So I’m back from San Francisco. The last couple days have been pretty much a haze of exhaustion. I left my voice in SF, so I sound like a frog. It’s a testament to my friendships with Shayla Black, Sasha White, Jordan Summers, and Karin Tabke that they can all understand me on the phone, regardless.
I have a great, great time. It was definitely the best conference I’ve ever been to. I met lots of wonderful people for the first time and renewed my acquaintance with those I’ve met previously. There seemed to be a lot more readers at this conference than in the past. I spoke with one reader who had amassed well over 100 books during the conference. When you consider how much it would cost to buy 100+ books ranging in price from $7-22, she got a return of her conference fee and them some. She also spent the week with hundreds of her favorite authors. Fun time all around. Maybe you’ll go next year…?
I signed a case of EVE OF DARKNESS on Saturday, so now I’m anxiously/eagerly awaiting whatever feedback there may be…
I returned with some fabulous reads of my own. I’m still waiting on a box, but this is what has arrived so far:
Something Wicked by Catherine Mulvany (new to me)
Nightwalker by Jocelynn Drake (debut)
New Blood by Gail Dayton (releasing March 2009)
Seduced by the Storm by Sydney Croft (smoking hot series)
Crave: The Seduction of Snow White by Cathy Yardley
Night’s Rose by Annaliese Evans (releasing February 2009)
Fallen by Claire Delacroix (releasing October 2009)
Red by Jordan Summers (releasing November 2009 — soon to be given away on this blog…)
The Dictionary of Love by John Stark (from the Avon Family Dinner)
Silent in the Sanctuary by Deanna Raybourn (new to me)
The Pocket Daring Book for Girls ( from the Avon Family Dinner — my son has the boys’ version)
The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry (from the Avon Family Dinner)
The Chronicles of Narnia Complete 7 Volume CD Box Set (Unabridged) (from the Avon Family Dinner)
More books arrived:
Skinny Dipping by Connie Brockway
Gimme An O by Kayla Perrin
The Eternal Rose by Gail Dayton
Game for Anything by Bella Andre
The Rules of Gentility by Janet Mullany
No One Heard Her Scream by Jordan Dane
The Undead Next Door by Kerrelyn Sparks
Match Me If You Can by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Dark Needs At Night’s Edge by Kresley Cole
Slave by Cheryl Brooks
Sexy Summer Reads (excerpt book from HQN)
What A Lady Wants by Victoria Alexander
A Little Bit Wicked by Victoria Alexander
One Night of Scandal by Teresa Medeiros
Night Keepers by Jessica Andersen
How To Kill A Guy in 10 Days by Kayla Perrin
Dangerous Lover by Lisa Marie Rice
Dangerous Secrets by Lisa Marie Rice
XXX Marks The Spot by Kathleen Lawless
Great books, eh? I’ll list the rest of my TBR pile when my other box arrives. I also met some of my favorite authors — Teresa Medeiros (who says she’s an admirer of mine! OMG, can you believe it? I cried. Really.), Christina Dodd (who said she bought my book on Ms. Medeiros’s recommendation! Wow. I cried about that, too.), Susan Elizabeth Phillips (who told me at an Avon function that she loves my books! I looked behind me, trying to see who she was talking to. She laughed, and I asked in complete stupefaction, “ME?” Need I say that I cried over this, as well?), I shared a cab with Suzanne Enoch who listened graciously as I gushed over characters and scenes from her books that I loved.
The cherry on top of the whipped cream came on Saturday night when my dear friend, Annette McCleave, won the Golden Heart for Best Paranormal Romance!! Let me tell you, it’s well well well-deserved. She’s fantastic, and I can’t wait until y’all can pick up her books and love them as much as I do.
Sooo…. what happened while I was gone? Anything juicy?
Ciara,
It was wonderful meeting you!
Yes, you must catch up with Teresa Medeiros next time you can. She is so lovely and gracious.
Hugs,
Sylvia
on August 12th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
wow lots go great reads
on August 9th, 2008 at 11:32 pm
It was great meeting you at the book signing and at the bar (with Kate Duffy)! I can’t wait to read my signed ARC of Eve of Darkness. You only got one box of books? I got at least two and a half. yum. I’m really quite sad I missed Teresa Medeiros. I don’t know how it happened. Those are Awesome stories of what authors said about your books. Congrats! What fabulous praise! See you next year in DC.
on August 7th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
Gennita,
It was lovely to see you again! And thank you. *blushing* That means the world to me.
Hugs,
Sylvia
on August 7th, 2008 at 10:53 am
Ember,
Thank you so much for letting me know you enjoyed EOD!! That totally makes my day!
EVE OF DESTRUCTION comes out in June, then EVE OF CHAOS in July.
I’m champing at the bit, I’m afraid.
But this year has gone by so fast… Maybe it’ll keep feeling that way?
Sylvia
on August 7th, 2008 at 10:52 am
Stacy,
It’s always wonderful to see you! I’m so glad you had a great time.
I’m not kidding about crying over hearing that authors I love and admire like my books. I was seriously a teary mess on Thursday. I’m still stunned.
Hugs,
Sylvia
on August 7th, 2008 at 10:42 am
Michelle,
Yay! I’m so happy to hear that you’re enjoying EOD! The tough thing–for me–about a back-to-back release schedule is writing subsequent books in the series without knowing how well the first book will be received. So thank you for letting me know! Please feel free to blog about it whenever you like. The purpose of the ABMs was to (hopefully) create advance buzz, so there’s no need to wait until closer to release. (Thank you for asking!)
I’m looking forward to reading Jordan’s book, more so now with your recommendation.
It was lovely meeting you! I hope it’s not too long before we meet again.
Hugs,
Sylvia
on August 7th, 2008 at 10:27 am
Joy,
You must!
Did you get a package from me yet?
Sylvia
on August 7th, 2008 at 10:00 am
Fedora,
It was totally awesome! I was completely blown away.
My kids go back to school next week. I think they’re ready. I think I am, too. *g*
Sylvia
on August 7th, 2008 at 9:59 am
It was wonderful seeing you again, Sylvia, and yes, I love your books!
on August 7th, 2008 at 7:41 am
Eve of Darkness was absolutely fabulous. I read it on the plane coming home, and fnished it somewhere between Dallas and the Mississippi River. I had no idea what my seatmates looked like - I didn’t look up for hours.
Now I’ve got to wait how long to find out what happens next??
on August 7th, 2008 at 5:23 am
It was good seeing you again Sylvia (am I a dorky fangirl or what??? )
I had a GREAT time!
Wow, all those amazing authors reading your books must put you on cloud 9! How cool is that? See, you rock!
on August 7th, 2008 at 3:42 am
Just popping by to say hi and tell you I’m 1/2 way through Eve and I LOVE IT!! I am so excited for you and this series. I’m telling you, it rocks. I would be all the way through the book, but my family actually wanted me to take care of them seeing as I’ve been away.
But seriously, it’s good. Another author friend read the whole thing on the plane Sunday and asked me when the rest are out. Unfortunately I had to give her the real release date. Not sure what either of us will do until then. I will definitely blog about it (both on my author and my review blog) - you let me know if you’d prefer it to be closer to release date, ok?
Also, Jordan Dane’s book “No One Heard Her Scream” is awesome. I grabbed the second in the series and read it before conference and then was lucky enough to buy the 3rd at the Literacy Signing right before I went back to my cashiering. I think you will really enjoy them.
It was so great to meet you in person, you are an absolute doll!
on August 6th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
on August 6th, 2008 at 7:31 pm
How fabulous, Sylvia!! I love SEP’s writing, too–what an amazing thing to have her compliment yours!!
As for anything happening while you were gone, uh, not much here
Just another summer day trying to keep the kids from fighting and/or tearing the house apart 
on August 6th, 2008 at 12:57 pm