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Karen Hawkins and me!
Around this time last year, I was returning home from my trip to New York to visit the fabulous Fresh, meet Cail and see SuzyQ and attend the Literacy Autographing at the annual RWA conference where I got to meet the Goddesses! (squeee!)
Prior to this trip, I had met Sabrina at a signing event in Los Angeles and Julia London when we happened to be in New York at the same time (which also gave me the opportunity to meet Sherri Browning Erwin and Freshechelle and SuzyQ for the first time – that was a great trip) and I was so thrilled they were as wonderful in person as I thought they were here on Mt Oly.
So you can imagine how excited I was to have the opportunity to meet more of the Goddesses on this trip! (I also got to meet dbrown3400 and pjpuppymom!)
Now, being the fangirl that I am, I would spot each goddess and walk up to them to introduce myself. My goal was not to be too silly.. or say so
mething goofy… or make a fool of myself.It’s a lot of pressure to have that many amazing authors in one room!
I mean, the Literacy Autographing is like the Hall of Fame of romance authors – at least in my eyes. In addition to the Goddesses, there were literally HUNDREDS of other authors there. All signing books and all being lovely, gracious recipients of adoration, questions and requests for autographs. I felt like squealing like a schoolgirl (this might have happened, but I will deny it) when we finally entered the giant ballroom. It was all the people responsible for a giant portion of my bookshelf all in one room! And they were there to say hello to me! (ok, and thousands of other readers, but that is beside the point. 
) Cail, SuzyQ, Fresh and I made our way around the room introducing ourselves, getting autographs, buying books, hunting down Goddesses and casting second glances at a few of the male cover models that were there. It was quite the crush, but a fun experience (though Cail will attest to my crankiness at the line to get in. I mean, didn’t they know who we were?! Sheesh.)
I think the best part of the whole experience was finding all of the Goddesses are truly wonderful women. We joked and laughed and chatted about things we had in common, much like old friends do when they get together. We had a history of sorts thanks to this blog and it was a truly lovely experience.
Now, why am I going on and on about this RWA trip from last year? Because this year’s conference and literacy signing are right around the corner. This year in sunny Southern California.
Christie Ridgway and Barbara Samuel O'Neal
The Literacy Autographing is Wednesday, July 25th at the Anaheim Convention Center and admission is free. Not only will most of the Goddesses be in attendance, but so will quite a few hundred more of your favorite romance authors. It is a wonderful experience and a unique opportunity to get to meet these amazing men and women. The Goddesses will also be hosting a reception after the signing that you are all invited to – more information will be posted on the Facebook page shortly and was just in The Goddess Blogs newsletter (you haven’t subscribed? For shame!)
I hope to see some of you there!
Have you had the opportunity to meet someone you are a fan of? Did you remain composed? Did you squeal?
38 Comments on “Such a fangirl”
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I had lunch with an author I’m a fan of, and though she’s one of my best friends, I’m so shy and quiet, that at a certain point she said, “Well, I can’t keep talking to myself.” Because I was so frozen I wasn’t saying I single word. Yeah, I’m *that* cool.
Yippie, now no one’s ever having lunch with me again :/
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 4:43 am.
I’m sure they will. Perhaps on your next lunch out, you will not be so shy
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 11:54 am.
Sheridan, you make me wish I could be in Anaheim!!! I was there once, but that was in 1977… when I spent a couple of months with a guest family in Sacramento to learn better English (American!!!).
But I live in Belgium, Europe, and we don’t have such events over here.
I did meet some authors, whom I’ve been corresponding with. One is Christopher Fowler (a Brit) who writes peculiar crime novels (the Bryant and May series). He lives in London and some years ago my sister and I were invited while we were staying in London. At that time he still owned a production studio, where they made trailers for nearly every film made in Great Britain, like The Full Monty. He showed us around the studio, where we could watch people work, and had a long chat at his office (with tea and biscuits). And he signed my books, of course!
I also know and have met Luc Deflo, who is a Belgian author of thrillers. Luc and I corresond (about books, because I also write) and sometime we meet. I was invited at the launch of his newest novel (a big do paid for by the publisher, with press etc.). That was very nice of him!!
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 5:25 am.
What a lovely correspondence you have developed with those authors! I’ll bet that studio tour was fun. I am always interested to see things like that.
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 12:34 pm.
I wish that I could say that I had met someone famous but I can’t. I did however almost meet John Farnham (I would have met him if he didn’t have to sing at the AFL grand final on Sunday afternoon). I wish that I could be there but there is this whole living in Australia thing that I have going on and can’t afford to take New Guy and I over to the US to meet you all. Oh well I can dream and maybe hope that your publishers see that it would be a genius idea for an Aussie tour for all the goddesses.
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 6:17 am.
Hrmm Aussie tour of Australia. I’d tag along for that!
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 12:35 pm.
It sounds like you wonderful ladies had a spectacular time! I would have probably been pretty awe struck too! And I’m sure I would have squealed at times too! Over the past year I have had the opportunity to meet two authors I admire. Last August I met romantic suspense author Carla Neggers. I may have let out a little scream when I first saw her. Then when it came to introductions I developed some sort of mutism! I am very shy normally, but in the company of someone I admire??? Forget it. Luckily I had a friend with me who chatted until I came back to my senses. It was a night I won’t ever forget. A little over a month ago I got to meet Susan Mallery also! The same shy thing kind of happened, but it all ended up good. I feel like a kid in a candy store when I get to meet some if my favorite authors. I don’t know how I would handle meeting so many greats at once! Have fun in Anaheim! O know I would. Maybe next year!
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 7:10 am.
Oh, you have met two wonderful authors! I have not had the pleasure of meeting either yet… but they are on the list of “Authors to try and bump into when the occasion arises”
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 12:36 pm.
When I have a fan girl moment I usually say “I love you” like the dog in Dr. Doolittle. Very drooley and foolish. I did it the first time I met Patricia Gaffney. She’s teased me about it ever since.
Oh, I bumped into Harlan Coben last year at the Penguin party. Turned around to apologize, saw it was him and said something like, “shor, urgh, luv, ger.” So suave.
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 7:41 am.
lol they should really make translation cards for us to flash so the recipient of our mumbling knows what we are staying.
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 12:37 pm.
I went to the literacy signing once when it came to my town. I had had surgery a few weeks prior and wasn’t walking well, and did not know how to get to the event and my hubby met me and drove me there, carried my huge bag of books inside to be signed AND stood in one line to get me a book while I was in another line. He was a trooper!
I’ve met many authors and have some books signed, and its been fun. First author I met was probably Julie Garwood or Nora Roberts.
Once when I was taking a college class, I had to interview 3 authors. I sent out the 10 questions to 10 authors that I loved and gave my phone number too. A few of them called me and talked to me on the phone to do the interview. Catherine Coulter and Susan Johnson. I was stoked!
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 7:46 am.
Your husband IS a trooper! What a great guy to do that for you.
Catherine Coulter is lovely. I secretly call her the Sharpie Stealer as I walked away from meeting her in a goofy daze and forgot to get my autograph Sharpie back from her. I had to circle back to get it and joked about how she swiped my Sharpie. (Sharpies are sacred, you know)
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 12:41 pm.
OH I wish I was going. I went to the booksigning when It was in Columbus Ohio. I had never seen anything like it. I met Sabrina and Karen Rose there. I had met Karen a couple of times before. I am usually pretty quiet when I first met someone or I say stupid stuff. No middle ground for me.
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 8:36 am.
Both Karen and Sabrina are lovely. I wish I had learned years earlier about all these signings where I could meet the authors! I feel like I was waaaay out of the loop and missed out on a lot!
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 12:42 pm.
I wanna go!!! I’m so bummed that I can’t make it this year. Last year was a ton of fun (although, that line was from you know where.) I’ll be there in spirit waiting until the conference comes back to the east coast. The first time I met most of the goddesses was at the DC Lit Signing, in 2009. I remember how wonderful it was to meet everyone! I distinctly remember going over to Sabrina’s booth and having her say, Cail! Give me a hug, and then turn to some stranger hanging around to tell them that I’ve been reading her books since she had first started under the SJ name. I was not only impressed by her memory (how does she remember all these facts from these comment sections) but thrilled that I was treated like an old friend.
I think I’d have a major fan girl moment if I met JR Ward at this point. I really wish I was going to be in Cali for this, since I just started reading Suzanne Brockman this past year, and she’s on the list of attending authors… Sheridan, can you have a fan girl moment with SB for me? I am in love with ALL of her characters, esp Jules and Robin. Thanks hun!
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 8:44 am.
Btw, it still cracks me up that Fresh is just barely visible in the desk picture.
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 8:45 am.
I’m whack a mole!
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 9:58 am.
oh, for a big padded whacker thing…
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 12:42 pm.
Suzanne Brockman is so nice. I had the fortune of going to dinner with her and her husband and a few others at an NJRW conference several years ago.
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 12:12 pm.
What fun! I had such a lovely time sitting with you at lunch in New York, I’ll bet Suzanne thinks the same thing.
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 12:45 pm.
I’ll see what I can do for you about Suzanne Brockman. She’s on my list of “authors to try when I weed down my giant TBR list”
I’m with you on JR Ward. I wrote her a fan email once and she replied. I think I still have it.
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 12:44 pm.
The first author I ever met was Anne Mather years ago at a luncheon. She was very gracious and signed my copy of “Green Lightning”.
Today I am good friends with another author, but we have only talked on the phone a couple of times & chatted on line.
I did shake hands with William Shatner years ago, but we were not allowed to speak with him or ask for an autograph.
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 8:49 am.
Not allowed to speak to him? huh. I’d have rebelled on that one.
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 12:46 pm.
There were many highlights of last year’s Goddesses Take New York trip for me. One that struck me was not my envy of Suzanne E asking Stephen Colbert a question, but sensing her excitement when another guest got Stephen to talk about his favorite Sci Fi fiction. (Cail, thanks again for making that night happen!)
I squee’d the first time I met each goddess but tried keep it in control. In NYC at the signing I was late so I sidled up to Madeline where she let me go a little Curb Your Enthusiam on the whole overcrowded room.
Can’t wait to see you all at the goddess bacchanal in Anaheim.
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 10:08 am.
Fresh, say “Hi” to everyone for me in Anaheim. Wish I were going this year.
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 12:27 pm.
You got it, drown. Want to give me a l
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 3:31 pm.
Oops, IPhone bloop.
Want to give me a list and I’ll see if I can round up some signed books for you?
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 3:33 pm.
I’ll message you on FB.
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 7:08 pm.
HA! Yeah, there was some definite sci-fi excitement going on when he listed off and compared all those books. That was a fun night – and I think the photos of you with your feet on Colbert’s desk are some of my all time favorite.
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 12:48 pm.
Last year was so much fun, except for the long line Cail mentioned. I tried to keep my excitement in check as I met each Goddess and all the other authors at the signing. The after party was a blast. Meeting Fresh, Cail, SuzyQ, Sheridan, and pjpuppymom for the first time after “knowing” them all these years online was simply wonderful. I’d met several of the authors before at RT or NJRW Conventions and it was good seeing them again.
Years ago I did a lot of charity work involving soap actors. At first it was daunting meeting them, but once I realized how down to earth most of them were I was at ease around them. They were most accommodating in donating auction items and getting up with me onstage during the auction. A couple of the actors were actually quite shy doing something outside the studio. Others pretty bold and funny.
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 12:26 pm.
It was great fun. I look forward to our paths all crossing again.
It is rather funny seeing how “normal” most of the famous people are since we usually just hear about the ones behaving badly.
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 12:49 pm.
I’ll feel so bad missing everyone in Anaheim! The first time I went to a RWA literacy signing, I was all fan girl wide-eyed. And overwhelmed. So many of my favorite authors were there—many more than I expected. I just wandered down the rows of tables thinking “ooo,ooo, she is here too!” I only got half way through the room because I kept stopping.
It remains my top favorite event of the conferences. Since it will be in the convention center this year, there should be lots of space for the huge crowd.
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 12:44 pm.
You will be missed, Madeline.
I love that you all get fan girl over other authors like we get fan girl over you.
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 12:50 pm.
What Sheridan said, you’ll be missed
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 6:56 pm.
I’m going to London ComicCon tomorrow (which is technically today now…) and I am going to fangirl and squee all over the shop. I think there may be some flailing and a lot of blushing, and attempts at not to say something really daft and giggle like an idiot.
I am ridiculously excited though!!!
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 7:05 pm.
I got to meet sweet Julia London in Round Rock recently, and she was very funny and engaging and I had a fantastic time!
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 11:03 pm.
Hmmm, late to the party and wondering what happened to the post I just typed up.
Anyhoo, I’ve met the director of Open Season 3 because my dh worked him. Cody Cameron is the voices of Pinocchio and the Three Pigs in all the Shrek movies. Now, my dh has met quite a few celebrities – and I’m jealous of a couple of them. I think for him the biggest moment was when he met, sat next to, and took notes for Steven Spielberg during a screening. Then, he got to sit thru a dozen or so story meetings with Spielberg. Now, he just has to find a way to meet George Lucas – I think we have a friend who works at ILM. . .
I thought I was subscribed to the newsletter. I think I can go to Anaheim because it’s only an hour away. I’d LOVE to meet my fellow Godddesses.
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 1:47 am.
I wish I was going to Anaheim but it’s not in the cards this year. I’ll look forward to seeing everyone next year in Atlanta!
My first RWA experience was in 2006 and I was a total fan girl. I don’t think I stopped grinning for weeks! lol! New York was such fun. I was just thinking about it the other day and how wonderful it was to see/meet everyone.
Sheridan, I’m counting on you to take lots of photos for those of us who can’t be there this year!
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 7:41 pm.