Shelli Stevens

FRIDAY: Well Friday was another busy day! I went to the luncheon with Connie Brockway speaking and she had some interesting stuff to say. Though it was hard to hear her at times and the images she put up were too small to read.

(In this pic: Heather Higgins, Marni Donnelly-Folsom, Ciara Stewart )

And I constantly ran into another northwest girl, Lenore, who I know from the blogosphere. She’s as charming in person as online! But the highlight of my Friday? (Que angels singing) The Harlequin party. O.M.G. I came as a guest, and boy do those ladies know how to get down. I danced. I danced. And I danced some more. Well, and chatted briefly again with my agent and then Cherry Adair. Cherry, whom I adore,offered to hold my purse while I danced! Sadly, I have no dancing pics because I was so busy dancing!

(in this pic: Saskia Walker, me, Portia Da Costa, Karen Erickson)

(In this pic: Cherry Adair and I)

(in this pic: Laura Bradford and I–pretty in pink!)

I left the Harlequin party early to go do karaoke with the Divas. It was a mistake. Not that I don’t love my Divas or my karaoke, but I went from dance, dance, dance, to stand still for an hour in a crowded room and wait for them to call our name. I think I was just too hyped to do it. So I took a taxi home and went to bed. But not before…I took a few pics!
(in this pic: lots of Divas a’drinkin’)

(in this pic: Gemma Halliday and I)

(In this pic: More divas a partying)

(in this pic: Gemma Halliday and Jax Cassidy)

Saturday: Saturday I woke up early and went to the Samhain breakfast. I was wearing one of those really cute long dresses from Gap (you know, spaghetti strap and cotton/flowy). Anyway. I almost died. No really. The escalator tried to eat me. It sucked in my dress and I got to the bottom and it kept sucking. I couldn’t walk away. Those silver teeth kept sucking me back and more and more of my dress. Until I screamed a frantic, “Karen, help me! Just rip me loose!” So she did. Sadly, my dress is…a bit shorter now. Good thing I bought it on sale!

(in this pic: Loribelle Hunt, Crystal Jordan, Ann J. Evans, me, Karen Erickson, Laurie Rauch, Angela James, Gwen Hayes)

After breakfast I went to a workshop by Karen Rose about romantic suspense and learned a ton! LOOOVED it. Then we tried to do a big group lunch at the hotel, but it was just too packed. So we hiked out butts to Denny’s for some good old fashioned food.

(in this pic: Loribelle Hunt and I)

After lunch I just hit up all the publisher signings and got a ton of books! Like a TON! I had to walk my butt to Ross to buy a backpack to bring them all home in. I’m set on my reading for awhile. And I picked up some books for gifts. And I ran into NZ Diva Nalini Singh!

Then it was time to get ready for the Ritas/Golden Hearts ceremony. It was pretty low key with Karen Erickson, Kate Pearce, and I getting ready in Kate’s room. We ordered in room service (Kate bought, she’s so sweet!!) and just relaxed. It was really nice.

(in this pic: Kate Pearce, me, Karen Erickson)

The awards were really heart warming and fun, and I stayed through the whole thing and never got bored! Suzanne Brockman did a kick butt job mc’ing. And now here’s lots of pretty pics of people in their finest!

(In this pic: me and Bonnie Edwards)

In this pic: me and Heather Higging (my. V.P.)

In this pic: Gemma Halliday and her mom!)

(In this pic: lots of pretty Divas!)

In this pic: Jackie Barbosa, me and Karen Erickson)

(In this pic: me and Karen Erickson)

(In this pic: me and my agent Laura Bradford)

(In this pic: Loribelle Hunt, me, Jeniffer McKenzie)

In this pic: Rhonda, Gwen Hayes, Kate Pearce)

(In this pic: Jen McKenzie and Kate Pearce)

(In this pic: lots of pretty divas)

(In this pic: Golden Heart finalist Amanda Brice!)

Sunday:

I woke up pretty much exhausted and a little sad that the conference was over, but ready to go home.

I missed my kid and I knew she was missing her mommy. Oh and not to mention she’d be demanding her souvenirs I’ve accustomed her to getting.

So after one last breakfast with some Divas, I hauled butt onto a Super Shuttle and arrived at the airport.

My vision of writing another 5 pages like I did on the flight down died quickly as many a Seattle RWA chapter members and Northwest area writers got on my plane. After that it was chat, chat, chat!

I sat in first class (again since I’ve got friends in airline places) with Jane Porter, Julia Quinn, Serena Robar, and my conference chair Julie Revell Benjamin. That was just first class. The rest of the plane had a ton more writer friends–we did indeed take over the flight. And I knew our flight would be safe..for fate would never deem a plane to crash with Jane Porter and Julia Quinn on it.

My daughter and my parents met me at the airport. My daughter ran into my arms, squeezing the life out of me…and I realized how much she means to me. Love the little gal so entirely much. Almost as much as she liked her souvenirs! Home again…for another year.

Being a writer is a bit like being a fish out of water. It’s scary, it’s isolated. But we survive through little droplets of water throughout the year. Droplets being: im’ing with other writer friends, local RWA chapter meetings, writer forums, local conferences, the conversations on the phone. But once a year we have this conference, and we all get to swim in the same big pond. And when I’m in it, it feels so darn right. So much peace and happiness. This year was no different (though I will say the social scene wasn’t as big as it has been in the past. I think the crazy expensive prices put a kink in that.)

It was another great conference, and now I wait for another year to go by and survive on droplets. Yes. I am random much.

Hi, everyone! I’m back…and still recovering

I plan on doing a big summary with pics tomorrow or tonight, but for now if you want a mini sneak peek, I put up a few pics at Naughty and Spice.

http://naughty-and-spice.com/

I’m excited as HECK to say goodbye! I’m off to San Francisco Monday morning!

But before I go, come check out my post Cinderella Should’ve Worn Flats that I did over that the Aphrodisia blog!

See you in a week or so!

Come by Naughty and Spice where guest blogger Emma Petersen is discussing fears/fantasies and doing crazy things. Comment for a chance to win a copy of her ebook Master of the Game!

http://www.naughty-and-spice.com/

So last night I dreamt that my daughter went through my closet with her ‘learning scissors’ and all my dresses for Nationals suddenly looked like those snowflakes you make in school. I woke up all relieved.

But maybe it was a warning about the impending doom my kid would soon bring forth. Later in the day, as I’m checking my email, I hear a whoomph. I look up not quite in time to see a big inflatable ball smash into my full open 32 oz water bottle. Down it goes. All over my cell phone.

I dragged her Sponge Bob watching butt out to the T-mobile store and tried to look like a broke, stressed, single mommy whose kid just wrecked her phone so the guy would cut me a deal (my contract isn’t up for a few months yet). It worked! I got out of there with an average phone for about $50.

San Francisco is about just a week away, but I think I’m going to start packing. I like to see how I’m doing and what needs to go and what can stay. I’m also donating a raffle basket to the PI cocktail party and it’s going to be great! I realized a little too late a few things are on the heavier side. Hmm. Those may have to go.

Anyone else packing yet?

Hi all! Come on by Naughty and Spice where I’m blogging about naming characters after friends. You’ll even see a picture of the guy who got named as the hero in one of my books!

http://www.naughty-and-spice.com/

So last night I got on a total makeup trip. I’m not sure what inspired it. But all of a sudden I wanted to learn to do eyeshadow. Like beyond the ‘grab brush, smear on color’. So I figured I’d start with the shades I already had and explore. Have fun with some colors that I’ve never/rarely used.

Keep in mind I’m a novice. But here’s kind of what I came up with…

First we have Shelli (yes I’ve switched to third person) going retro with the bold gold/orange shade for a perhaps a night out on the town. Not so sure I can pull this off….

Next we have this green/orange type combo

And probably here’s my favorite of the night, a pink and brown combo…

and the final shot (a full face so you can see my new shorter hair–and please forgive the serious expression and myspace style shot!)

Saturday is shopping day for San Francisco, Lacy and I are going. I may find some eyeshadow shades that work and maybe get some more tips. I do like ‘basic’ makeup right now, but I’m kind of itching to learn more. Then we’re doing the band at the bar thing. Needless to say, I’m so excited for the weekend.

But first…tomorrow and Thomas the Train. I can do this. I think I can…I think I can…

So I went and got my hair done for Nationals. It’s a tradition I do every year. Invest in a good haircut and highlights. This year I decided since I was actually happy with the state of my hair, I’d invest a little more and go to the more posh salon. Yeeeaaah.

I have curly hair. And curly hair can be a wee bit challenging to cut. I knew I was in trouble when the lady cut it wet. I know some people will argue it can be done, but all the research I’ve read and knowing what works best on me, it should be done dry. And then she kept cutting and adding layers. So *sigh* my hair is now about to my shoulders when before it was almost half down my back. I’m a little bummed, but hey, it is what it is. I’m going with the calling it a ‘I’m sassy and cute’ style.

Anyway, I’m so so excited. This weekend I’m getting a life somewhat. Not really, but all the same. I’m going to do some last minute shopping for San Francisco and then later that night I’m going to see a music group with some old friends I know. At a bar! I haven’t been in a bar in awhile, I’m actually pretty excited! More so to see the old friends!

The last thing on my list I must fit in before getting the kid? I must see The Dark Knight. Must. Must. Must see. I’m so excited for it.