Good morning, InspyRomance!
Carol here and I’m checking in from the Annual American Christian Fiction Writers’ Conference! It is a fabulous weekend with nearly 600 authors, editors, agents, and other industry professionals. And so today I’m going to share some of my pictures with other InspyRomancers and contemporary romance authors!
One of my favorite things is seeing all sorts of old friends and making all kinds of new ones. And maybe fangirling a bit over some of the favorite authors! I may have even squeed just a bit over one or two ;). I know I’m not the only one!
Laurie, Kathleen, Beth, Carol
Because I’m sort of local for this conference, I had the privilege of picking up InspyRomancers Beth Vogt and Laurie Tomlinson! I’ve also gotten to hang out with Kathleen Y’Barbo and the four of us got a pic snapped after the genre dinner where you could dress up as a character from a book – mine is a frazzled writer who happens to be a St. Louis Cardinals fan (and since we’re in St. Louis it was incredibly appropriate – and not at all autobiographical ;)!)
Candace Calvert
Candace Calvert writes “Medical Hope Opera” and always wears her red scrubs and pearls! She’s a former ER nurse so plays the part very well!
Tina Russo Radcliffe
Tina Russo Radcliffe is also a nurse! She writes fabulous Love Inspired books!
Janice Thompson
If you’ve read any of Janice Thompson’s recent books, you know who Rosa Rossi is! Janice came dressed as Rosa complete with a pizza box from Parma John’s! Inside she had little cookie pizzas (that were incredibly yummy!)
Melissa Tagg
Melissa Tagg writes fabulously fun books! If you’ve not read them, you should! Plus she is super cute! You should have seen her in her Jack Bauer girl shirt!
Deborah Raney
Deborah Raney is one of the most fantasticly sweet people you’ll ever meet! Her books are billed as “Romantic Women’s Fiction” and they’re super great! And very much in our InspyRomance wheelhouse!
Krista and Becky
It’s now after lunch on Friday and look who I ran into! InspyRomance gal Krista Phillips (she writes books about Sandwich, Illinois – and sandwiches! She gave us all sandwich pins!) and Becky Wade (Hello! Cowboys! Rodeos! Weddings in Vegas!)!!
Hillary Manton Lodge
I’m hosting a session on creative marketing today and ran into the LOVELY Hillary Manton Lodge!
Lisa Jordan
And then there’s the amazing Lisa Jordan! See Krista’s Sandwich pin on Lisa’s lanyard?! That’s a giant sandwich! (mine flipped backwards!)
Kathleen Y’Barbo, Anita Higman, Janice Thompson
Kathleen was teaching that continuing education course with Janice Thompson and a new-to-me contemporary romance author Anita Higman!
Kimberly, JoAnn, Carol
This evening, a bunch of us went to dinner at Old Spaghetti Factory. Our waitress was a blog post (or three!) on her own. Afterwards, I ran into our very own JoAnn Durgin and brand-new InspyRomance gal Kimberly Rae Jordan! Her first post will be next month!
Amy Matayo
About the same time, who did I see but the amazing Amy Matayo! Love that gal! And LOVED The Wedding Game!
Carla Laureano
And then I found the incredible Carla Laureano!
But this one… this is my favorite. Not only because I adore Pepper Basham and she’s a (sadly) former InspyRomance gal, but…
She signed her very first deal this weekend!!!! I don’t have all the details, but I do know it’s a FABULOUS book! I had the privilege of reading a version of it a few years ago and I. Cannot. Wait. to see it in print!
Brand new contracted author Pepper Basham!
When she's not writing about her imaginary friends, Carol Moncado is hanging out with her husband and four kids in the big yard of their southwest Missouri home, teaching American Government at a community college, reading, or watching NCIS. She's a member of ACFW and RWA, President and founding member for the MozArks ACFW group, and a category coordinator for ACFW's First Impressions.
Looks like you’re having a wonderful time. I’m so happy you got to go. Praying good things for you.
Very cool! Although I must admit to you; I couldn’t keep all the authors in the pictures straight. (But I’m an old woman! LOL) :) :)
Aw! I tried to make sure to label well, everyone but me ;). I have trouble keeping everyone straight too – when you only see them once a year…!!!! AH!!!! That’s why we all wear nametags ;).