Romanticon 2009 - Sunday's Workshop Panels

Romanticon 2009 - Sunday's Worshop Panels

As stated in my earlier post, each day of Ellora Cave's Romanticon was chocked full of events and activities from sun up to sun down and we enjoyed each and every workshop. However, the cherry to our "Sundae" was in the fact that I'd been asked to participate as a panelist on two of the panels for the day.

The first of the day being the Reviewer's Panel. Panelists included: Chrissy Dionne (Romance Junkies) Sheila Gallagher (Two Lips Reviews), Joysann (Publishers Weekly) Moderator EC Editor Helen Woodall and myself.

Each panelist explained how we selected books for review. How we handle negative reviews and what was the best "thank you" we'd ever received from an author/publisher for reviewing a book as well as a wide variety of other questions. The one thing we as reviewers,...well, yours truly...hoped authors came away from this panel workshop with was to not take negative reviews personally. Learn from them what they could and continue to grow as authors.

Our "Thank You" for doing this workshop, a super-cool "Save The Frogs" wristband and stone all the way from Austrailia (check out savethefrogs.com for more information)

Pictured above: EC Editor and Moderator Helen Woodall, Sheila Gallagher (Two Lips) and myself.

Our next event for the day...the one that made me a wee bit nervous and sent me into the same frame of mind that I have when teaching Children's Church and I'm dealing with 2 dozen hyperactive 5-10 year olds,...was the Writing and Researching IR/MC Workshop that I was asked to participate on. *shrugs* Hey, we had 30 minutes and five speakers...I had to talk fast considering we still had to answer attendees questions.

From the start of the panel until the end, the discussion was lively. The panelist included Eve Vaughn, Liz Andrews, Lena Matthews, Koko Brown and myself. Each spoke on a specific topic of interest: Definition and General Information, Do and Don't's, Stereotypes, Conflict and Advice to Aspiring Authors.

Pictured above: Eve Vaughn (not pictured), Lena Matthews, Liz Andrews, Koko Brown and myself.

We ended the panel with random IMRR giveaways of t-shirts, totebags and copies of "Holiday Gifts" on CD. Both panels were amazing to be a part of .

Pictured from left to right:
Authors Tracy Cooper-Posey and Eve Vaughn, EC attendee whose name escapes me at the moment, myself (Mimi Tremont), IMRR Member: Lexi, Aspiring Author George Allwyn and Liz Andrews

My thanks to the staff of Ellora's Cave for inviting us to take part in this year's conference. We look forward to attending next year in whatever capacity we're allowed.

Although...I'd gladly take over as Caveman Wrangler.

EC Caveman and Mr. Romance 2006 - Rodney Chatman

Mimi

Back From Romanticon! - A Quick Overview

Hi Everyone!

I'm back from Romanticon and I'm wonderfully tired.

In fact...we all are. (Please note the happy, but exhausted looks on the four faces to your right Gloria, Patricia, myself and IMRR's newest member, Mikah Woods)




Now, I could tell you about all the sexy models I met and managed to not grope. (Ellora's Cavemen David Greenhouse and Angelo)


*whispers* Right up until I saw these two very sexy cavemen, I'd wished my daughter had attended with me. Then after a tiny bit of thought, I was overjoyed she was home in Syracuse and not in Ohio with me because I'm pretty sure, I wouldn't have seen her much. And yes, they do indeed ooze sex appeal with every breath they take.


But instead, I think I want to tell everyone about the amazing authors I met.


Almost from the first day of the convention, I kept running into this super cute little person that liked my locs and said so. I later suggested that she try getting temporary twist extensions while secretly love-love-loving the purple tint in her hair. The only reason I kept it a secret was because I knew if I'd even begun to mention loving it, I would have left Ohio with purple hair.
She looked like she was a tad too young to read an Ellora's Cave book, never mind attend the convention. Turns out, she was romance crack dealer and author Sherri L. King and I left her table with not one, but two books after years of reading her blurbs and swearing to myself that I would stay away from her brand of romance crack. I'm pretty sure, Sherri's back home, loving her new title of crack dealer.


My first day of the convention, I attended the one class I swore that I was only going to for those members of RICH Writers that wrote M/M and M/F/M. In fact, I was positive that all I'd really learn was information that I could pass on to others.

Problem was, Kaenar Langford was among the panelist and within 30 seconds of opening her mouth, she had the entire class eating out the palm of her hand as she discussed going on a tour of a gay spa.

When we officially met her later in the lobby and she began to tell us more about her researching for her books and being a kindergarden teacher years earlier, we (Trish, Gloria and I) came to the unamious decision that she was easily one of the coolest people we'd ever met. I'm pretty sure, Kaenar's not afraid to research anything.

Other amazing authors I met and had a chance to talk to: Bronwyn Green, Regina Carlysle, J Hali Steele, Joanna Waugh, Nina Pierce...and I know I'm forgetting others outside of the four ladies I plan on mentioning tomorrow: Eve Vaughn, Lena Matthews, Liz Andrews and Koko Brown. Those four ladies, deserve a separate installation of their own.

Meanwhile, I'm going to bed and dreaming of all the books I've got to read...and must get back to writing.

Happy Reading and Writing!

In less than 24 hours, Patricia and I will both be representing IMRR at the first Romanticon Convention!

I leave tonight. While Trish (and Gloria - aka IMRR's Unlisted and Invisible Member and Management Cheerleader) leaves in the morning.

I'm participating on two panels. Reading The Reviews and Research and Writing Special Genres: Interracial/Multicultural Romance (with Eve Vaughn, Liz Andrews, Koko Brown and Lena Matthews).

Some how I've managed to not get nervous. Let's pray it stays that way. However....all the giggling over the past few days could just be....Nahhh, it's just me talking books with some really...really...super cool...authors that I en...joy....*fans self*....Whew!...Is it hot in here? Can someone open a window....

If you live in the area and can't attend the convention, but would love to check out the book fair and giggle with Trish, Gloria and I, it's open to the public on Sunday from 12-3pm at the Quality Inn and Suites, Richfield, Ohio.

For more information on Romanticon 09's events: https://www.jasminejade.com/romanticon/details.html

Mimi
IMRR Manager