As for how I’ve spent it, lets just say I’ve spent my days in workshops, and my nights socializing. The SFR Brigade had a little get together two nights ago, and tonight will be The Gathering for RWA’s Fantasy, Futuristic and Paranormal chapter. I’ve picked up a little sun down here, mostly during my spin through the Magic Kingdom, and I’ve met more wonderful people than I will ever be able to thank or remember.

Nora Roberts gave a phenomenal keynote speech that had us all cheering as she reminded us of how far we’ve come in the last 30 years, and about the friendships that form at Nationals that can  carry you through a lifetime.

This is an unusually rambly post for a Potpourri day, but I wanted to start a write up of the fun and hard work that has gone into this conference. Truly, having a blast.

Note that I say should.

To be honest, I don’t do the conference thing well. Like a lot of writers, I suffer from terrible Imposter Syndrome when I meet other people who practice my craft. It doesn’t matter that I have a full shelf over my desk with all my works on it, I still feel like the kid who’s snuck into the party and will be thrown out as soon as they figure out I don’t belong. This is why I started taking my knitting to conferences, it helped keep my relaxed. As an added bonus, it provided a safe neutral topic I could talk about without seeming nervous.

Writing is a solitary business – it’s a profession that is, for most of the year, carried out in semi-vacuum.  It’s you, your beta readers, your editor, your agent and occasional forays into media-marketing. There’s not a lot of face time for most writers, even the ones who are lucky enough to have a local support group with whom they can share the trial and triumphs. The great majority of us are introverts, and the idea of being in a social situation leaves us uncomfortable. We get together anyway, and eventually we either build up our courage (or have a drink to settle our nerves) and we say hi to somebody. Because as much as it can be a rough road to walk alone, it’s also pretty cool to meet someone on the same road and be able to catch a few pointers, or warn them away from a few pitfalls. Some of my dearest friends are people who I met at writers’ conferences.

I say all of this because this week is RWA – that the National event for Romance Writers of America (of which I am a member). It’s a big deal, sells out early, and is generally awesome. Take all those things I just said about having issues at a regular conference, and triple them. Then add in the discomfort that this will be my first RWA, and you can imagine the sort of stomach churning terror I am dealing with.

Seriously. I eat Tums like they’re a fifth food group.

That said, I try to think of myself, despite all evidence to the contrary, as a friendly sort. So if you’re at RWA, and you see me (I’ll be knitting, probably a red-orange clapotis scarf, I haven’t decided yet), please come say hello. We can always talk about knitting.

February means one thing in 2010 – Impulse Power, the trio of Romantic SF novellas from Samhain Publishing, finally comes out. That includes my own Hearts and Minds, which will be out in pretty much every electronic format on the 23^rd.

On the topic of Impulse Power, those of you not with the SF Revolution who plan on waiting for a dead tree edition have a long wait – December, in fact. But, if you wait that long, you’ll find Impulse Power everywhere, with this snazzy new cover:

I’ve also received a bit of good news. My essay on the Music of Steampunk – Doctor Tsoundpounders Euterpean Soliloquizer – will be appearing in the March issue of Crossed Genres magazine. It’s a fun little piece in which I poke a few sacred cows, and I think it will be well received. Or there’ll be a mob outside the door. We’ll see.

Keeping up with Appearances:
The year is starting with a bang, or at least a couple of electronic appearances – on 16 Feb, you’ll be able to find me answering questions about Hearts and Minds in the Love Romances café , from 7 to 9pm. Stop by, ask questions, and have some fun.

I’ll also be a guest blogger on Samhain’s Author site, the Samhellion, on February 23^rd. Not sure what clever and witty thing I’ll say yet, but I trust inspiration will strike before then.

As for the rest of the year – It’s a safe bet that in August, interested folks will be able to find me once again at GenCon. April will see me in Indianapolis for Mo*Con and the release party for Apex’s Dark Faith (Featuring my story “A Loss for Words”). And it’s looking increasingly likely that I will show up at either RWA’s national conference, or World Fantasy, or both. Watch this space for detail, there’s sure to be some soon.