Conferences, Retreats, and this thing called Swag

I am taking my crazy on the road this year. I've kept it to myself long enough. So far I'm registered for three conference/retreat things this year. While I'd love I mean that with a capital LOVE to go to the Romantic Times Convention in April and the RWA conference neither are in the cards. I've been a member of RWA since the year 2000 and I haven't been to one single conference.

I'm kicking off my grand tour with my local RWA writing group weekend after next in Pensacola Beach...okay it's ON Pensacola Beach and it's already nice and warm-ish down here. And that's smack dab in the middle of Spring Break. And I am leaving my husband and my kids at home and I'm going to go drool over college boys. Okay not really. I'm not really a pervert. I just play one really really well.

If anyone wanting to connect with editors and agents and sit in a workshops there's still time to register. And that beach is right there. Invitation extended, come on down and meet me. Maybe pitch your book to an editor or an agent and stuff. Click GCCRWA SILKEN SANDS for more info.

In September I'm going to the Silver Publishing author retreat. I'm pretty sure this is an author only event. I'm not sure what we're going to do there. But I've always wanted to go to the Smokey Mountains.

And in October I'm going to GRL Gay Rom Lit retreat in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Spelling Albuquerque is really fun, all those Qs and Us. I think that author registration is closed but there are still reader spots available.

And swag? I have no ideas. I'm not the slightest bit creative when it comes to gifty give away things. I have a friend who writes vampire books, she's pretty big named but I'm not dropping it, anyway she gives away little bottles of Vampire Blood hand sanitizer and other little things. I can get a whole ton of Mardi Gras stuff but does that really have anything to do with Lace aside from the NOLA connection.

Thinking caps. Gimme suggestions. CHEAP suggestions.

Mercy

I'm feeling a bit football deprived so I'm going to go all football today. Could be some NSFW so tread with caution.