Okay! Well, I’m back and here–as promised–is my big old long recap of Nationals! First of all, let me say how much fun I had. And how much I miss everyone. I spent about 12 hours putting this recap together, and I’m sure I missed pics of people, forgot some names in pics, and talking about some folks I met. So I apologize now and I’ll add them in when I remember!
Nationals is the only place where I’ve felt such camaraderie and support for what I do (I haven’t been to RT yet!) I was back home yesterday, walking around the mall with my daughter, and I kept looking around expecting to see someone I recognized. At Nationals every where you look there are people who understand you. People just like you. But wandering around the mall all I saw were strangers…and once again I felt a bit alone. It’s hard to describe, but that one week a year at Nationals is food for my soul that I have to live on for an entire year until the next conference rolls around.
MONDAY: After getting upgraded to first class (I love having friends who work for the airlines!) I flew out of Seattle alone on the plane. Or so I thought! Once landing, however, I look up and low and behold across the aisle from me is Susanna Carr! We share a cab to the Marriott and chat the whole way. She insists on paying for the cab (love you, Susanna, you’re a sweetie!) and I promise to buy her a drink later. 
Later (Tuesday), when I’m buying her the drink, we run into another Seattleite one of our fave authors Ms. Jane Porter! (in the pic: me, Jane, Susanna)
That night I went and had dinner with my dad’s cousin, Neff Rotter. She wrote under multiple pen names (Laura Matthews, Neff Rotter, Elizabeth Walker) in different genres (Regencies and Medical romances). (In the pic Neff and I) 
She has stopped writing but has since started up and runs all by herself Belgrave House and Regency Reads.
I had a wonderful time talking to her and her husband. I learned she’s a charter member of RWA and was friends/neighbors with Catherine Coulter (she even told me her real name–which I can’t remember!)
After dinner I went back to the hotel and hooked up with some Romance Divas in the bar. Including a couple of my favorites, Ms. Lillian Feisty and Eden Bradley . (In pic Feisty, me, Eden) Then I went to bed and passed out–trying to forget the horror of a $14 Lemon Drop at the hotel bar.
Awesome pictures Shelli!!!!! And those drinks were pricey eh?
Thanks for getting them all up here.
Great pictures. Thanks for the re-cap.
OMG Shelli, I feel like I was there. Your recaps are fabulous and the photos are marvelous! Thank you so much for sharing it all with us. :)