Smart Bitches, Trashy Books

Jesus, you’re killin’ me. 

There’s nothing like a mother.  Ever.  Girl’s best friend, even if she doesn’t realize it.

Oh man, this tore me up.  Jennifer Greene was one of my biggest inspirations when I first started reading romances.  I fell in love with her flawed, quirky characters.

Yeah…I was good until that moment. Then my eyes started to leak. Very touching.

/wipes eye

Wow. My eyes teared up just reading that.

*sniff* Same here.

Awwww….

You should’ve seen us in the presenters/board members rows.  We were all sniffling and Terri Brisbin was pulling Kleenex from this large wad she’d stashed in her purse.  God love her.  There would’ve been some seriously smeared makeup otherwise.

Moments like that are what make the Ritas for me.

I cried like a baby.  Jennifer Greene is so classy.  I’m so glad she won.

Winning a RITA someday would be awesome.  Making my mom that proud…  She’d probably say I already have (‘cuz she’s a great mom) but I still trying, you know?

Yes, I regretted my ill-planned decision to wear non-waterproof mascara. Me = the weepy raccoon. But I was like that last year too. Lisa Kleypas’s story about her house flood turned my sleep deprived self into a sprinkler. Damn women being all eloquent and heartfelt. No defenses against that!

Ok I have to be careful what I read at the cafe.  People stare when you cry for no visible or obvious reason.

Oh, I’m tearing up right now and I wasn’t even there.  Wow.  That’s incredibly powerful.  Thank you for sharing, Sarah.

Ok I have to be careful what I read at the cafe.  People stare when you cry for no visible or obvious reason.

Which is why I no longer travel with my Reader’s Digest in my purse for quick reading needs.

And I only wear Waterproof Mascara.

Thank you Sarah. I’m lucky that my work desk doesn’t face anyone as I’ve teared up too. My mother passed away just over a year ago (and I lost my [paternal] grandmother less that 2 weeks ago). For me, Jennifer’s mother couldn’t have said anything poignant to her daughter…

orannia

Lisa Kleypas’s story about her house flood turned my sleep deprived self into a sprinkler.

Oh, ditto.  It was such a gorgeous story.  I blubbered.

At the awards ceremony, I was sitting next to a young first time attendee whose mother had accompanied her to the conference.  When Jennifer Greene told the story about her mother, my eyes didn’t just leak, they darn near flooded.  Beautiful, touching moment.  The following morning Jennifer and I wound up next to each other in the shuttle van to the airport.  I’m glad I got to personally congratulate her on her Rita win.  Everyone in the van told her how moved we were by what she said. 

Everyone, Sarah is apparently too modest to tell you that she rocked moderating the panel with Nora Roberts, Jane Litte, and the Berkeley prof whose name I’ve unfortunately forgotten.  Great panel all around!  (Don’t forget the web widgets, Sarah!)