Posted by Suzanne McMinn on July 16, 2007
Me, left, and Harlequin author (and mother-to-be) Michelle Willingham getting our groove on at the Harlequin party. More of the work, work, work at RWA. When Harlequin puts on a party for its authors, that means hundreds of women and almost no men, so it’s just one big ol’ lesbian party. And I have to say lesbian party because after I used the term lesbian party to describe this event last year, I discovered that one of the new, most frequent search strings that brought people to my site was lesbian party.
I need to figure out how to say lesbian party more than once a year. 
More about the party later….. (See my favorite picture from RWA at the bottom of this post.)
One the most fun things to do at RWA is people-watch. Hanging out in the lobbies and bars and other open spaces, watching the romance world go by. The Hyatt Regency in Dallas had a fabulous, huge second floor bar lounge, perfect for the sport of people-watching, hooking up with friends–old and new, eating, drinking, talking, laughing.
A random selection of photos from days and days of people-watching and hooking up with friends–
Old friends, Silhouette authors Cynthia Cooke (left) and Nina Bruhns.
Another view of the second floor bar lounge at the Hyatt. It was a great place to just watch people come off the escalator, sit down, hang out. People such as authors Elizabeth Bevarly (seated center, in the red) with Barbara Freethy to the left, Christie Ridgway to the right.
And people like, say, Nora Roberts. (At the table here to the left.) And then, yes really, THEN, she actually SITS DOWN LIKE A REGULAR PERSON and orders food.
Here’s me (right) with LINDA HOWARD!!! (I’m such a fan girl.)
Me again (right) with Berkeley author Beverly Long, a new friend from this conference.
Old friend Larissa Ione (left), Bantam author.
And one of my oldest friends, my darling Carla Cassidy, prolific Silhouette author.
HQN author Jennifer Skully, left, and Blaze author Joanne Rock.
My beautiful friends lined up for photos before the Rita and Golden Heart awards on Saturday night–(L-R) Kensington author Janette Kenny, Kacey Pickens, Berkeley author Beverly Long, me, Golden Heart finalist Jena Brown, and LaShon Ison-Hill. So. Much. Fun.
But it’s the Harlequin party on Friday night that is always my favorite event during RWA. There’s always plenty of pretty food….
…..sometimes, like this year, some strange DJs……
…..and even some strange dancing.
The party is always a blast, one more time to see friends and laugh and dance. Here I am with fabulous Silhouette author Loreth Anne White.
And here is my annual photo of Nora Roberts on the dance floor. (Center, in the green dress.)
And here I am, with my BFF (BEST FRIEND FOREVER) Nora Roberts!! Yes, that’s ME, with NORA. She’s touching me–see her hand on my shoulder??? Clearly, she adores me.
I HAVE BEEN TOUCHED BY A GODDESS!!!
I can never wash that shoulder again.
Winner of Cross My Heart by Carly Phillips–Tammy G! (Email me!) And, I have so many goodies to give away, I’m doing giveaways all week, every day, unloading my suitcase and sending it all to you. Up for grabs today–an autographed copy of Blood Calls, the new Nocturne release by Caridad Pineiro. Let me know if you want your name in the hat!
9:18
am
Please put my name in the hat !
Love the pictures, everyone looks so happy !
9:21
am
She clearly does ADORE you!! This means if I make RWA next year you have to introduce me!!!
Can you put me down for the draw??
Glad you had such a great time
9:25
am
Wow Suzanne!!
Looks like you had a fantastic time last week. Can’t wait to see what else you did and found this week. Great pic of you and Nora, and the rest of them are great too. 
LeAnne
10:02
am
Thanks for sharing these great pictures!
Count me in for the drawing
10:10
am
Love the pictures, Suzanne! We had fun, didn’t we?
10:12
am
OMG! How could you stand it
You touched Nora 
Very cool 
10:26
am
Love the pictures. Looks like a great time was had.
11:03
am
I. AM. So. Exhausted!! But had a GREAT time.
BFF, huh? Well, good to know ; )
Lots of GREAT pics!
11:44
am
GREAT pictures!!!!
You with Nora….when I see y’all in San Fran next year, perhaps you can introduce me to her and I can be her BFF too! (LOL!)
12:05
pm
Wonderful pictures!!! And
on being touched by the Goddess!!!
Please put my name in the hat for the giveaway!
12:22
pm
Beautiful pictures!
Oh yes, I want my name in that hat.
12:33
pm
That is a great picture with Nora. Please throw my name in the hat.
12:34
pm
Looks like you had a really great time. Plz put me in the hat.
1:00
pm
Oh, so much fun! Love the photos!
Yes, I’d love my name in the hat for the book, unless being outside the U.S. disqualifies me for mailing.
-Kim
1:05
pm
Kim, nope, my contests are always open whether you live in the U.S. or not!
1:11
pm
Great pictures, especially the one with your BFF..Nora.
Enter my name as well.
2:16
pm
Fantastic pictures! Nora touched you? TOO COOL! Glad you had a great time!
2:27
pm
Fabulous pictures, Suzanne! You and Nora…clearly separated at birth twins.
2:28
pm
What a great time–thanks for sharing the photos! Put me in the hat
3:31
pm
Great pictures!
The last one would make a great Xmas card 
hehe
3:36
pm
Lis, yes, perfect! I’m sure Nora will want to use it, too. That’s me and Nora, tight like that, sending out our season’s greetings together!
3:57
pm
Sounds like you had a wonderful time and I’m really enjoying the pics.
I’m always up for a chance at a new book
3:58
pm
Great pictures! And you got to meet Nora Roberts… I just love her books!
Count me in!
4:04
pm
Was that dance letkis ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letkajenkka ) that you were dancing?
4:07
pm
Minna, the one where everyone is in a line? We call that a conga line here. I didn’t actually dance that one. I just took pictures!
4:46
pm
It was fun!!!! Good to see you again Suzanne — I have you boogying on my blog
And the gorgeous Michelle Willingham is there, too. With THE NORA! (Can you help me name the charming author sitting with you and THE NORA??? Help! I have conference brain
6:39
pm
Looks like you had an AWESOME time… send some of that Nora voodoo my way, would you?
And, of course, throw my name in that hat!
10:54
pm
Loved all the pics, Suzanne!! I’ll see you in SF 2008. Oh Nora touched you?!?@?! *sigh* You’re my hero.
4:18
am
I love all your pictures Suzanne! Please enter me for the book.
7:08
am
Love the picture, your guys had a blast! Put my name in the hat, please.
11:41
am
Ah, yes! How can we forget the annual “NR on the dance floor” picture of your close, personal friend!
I had been wating for it. So glad you didn’t disappoint me!!
12:05
pm
Lovely photo of you and Nora, Suzanne. It was great to meet you and to introduce you to your BFF!!
Diane
9:39
am
So many cool people! My head is spinning.
Alice