2010 "Readers for Life" Literacy Autographing

If you are anywhere near Orlando, Florida, next Wednesday, July 28, 2010, you’re going to want to be at the Walt Disney World® Dolphin Resort between 5:30 pm and 7:30 pm for the "Readers for Life" Literacy Autographing event, where more than 500 romance authors will participate to raise thousands of dollars for ProLiteracy Worldwide.

It takes place in the Pacific Exhibit Hall and is open to the public. There is no admittance charge. Since the proceeds from this event are donated to charity, Romance Writers of America asks that you purchase books at the event instead of bringing your own books. (RWA accepts cash, check, or credit/debit cards for book purchases at the event.)

Young Adult authors in attendance this year include Buzz Girls Tera Lynn Childs, Tina Ferraro, Marley Gibson and Wendy Toliver, as well as other "names you know" such as Shelley Adina, Meg Cabot, Ally Carter, Melissa Doyle, Jennifer Echols, Simone Elkeles and Lauren Strasnick.

Just to give you an idea of the fun, here’s some pictures from last year’s event:


Rita finalists for Best Young Adult Romance 2009, me, Rosemary Clement-Moore (who won!) and Tera Lynn Childs.


Jennifer Echols, who was sweet enough to make me a make-shift Rita flag to let shoppers know my book was a finalist, and me. This year, Jennifer and I are among the 2010 Rita finalists!


The legendary Janet Evanovich--holding MY Book!

We Buzz Girls hope you that you will make this fun and worthwhile event--and if you do, please drop by our tables and say hello!

Tina

Tina Ferraro
The ABC’s of Kissing Boys, 2010 Rita® Finalist
How to Hook a Hottie, 2009 Rita® Finalist
Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress
www.tinaferraro.com

Sharing the Wealth

I got my nails done the other day, and sitting down the row from me were two friends who--from the chit-chat that filtered down my way--hadn’t seen each other in a few weeks. But I didn’t get even remotely interested in eavesdropping until I caught little snippets about “Edward” and “Jacob” and realized they’d moved on to discussing the Twilight books.

For it thrilled me to know that book characters were such a part of their friendship that “where they were in the series” and “what they thought of the events” was part of their catch-up.

And it made me think of some of my friends, and how whether or not we’ve read the latest Stephanie Plum novel (by Janet Evanovich) is something we’ll discuss upon random meet-ups in Starbucks or pushing a supermarket cart.

(Incidentally, here’s a photo of Janet and me, taken by her daughter at the 2009 Romance Writers of America, and which I downloaded from Janet’s Facebook page--which explains why I get the last name and she doesn’t. And how fantastic is it that SHE’D feature ME, huh?)


Anyway, I swear, the only thing better than a great book is a great series! And what better way to celebrate friendships than to “share the wealth?”

Are you Twilight crazy, too? Wild for Stephanie Plum? Or maybe it’s Alyson Noel’s Evermore series? Be a friend and dish!