Greetings form RT, where the bar goes dead at about 430-5 so people can get dressed up for dinner, and the party doesn’t stop until well past midnight, no matter what time zone you’re in. I heard via Twitter that there were many people in the gym this morning from the RT conference crowd. I’m betting that gym will be a little more sparsely populated in the next few days, unless running with a hangover is your thing.
I know a few people wish they were here, and I can’t say that I blame you for that feeling. I’ve been looking forward to RT for awhile, and can’t wait for the Saturday YA day, and the panels I’m giving. But for all of you who aren’t here, I have a taste of RT for you.
This year, attendees get a pass to the Goody Bag Room, which is filled with books. Really, you walk in and take a deep breath, like it’s fall and someone has a wood fire burning. It’s New Book Smell, y’all. You’re allowed to select 9 books, plus a signed totebag to put them in, so off I went to build a Taste of RT giveaway package.
If you win, you’ll receive 12 books (nine from the goody room plus three additional books), including a signed ARC of The Mephisto Covenant by Trinity Faegen, romance novel trading cards, bookmarks, promo items, candy, and a selection of excerpt booklets. The books that are in the package include:
Please note: the copy of Outlander is a free promotional copy with a promo-oriented cover.
What do you have to do to win? Well, next year RT is in Chicago, and this year it’s in LA. Tell us where you think RT should be next year. Hellertown? Ellsworth? Key West? Make your case for your ideal place in the US (not like I have any control over this, obviously – this is all collective wishful thinking!) and I’ll select one winner at random to win. I have a postage-paid Priority mailbox with me, so I’ll send your items from Los Angeles as soon as I have your address.
Standard giveaway disclaimers apply: I’m not being compensated for this giveaway. Your mileage may vary. Void where prohibited. Entries valid only on website. Prune in the spring, cut down in the fall. I think Sarah MacLean’s next book should be titled “Thirteen Ways not to Hurl When Chasing an Earl.” NO! “Thirteen Ways to be a Hot Mess When Tracking Down a Marquess!”
Comments are open for just under 24 hours, and this entry is (I’m sorry!) open to US only (The postage is already paid for domestic post. Yes, I suck a lot).
Ready Set Go! Win a Taste of RT!
Oohh. I would love to see it in Austin, Tx or Philadelphia. Great places to visit!
Cambridge/Boston, definitely. Either one is a great, walkable city with a lot of people who *love* books. (And I can get there easily. Yay.)
A great place would be Portland, OR or WA. Come on Pacific Northwest!
Vegas Baby! OH Yeah! Good times.
Minneapolis, MN! Because I’m lazy and want it to be close by.
I don’t think that my hometown, fabulous downtown Cleveland, Ohio has been mentioned. Lakeside views, world class museums and music, not too big. Cleveland—it’s better than you might think!
Orlando! Turn the event into a family vacation, send the family off to a theme park (or have it in a theme park!) everyone has age appropriate fun!
At the Parker Palm Springs… so we can have cocktails in their lovely fragrant garden all night long and be waited on by the cabana boys. Oh, and have spa treatments too.
So many cities to choose from but there’s nothing more romantic than San Francisco. Cable cars, the Golden Gate, the Bay.
For something more central, it’s San Antonio without a doubt.
If it’s time for the east coast, then Charleston is the ticket.
Portland OR. In Powells!
I vote the Twin Cities. So I could go!
Destin, FL. Because it’s gorgeous this time of year and it would be close enough that I could actually attend.
Dallas, Texas. It’s big enough to stand a chance and close enough to me for convenience!
New Orleans! Why? Saints, sinners, lovers, and sex live here constantly, and Spring is the best time to be in our city. We’ve got gorgeous hotels, great food, a mighty rollin’ river for cruising, and music to serve as a muse for everyone no matter what they write or read. And, bars? People, no one does it better than our NOLA!
Detroit! Because Climax, MI is 2 hours away and exit 69 off of I-75 is Big Beaver Road. 😀 It’s really the obvious choice.
I nominate Salt Lake City because it’s just so darn romantic. I know, SLC doesn’t have a reputation for romance, but think about it… The founder of SLC, Brigham Young, found it so romantic that he married 55 women!
I”ll be selfish and say DC b/c then I could go!
My choice for the next RT convention would be Hershey, PA. Besides a conference center there is Hershey Park and all the chocolate anyone could want. P.S. – Penn State is only 1 1/2 hours away (another good choice foe the convention!)
I second Louisville, KY, because it’s just up the road and I could actually attend! As Melissa said, there’s lots to do and it’s easy for others to get and out of via highway or airport. The same could be said of Cincinnati, OH —ie, it’s just up the road and I could actually attend—oh, and yeah, there’s stuff to do there, too. Cincinnati has everything from a major amusement park to fine art, great live music, restaurants, an indoor water park, etc. But really—the most important part is that either Louisville or Cincinnati are really close to me!
Oh come on, people! New Orleans is obviously the most romantic city in the US and would be perfect for a conference this time of year. What’s more romantic than warm weather, cajun accents, and jazz?
Seattle. Great convention center literally in the heart of downtown, easy access from the airport, and a culture of book-love. What else are we going to do on the rainy afternoon than sit by the fire and read?
I say…Sacramento, CA…its the Capital! or if thats not big enough how about San Francisco cuz its close enough for me to get to!
Echoing Portland, OR. With all the bike riders downtown it will feel just like Amsterdam, except without hash, canals, and the pimp outside the brothel hollering at passerby that he’ll give us all a two-for-one deal if we step inside.
Finally someone got it right. Sarabeth, you nailed it. New Orleans, baby! No better city to spark the imagination. Voodoo, crawfish and the lazy Mississippi – need I say more? You can walk the century old streets draped in wrought iron and festooned with Mardi Gras beads. Jazz will greet you in each doorway. And the food? Nowhere is there any better food in the world. I’ll challenge any city. We’re fat down here for good reason. So come on down, RT. I’ll buy you a hand grenade on Bourbon and meet you later at The Cat’s Meow. It’s three-for-one happy hour will have you singing “It’s Raining Men” with me before it hits 8:00pm.
Nawlins is where it’s at, darlin’.
Denton, Texas. Why? Because then I could go! And we are the top of the Golden Triangle, north of both Dallas and Fort Worth and right off of I-35. Perfect access for everyone!
Casper, WY—cause no one ever comes to Wyoming outside of Jackson Hole (so overrated for anything but geology, but that’s just me) or even know where it is half the time.
Denver area would be an okay second choice, cept the relatives I have to bunk with have cats, not so good for my allergies.
RT in Vegas means I could talk the husband into an actual vacation (big maybe), or perhaps drag my mother along just to get away cause it’s been years since the two of us were there.
I’ve always liked Chattanooga, Tennessee. Nice mountains. Love the aquarium
I gotta go with Seattle, just because I’m contrary enough to find rain romantic, I’ve never been to Seattle, and the flight time from Northern California is minimal = WIN (not in the Charlie Sheen sense, either!)! I NEED new books like Libya needs new management, so PLEASE pick me!!!
likely63= um, I hope it’s likely I’ll get to Seattle and RT before I’m 63—-I’ve got a few years to work on it;)
Why not in the deep South. We Southerners sure know how to welcome people and we have entertainment and fancy hotels a plenty. Why not come on down to Arkansas and see what’s available Or over into Oklahoma to the Gilcrease Museum and the Phillbrook museum. What about the old old towns, Hot Spring with the mineral baths, Little Rock for shopping And there is music and entertainment of all kinds.
I say Dallas. Why? Nothing *ever* seems to happen even vaguely close to here. It’s always either coast or Chicago for events. Dallas is a major metropolitan city too, event-planning people!
Anywhere I can drive in a day—
Kansas City
St. Louis
Dallas Metroplex
Nashville
New Orleans
Denver
Aw, hell. Let’s just do it in Oklahoma City. We’re almost the exact center of the country and even have a real airport.
Portland, OR! Powell’s, Voo-Doo Donuts (OMFG good!!), and more coffee shops per capita than just about anywhere. Also, gorgeous scenery, bike paths galore, and the best, most thorough recycling I’ve ever seen.
No wonder I don’t know anyone who reads romance (or hardly anyone)! No one has picked Connecticut. As New Haven or Hartford! So I could go!
New Haven is great. Its not that cold this time of year, esp. compared to places not on the sea or sound.
If we follow the theme of alternating coasts and the midwest I’d say Washington, D.C. Otherwise I’d put in a vote for Seattle.
I’m for Las Vegas! It’s a fun place to visit.
I am in Rapid City, SD and nothing ever comes here so I think RT should. The rates are low, there are plenty of hotels. We also have Mount Rushmore! It’s beautiful here and the people are extremely friendly.
Can anyone say “Heaven?!” That is what this RT looks like! Totally wish I could be there!
So, where should it come next? It should follow me to Oklahoma City!! Missed it in L.A. since I live in Chicago. And now will miss it in Chicago since I’m getting married and moving. Boo! Come to me, RT!! Lol.
Seattle! Reason: unending supply of caffeination. We can do things with coffee that the coffee bean’s never even heard of.
Just back from a jaunt to San Diego and that would be an awesome RT convention site. Lots of hotels, beautiful weather, too many scenic locations and a bevy of hot Navy men for inspiration.
I’m going to say Cincinnati, Ohio because my refugee family happens to be staying just north at present, but get back to me next year and I’ll be happy to 1) let you know where I am then and 2) put up a tent in my back yard for you all.
SO SO HAPPY I AM IN THE US AND ELIGIBLE FOR THIS CONTEST 🙂