Good-morning PFS readers and authors! This is my first blog and I hope it works!
This weekend I attended the NJRW's conference in the beautifully renovated Renaissance hotel in Woodbridge, NJ.
The 2 day event hosted an A list of editors and agents, plus a pre-conference workshop with Jennifer Crusie to kick it off. The first evening the attendees were invited to a cocktail party with pasta stations and plentiful hordoerves, followed by the Golden Leaf and PYHB ceremony. Both days were busy with entertaining and informative workshops, and I personally enjoyed Madeline Hunter speak about using good conflict in a romance novel. Even after years of writing I picked up some important tips.
Karen Rose was the breakfast keynote speaker and Allison Brennan inspired the luncheon crowd. The hotel supplied bottles of wine for the table and plenty of chocolate to make amends for the alarms and evacuation in the middle of the night due to a faulty electrical problem that brought out the fire department. So much for getting a good sleep that night!
After our delicious lunch I attended the editor panal represented by Harlequin, Grand Central, Avalon, Ellora's Cave, and Samhain. The buzz was the pub houses are still acquiring and looking for fresh new voices, and sexy is still in. GC has a line 5 Spot that wants older heroines with real life experiences.
All in all, it was a lively well attended conference that was well represented by the major publishing houses.
Good morning Patrice - enjoyed the blog. Someday, I'm going to a convention. Living in Idaho, not much opportunity here. Would be interesting just to see what goes on.
Patrice, you're right. No matter how long someone's been writing, there's always something new to learn. Sounds like you have a fantastic time!
Hi, What does P.L. stand for? Conferences are a great way to meet new people, like minded authors, editors and agents. Some of the big ones are a little overwhelming so I prefer to stick to small or medium size. Also better for getting more appts with who ever you want to pitch to.
Thanks for commenting.
Patrice
Hi Allison,
You are right. I learned how to write an effective synopsis for selling on proposal, not that I ever will, at least I'm not there yet, but hopefully one day!
Patrice
Thanks for your post, Patrice! You did a fine job on your first. The conference sounded wonderful--that's such a rich writing area with lots of talent. At every conference I always learn something new. Thanks for sharing!
Morning Patrice!!
Thanks for sharing your experiences - sounds like fun, except for the fire alarm part,lolol
Aren't those midnight fir drills fun! I remember one in Kansas City in the middle of winter. There we were--me in my pjs and mink coat, shivering in the snow while the firemen told us it was a false alarm!
I have heard only wonderful comments about this conference, Patrice. Thanks for posting.
Hi Judy, Traci, Toni and Joanne,
Thank you all for commenting on my first blog. I have always enjoyed this conference but had a small incident that marred it. Since I mentioned that I had an agent, I was not able to see several editors that I had hoped to meet even thought they had open appts.
Needless to say, this did not sit very well with me as that was my main purpose for being there. How do you all feel about this? should agented writers be allowed editor appts if they are not published with said publishers?
Patrice
I attended last year and it is a fabulous conference. I was sorry to miss this year. Sounds like you had a great time, except for that nighttime thing. I once ended up outside the hotel in the lawn wrapped in their comforter as the result of a middle of the night fire alarm. (Forget which writers conference this one was)
I love the NJ conference. Unforunately this is the first time in many years I missed it. Sounds like it awesome.
You're so right. You can always learn something new. I do.
Now, I want to know. What were the firemen like?
AJ
P.L., Isn't Murder in the Grove in Boise? I've heard that is a wonderful conference.
AJ
Hi Autumn and Beth,
Thanks for you comments. It seems as though midnight evacuations are a common factor at writer conferences! Sorry, I didn't meet any cute firemen, I remained in bed with my muse!
Patrice
Hi Patrice,
Great blog, sounds like an interesting and informative conference. Glad you had a good time.
Actually that doesn't sound fair, even if you have an Agent, that shouldn't disqualify you from having an Editor interivew. Next time, perhaps you shouldn't mention that you have an Agent.
Regards
Margaret
Margaret,
thanks for your comment. And you got that right - I know not to volunteer too much information!
I was unable to meet two editors that I wanted to see and they had available appts.
Good job, Patrice! Now you're really one of us! Glad you enjoyed your conference!
Welcome to the new visitors, too!
Mama Mary
Glad you enjoyed yourself. I've also wanted to attend the NJ conference and now thanks to your great recommendation I plan to go next year.
Patrice, sorry to be piping in late on your great blog. Thanks so much for sharing the latest news from the publishers with us. Older Heroines!
Hey, MM they're calling your name!
Scarlet
Unless they had specifically listed that in their info of the conference, I would think it would be grounds for a refund! If that was their policy, it should have been made known in advance. I've never heard of this at any of the other conferences I've attended.
Scarlet
Yeah Patrice you dun gud!