RWA15 Part Two: Electric Boogaloo

On Sunday, July 26, I wrote up a very measured and rather SRS BZNESS account of attending this year's RWA. Now, I'd like to rattle off some of the other experiences I had. It wasn't all microaggressions and diversity panels. There was a whole lotta fun and a whole lotta silly. (And, at one point, a whole lot of tequila.)

•I Kool-Aid Womanned my way onto The Li.st's romance panels on Tuesday night with Maya Rodale, Sarah MacLean, Alisha Rai, Carla Neggers, Feminista Jones, Rebekah Weatherspoon and Jordan Silver. (I said the word “orgasm.” A LOT. And on Periscope! Eep.)

Alisha, me, Rebekah's mojito, and Rebekah's photo skills

•Me: “Why is this bar so empty and unprepared on a Saturday?”

Alisha Rai: “Honey, it's Tuesday.”

•Protip: Never order a mojito at a Russian vodka bar.

•I found soon-to-be RITA winner Meredith Duran at the Literacy Signing and she autographed Lady Be Good for me.

•I did a vodka shot at Lorelie Brown's table at the Literacy Signing. (Zoe Archer saw the whole thing. #sorrynotsorry)

•I hugged Lauren Dane...and then basically never saw her again. Heh.

•I fangirled at Bec McMaster, because I LOVE her London Steampunk series.

•I got recognized from Twitter by Beverly “bow down to her freaking awesomeness” Jenkins.

•I caught the tail-end of the Thursday morning breakfast buffet with Katana Collins. (I hope all of that leftover bacon went to a good place.)

•Our Bollywood Basics panel proved that the power of Ranveer Singh's oiled-up chest cannot be denied.

RWA15 in NYC: A Tale of Two Conferences

This year's Romance Writers of America conference in New York City was my first as an author. I've attended three past RWAs around the country as an industry professional — and it was really interesting to attend as someone the programming was ostensibly for rather than as someone just observing for the purposes of coverage. It was also really fascinating to realize that, even with only one hat on, I was basically at two conferences.

Yet Another Drinking During RWA-in-NYC Post!

So, you're headed to the Romance Writers of America conference next week in the heart of New York City's Times Square. Yes, yes, it's for professional networking and improvement and bonding with your peers...but let's get real: 2500 romance writers in one spot means at least 2000 women who need to wet their whistle! As a season whistle-wetter and 11-year resident of the Big Apple, let me suggest a few places near the Marriott Marquis Hotel where you can let your hair down and say, "Bottoms up!"

1. Bourbon Street Bar & Grille. (346 W. 46th Street, between 8th and 9th Ave) Yes, I'm suggesting a NOLA-themed bar for while you're in New York. Because I am just that perverse. Bourbon Street is a huge space with Southern-inspired dishes and Southern cocktails. Hurricanes, Abita beer, gator sausage...let those good times roll! Bonus? It's on Hell's Kitchen's "Restaurant Row," where you will find a slew of prix fixe restaurants just rarin' to nab the pre-theater crowd.

2. Gossip. (733 9th Avenue) A standard pub with a great interior, not-so standard bar bites (the appetizers really are tasty!), and Happy Hour from 4-7 Monday-Thursday.

3. Deacon Brodie's. (370 W. 46th Street, closer to 9th Ave) Dive, dive, dive! This Scottish bar no longer features my two favorite accent-y bartenders, but it DOES have a ton of whiskey, bourbon and cheap cocktails. If you want a slice of no-frills, hometown dive bar in the middle of NYC, this is the place to go. They don't have a kitchen, but they will let you order food to the bar or bring stuff in from outside.