Plot Monkeys

Hey, all. Julie here. Leslie is off drinking wine somewhere in Sonoma, so I’m taking over her blog for the next two days…well, Paula and Cher are with their delayed reports…totally my fault due to email problems. They were both so enthusiastic and creative…I’m posting Cher’s today and Paula’s tomorrow. THANK YOU, LADIES!!!

Without further ado…
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Day One
This is Cher Gorman, reporter for WMIR-Monkey Internet Radio—on special assignment for The Plotmonkeys, aka Julie Leto, Carly Phillips, Janelle Denison and Leslie Kelly, four fabulous fantastic and fabled authors whose books light up the bestseller lists. Don’t forget to sign on to the legendary Plotmonkeys blog – www.plotmonkeys.com each day to stay informed about the latest and greatest from these swinging jungle babes themselves.

I’m here in beautiful San Francisco at the Marriott hotel to report on the celebrity sightings, the gossip, the intrigue that is happening now at the Romance Writers of America 28th Annual National Conference.

Hold it! This just in! The 2008 “Readers for Life” Literacy Autographing has officially begun! With heightened anticipation I make my way into the ballroom crowded with an array of celebrity writers including *gasp* the famous Plotmonkeys whose glittering presence adds a bewitching touch to this magical evening. Their tables are teeming with salivating fans eager to get their hands on the latest Julie Leto, Carly Phillips, Janelle Denison or Leslie Kelly book! The excitement is palpable! I reluctantly tear my gaze away from the Plotmonkeys to look around the room. I see authors of every sub-genre of romance, including BLAZE au thors, Cindi Myers, Jacquie D’Alessandro, Hope Tarr and Rhonda Nelson among many others lending their star status and donating their time to this worthy cause.

And now, I must join in the fun and bid you all a good night. Tomorrow, I will be back with another report that is sure to titillate so stay tuned!

Day Two
Thursday – First Day of Conference

This is Cher Gorman, reporter for WMIR-Monkey Internet Radio—reporting to you live from the Marriott hotel where the Romance Writers of America 28th Annual National Conference is in full swing. The air is rife with intrigue and speculation as the night of all nights, The Rita and Golden Heart Awards Ceremony looms closer and closer. Just two days to go before the winners are announced. Who will walk away with a Rita statuette or Golden Heart pendant?

The finalists in the Best Single Title Contemporary Romance Category are engaged in a battle royal for the coveted Rita prize including our own Leslie Kelly. Have you seen the Rita trailer featuring the finalists? Check it out on You Tube! It’s called “Trash Talking Romance Novelists: Bring on the Ritas baby!” And boy do these ladies talk trash including Leslie “Lone Wolf” Kelly. That’s right folks, Leslie Kelly has picked up her sword and is slashing her way through the competition. Go Leslie! The Plotmonkeys are ready for war!

I spy several Rita finalists discussing their chances, shooting steely glares at their competitors including *gasp* Leslie Kelly! Folks, this is so exciting. Leslie Kelly is up for a Rita for her book, “She’s No Angel” edited by the intrepid, profound and genius Harlequin editor, Brenda Chin.

And ladies, I must say Leslie Kelly is looking marvelous and every inch the star! I’m walking toward her, I’m going to try and get an exclusive interview…Sorry folks, her publicist informs me she is on her way to a private meeting with her agent but has agreed to give me 5 minutes later on today if her busy schedule permits. I’ll do my best to bring that interview to you—live! So stay tuned! In the mean time I’m off to uncover some more juicy tidbits for your listening enjoyment!

Day Three
This is Cher Gorman, roving reporter for WMIR - Monkey Internet Radio bringing you an update live from San Francisco the site of the 28th annual RWA National Conference. As you might guess, things are really starting to heat up in anticipation of the Rita and Golden Heart Awards tomorrow night. For those just tuning in, one of our own Plotmonkeys, Leslie Kelly is a Rita Finalist in the Single Title Contemporary Category for her book, “She’s No Angel”!!!!!!! Go Leslie!! I for one will be cheering her on–hopefully into the winner’s circle. Please everyone send as much good luck and well wishes for Leslie toward San Francisco.

Also I was lucky enough to speak to Brenda Chin, Senior Editor at Harlequin yesterday down in the lobby. We had a really nice chat in which she reminded me of the trouncing she gave me during a heated Trivial Pursuit game in May of last year. Yes, folks she is a brutal Trivial Pursuit player!

Last evening I attended a reception in the Rotunda at Neiman Marcus. It was lovely but quite high up–I hate heights! The ceiling of this place was stained glass, there were windows all around with a spectacular view of the city and of course it was built around an open atrium. A long, long ways down. Needless to say I stayed away from the railing. I was hoping to catch a glimpse of some agents from Trident Media Group who were invited along with several other agents and editors but alas they all must have had prior committments because most everyone who attended was a member of PASIC.

But at national conference there will be thrilling moments as well as disappointing ones. Sometimes the food will be fairly good and sometimes not. A case in point, the typical dry chicken that was served at lunch yesterday. But hey, we eked it out with a good salad and bread. And of course, Victoria Alexander was a wonderful speaker.

I’m off to workshops. I will try and ferret out some more interesting tidbits for you and report back to you tomorrow live from San Francisco.

One more thing, on the way to dinner last night we saw a woman get her purse snatched right in front of us. She ran after the guy in hot pursuit! That is some excitement I can do without. There were several street musicians as well, one playing a guitar and one guy beating drumsticks on some overturned white buckets. He also rat-a-tat-tatted on the telephone pole. San Francisco has an eclectic mix of interesting people from all walks of life. This reporter has really gotten an eye full!

Day Four
It’s Cher Gorman, the roving reporter for the Plotmonkeys. Today was a fabulous day. The first wonderful thing that happened to me today was that I attended one of the best workshops I’ve ever been to. It was taught by Blake Snyder, a Hollywood screen writer. His workshop was called, “Save the Cat”. He also has a book by the same title and another called “Save the Cat Goes to the Movies”. He was the most intelligent, funny, charming man and I soaked up his words like an arid landscape. In fact as I listened to him, a light bulb went on in my head. And it is a lightbulb that I have been waiting a long, long, long time to turn on. As a writer–it was thrilling!! You writers out there know what that feels like. :-)

Okay the second wonderful thing that happened to me today happened during lunch. I was seated directly behind the great Cherry Adair. I LOVE her books and I mean LOVE. To find her sitting behind me was a thrill you can’t imagine. I’m afraid I slobbered all over her. She was so, so nice to me. She even asked me for my card! MY CARD people!! I’m nobody! I was flabbergasted! I mean CHERRY ADAIR has MY CARD!! Holy Cow!! She asked me about the book I am writing now. She asked me to write the title and the date I planned to finish it–completely polished, ready to send out on the back of my little business card. I’m pinching myself as I write this. She said she is going to hold me to that date, she is going to e-mail me and make sure I am on track. She also asked if I had an editor appointment while I was at national. I told her that I did make one but they lost it, so my name was not on the list. Then I signed up for open call but still was not able to get one. I was planning to pitch a romantic suspense I’ve been sitting on for two years–not written yet but all plotted and ready to go. She said, “I will hunt them down like a dog, who is it?” I told her but she didn’t know them. It was Nataysha Wilson at Silhouette. Oh, and I had my picture taken with her and she asked me to send her a copy and she would post it on her web site!! How cool is that!!! My picture on Cherry Adair’s web site!!!!

The third wonderful thing that happened to me today was another workshop I went to taught by the fabulous editor, Brenda Chin and two of her BLAZE authors, Rhonda Nelson and Jennifer LaBrecque. For asking a question I won a BLAZE poster!! YAY!!! Very, very cool. I also learned a lot and had some laughs which is always a good thing. :-)

All three of these things that happened to me today were gifts, plain and simple. Great, Gigantic, Golden gifts. But furthermore all of these gifts made me feel important. So Thank You to the Universe!

Last but no least, tonight is the RWA Rita and Golden Heart Awards Ceremony. Don’t forget that our girl, Leslie Kelly is up for a Rita in the Single Title Contemporary Category. I will be there Leslie, cheering for you all the way. I hope to see you walk away with a statuette. :-))

RWA will be posting the winners as they are announced onto the web site. So, here’s the web address so you can check out all the winners: www.rwanational.org

Leslie, I wish you all the luck in the world tonight, sweetie! And Plotmonkeys I wish you every good thing including many, many, many contracts and ship loads of sales!

The conference this year has been wonderful for me. I’ve seen old friends and made new ones. And for some reason I was gifted in a big way today. Stay safe and remember never stop reaching for your dreams. :-)

Farewell from San Francisco,

Cher

Note from Julie: Absolutely no offense to Kristin Higgins, but Leslie was robbed.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 5th, 2008 at 6:00 am and is filed under Julie. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.