Authors visiting in the upcoming months to read and sign books. Seattle rocks.

JANUARY

• January 10: 1pm
  Writing workshop with Jayne Ann Krentz
  University Bookstore – Bellevue
  Writing workshop and celebration of the publication of Running Hot. Free – Please rsvp to ubs_events_bellevue@earthlink.net for a seat at the workshop
• Monday • January 26 • 7pm
  Fantastic Fiction Salon with Eileen Gunn
  Eileen Gunn, winner of the Nebula award and author of “Stable Strategies and Others,” reads and discusses her work. $5. Co-sponsored by Richard Hugo House. www.nwmediaarts.com
  Richard Hugo House Cabaret, 1634 11th Avenue, Seattle
  Sponsored by NW MediaArts, Richard Hugo House, and University Book Store.
• Wednesday • Januray 28 • 7pm
  Lois McMaster Bujold
  The Sharing Knife: Volume 4: Horizon (EOS)
  Reading & Book Signing
  U District store
  Lois McMaster Bujold, a multi-Hugo award winner and fantasy fan favorite, presents the fourth book in her popular Sharing Knife series. In the world of the soldier-sorcerer Lakewalkers and ancient magic, Dag Hickory is deepening his understanding of his power. And becoming someone—or something—different.

FEBRUARY

• Tuesday • February 3 • 7pm
  Patricia Briggs
  Bone Crossed (Mercy Thompson, Book 4) (ACE)
  Reading & Book Signing
  U District store
• Monday • February 16 • 7pm
  Christopher Moore
  Fool: A Novel (WILLIAM MORROW)
  Reading & Book Signing
  U District store

MARCH

• Monday • March 2 • 7pm
  Kim Harrison
  White Witch Black Curse (The Hallows, Book 7) (WILLIAM MORROW)
  Reading & Book Signing
  U District store

The 2008 Romance Writers of America Conference is finally over. My very first time at the conference, it has been a fabulous, overwhelming week of much squeeeing and many deer-in-the-headlights moments. I am exhausted and need a month to recover, but must get back to work WRITING! My critique partner spent the conference holed up in her hotel room rewriting her opening chapters. I bow in her general direction. Good lord, that’s dedication. Me, I was busy hiding behind plants and generally making a fool of myself. (I’m terribly shy. Brad Paisley has it right: I’m so much cooler online.)

Highlight 1: Star Struck – Meeting My Favorite Authors *squeeeee!*

(above left) Nora Roberts remembered my Ferrets Against Plagiarism teeshirt and said her grandkids wear theirs all the time. (above right) Harlequin authors Delores Fossen and Jessica Andersen.

(above left) Larissa Ione signs PLEASURE UNBOUND. (above right) Lisa Kleypas *fans self* signs SUGAR DADDY. Yup, I own both these books. But I lurve them and so I need signed copies.

(above left) Kresley Cole signed the most recent IMMORTALS AFTER DUSK book. (above right) Nalini Singh ran out of books *sob* but she signed the ARC of HOSTAGE TO PLEASURE for me. Too bad I have to give it back to Katie(babs).

(above left) Mother-Daughter team P.C. and Kristin Cast. (above right) Lori Handeland signed ARCs of her new Urban Fantasy series.

(above left) Melissa Marr signed copies of her 2008 RITA winner in the YA category WICKED LOVELY. (above right) Julia London also ran out of books, but she talked to me for a bit.

Highlight 2: Romance Bloggers Rule the World

Finally met quite a few of the lovely ladies I’ve been blogging with over the past year: the Smart Bitches, Jane from Dear Author, Katie(babs) and Kristi(J), Wendy Super Librarian, Little Alys, Lisabea, Sula, Tracy, Rosie, Amy, and I apologize in advance for forgetting anyone else…my brain is fried. I also met Twitter friends. Teh Internetz is amazing.

Highlight 3: Christmas in July from Jolly Old Saint Martin and his publishing friends

This picture only shows the stash from Friday. Saturday I attended three more publisher signings, and scored a bunch of Advanced Reader Copies from TOR. I put the ARCs in my suitcase and shipped the two full boxes back.

Highlight 4: Writing Workshops (wait, there were workshops?)

Been there, done that, bought the CD. Actually I did attend a few, and I’ll write up my notes (no promises) when I get back home.

Hawt heroes, fruity drinks, fabulous books. What more could you ask for when stranded on a desert island? We’ve come up with one more perk: AUTHORS. Come check out the DESERT ISLAND KEEPER LADIES RULE! blog to chat with your favorite authors, dish about your favorite books, and fight over your favorite heroes. It is, in the words of Jeri Smith-Ready, the “hottest new blog for readers.”

What six authors would you bring if you were stranded on a desert island?

Up now through wednesday: Jeri Smith-Ready chats about her latest Urban Fantasy release, Wicked Game, and will be giving away a free copy to one lucky commenter.

July 3 thru. July 5 : Evangeline Anderson
August 4 thru. August 6: Colleen Gleason
August 7 thru. August 9: Jacquelyn Frank
August 25 thru. August 27: Roxanne St. Claire
September 1 thru. September 3: Ann Aguirre
September 4 thru. September 6: Nalini Singh
September 8 thru 10: J.L. Langley
September Surprise: Josh Lanyon
September 29 thru. October 4: M/M Romance writers including: Ally Blue, Jet Mykles, J.L. Langley, and James Buchanan
November 3 thru. November 5: Michele Lang
November 6 thru. November 8: Meljean Brook
December 1 thru. December 3: Carrie Lofty
December 6: Shiloh Walker

Also Samantha Kane will be joining us in November and author/DIK member Katie Reus will be joining us soon!

Katie MacAlister, another wonderful SEATTLE author, has long been one of my favorite reads for her spunky characters and lol humor. One of my first romance novels was her book Men in Kilts and her Aisling Grey, Guardian, series is awesome. I adore Jim, the demon newfoundland.

KATIECON 2009? MAYBE…

Recently, some of the lovely folk over on the message forum have been talking about arranging a Minion Meet/Get-Together/mini KatieCon in the Seattle environs, since they know I am a shy little hermit who doesn’t travel much.

I started thinking about that, and after talking to my darling agent Michelle, we decided that rather than have just a couple of hours over a tea, we’d like to do a day-long event. The event would be held in the meeting room of a hotel, with one meal catered by the hotel (they do a great job with food). We’d also likely have some amusements–Michelle wants poker with prizes being exchanged for chips, rather than money (don’t ask Michelle about her Puzzle Pirates poker addiction–it’s just too, too shameful)–and probably a Q&A session with us both, books to be signed, a raffle benefitting a local charity, giveaways, etc.

This would not be a conference in the sense of workshops, agent appointments, etc. It would instead be a gathering of people who wanted to get together for a day to talk about dragons and Dark Ones, scarf down some delicious food, and generally have a good time.

Originally we were thinking of this fall for the KatieCon, but after consulting with Michelle, we feel April or May of next year would be better. Since attendance will be limited to keep me sane, I’d like to hear from those of you who would be interested in coming. There would be no charge for the event other than your travel and lodging expenses (if applicable), etc., and would likely be held on a Saturday. I have a May 2009 book, so it might be fun to have the event in the middle to end of April, so I could pass out early copies of the book.

If you are interested in coming to the Seattle area (the hotel where I’d have the event is actually in Bellevue, which is right next to Seattle) for this get-together, please drop me an e-mail (katie@katiemacalister.com) with:

• A vote for a Saturday in April 2009
• A vote for a Saturday in May 2009
• A vote for some other time

Once I see how many people are really interested in attending, then I will be able to make some decisions about dates, attendance limit, etc. Questions and comments are also welcome, so let me know what you think about the whole idea!

Best,

Katie

Did someone say Puzzle Pirates??? Funniest book ever (if you’ve played Puzzle Pirates)- Blow Me Down. I’ll be there, taking pictures and notes for you poor souls who don’t live in the most beautiful place in the world, the Pacific Northwest.

If you haven’t yet had the pleasure of reading Katie (I’ve read all but 2 of her books!), may I strongly suggest you read You Slay Me, the first book in the Aisling Grey, Guardian series.