Thursday at the RWA conference

One of the great things about the RWA conference is that each attender gets a fat notebook containing all of the handouts for every workshop offered here. Today I missed a workshop I meant to attend, so when I have time, I'll take a look at the handouts and decide whether I want to buy the CD.

Today's luncheon speaker was both entertaining and inspiring--just like her writing. After noting how often romance writers are ridiculed for writing "trashy books" instead of "real" and "important" books, Lisa Kleypas went on to give examples of how reading romance novels encourages and empowers women. Insisting that romance novels satisfy a woman's need to believe happy endings are always possible, she related the story of how her family lost all of their worldly possessions to a flood some ten years ago. When Lisa went shopping for their emergency needs, she filled a cart with the expected T-shirts and socks and toothbrushes--then added a romance novel because that, too, was an emergency need. Every head in the room nodded in understanding. Romance novels give us hope by reminding us of the awesome power of love.

I write inspirational romance, so I'm doubly aware of that. I get to write love stories between men and women while also showing those heroes' and heroines' deepening relationships with God. I can't tell you how much I love my job!

This afternoon the Steeple Hill authors and editors met to discuss the direction our lines (Love Inspired, Love Inspired Suspense, Love Inspired Historical, etc.) are headed. I was delighted but not at all surprised to hear that our phenomenal growth continues unabated. The editors told us what's been selling the best and what they're looking for, and the authors got to ask some questions. I love this annual catch-up session and came away from today's meeting with some new plans for my writing.

That's all for now. I'm off to put in a brief appearance at a party, but I hope to have my head on the pillow by midnight. Tomorrow will be another busy day.