Just For Fun: How Many Published Romance Authors Have you Met in Person?

People who would recognize me, quite a few, I think, for a non-writer.

• The 9 Texas-based Bombards (all wrote at least one Bombshell -- Evelyn Vaughn, Sharron McClellan, Cindy Dees, Katherine Garbera, Jenna Mills, Stephanie Feagan, Rachel Caine, Sandra K. Moore, Ellen Henderson)
• Candace Havens (local author)
• Lorraine Heath (local author)
• Gerlyn ???? (local)
• Olivia Gates (stayed with me after RWA)
• Fiona Harper (dinner and PJ party at RWA)
• Beth Cornelison (dinner and PJ party at RWA plus around here <g>)
• Wayne Jordan (day before RWA)
• Trish Wylie (PJ party at RWA plus last morning)
• Michelle Willingham (PJ party at RWA)
• Jenna Bayley-Burke (PJ party)

And the ones I've met briefly at signings include Cheri Adair, Marion Lennox (lovely lady), several others at the RWA ('07) Literacy Signing.  I know I'm forgetting some.

But on a regular basis, I do see the local authors and several readers (the core group started here in the eHQ Community but we've grown).

It's funny, but the ones who come here to the community on a regular or semi-regular basis I feel like I should have met!

Why the survey?

Penn 

To be honest I don't think I could even count since I've been to tons of book signings and I belong to three different book clubs, all of which meet up with authors quite regularly. Then there was the book group I belonged to before I moved to TX which was made up of a lot of local authors. I'd say I've probably met and talked to at least 100, some of which I've met up with several times. A lot of those were brief conversations at book signings, but a lot were longer than that. And yes, that's just the romance authors.  I've even met Diana Gabaldon and Kristin Hannah, which were quite exciting at the time.

Romance authors are some of the friendliest most fan appreciative and down to earth authors out there. I'd never even dream of trying to meet some of those huge big name authors out there in other genres. But I never am shy about meeting the romance authors. Though I was a little nervous meeting a few of them for the first time because they are just SO popular.

Donna Alward is a local author for you.  And then Canadian but probably not so local are also Cara Colter (Coulter? sp?) and ummmm oh a SuperRomance writer cannot think of her name right now . . .  and Loreth Anne White (SRS), too.  I'm thinking there's one or two more, just in the Harlequin house. Oh, and Michelle Rowen, who writes for Warner.  I've met her b/c for the last few years she and one of my friends have been CPs and RWA roomies.  She's great.

Oh, look what I found when I googled "Canadian Romance Authors"

http://www.canadianromanceauthors.com/

So, now I expect you to find some local to you!  And then let us know.  I'm sure they're at least as friendly as their American counterparts.

Penn 

and I must have cross posted!  Kalyko, you should come down with Donna H sometime and we'll do coffee.  :-)  And I hope we're going to do a group signing when we have our next workshop, because the last one was a lot of fun.

CJ, Vivi and I are doing a signing a week from today at the library downtown, though it's a bit of a drive for you for an evening.

Donna

The only authors I have met are my professors and colleagues from graduate school.  I hate crowds so book signings and conferences are NOT my thing.  In fact, the author of a book of historical fiction I reviewed is planning to come here and wants to meet me.  I really dread all the hooplah over celebrity stuff and would rather spend the time reading and reviewing her next book than the schmooze thing.  On the other hand, I loved her book and want to welcome her to area so I will show up to show support. I am sure I will have a blast if she comes but I am a natural introvert.  Teaching forced me to develop an extroverted side and I do enjoy meeting new people like with ham radio but my natural inclination is away from crowds and towards solitary things like reading.  Socially I like small groups over crowds. 

Terri - you met someone who has a tv show based on her books. I met someone who was in a TV show and her book was based on that (fictionally) Too funny. I saw Finola Hughes a couple years ago at a signing and reading for her book Soapsuds. I never read the book (didn't even buy it) and have never seen the soap opera she's in so I don't watch any of them. The whole reason I went? Becasue of Charmed. I LOVED that show and I loved her character, even if she was a ghost in the series. I waited in line to talk to her and when I got up there I was quite honest. Told her the real reason I wanted to meet her was because of Charmed. She was a little taken aback I think but she appreciated it and we chatted a couple minutes about Charmed.