RWA 2013

At 7:30 a.m. Soul Mate Publishing hosted a breakfast for all of the authors in attendance at the RWA. Again I wasn’t sure I’d make it but I was there as were at least twenty-four other authors/editors and the publisher, Debby Gilbert. It was great to put faces to names that I’ve seen on the promotions and facebook pages as well as those who organize so many other things for us.

Then it was time for the first workshop. It’s category is Writer’s life. The title of the workshop was: Craft and career: the Gendered Culture of Romance Writers.
Because my room was on the 36th floor, I had a chance to talk with many authors/presenters.
I had heard about this workshop while waiting for the elevator. Jen Lois explained it and it sounded so interesting that I had to attend. Joanna Gregson and Jen Lois are Sociology professors and RWA Academic Grant winners. The discussed “the most-popular, least-respected literary genre,” including the obstacles faced, genre stigma, life management challenges, and other culture of optimism and inclusiveness that breeds success in our female-centered industry.
Those of us who write in the romance genre know that we are cast into specific roles and identity by those on the outside. Some of it has to do with the trivialization of Women’s work, some with the sexual content of the books and women’s sexuality may still be looked on as shameful. Romance writing is not seen as real work, more like a hobby. Therefore it is not honored with enough time and space.
I found this workshop interesting because it confirmed many of the issues I have seen and faced. To have knowledge it to be prepared.

I took the rest of the morning off and went to the Municipal Market. hhttp://www.sweetauburncurbmarket.com/history.htmlhref=”http://www.sweetauburncurbmarket.com/history.html” title=”Sweet Auburn Curb Market” target=”_blank”>

Began in 1918

My friend Denise and I meandered around the market and spoke to a security person who gave us some of the history. “Wishing to give the curb market a more permanent home, the Women’s Club of Atlanta raised money for a fireproof brick and concrete building which opened on May first 1924 and was called the Municipal Market of Atlanta. At the time, it was located in the exact geographic center of Atlanta and quickly became “the place to shop” for every Atlantan.”

It was a $12.00 cab ride to the market and a 15 minute walk home. We watched people gather for the march protesting the Zimmerman verdict. http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/23/justice/zimmerman-case/index.html

My final workshop of the day was titled: Visceral Rules: Beyond Hammering Hearts. It was a craft category workshop. The speaker was Margie Lawson. “Learn how to write visceral responses so smooth and powerful your reader will feel your character’s emotions like they’re her own.” Visceral responses make your readers feel. Our visceral responses are the same whether I am the arsonist in a fire or I am the one discovering the fire. These responses cannot be controlled. The response is the same but the author frames it differently.

Then it was time to get pretty for the RWA 2013 RITA and Golden Heart Awards Ceremony.

And the winners are

After all of the excitement some of the Soul Mate Authors gathered for a quick photo op.

And then it was back home on Sunday.

Home sweet home.
Photo courtesy of Katie Bially