Conference Anyone?

Posted: June 27th, 2015 | Author: Cici Edward | Filed under: Uncategorized | Comments Off on Conference Anyone?

Dyanne Davis and I are writing our blogs twice a month. Go over to her blog and see what she is writing after you look at all my pictures below!

Recently, I received a reminder that my trip to RWA Nationals was right around the corner, only one month away! Wow, I have so much to do and so much to plan. The reminder had me thinking about the past writing conferences I’ve been to. I’ve been going to writer’s conferences since 2009 and I’ve been hooked since. Here are pictures that hold some of my favorite memories from the conferences. This year is an exciting for a conference. Both Clara Kensie and Sonali Dev are up for the RITA award for their amazing books! I can’t wait to cheer them on. Stay tuned for a post about the upcoming conference with pictures too!

RWA 2009, Washington, DC

As a very new writer, I didn’t know anyone at this conference. I had just joined my local RWA chapters, Chicago North and Windy City RWA and had a few acquaintances, Tracey Devlin and Adrienne Giordano in the first picture. I will always hold a special place in my heart for Tracey because she pushed me to meet one of my writing idols, Jayne Ann Krentz (3rd picture). And of  course that is the amazing Nora Roberts in the 2nd picture. In the last picture are two ladies I met who were also first timers at Nationals that year, Jan Romes and Nancy Lee Badger.

 

Spring Fling, Chicago North RWA 2010

Every two years the Chicago North RWA chapter holds a writer’s conference in the Chicago-land area. I had a great time with my long-time friend Savannah Reynard and new friends CJ Warrant, Denise Dileo and Katrina Bauer who will later become part of my close writing group, The Aphrodite Writers.

 

RWA 2010, Orlando, Florida

What an exciting year. Simone Elkeles won the RITA for Young Adult Romance for her amazing book, Perfect Chemistry. She let me touch her RITA award. I keep this picture posted on my computer as reminder of the successes that can happen after writing a great book.

In Orlando, the idea of the Aphrodite Writers was created. In the middle picture, a bunch of us went to dinner and decided to create a writing support group which we would call the Aphrodite Writers and now we meet twice a year in person and cheer each other on-line.

The last picture shows an unbelievable moment when the legend, Virginia Henley sat at my breakfast table!

 

Evanston’s Writer’s Conferences 2011

 

RWA 2011, New York, New York

Savannah and I on our way to the Statue of Liberty in picture one.

We went to a restaurant in New York in the middle picture. Three people in the picture are up for the RITA best first book this year in 2015! How exciting to have known these ladies almost from the beginning.

Ruth Kaufman from the Chicago North RWA chapter won the Golden Heart in the Inspirational Category for her book, At His Command.

 

Spring Fling Chicago North RWA 2012

Not too many pictures this year because I was part of the planning committee to create this conference. That was an amazing experience where I made life-lasting friendships!

 

RWA 2012, Annaheim, California

I roomed with Vanessa M. Knight (First picture, middle person) this year! We barely knew each other then. It was great having this awesome woman as a roomie.  She made my conference so much fun that year!

The middle picture is a Windy Group photo at the RITA awards ceremony.

 

RWA 2013 Atlanta, Georgia

Wow! This was an amazing conference for the simple fact that two of my friends, India Powers and Sonali Dev were up for the Golden Heart award: India Powers in the Paranormal Category for Demon’s Bane, Sonali Dev in the Contemporary Category for The Bollywood Affair.

Picture one is one of my favorites because almost all of the Aphrodite Writers were at the conference to celebrate.

In picture 2 with me is India Powers and CJ Warrant. Picture 3 is my critique group the Goldies (Golden Rods ;)) starting with Robin Skylar, Sonali Dev, Me, Savannah Reynard.

The last picture is with one of my writing idols, Karen Robards who wrote one of my favorite historical romances, Morning Song.

Windy City Retreat 2013

The Windy City started throwing a Retreat on the odd years opposite to the Chicago North Retreat. This is a picture of me and India Powers.

Spring Fling Chicago North RWA 2014

Goldies relaxing after the conference in the picture on the left.

The picture on the right is with the key note speaker, Kristan Higgins who is always so gracious and inspirational.

 

Aphrodite Writer’s Retreat Oct 2014, Jan 2015. We are superheroes, we are queens of our own lives! We meet twice a year to refill our writing wells and to celebrate our successes.

Windy City RWA Retreat 2015 Selfies! I love my writing SISters!

Stay tuned for pictures from my next conference at RWA Nationals in New York!

 

 

 

 

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