6 July 2011 – New York New York & A Notorious Wolfes Giveaway!

by

Hi there – I still feel a bit jet – lagged but am slowly coming back to life after the mother of all RWA conferences in New York. It started out with the best view in the world from the hotel room:

For the whole week of the conference we were right smack bang in the middle of Times Square at the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel…

On our first morning, the lovely Kate Hewitt had organized a tour to the Met Museum which gave us a real feel for the vast space and rooms…I walked to the Museum through Central Park with Sharon Kendrick and it was an unforgettable experience…in a good way! Here is a bunch of authors and editors on the roof, overlooking Central Park…

Aren’t they a glamorous bunch!

Later that day we had the Literacy Signing at the Marriott Hotel and here is a video someone posted on Youtube to give you an idea of how crazy busy it was…I got to go to Victoria Dahl’s table and get a signed copy of Start Me Up. I’m a huge fan and she was up for two RITAs on awards night.

 

On Wednesday we had a very glamorous tea party at the New York Plaza Hotel courtesy of Jane Porter. Here is Maisey Yates and Jennie Lucas looking extremely fabulous in their fascinators…

One of the many highlights of the trip for me was meeting Carol Marinelli, a personal favourite M&B author of mine. She is a terrible influence and has a wicked sense of humour ;), my favourite qualities in an author!

On Thursday all the Presents Authors were taken out to lunch by the UK editors. We went to a french restaurant which was suitably posh for such a glittery bunch of writers and editors…

Kimberly Lang and Kate Hewitt:

And then on Thursday night we had the Harlequin Party at the Starlight Roof Room in the Waldorf Astoria! The theme was Black and White and everyone looked absolutely amazing, and the room was just…stunning.

Here is Jennie Lucas and Kate Hewitt who are demonstrating the Black & White theme beautifully…

Fiona Harper and Michelle Styles were equally fabulous…

And then on Friday night we had the….(drum roll)…RITA Awards. Needless to say I was EXtremely nervous and excited at the same time. When the spanx went on the lack of oxygen to the brain helped diminish the nerves a little but they came back as soon as Meg Cabot, the emcee came onto the stage. She did a fantastic job and could be a doppelganger for Tina Fey..or should that be the other way around..?!

Here am I looking scared, with Heidi Rice. She was my guest and attentive companion – making sure the blood was getting to my head and my glass of bubbly was always topped up…

And here is my lovely editor Meg..

And Meg with Kate Hewitt who wore THE most amazing backless dress and was also up for a RITA..

Unfortunately none of us Presents/M&B women won the RITA but it went very deservedly to Karen Templeton who gave a gorgeous and far more articulate speech than I ever could have!

And then it was all over…for another year. On my last night in NYC, I found tango on Union Square – I’ve been very lax with my tango lessons and milongas lately so it was lovely to see it and even get a couple of dances! The NY tango crowd were so friendly…

…that’s not me by the way. I wish I were so elegant! But what a lovely last memory to have of a fantastic week.

 

So to celebrate being home, and to celebrate the Northern American release of The Notorious Wolfe Collection (aka Bad Blood in the UK & Ireland), I’ve got a FULL set of the books to give away!

Simply be the first person to email me with your mailing address and I’ll send them to the lucky winner…

 

Back soon!

x Abby