"Have you ever been to a convention or conference where you didn't know anyone, but felt right at home, anyway? Have you ever known someone for quite some time, but have never met that person face-to-face? And yet, when the meeting finally happened, it was even better than expected?"
"Have you ever wanted to meet a favorite author just to chat, have a chance to tell her your point of view or ask a thousand questions, and find out she's warm, friendly, and a wonderful storyteller in person?"
"Then to top it all off, you are given wonderful prizes just for being who you are?"
"Then I recommend you run and sign up for Celebrate Romance! 1999, because 1998's gathering was all of the above and more!"
-Falcon, romance reader and M.C. extraordinaire.
On April 17-19, 1998, 40 online romance readers and authors met for the first time in real time at the Excalibur Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, with some braving their first plane rides (storms included) or drives over mountain passes and through deserts. We had come together to discuss books, share books, have books autographed, rub elbows with favorite authors, and spend quality time with them, bond off-line as we had already done online, and to enjoy the lights and after-hours excitement of Las Vegas together.
Although only a very few of the attendees had ever met each other personally before, the first informal meeting in the hotel lobby on Friday night was boisterous and full of excitement, with hugs freely disbursed all around. As reader Nancy put it, "I felt like I was in a room full of friends before I even knew anyone's name!" This night was a 'free' night for settling in and stretching out the kinks from the day's travel, and groups soon formed to sample dinner at various tempting locales, and to test out the Las Vegas casinos and nightlife.
Saturday dawned warm and clear, and by 10:30, everyone was gathered on the hotel's 3rd floor for the weekend's first formal function, a luncheon and book trade, to be followed by round table discussions with our five authors, JoAnn Ross, Jo Beverley, Denee Cody, Nancy Gideon and Bonnie Tucker. After signing in at the registration table, everyone received bulging goodie bags filled with bookmarks, postcards, book excerpts, posters, and magnets provided by several online authors and website owners, plus books sent by Bantam. Attendees then found a new, autographed HANNAH'S HUNKS (Harlequin Love and Laugher) on each of their place settings, courtesy of Bonnie Tucker!
Lunch was served after much excited socializing. During dessert, reader Falcon took up the 'mike' and gave a hilarious speech on the difficulties of using "restroom facilities" during various historical periods in history. She was followed by author speakers JoAnn Ross and Denee Cody, who kept us entertained with their insights into the world of romance for the better part of an hour.
The group then hit the book trade tables, coming away with books that they had been wanting to read and add to their own personal libraries. After the dust settled, we were treated to two hours with our authors at round table discussions, whereby one author sat at each table with readers and answered any and all questions, shared anecdotes, and, when it comes right down to it, became our friends. We ended mid-afternoon by tearing open the centerpieces, which consisted of baskets of unautographed books donated to the conference - everyone got yet another new book to take home!
That evening, after making the rounds of shops, casinos and other attractions, most of the group converged in the lower level of the Excalibur to be wined and dined at their medieval dinner and show. For two hours we lost ourselves in an exhilarating reenactment of battle and romance that could have come straight out of one of our novels! Of course, the night was still young for these hardy adventurers, so we were off again for further exploration of what the city and its entertainers had to offer.
Sunday started rather early for everyone, with sign-in for breakfast beginning at 7:30. Bleary-eyed though we may have been, a book sale and a few cups of strong coffee soon had the place hopping once more. Bookstar, a local new bookstore, set up shop in front of the conference room, and we were able to purchase books by our attending authors in preparation for the day's booksigning.
During breakfast we were treated to wonderful speeches by Jo Beverley, Nancy Gideon and Bonnie Tucker, speeches that has us laughing and crying. We had all our books signed, not to mention anything else we wanted signed :-), and spent yet more time socializing, counting down the last hour before we would sadly have to part ways.
The day ended with a bang, however, as we held our door prize drawings. Arrayed on the prize table were over 100 autographed books from terrific authors, baskets of books from Romance Communications and the Romance Reader, a copy of BYRON, the romance software, the Essence of Romance book and diskettes, a Waterford crystal paperweight cottage, gift certificates for two new and used online bookstores, signed manuscripts for upcoming novels, a promotional clock, T-shirts, and other fun items. Needless to say, everyone received two or more items in the drawing! Even Bonnie Tucker's dad, who, along with her mother, attended breakfast with us, won a set of four autographed romance novels! He was our gallant knight that day, sketching a bow after winning that would have made a historical lady 'swoon' in appreciation!
While we hated to see the weekend end, we took away with us many, many warm feelings and memories, and have cemented friendships that would not have even been possible if not for this wonderful invention called the Internet. As reader Linda Rose so aptly put it, "You cyberpals are a great bunch, without exception." And further, from Trish, "Here's to good books and new friends."
Margie B. Wilhelm (or MargieB, as she is known in cyberspace), event planner par excellence, is currently working with a coterie of volunteers on the next Celebrate Romance! gathering, to be held on May 17-19, 1999 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
In the meantime, she would like to thank everyone who attended the first gathering for their VERY kind praises, those who pitched in and helped make everything run smoothly, and for the gift certificate that she had a great time using at a nearby book chain!
Thank you's must also be extended to: our attending authors: JoAnn Ross, Jo Beverley, Denee Cody, Nancy Gideon (aka Rosalyn West/Dana Ransom), and Bonnie Tucker. Bookstar of Las Vegas deserves a round of applause--for not only bringing books, but giving us a discount to boot. Also, many thanks to Patricia of the Excalibur Hotel Catering Department for keeping us running smoothly, and Bantam Books for book giveaways and promotional items.
The following businesses and individuals generously donated door prizes to Celebrate Romance! 1998: RomCom (Romance Communications), The Romance Reader (romance novel review website), Cathy McNabb (reader) for the Essence of Romance, Connie Beck for BYRON, Carole Feldman (reader), Vickie Denny of New and Previously Owned Books (online bookstore), Barb Deane of Barb's All Romance Bookstore(online bookstore), and Mary Hyatt (reader).
Celebrate Romance! 1998 would also like to thank the following authors, who generously donated autographed books and other goodies: Alice Duncan (aka Rachel Wilson/Emma Craig), Casey Claybourne, Cheryl Bolen, Deb Stover, Debbie Macomber, Deborah Simmons, Donna Davidson, Elizabeth Boyle, Julia Quinn, Linda Lael Miller, Lisa Plumley, Lori Foster, Lorraine Heath, Lynn Kerstan, Mariah Stewart, Marilyn Pappano, Mary Balogh, Millie Crisswell, Nora Roberts, Patti Berg, Paula Detmer Riggs, Sandra Hill, Sara Orwig, Shana Abe, Sharon Ilhe, Stef Ann Holm, Stephanie Mittman, Susan Taggart, Susan Wiggs (and her IRISH MAGIC I and II anthology co-authors Barbara Samuel, Morgan Llywelyn, Roberta Gellis).
A special thank you to all authors, publicists and Kathleen Parent, for providing the goodie bag items.
And last, but most certainly not least, Romance Communications, for hosting the World Wide Web presence of Celebrate Romance! 1998.
[A version of this article was published in the July 1998 online issue of Romance Communications. Reprinted with permission.]
URL:http://www.romcom.com/jul98/7_15/rcelebrate.htm
Last Modified November 12, 1998.