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Though I started this blog after I joined Heartla, in my livejournal blog I did a write up of Heartla’s Reader’s Luncheon after I attended in October 2008.  At the time, I was simply another reader and I enjoyed the food, the table conversation and the speakers at the luncheon.

This year I had an entirely different perspective.  Though I didn’t participate in much of the planning, I helped pack goodie bags for attendees and was present when the all the myriad of things needed were discussed at our monthly Heartla Meetings.  This year’s meeting was even more wonderful in terms of speakers because both speakers were true romance novelists.  Not that the speakers last year weren’t wonderful, but this year Cynthia Eden (Hello sexy books about hot-blooded demons!) and Kelley St. John (Hello smart, sexy writing!) were spot on speakers for this Reader’s Luncheon.

Ms. Eden spoke about her favorite books (she even brought her first romance ever along!) and how one book set her on track to be a romance lover to this day.  She picked up her first romance in 1990 (I was about a year behind Cythia, so ha!) and she was hooked.  I think all readers of all genres can relate to that.  I was hooked when I read the hobbit and again when I read my first Harlequin (sadly, I cannot remember the name, though I remember the story clear as day.)  Ms. Eden’s speech was fun and uplifting.  As a writer of sci-fi, fantasy and romance, I tend to feel torn on my passion for all three subjects.  Romance is usually frowned upon by all genres.  But, as Ms. Eden pointed out, it’s also the largest book market today.  And boy are we romance lovers loyal.

Mrs. St. John (I know she’s a Mrs. because I met her husband!), was a wonderful speaker as well.  Her speech had quite a bit of humor and some tear jerking moments as well.  She spoke of the readers and how authors, any authors, would not be where they are without their readers.  Never, ever say you are just a reader.  You are a reader and the reason that so many people write.

And that’s what this Luncheon is about, the Reader.  We writers would be nothing without you.  Now I may never be published, but I will always be thankful to anyone who reads my work; regardless of whether you actually enjoyed it or not!

The turn out for the Luncheon was wonderful and though things didn’t go as smoothly as some would like, Heartla received positive comments from all quarters, authors and readers alike.  And, of course, this wouldn’t have gone off without the help of the Luncheon committee who put in a great deal of effort and I’m sure where quite exhausted once everything was said and done.

It was fun to be on the other side of the event and still get to participate as if I were just a reader too.  I even won a raffle basket!  It contained all the goodies any aspiring writer needs and believe you me, I’ll be using those tools to their fullest when I begin working on my novel for NaNoWriMo in November.  Along with the gifts, I was given a certificate for Silken Sand’s Writer Conference, which is put on by the Gulf Coast Chapter of RWA.  And I was offered a 50 page critique by Cynthia Eden.  Needless to say, I was one giddy writer.  But now I find myself torn on what I should send to Cynthia.  I believe I’ll work on my fantasy story, which has the greatest balance of romance and fantasy of any of my other stories.

And so I proclaim, with only a small amount of bias, the Heartla Reader’s Luncheon of 2009 a success.  Thank you, once again Ladies, for doing an outstanding job.  You all deserve a round of applause and chocolate.

Tags: Event, Heartla