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Hello, San Diego and a Giveaway!

Last week romance authors from all around the world met in San Diego, California to learn more about the business and craft of writing, meet with industry professionals, and just have fun! I love the Romance Writer's of America conference because it's a yearly meet up with old friends,  plus a way to make new friends and fangirl over my favorite authors.

This year Sourcebooks Casablanca was fortunate enough to have 5 finalists for the prestigious Rita award for excellence in romance writing. Grace Burrowes seemed to elude our attempts to get a photo together, but here are 4 of us at a reception.
Theresa Romain, Asa Maria Bradley, Shana Galen, ML Buchman
We attended a reception outside, which was sunny and beautiful. Here's a closer look at my certificate.
Another fun annual event is the Sourcebooks dinner. We went to Coronado this year, and Sourcebooks went all out with the tables and the party favors. We all received wraps to keep us warm during the chilly San Diego nights.

This was the view in the evening. We even got to see fireworks!
Finally, on Saturday night it was time for the Rita awards. None of the Sourcebooks nominees won, but we had a fantastic time anyway. And it was thrilling to see our names on the big screen!
I can't wait to go back to San Diego and enjoy more of the lovely weather and beautiful city. Where do you want to go for your next vacation? One person who comments will win this fabulous tote bag from Sourcebooks. Inside are all 5 Rita nominated books! Don't forget to leave your email address, so I can email you that you've won.

Winner chosen randomly and announced Sunday.

Comments

  1. We are going to a beach in NC next month. Next year I hope to go in the mountains in TN.
    campbellamyd at gmail dot com

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  2. This year our vacation is moving our oldest to Boulder, Colorado for the foreseeable future for grad school. With any luck the move and business stuff will go smoothly and we'll have relaxation (hiking) time too.

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  3. I'd be happy to go anywhere but there are no plans for us. Sounds like fun was had by all!

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    1. No plans (other than work) for me either. I like staying home, though.

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  4. Hopefully going to the beach with family - good food, playing in the pool and on the beach, and everyone loves to read!

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  5. I'm not really planning a vacation this summer but if I could get away I'd go to Eureka Springs Arkansas, I love it there.

    linda dot Henderson70 at yahoo dot com

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  6. This year vacation I am going to Universal Orlando in August. I must be crazy with the heat and the long lines. Regardles, I m going to have fun with the family.

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  7. My husband and I are going to Disneyland Paris in September to run in their inaugural half marathon. We'll also visit the city for a few days afterwards.

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    1. OMG! I'd love to do that. Have a great time!

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  8. We have not planned a real vacation since our daughter Tami was married in Maui 10 yrs ago 08/10/16. We own a summer home on the Tippecanoe River in Star City, Indiana 80 miles from our home and we always just go there when we have the time. It is beautiful, so peaceful with animals to watch and I get a lot of reading done sitting on my porch swing. We just bought this summer a double chase lounge and my husband and I will sit and read or just watch the river.

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    1. A double chaise lounge. I like your style.

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  9. I'm going to the Historical Romance Retreat in Spokane, WA, in September. Can't wait to meet all the great authors!

    San Diego looked like a lot of fun too.

    1mad @ marktwain dot net

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  10. San Francisco. Went went I was a kid and would love to go back now as an adult with my husband. So much to see and do & so much literary & film history. LOVE that bag and would really love to snag it. Email: letyourmindalone @ hotmail dot com

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    1. It's a super cute bag (book are good inside it too).

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  11. we went to NY City for my boyfriend's sister's graduation in June (awesome). i should be visiting my sis in Florida at the end of Oct/beginning of November!!!
    sparkle40175AThotmailDOTcom

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    1. That's a nice time to visit Florida. Love NY too!

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  12. My vacation this year will be with about 10,000 friends I haven't met yet doing medieval camping in western PA. It's with the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) and there are knights having battles, 1500+ classes on anything and everything that happened or was made during the medieval/renaissance time period, and merchants galore! Plus hanging out with my friends in camp at night discussing everything under the sun and moon.

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    1. Wow! How amazing! I bet you have a great time.

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  13. My next trip is to visit my daughter and family in North Carolina later this summer. But my DREAM trip is to go to Scotland!

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  14. I would love to go to the Outer Banks!
    My dream trip would be to Ireland!
    Great blog and lived the photos!

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    1. Both of those are places I'd like to go too, Sue.

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  15. I am going to Chicago just because I have never been there. My dream vacation is an Alaskan Cruise.

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    1. Chicago is great. I'd like to go on an Alaskan cruise too. I want to see whales.

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  16. San Diego sounds wonderful and I would like to visit the Grand Canyon some day also.

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    1. I'd like to see the Grand Canyon as well.

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  17. For my next vacation I'd like to go to a nice cabin in the woods. So I can do nothing but read.

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  18. I would love to go to Spokane for the Historical Romance Retreat in Sept. We shall see...
    sharlenewegner@hotmail.com

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  19. How wonderful that I recognized all the beautiful girls in the picture =D
    I love going to Orlando, FL, more specifically Universal Studios but this year it would be grand if I went to the HHR. Too bad it's not going to happen. Good thing there is always a next time!
    Joanna M

    annaoj (dot) mortes (at) gmail (dot) com

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  20. It's not a reality right now but I'd love to go to Scotland someday for vacation and maybe find some hot Scots in kilts to be my tour guide! ;-)

    ahui89 at hotmail dot com

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    1. I would also love to go back to Scotland.

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  21. I would like to go to Paris again. Hopefully, most of those awful issues would resolve by that time! :)

    maybe31 at yahoo.com

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    1. I'd like to go again as well. I feel for that city right now.

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  22. I'm only having book adventures in the foreseeable future, but Scotland, Ireland, Australia & New Zealand are places I would love to visit.
    winnie968 at yahoo dot com

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    1. I'd love to visit Australia and NZ too, but the long flight! Ugh.

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  23. We are thinking about a trip to the Smokey Mountains next year.
    sheryll1974 AT netscape DOT net

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  24. NYC for a day or two

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  25. A nice romantic Mediterrenean Cruise

    natasha_angel2009@yahoo.com

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  26. A trip to NYC or Washington, DC would be nice. There's a lot to do in either city.

    penfield716(AT)yahoo(DOT)com

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    1. I agree. It would be hard to decide. Both!

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  27. I would love to go to Minnesota for our next vacation! We just got back from FL and I think my son fell in love lol!
    zanes_mommy08(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. I've never been to MN. I'd like to go too.

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  28. Hawaii

    bn100candg at hotmail dot com

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    1. I've never been there either. I'd love to go.

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  29. I would love one day to visit Scotland,Ireland and England :)
    Thank you for the lovely post Shana :)
    bubacka07(at)outlook(dot)com

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