Well, I’m back in Florida after a whirlwind few weeks that took me from here to Maryland to Chicago to Atlanta. Had a fabulous time and wanted to say hello. I also wanted to report in on the goings on at the RWA National conference in Atlanta. I know Carly, Janelle and Julie will have more great news to share, so I’ll just touch on a few things and leave the rest of the fun tidbits to them.
First of all, WOW, what a great conference! I can honestly say this was my favorite national conference ever. I came home feeling absolutely empowered, excited, anxious to get to work and positive about what I’m doing. It’s honestly been a long time since I’ve been so hyped up about my writing, but thanks largely to the great plotting (7 books in, essentially, 3 days…woo hoo Plotmonkeys!) I am raring to go again.
Of course, since this is ME we’re talking about, there were a few, uh…snafus.
Like me forgetting our room number. I kid you not. I was visiting my agent on the 38th floor, calmly went down to the 10th floor to get on another set of elevators that went to a different set of floors. Pushed the button for the 28th, got off, went to room 2838 and began putting my key in the door. Didn’t work. Tried again. Nothing. So I knocked, figuring Julie, Carly or Janelle might be around (we had adjoining rooms.) But nothing.
Then I stopped. Looked around. Realized I had come a different way off the elevator than we’d been coming all week…and it dawned on me that I was on the wrong floor.
I drew a TOTAL and complete blank on our real room number, isn’t that awful? I had to go all the way down to the lobby and humiliate myself in front of a very amused-looking young man at the front desk by asking him to tell me where the heck I’d been sleeping for the past three nights.
That, unfortunately, was not the end of my conference boo-boos. As you can see in this picture, I was all set to wear an absolutely gorgeous white pantsuit to the HQN authors dinner and Harlequin party at the Ritz Carlton Friday night. 
I had spent time getting all ready to go, posed for a few pictures, then Carly glanced down at my slacks and said, “What’s that?”
“That” was makeup. Smeared on the front of my pants. And we spotted it about 38 seconds before we were due in the lobby to meet the bus to go to dinner. I panicked. Tried washing it off–made it worse. Finally, I had to resort to the “backup” little black cocktail dress I’d packed, just in case. Only, I packed it a good month ago and I obviously picked up a few pounds during my travels. Because oh, my God, was that thing tight. Not to mention VERY low-cut. 
I felt utterly bovine all night long and kept wanting to cross my hands over my chest.
Funny, when my hubby saw the pictures, he really didn’t mind so much. 
Hmm…what else? I accidentally put on someone else’s pajamas and went to the eHarlequin pajama party (sorry again, Julie!)
Forgot an absolutely adorable and sweet eHarlequin moderator’s name THREE times. I have the WORST memory, especially. when it comes to names. If you’re out there, Danica, mea culpa!
I also nearly got mugged for my fabulous spice cake 
as we walked back to the hotel from Daley’s (I wasn’t giving up that cake…) You know, my hubby kinda liked this cake picture, too…lolol!
I also scampered barefoot across several tables putting up the posters for the Blaze 5th Anniversary Party and nearly broke my neck–just lucky I didn’t break the table, Lord, I so did not need that spice cake! (By the way–check out my October cover! Gorgeous, isn’t it?)
But I also had so much fun doing my workshops, catching up with friends, signing copies of Here Comes Trouble until my hand felt like it was going to fall off, and enjoying fabulous room service.
All in all, a big thumbs up from Leslie for the 2006 RWA conference.
So, there you go, a few tidbits from my week. I have to again say it was just the most wonderful experience because I was there with the three best plotting partners–and dearest friends–anyone could ever be blessed to have.
Julie, Carly and Janelle…you guys are absolute lifesavers. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for everything.
Leslie Kelly used to say she wanted to be a doctor when she grew up, but then she discovered Nancy Drew books. Being a flashlight-under-the-covers-nose-in-book reader throughout her childhood, she couldn’t think of anything else she’d rather do as an adult than continue to lose herself in fictional stories. Her real life marriage of 20 years to the man of her dreams is a constant reinforcement that happily-ever-afters really can happen…and that they’re worth writing about. Living in Maryland, Leslie spends her non-writing time laughing a lot with the above-mentioned romance hero and their three daughters. Though an author of more than thirty sexy, contemporary comedies, she has recently branched out to write dark romantic suspense under the pseudonym Leslie Parrish.
Destiny
Dirty Little Secrets
Once Upon A Valentine
Through The Night
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Welcome home Leslie! I’m sorry I didn’t meet you or Carly, but I did get to meet Janelle and Julie (who gave me a big hug *g*) and I must say all of your ladies are just gorgeous and total sweethearts. I see there’s a picture of the 4 of you at RtB.
This was my first RWA, but I’d definitely go again, even though I didn’t register. I was there to meet up with fellow readers and to participate in, ahem, stalking. LOL. BadBarb is holding classes
It was very inspirational, and makes me wish I had the motivation to write myself when I see all that talent in one hotel. Amazing.
Let me just say, I :love2: the Plotmonkeys!!!
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Welcome back!! Do you think somewhere in that list of things that went wrong, you might find one or two of them showing up in future stories?? Especially the wrong room one?? What if someone had answered that door?? hhmmm….. :wave:
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Welcome back! It was great to meet you at the Literacy signing, and I proudly wore my plotmonkeys pin the rest of the weekend. :) Thanks! (Lots of people commented on it, too.)
It’s the unexpected things in life that make it interesting, wouldn’t you say?
This was my first conference, too, and I loved it. Can’t wait to get home from work to sit down and write. Big thanks to you and Julie (and Brenda), too, for a :lightbulb: moment during your dialogue workshop.
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Welcome home Plotmonkey’s.
Sounds like you guys had a great time. I agree with Ev…going to wrong room is classic and wonder as well if it will end in a plot.
I can’t wait to hear everything about Nationals and of course the fact that you guys are even more geared up to write is absolutely fabulous.
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Welcome home plotmonkeys! Leslie, that cover for your next book looks awesome. Definately a book to buy just becaise of the cover. But I would but it anyway. My sister has given me the ARC she won here of “Here Comes Trouble” I have started it, and love what I have read so far.
Even though you had a few snafus it sounds like a great time. I am sure the snafus only added to your laughs. :happy2:
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Yea!!! Leslie’s back!:party:
It sounded like you had a really great time! Don’t worry about forgetting your room number, that happened to me when i was in Vegas! bright side Hubby and I got invited to a really great party
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I finished Here comes Trouble on Friday “loved it!!!” Are Max’s brothers going to get a story of their own?
Julie – loved the red dress. Was that the outfit you got the red shoes for?
I can’t wait to here all the other funny :happy2: stores.
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Kelly–glad you’re enjoying Here Comes Trouble and Kelly, thanks SO much for liking it.
Yes, there will be books about Max’s two brothers. Mike’s book, Trouble Or Nothing, comes out next summer and Morgan’s sometime the following year. In the meantime, I am doing more “Trouble” stories that don’t tie directly to the Taylor brothers. The October Blaze is about Simon LeBeaux, who lives in the spooky old inn just above town, and it ties the Trouble books to my Chicago Santori books because the heroine is Lottie Santori.
Then, next summer, I will be in an anthology with Stephanie Bond and Heidi Betts, with a story called Getting Into Trouble. That one is about Allie Cavanaugh, Sabrina’s sister.
I’m having a whole lot of fun creating a universe revolving around this little town, not just the brothers.
Thanks again everyone!
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Leslie, you looke absolutely gorgeous.
You always do.
Glad you had a great time. But I’m worried about your memory.
What was I saying?:wink:
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:)Glad you had a great time!
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I’m so excited! It sounds like Trouble is the place to be!!! Thanks for the heads up!:mrgreen::thumbsup:
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Leslie, just wanted to let you know my sister who won the ARC here (Darlene) is only letting me borrow it. I have strict orders to return it, and will be buying my own copy to add to my collection. She can’t stop raving about it either. Like most of us she read it late at night, and in one night I might add. She absolutely loved it and couldn’t put it down.
Sorry my last posts spelling was so bad….I am watching my little sisters two girls along with my own. The house is complete chaos right now. Darlene I hope you are enjoying your babysitting break!! It’s just not safe for me right now…three girls under the age of 3 !!!
Thank goodness I have “Here Comes Trouble” to read tonight when mine is asleep so I can unwind and relax with a good book.
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Okay, too many Kellys on my first post, I meant TRICIA, thanks so much for liking it.
:lol::lol:
And you know, I actually did write a book with a hotel room mixup. It was my 2nd book, Suite Seduction, a Temptation that came out in 12/00. It is still one of my favorite books…I really loved the heroine, Ruthie, and I think that’s the book where I truly discovered my writing “voice.” I wish they’d reprint it sometime!
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Glad that the Plotmonkeys had such a great time. Leslie, your pictures are great, and I can just imagine the look on the young man’s face at the front desk…………I can see this somehow showing up in a book.
So happy that you are all charged up to write more stories, because we the readers are the gainers……….:thumbsup2:
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welcome back Leslie. love the cover of you blaze behind you. glad u had a good time. wish i was there.:thumbsup2::cheer:
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It’s so great to be back home. We missed you all. We also realized after talking to many other authors who blog that we have the absolute BEST posters right here at Plotmonkeys!!!
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Thanks for sharing all the photos! Glad you all had a great time. I didn’t go, but next year I’m there.
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All that matters is that you enjoyed yourself.
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I haven’t been able to find Here Comes Trouble around here yet….but not for lack of trying. It should be out around here soon and can’t wait to read it!!
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Glad you had a good time. Love the pics!:thumbsup:
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Sounds like the conference was a blast. Wish I could have went.
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Hi, Leslie. It looks and sounds like you and your Plot Monkey friends had a blast in Atlanta. I agree that the October cover of your Blaze book looks gorgeous. I’ve been meaning to ask, do Blaze authors have any say in what goes on the cover of their books?
Diana
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Welcome home Leslie & all the Plotmonkeys! :) What fun to read about your trip to RWA, Leslie, thanks for sharing. I’m sure we will get more stories from everyone. I love your pictures–I hope you can get your white pants suit cleaned so you can wear it another time. I was laughing about your husbands comments!!
The October cover looks intriguing!
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LOL Leslie about the wrong room. I hope when I saw you on Saturday in the elevator, you were on the right one?
Suite Seduction is one of my favorite stories. It was part of the Wrong Bed series, if I remember correctly. It was great talking to you in Atlanta! 
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Diana, most authors have very little say about what goes on the cover. The editors might listen, but the Art Department may not. However, I know that my editor (also Leslie’s) designed my cover for my August book. I was braindead at the time and had no ideas and I really liked what she came up with.
Leslie’s October cover is stunning.
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I’m so enjoying all these wonderful moments at RWA – thanks.
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I think it’s cool when I recognize the guys on the covers of some romance books. That’s happened a few times with actors from the soap opera “All My Children.”
Diana
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wow–looks like ya had a lot of fun, thanks fer sharing pics.
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Glad to see you had a good time at the convention.
like you i have had clothing snafus and malfuctions over the years that have taught me the power or wearing darker shades and prints. Covers up lots of the dropped food and make-up mistakes.:doggie:
Leslie, love the cover of your New Blaze. It adds lots and lots to the imagination.:cheer:
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Hey, Les!
Even thought I don’t get to see you as much as I would like, I will really miss you and your gorgeous family. Please keep in touch. All the best…. Denise :kiss:
Glad you had such a positive trip! Just want to say that I can’t believe you are leaving Florida.