Doing it for the First Time...

Not that first time, dirty minds.  My first conference.  On Friday, I will be one of the masses attending the NJ RWA conference.  I can't wait :) Cliche, yes I know but it's exactly how I'm feeling.  I'm nervous, excited and wondering if my outfits will look good.  I've heard nothing but great things about this conference and my chapter mates emphasize the need for me to attend. 

I'm a seasoned traveler, thanks to the Air Force so packing isn't a problem. Hopefully, my energy levels won't drop until it's over.  But this one is for me to lose my conference virginity so when RWA national conference arrivals in the Big Apple in June I'll be prepared for the craziness that is.

So, I'll be attending great workshops, meeting new people and pitching my category romance.  With crossed fingers and hope, this conference will be a wonderful one.

When I Was A Young Girl

When I was a young girl, my mother encouraged me to read and purchased anything that had a written word.  Magazines were reading materials I received monthly.  At the time, there weren't many books that spoke to a pre-teen or teenager girl. 

Well, I fell in love with magazines.  Still till this day, I pour over my magazines.  I subscribe to Vogue--the love of my life--Vanity Fair, Glamour, Cosmo, Marie Claire, GQ, Writer's Digest and Romantic Times.  
Even now, I know the days when they are or should be stuffed into my mailbox.  I read them from cover to cover and even the Editor's Letter. 

My favorite magazine in the world is VOGUE.  I must be the only person in the world who would be utterly thrill that I would jump for it if I were to meet Anna Wintour.  I love her.  Each month she and the Vogue team produce a product that take me away to a stylish planet.   Sarah Jessica Parker as Carrie Bradshaw said she purchased Vogue before food since she thought it fed her soul.  I agree. 

Much of publishing is becoming digital, I implore the publishing beings not to take away the printed word.  I love the shiny feel of the vivid photos.  The way the pages curl up and the quick snap as I flick the pages.  So, please until you can recreate the reading-magazine experience, keep on printing them.  I'll keep on reading them. Since I received my Vanity Fair and Cosmo.  Tah-Tah.

In the Eye of Research

I'm currently revising my category romance novel.  Act 1 had to be completely written and two scenes required a new fabulous location.  Lucky for me, I live in a city that people all over the world would die to live in--New York City.  So, I decided to set this scene in the Guggenheim. 

It had been years since my last visit to this tornado shaped museum.  After paying my admission, I craned my neck back and looked at the skylight and I had one thought, it isn't as big as I remembered.  Luckily the art was still as good.  The exhibition was Chaos and Classicism.  Focusing on the return of classicism in all art forms after the end of WWI to the begin of WWII. 

In today's world the topic is relevant.  The US is winding down its presence in Iraq and both Afghanistan and terrorism has changed our world and the eye we view it out of.  I wonder what artists will grasp hold of to define this era.  It's human nature for us to look to understanding of the chaos in the world and to look at the old times as the good ole' days. 

For my novel, the Guggenheim is the set for the first kiss between my hero and heroine.  The white walls of the museum are perfect for this step in the romance.  Nothing to distract them from their attraction and with nooks that are the perfect spots to steal a kiss.  Art is about passion and not better place to set two characters desires to a simmer so it will soon boil over.