So What Are You Wearing to the Rita’s? No Really…

May 23, 2012 by in category Archives tagged as , , , with 6 and 0
Home > Writing > Archives > So What Are You Wearing to the Rita’s? No Really…


Until the May meeting, I really hadn’t thought too much about the 2012 National Romance Writers of America Conference. I mean, I had…I registered and paid for it, I looked over the list of editors and agents that would be attending checked out the workshops, made hotel arrangements, okay, Joyce and Julie made hotel arrangements and included me in them, but that counts right? (Have I mentioned to you guys that I’m the Queen of Run On Sentences? No really I am!) But, it was something I was doing later, in the future so it didn’t seem real. Okay, the credit card bill was pretty real, but the event still seemed far away to me.
I wasn’t even going to go. My husband, Paul, the real life hero in the romance story of my life, henceforth referred to as Hunky Hubby (it’s a long story, but that’s his name now in my other blogs, so it might as well be here) was laid off in February, just before registration. He was off for several weeks and I couldn’t justify spending five hundred dollars on registration, two to three hundred on a hotel room, who knows how much on food…and possibly wine, and then whatever else comes up, because it will. I mean I still have to find a dress for the RITA’s!! What is everyone else wearing please help!!
So I wasn’t going to go. But, Hunky Hubby intervened. “This is for your career, you’re not going on a girl’s weekend to Vegas, you needto do this.” (Ha, little does he know!) It took him a couple of weeks to convince me. I’m the one who pays the bills and manages the money and in general I’m pretty frugal. I finally broke down and registered April 9th, yes the very last day of the early registration discount.
But I wasn’t excited, maybe it was the guilt, maybe just life has been so hectic. I didn’t get excited until the last OCC meeting. Everyone was talking about the upcoming conference, previous conferences, sharing tips, talking about writers, editors and agents that would be there, workshops to attend and all of the books!!
Now I’m excited. Not just excited, but motivated and even a little nervous. My writing productivity has greatly increased since the meeting. I’m making lists of things I need to remember to take, I’m looking online at semi-formal dresses for RITA…seriously, what are you guys wearing??
I was told not to take my manuscript that editors and agents won’t take them there, but Hunky Hubby has decided I need to take my manuscript. In fact, he’s convinced I need to take a hundred copies, so he’s putting it on hundreds of little flash drives for me to carry and hand to every editor or agent that I meet, and anyone who looks like they could be an editor or agent. I on the other hand am ordering business cards to distribute instead. Don’t tell Hunky Hubby.
I’m worried that Hunky Hubby and Middle Son (Middle Son is the last son living at home) will starve while I’m gone. I mean, neither cooks, well, they do grill, but they won’t even make themselves a sandwich and they’ll sit at the dining table, Hunky Hubby with a cold beer and Middle Son with a can of soda (he’s 22, but I’m in denial) waiting for me to serve their dinner each evening. Or, Middle Son will pick up pizza or tacos every night, and they’ll have subway for lunch. Okay, I guess they won’t starve.
And then there’s my manuscript. Can I expand my word count enough and have it polished in time? And my pitch, I don’t even want to think about my pitch, but of course, I’m constantly thinking about my pitch. OMG I HAVE TO GIVE A PITCH….MORE THAN ONCE.
So what are you all going to wear to the RITA’s? Can you please tell me so I can relax and quit worrying about the conference? Please?

Tari
Author Details
Author Details
A Slice of Orange started in 2004 as a group of authors from Orange County, California. We have expanded to include authors from around the globe–from the UK, all across the US to New Zealand. Our authors include the multi-published and writers at the beginning of their publishing career. In addition to authors, we feature blog posts from editors, PR professionals, and cover designers. The bright segments of the writing and reading community that make up one perfect entity—A Slice of Orange.
On Sale

Books on sale or free

Redheaded Ruminations

Buy now!
Redheaded Ruminations

STOLEN KISSES FROM THE VISCOUNT

Buy now!
STOLEN KISSES FROM THE VISCOUNT
INTIMATE RELATIONS
THIEVES: Book One of the Obscurité de Floride Trilogy
FUR, FEATHERS AND SCALES: Sweet, Funny, and Strange Animal Tales

SAVAGED SURRENDER

Buy now!
SAVAGED SURRENDER
WHO’S THE FAIREST? A Sisters Grimm Anthology
SNOW IN LOVE: Sweet Romance Holiday Collection

THE LIFE OF RILEY

Buy now!
THE LIFE OF RILEY
FATHOMS: A NOVEL OF THE PARANORMAL

GIRL IN THE MIST

Buy now!
GIRL IN THE MIST

THE FIX UP

Buy now!
THE FIX UP

GIRLFRIENDS & SECRETS

Buy now!
GIRLFRIENDS & SECRETS

#Me Too

Buy now!
#Me Too

HAGAR’S LAST DANCE

Buy now!
HAGAR’S LAST DANCE

FREYA Viking Glory Book Two

Buy now!
FREYA Viking Glory Book Two

LEIF Viking Glory Book One

Buy now!
LEIF Viking Glory Book One

THE GHOST OF DEPFORD HALL

Buy now!
THE GHOST OF DEPFORD HALL

DANGER MUSIC

Buy now!
DANGER MUSIC

THE FAMILY NEXT DOOR

Buy now!
THE FAMILY NEXT DOOR

THE WOULD BE MOMMY

Buy now!
THE WOULD BE MOMMY

A LADY’S POINT OF VIEW

Buy now!
A LADY’S POINT OF VIEW

COWBOY KARMA

Buy now!
COWBOY KARMA
BECKONED, PART 1: FROM LONDON WITH LOVE

A SOLDIER’S ITALIAN CHRISTMAS

Buy now!
A SOLDIER’S ITALIAN CHRISTMAS

CITY OF BLAZE

Buy now!
CITY OF BLAZE

LET IT SNOW

Buy now!
LET IT SNOW

ILONA’S WOLF

Buy now!
ILONA’S WOLF

COME FLY WITH ME

Buy now!
COME FLY WITH ME
THE DAY BAILEY DEVLIN’S HOROSCOPE CAME TRUE

WELCOME TO LOON LAKE

Buy now!
WELCOME TO LOON LAKE

SUPERHERO IN DISGUISE

Buy now!
SUPERHERO IN DISGUISE

HOSTILE WITNESS

Buy now!
HOSTILE WITNESS

LOVE NOTES

Buy now!
LOVE NOTES

THE ROGUE’S LAST SCANDAL

Buy now!
THE ROGUE’S LAST SCANDAL
2019

HER COWBOY KING

Buy now!
HER COWBOY KING
CHRISTMAS ON NANTUCKET AND OTHER STORIES
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RIDGE, NEW YORK, 1930

THE MASK OF MIDNIGHT

Buy now!
THE MASK OF MIDNIGHT

THE CHRISTMAS PRESENT

Buy now!
THE CHRISTMAS PRESENT
SERIOUSLY, MOM, YOU DIDN’T KNOW?
OFF THE RAILS: A Collection of Weird, Wicked, & Wacky Stories

THE WORTH OF A VISCOUNT

Buy now!
THE WORTH OF A VISCOUNT

SHADOWS AT DAWN

Buy now!
SHADOWS AT DAWN

DEAD BLOW

Buy now!
DEAD BLOW
WINTER WISHES: A REGENCY HOLIDAY ROMANCE ANTHOLOGY

HAUNTING MISS FENWICK

Buy now!
HAUNTING MISS FENWICK
LOST WITNESS: A Josie Bates Thriller

REWRITING THE PAST

Buy now!
REWRITING THE PAST

CLEAR INTENT

Buy now!
CLEAR INTENT

HIDDEN BETRAYAL

Buy now!
HIDDEN BETRAYAL

HER LOST LOVE

Buy now!
HER LOST LOVE

TWO BITES TOO MANY

Buy now!
TWO BITES TOO MANY

ONCE UPON AN ENCHANTED FOREST

Buy now!
ONCE UPON AN ENCHANTED FOREST
COLTON 911: CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE
#PLEASE SAY YES (#HermosafortheHolidays Book 1)

TRACKING SHADOWS

Buy now!
TRACKING SHADOWS

THE DECEPTION

Buy now!
THE DECEPTION

THEIR HIGHLAND BEGINNING

Buy now!
THEIR HIGHLAND BEGINNING

HIS HIGHLAND SURPRISE

Buy now!
HIS HIGHLAND SURPRISE

FREYA Viking Glory Book Two

Buy now!
FREYA Viking Glory Book Two

LEIF Viking Glory Book One

Buy now!
LEIF Viking Glory Book One

DARK WINE AT DUSK

Buy now!
DARK WINE AT DUSK
SHORT and SWEET’S FAMILY ALBUM

THE DEVIL’S CARESS

Buy now!
THE DEVIL’S CARESS

GAME TOWN

Buy now!
GAME TOWN

THE WITCH OF BERGEN

Buy now!
THE WITCH OF BERGEN

THE CONSPIRACY

Buy now!
THE CONSPIRACY
THE WITCHES OF NEW MOON BEACH BOXED SET

FOR A GOOD PAWS

Buy now!
FOR A GOOD PAWS

THE OBLIVIOUS BILLIONAIRE

Buy now!
THE OBLIVIOUS BILLIONAIRE

ONE TASTE TOO MANY

Buy now!
ONE TASTE TOO MANY

    ×
    A Slice of Orange started in 2004 as a group of authors from Orange County, California. We have expanded to include authors from around the globe–from the UK, all across the US to New Zealand. Our authors include the multi-published and writers at the beginning of their publishing career. In addition to authors, we feature blog posts from editors, PR professionals, and cover designers. The bright segments of the writing and reading community that make up one perfect entity—A Slice of Orange.
  • Anonymous says:

    Tari, What I've noticed at the RITAs is that anything goes – way dressed up, subtly dressed down. Just be your own amazing self and it will all be good. Though I totally get it – I used to be so afraid of wearing the wrong thing. But then I inadvertently did it so much, it ceased to matter! And as for the pitch, know what you want to say, but be conversational – talk about your book like it is your way awesome best friend. At least, that's what my TV writer husband tells me, and he pitches all the time.

    -Ger

  • Anonymous says:

    I'm probably going to be wearing a nice evening pantsuit to the Ritas, but seriously, don't sweat it. You don't have to dress like it's the Oscars, even though it's our version of the Oscars. LOL, there's no red carpet. (Hope I'm not trampling on too many illusions here.)

    Relax and try to enjoy the conference!

  • Anonymous says:

    Hi,

    Nice Article, you done a great job, I like this article so much. this is helpful for me and my friends.

    Thanks
    semi formal dresses

  • Anonymous says:

    Laura, I've been looking at tents, just can't find one in my color!!
    Tari

  • Anonymous says:

    Tari, I'm wearing a TENT if I don't quit eating!!!

    Stress is getting to me.

    You're right about your hubby – he's a Sweetie!

    Laura Drake

  • Anonymous says:

    Tari, I'm wearing a TENT if I don't quit eating!!!

    Stress is getting to me.

    You're right about your hubby – he's a Sweetie!

    Laura Drake

  • Copyright ©2017 A Slice of Orange. All Rights Reserved. ~PROUDLY POWERED BY WORDPRESS ~ CREATED BY ISHYOBOY.COM

    >