So...the Lori Foster Annual Reader & Author Get Together 2011!

Better late than never I always say! Yep. I went. It was a last minute decision and boy am I glad I decided to go! It was great to get to meet online friends in person...you know, just to make sure they were really real.

And of course, I had an opportunity to meet THE Lori Foster (swoon, swoon, major fan girl moment). I've read Lori Foster for as long as I can remember. I just love her heroes--the strength with a core of honor and integrity will get me every time. Sigh...

I was also fortunate to meet Nalini Singh who is another of my favorite all time writers (more serious swooning). Her psy changeling series is an auto-buy for me and I ended up with an autographed copy of KISS OF SNOW. It will have a place on my forever keeper shelf, that's for sure. What an amazing story teller she is and just a sweetheart as well! Of course, she's from my part of the world so I wouldn't have expected anything less :).

I also had a chance to meet fellow Romance Divas and KJ Reed and Sasha Devlin, fellow Ellora's Cave authors. That was awesome because we share the same editor. But we didn't gossip, Grace. Seriously!

I think one of the most important things writers get out of writer get togethers is inspiration and a renewed enthusiasm for writing. At least, that's what I want (hope) to get out of them. There's just something so special about connecting with other writers, people who really do understand what it is that drives us, because let's face it, not many other people do.

OMG, Lori Foster sent me an email!!

You all know who Lori Foster is, right? I sent an email out of the blue based on something she had posted on her site. She wrote back in 40 minutes!! I mentioned of course I was an aspiring writer and tried to ensure I sounded like I was serious (because I am Goddamn it)! I have been reading Lori Foster for a couple of years now and love her books. I saw her at the 2009 RWA conference. Although being at the conference demystified these women somewhat for me, she seemed amazing, gracious, friendly and so inspiring. To think she would take the time to respond to my response, in a timely manner and offer wonderful words of encouragement was so heartwarming. I was doing a final read through of the first 3 chapters of a manuscript requested by an editor and having many second thoughts about what a piece of shit it was when her email came back. It brought my confidence crashing back. I finished my review, printed it out and will send it off tomorrow. I included a portion of the email below:

"Don’t ever get discouraged – just remember that most successful authors were in your shoes at one point – determined and very new. LOL
HUGS!"

THANKS LORI!!