People are the reason folks attend RomCon. Oh, to be sure books are involved. Readers are hoping to snare free or low cost great reads, and authors are hoping to meet new readers. But bottom line, it’s the people. That’s why the conference has such a high return rate. I can’t tell you how many folks I met for whom the conference last month was their 3rd, 4th or even 5th. They’ve been attending since the first one.
I have 3 People stories for you: Winners, Generous Supporters, and the 1 In a Million Chance Meeting
The first involves my good friend and writer Jerrie Alexander. Those of you who are regulars here on the blog will recognize her name. Ninety-five % of the time she’s one of the first to respond. I’ve hosted her at least twice. Gosh, Jerrie, it’s probably time to have you again. (Though I’ve stopped regularly having guests on Tuesday Author Chat anymore. Just not enough time and something had to go.) Here’s the neat news about Jerrie. Her book, NO CHANCE IN HELL, won the Readers’ Crown cover contest for 2014. Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view. She was up against some formidable opponents, too. You can see the other placard to her right. that makes approximately 40 competitors. Congrats, Jerrie, happy for you and your cover artist, Meredith Blair. You can find her at www.authorsangels.com.
The second involves My First Fan, Rhianna Ulrich, a Colorado gal I met last year.Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.When she realized my name tag didn’t say “Author” on it, (There was an error, that the conference folks ultimately fixed.) Rhianna grabbed the ribbon from around my neck and scratched out “Fan” and wrote “Author” right then and there. Her thoughtful action became a story for the conference. Remember, my first book didn’t come out until July after the 2013 conference. I still get chill bumps telling this story. She made me feel so special. I had a great time paling around with her and her mother, Elena Colli, an equally delightful woman. Notice that I don’t know how to take a selfie! LOL In the first pic, Rhianna and Elena are looking at the camera Rhianna is holding. Someone else took the second picture.
We’re FB friends, but we hadn’t seen each other since last year’s RomCon. Rhiann set up a Fan page for me. (I didn’t even know what that was. LOL) I’ve converted it to an Author page now, but I’d never have had that if Rhianna hadn’t gotten me started.
Now before I begin the third story, you should be sure you’re sitting in a well-lit room. It’s a bit “oooey.” Imagine that “do-do-do-do” music playing softly in the background. You may not have chills yet, but I bet you do before we’re finished here.
Saturday evening, Jerrie and I attended the cocktail party before supper. We nodded to a few people we already knew and met a few others. We made our way into the dining room for supper and asked some people if we could join them at their table. They said sure, and we began introducing ourselves and chatting like you do at these things. Well, the young woman on my left and I struck up a conversation. Where you from? Etc. After a time, the table was freaking as the list grew. What do you think about all the things that Melinda Bones and I found we had in common. Each time we hit on another item, the folks at the table went “oooh,” and leaned a bit away from us!Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.We found it very funny, the further we went. So get ready here it comes.
We are both:
Air Force Brats
Both dads retired as Air Force Master Sergeants We moved 10 times before graduating from high school. We are both only children.
Both our moms worked as a secretaries on bases
Melinda was born in Fort Worth where I live. We both have a daughter named Laura. We also have a daughter whose name starts with K. Our husband’s names start with B. Our names start with M.
Her last name is Bones, and that’s my favorite TV show. Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
Her husband currently works for the same company my father-in-law worked for.
We’ve since learned that both our maiden names are German: Huff and Riegert.
We’re both going to Branson for reunions with our father’s side of the family this July. (Not at the same time. Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view. )
As Melinda titled her emails to me, this was truly a 1 In a Million Chance Meeting!This is why we go to conferences to make this kind of incredible connection. Granted they are usually not this amazing!
So do you have any oooey kinds of experience with folks you’ve just met? People you’ve met that you know you’ve never met before, but you feel like you know them? Always love to hear this kind of story. If I ever write something that’s not a straight romantic suspense, it will have a smidgen of paranormal. So how about you? Please share. Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
She was up against some formidable opponents, too. You can see the other placard to her right. that makes approximately 40 competitors. Congrats, Jerrie, happy for you and your cover artist, Meredith Blair. You can find her at www.authorsangels.com.
