Okay, I know the conference was over a week ago.  Truth be told, I’m just recovering now.  It was that much excitement 🙂  This was my fourth go at Lora Leigh’s Reader Appreciation Weekend and I swear every year gets better and better.  The location was gorgeous.  Full on fall when we got there, and then winter as we got several inches of snow.  The mountains and lake were amazing.  The hotel was a straight ride from Dulles, where Mari Carr picked me up personally, but there was also a shuttle service for other out of town attendees who were not lucky enough to have a bff in the area!

The events were fabulous this year, with the smores being a highlight for me.  Thanks Shari for donating your marshmallows to me!  Of course, no matter how fantastic the balls and dinners were (did I mention the decadent ice cream bar?!), seeing other authors, industry professionals and of course the readers made the whole thing perfect.  I got to hang out with several members of our Heat Wave Readers group as well as both returning RAW’ers and first time attendees.

The new “bobbing for authors” events were a big hit too!  Basically it was like speed dating for authors and readers.  And best of all, Lora gave a hardbound memory book with pictures of the resort and the authors to each attendee so they could get autographs to remember the event by.  Mine is in a place of honor on my bookshelf.  Oh, and then there was Lora’s sponsored racecar with all of the authors names on it.  Honestly, the list could go on and on.

This post is a sad recounting of four days so jam packed with fun I could never hope to capture it all in a brief blog.  I hope next year you’ll all come see for yourself.  I know I’ll be there!

Jayne
www.jaynerylon.com