon moment number two: Went to the eHarlequin
open house in the Harlequin/Silhouette suite.
Chatted with Lori Foster and she heard my books
hadn't arrived for the signing. Turned out the
Blaze books hadn't arrived in time for the Blaze
debut event, either, but they'd come in that morning.
They were stacked in boxes under the banquet tables
in the suite. So Lori said, "Maybe your Temptation
came in with the Blazes," whereupon she dropped
to her knees and crawled under the table cloth
to look. I dropped to my knees as well, and then
Jayne from eHarlequin joined the search. At one
point I glanced up and there was this nice reception
with well-dressed people milling around, and in
the midst of it all, three bums sticking out from
under the table cloths.
Pink Ribbon moment number three: My first Harlequin
party. Oh, my. These people sure know how to throw
a party. Perhaps this was the moment I really
knew I'd arrived. I got my glass of champagne,
listened to the tinkling music and thought, Damn,
I love writing romance!
Now that I'm back in the 'real world,' the one
where I sit all alone in my basement office wrestling
with uncooperative characters, dialogue that refuses
to sparkle, punchlines about as funny as dead
fish and deadlines that approach like speeding
freight trains, it's nice to stop once in a while
and remember what it's all about.
I think I'll tape that first sale ribbon to the
wall as a reminder of the thrill of writing romance,
and the once-in-a-lifetime thrill of that first
sale.
And next year in Denver, I'll be looking around
for the next pink ribbon crowd. "Congratulations!"
I'll say. "Tell me your story."
Nancy Warren is a member of GVC.
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