Never underestimate the power of a determined friend, in this case, one Jill Purinton.

Not to mention the power of a geeky encounter.

I attended the annual meeting of Romance Writers of America in Anaheim last month. Which meant I got to have fun with my fabulous roommates and talented writers: Christine Merrill, and Katy Cooper, and the aforementioned determined friend, Jill, pictured above.

Another friend, the lovely Kim Ivora, took us on outings to Anaheim, especially to this great place that served breakfast and gelato! What could be better? And my friend Chandra Years played  walking talking Disney app for me and Chris at DisneyLand.

Back to Jill’s being the most determined friend ever…

On the Friday afternoon of the conference, I went to my first publisher signing as an author. Samhain had digital books to sign, meaning they had lovely postcards made with download codes on the back for Phoenix Rising. I started with 100, I left with 15. Woo!

In the middle of this, Jill comes running. She wants me to leave for a second to talk to Janeen Solberg, the manager of the Turn the Page bookstore. For those who don’t know, the Turn the Page Bookstore is one of the best independents in the country. It holds events that draw audiences from all over the country and is owned and operated by Bruce Wilder, the husband of Nora Roberts.

Jill had got it into her head the previous day that I should sign the upcoming GeekMom Book at TTP. At first, I thought she was talking about my fiction self,  which has little cred to appear at TTP, but, yes, my non-fiction self has cred! Whee! So I made a note to have the publisher (Potter Craft) buzz Janeen when I got home.

This did not satisfy Jill.

Hence, when I wouldn’t leave the signing (hey, my first one!), Jill dragged *Janeen* to the signing to talk to me. ::Hearts Jill:: So Janeen was possibly  interested for (I think) the November events, and I promised to get her an ARC ASAP.  Which my publisher sent already and it’s waiting for her when she gets back on vacation. So we’ll see. It would be cool but I know TTP has so many choices and wonderful authors and books available. I’m grateful she will even consider it.

And none of this detracts from Jill dragging people over to talk to me.

When I grow up, I’m totally going to be Jill. Or Wonder Woman. Well, it’s really the same thing.

So, now officially Best. Conference. Ever.

Naturally, it was time to party. RWA National concludes each year with the romance writer’s version of the Oscars, the Golden Heart and Rita Awards. The GH is for unpublished writers and the Rita for published writers. Afterwards, people party. This year, Samhain had a fabulous after-party. Add in tickets for free liquor.  Add in Kim and my friend Michele, who I’ve known from the cherry loops for years, who came as my plus ones, margaritas, a little cognac and…that equaled my boast that one day I’d be known as a single name, like Cher.

To which Kim added jazz hands. ::jazz hands:: Corrina ::jazz hands:

(I think Kim may have had a margarita or two as well. Can’t be sure. 🙂

And Michele added “Tonight…we dance!”

Then we got the entire dance floor to do the train when they played the Locomotion.

So my work there was clearly done.

It was a most excellent week.