So many cool things happened during those action packed days, that I’m positive I’m going to omit some of them, but here’s a smattering of what I remember (in no particular order):

(lots of pictures and snippets after the cut)

The literacy signing—got to meet and fangirl over Shiloh Walker, finally! (I mean, how long have I stalked… erm, interacted with this woman online? Years!) Also met and chatted for a few minutes with Tessa Dare and Maya Banks—sweet, smart, savvy women.

Kristie(J), one of the sweetest people ever, gave me a keycard to their room on Wednesday morning. Taking advantage of her kindness, I went back to the room after registration for a quick catnap and was pretty much asleep when the door opened and who would walk in but the awesome Wendy, Super Librarian? I jumped to my feet, startling the poor woman, as I yelled, “Wendy!” to which she replied, “Yes… and you are?” Heh. It’s a wonder she didn’t call security. Fortunately, I recovered my wits quickly enough to tell her who I was, and she was happy to see me—I think 😉

Having lunch with LBGregg, Rosie and Ann Aguirre on Saturday—intelligence, warmth and wit. Excellent! Along with Kristie(J), Rosie is one of the bloggers who made this, my first National Conference, the best of experiences. And please do count me among the many who have “girl crushes” on Lisabea 😀

Next time I’ll carry spare footwear with me at all times—giftshops at hotels everywhere indulge in a legalized form of highway robbery. Those neon and highly uncomfortable flip flops I mentioned earlier are the most expensive of my life (then again, I’m told I’m cheap erm… frugal)

Attending the Rogue Digital Workshop on Thursday morning, wherein I finally met Jane Litte, Silver James, Kelly Maher, K. A. Mitchell and other bloggers (forgive me, I’m blanking on names!)

Attending Carrie Lofty’s and Ann Aguirre’s PJ party on Wednesday evening, and meeting Juliana Stone *waving* Thank you for chatting with me!

Finally meeting the Candy half of the Smart Bitches, and getting a copy of The Bosoms signed by her—happy dancing ensued. Getting that same copy of The Bosoms signed by SBSarah during the workshop-interruptus on online promotion, on Saturday.

Cracking up when the fire alarm went off as Jane was trying to teach us Luddites how to publish an ebook—and having SBSarah explain that Jane’s hotness caused it. Hiking down eight flights (yes, you read that right—down eight flights of stairs from a room that is at lobby level for the rest of the hotel, WTF????) erm…. Sorry, side-tracked for a moment there, where was I? Ah, yes, hiking down eight flights of stairs with all the panelists and the people in the room until reaching the street, where the workshop was continued. Then, getting back to the room to find it even more packed than before the alarm, and having them finish it there.

Meeting writer of medieval romances Elaine Knighton on Friday morning over the continental breakfast, discussing signs**, mermaids, writing, publishing, life and online communities—and not realizing until hours later that the lovely lady who asked to sit at our table during this discussion was Thea Devine. Who, by the way, was kind enough to take our picture. (You are free to imagine the *face palm* moment I had when I saw her at her publisher’s signing—and how much I appreciated that she simply smiled and signed a book for me.)

Trekking to the Bitches Bootleg Booksigning from the main lobby with Tessa Dare—and meeting her quite often pretty much everywhere every day of the conference. (By the way, another beautiful and talented person—not fair, people, so not fair!)

Waiting ‘till the end of Nora Roberts’ chat, walking up to the table and handing her a jar of my orange and sugar homemade cookies—without even having the wits to identify myself. (Okay, this is memorable only because it highlights how much of a nitwit I am—and because it was Nora Roberts *squeeeeeeeeeeeee*)

Sitting with Kristie(J) at both luncheons—laughing and crying, and laughing until we cried. (Linda Howard’s mother is my goddess of preparedness now, by the way.)

Fangirly moments with Lisabea/LBGregg—have I mentioned yet that this is another truly gorgeous woman? She is.

Meeting Pam Rosenthal (who hey, won a Rita later that day! Humongous congrats, Ms Rosenthal!) and Anna Campbell at their publishers’ signings.

Also, meeting Julie James, Meredith Duran, Sherry Thomas, Virginia Kantra, and many others at their publishers’ signings and having them know my handle!

Meeting the gorgeous (and not easily scared 😉 ) Carolyn Jewel—and making sure I got photographic evidence for Rosie that she, too, met her.

Talking books, romance, the writing community, blogging, reading, and more, with any and all people I met throughout the conference, wherever we happened to be standing. For example, while waiting in line to pay for our signed books at the literacy signing, I spent a most engrossing twenty or so minutes in conversation with Barbara Caridad Ferrer.

Having the exact same shoes as Barbara for the Ritas ceremony—and having the pictures to prove it!***

Sitting with Beth Williamson for about an hour at the Moonlight Madness Bazaar on Thursday—may I say that her husband makes amazing jewelry? Very original, with silver, gold and copper chain mail worked into many of the pieces. And Ms Williamson is a lovely, lovely lady. More brains and beauty, people.

The lovely and generous lady ahead of me in the line to get books signed by Melissa Marr. When I said that I was sad because I was hoping to get the first book in the series signed to my daughter, she gave the copy she was holding (the last one) to me. I can’t get over how genuinely generous that was. Thank you again, unknown lady, I can’t tell you what this means to me.

Meeting Victoria Janssen while in line for one of the publishers’ signings (gah, I forget which one—Grand Central?) with Aymless—the focused one 😀

Harrassing the most patient Lindsay Sands during her publisher signing, until she signed my program. She was one of the authors whose boxes of books had been stolen from the hotel warehouse (along with those of several other authors, Keri Armstrong and Melissa Marr among them, if I remember correctly)

Seeing the gracious and lovely Olivia Gates, Lauren Dane, Barbara Caridad Ferrer, Alyssa Day, Cynthia Eden, Gennita Low, Jackie Kessler, Laura Bradford and Angela James again—several times, yay me!

(If you think I’m overusing the word “lovely” it’s because you haven’t met any of these ladies—beautiful, talented, kind, generous, they personify the word)

**check out the freaky section here

***check out the funny section here

edited to change the picture of Rosie with Sherry Thomas for that of Rosie with Carolyn Jewel. (I need some sleep)