I just returned from the Romantic Times Booklover’s Convention 2016 in Las Vegas. I’m exhausted, but boy did I have fun. If you’ve ever been to one of these, you know how wild and crazy they are. This one was no exception. Tons of readers as well as authors. This is where you can really sit down and talk to your favorite writer and ask all about their books. Cover models are everywhere! Oh man, I almost broke my fool neck. They’re just walking around acting all normal while us ladies are having a hard time getting our breath. It should be against the law! Click on the photos and they should enlarge for drooling purposes.
It was a tough job, but someone had to do it! Right? Yee-Haw!
Here are my awesome roommates — E.E. Elizabeth Burke and Jacqui Nelson. We had such a great time. I never laughed so hard in my life. Every night we had “giggling” parties as we recapped our day. This is Elizabeth on the left and Jacqui on the right. If you haven’t read their books, you need to get started. They write historical westerns also.
But RT wasn’t all about partying. They had workshops all day long except on the weekend. The first I attended was What Really Happens in a Cover Shoot? Very eye-opening. It’s not fun or glamorous or exciting. It’s very hard work. The models have to stand under hot lights for long hours. Often, the photographers shoot 600-1000 pictures during one session that lasts all day. The models get sweaty and tired. And hungry. There are tons of costume changes. The male models have to do push ups regularly during this time to pump up their muscles. The female models have to wear layers of heavy clothing when shooting for historical covers so they burn up too. Scott Nova was the model they used in this workshop. He’s a super great guy and I got my picture taken with him.
Another workshop was about how to write fight scenes. I really needed that one! Tons of eye-opening information. I also attended lots of others.
I met up with Rosanne Bittner, Kirsten Lynn, Merry Farmer, Charlene Raddon (RT honored her with a Pioneer Award.) Tonya Lucas, a reader who traveled from a town near me was there. So many wonderful people and Facebook friends.
Charlene Raddon, me, E.E. Burke
But now I have some news…my wonderful editor, Mary Altman, showed me the cover for To Love a Texas Ranger that’s coming out in October! Oh my Lord! It’s gorgeous! I can’t wait to show it to you. Soon.
Also, today through April 25th, FOREVER HIS TEXAS BRIDE is on sale for $1.99 at B&N. Go snag you a copy. This is book 3 of my Bachelor series.
Here’s the link: http://goo.gl/jWIoqn
Here in the Texas Panhandle, we do love our cowboys. There's just something about a man in a Stetson and jeans that makes my heart beat faster. I'm not much of a cook but I love to do genealogy and I'm a bit of a rock hound. I'm also a NY Times & USA Today bestselling author of historical western romance. You can contact me through my website and I'd love to connect with you on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and more. HAPPY READING!
https://petticoatsandpistols.com/sweepstakesrules/
It was a book lovers experience. I had so much fun seeing you Linda and getting to meet Rosanne Bittner, EE Burke, & Jacqui Nelson, I was. On cloud 9 and will remember this forever.
Hi Tonya……Thanks for coming by. I know you were rushing to get to work. It was so much fun getting together with you in Vegas. And your hubby too. I really like that man. You have a keeper there. Hope you enjoy this rain. I am.
This looks like so much fun. I have never been to any book events. I hope one day I can experience one as well. Thanks for sharing your experience with us.
Hi Janine…..Thank you for coming to look at my pictures. The Romantic Times Convention is the place for readers to gather and mingle with their favorite authors. Tons of readers go each year. It’s a lot of fun and there are no shortage of fun events to go to.
Oh, I loved reading your blog, Linda. I’ve always enjoyed RT, too. Well done!
Hi Pam…….I’m glad you enjoyed my blog. It was fun but I’m glad I’m home. It’s exhausting. They schedule way too many events and don’t allow for time to rest. I never went outside the hotel from Tuesday to Sunday. I wish you could go sometime and I could actually (finally) meet you face to face. That would be such a treat.
Looks like you had a blast, Linda! I’ve never been to RT. I don’t know if I could handle the “hotness.” Thanks for sharing your experience and all the great pictures!
Hi Kathryn…….Glad you enjoyed my pictures. RT is crazy and you get so tired. But there are a lot of very good, helpful workshops. Maybe you’ll try it one year. I don’t go every time. In fact, this is the first one I’ve attended since 2004.
Sounds like you had a fabulous time!!
Hi Susan P……Thank you for coming. I’m glad you enjoyed the pix. It was fun but I’m so glad I’m home. I need to just breathe and enjoy the peace and quiet. I’m ready to get back to my story people. They always bring calm.
Oh Linda, what a thrill! Fun and educational and hubba hubba. My oh my, cover models, too. Sounds like a total blast from start to finish. Congrats on the new cover and Forever His Texas Bride. Thanks for sharing such great pix. xo
Hi Tanya…….I’m glad you enjoyed seeing the RT pictures. Yeah, it was fun but exhausting. I’m glad it only happens once a year. I’m skipping RWA in San Diego. Just way too expensive. The price rose considerably from New York last July. Good grief!
Thanks for posting these! It does look like it was a lot of fun! I bet it is so great to get together with authors and readers who love romance.
Hi Cheryl C……..Thank you for coming to see my pix. It was a lot of fun at RT. No shortage of events to go to. In fact, it felt like I was in a huge whirlwind a lot of the time. Getting together with other writers and talking to readers was the best part. And I loved introducing new readers to my books too. Always a good thing.
Hi Linda, I am so glad you have a good time at the RT, sounds like a lot of fun.
Hi Quilt Lady…..I wish you could’ve been there with all those readers. Free books were everywhere for the taking. Cover models mingling in. Yeah, it was lots of fun.
How I wish I could have gone this year. Maybe I will be able to go another time.
Looks like you had a great time.
Well, a day late and a dollar short, but I wanted to say how fabulous you looked in these pictures, and the main thing–what a GREAT time you seemed to be having. HOW FUN!(Especially those pictures with the cover models and you—WHOO HOO!!!) LOL Thanks so much for sharing with us, Linda. I’m so glad you went and had such a great time!