Many of our Intrigue authors are just coming back from the Romance Writers of America national conference in Orlando, Florida, at the writing of this newsletter.  So let's talk conferences and workshops--what is one interesting/memorable thing you did or event you attended at RWA (or any other conference)?  What is one nugget of information you learned about the industry, Intrigue, Harlequin, your craft, etc. that you'd like to share with readers or aspiring writers?

B.J. Daniels:   The best part of the RWA conference for me is seeing the friends I have made over the years through writing. It is such a joy to reconnect with them and make new friends at these huge get-togethers. I think that is as valuable or more so than even the wonderful workshops.

Carol Ericson:  I returned from the RWA Conference in Orlando last week, and the highlight of the conference for me was Nora Roberts' keynote address. She was informative, funny, and inspirational. She emphasized one very important aspect of conferences--the connections and friendships we form with other writers. With that in mind, one of the best parts of this conference for me was getting to know my fellow Intrigue authors a lot better. They are an invaluable resource, encouraging, awe-inspiring...and a heck of a lot of fun!

Delores Fossen:  I thought the conference was awesome this year, and as always I mixed business with pleasure by attending some workshops, meeting with my editor and chatting with writers and friends. Intrigue author, Elle James, and I did a workshop on how to plot a series, and after the workshop I was able to meet with some aspiring authors interested in writing for Intrigue. That's always fun. One highlight was Nora Roberts' keynote speech, which gave me my favorite 2010 conference quote: "Writing is hard. It's supposed to be hard. The fact that it's hard is what makes it special."

Mallory Kane:  There is one piece of advice that I hear occasionally in workshops that always resonates with me. Trust your writing. This advice has been invaluable to me (once I decided to pay attention to it.) Often, as I'm "in the zone," writing away, something will end up on the page that may not seem to belong. Maybe a heroine who seems to keep falling for untrustworthy men suddenly mentions something her mother told her when she was little. I've learned that these tidbits are my sub-conscience working to make my heroine's character arc stronger. Turns out there's a very good explanation for the heroine's apparent bad judgment in men. It's not the men, it's the heroine's perception of the men that's off-kilter. From the time she was very small, her mother told her men couldn't be trusted. So our heroine must learn to stop letting her mother's disappointment keep her from finding true love.

Julie Miller:   I was working at IMPROV camp during RWA this year, so, unfortunately, was unable to attend. But hands down, the best thing about any conference I attend--be it RWA, RT BookLovers, Moonlight & Magnolias, etc.--is the networking opportunities. I always pick up invaluable info on trends, do's & don'ts, what publishers are trying/putting the kibosh on, discussing upcoming projects, etc., by simply having the opportunity to sit down face to face with my editors, my agent, and other authors. Yes, I'm catching up with friends and making some new ones, but the market/craft/business information exchange is current, lively and helpful in ways that you just can't get online or in any other situation. Besides that, as exhausting as conferences can be, they're creatively rejuvenating. Once I'm home and can prop my eyelids open, I'm totally motivated to write!

Angi Morgan:  When I met the Executive of Marketing for Harlequin, I became a statistic. LOL He said that many of their readers were introduced to Harlequin by older women in their lives passing books to them as teenagers. Well, my website has the story of how I was introduced to Harlequin Presents by my aunts and grandmother. I became a loyal reader and wanted to grow up to write for Harlequin. (YAY--dreams come true). I have to say that my most memorable event at the 2010 conference will be winning the RWA Golden Heart award around 8:45 and seeing the same book (Hill Country Holdup) go on sale at eHarlequin at midnight. The moments are indescribable.