RT Recap (Thursday) - Let them eat MORE cake!

My new alarm clock is Anne Elizabeth, this time inviting me to breakfast with Eric Ruben, CH Admirand, and Barbara Vey from Publishers' Weekly.  Actually, Barbara's picture is better than mine so click on Barbara's link to see moi (and read her recap). 

Christie Ridgway, Barbara Freethy, and Robyn Carr

After breakfast, CH Admirand, Anne Elizabeth, and Cathy Maxwell helped me in stuff the bags for the SOS Military Mixer.  Thanks to Cathy and Caridad Pineiro for the fab bags and thanks to CH Admirand, Renee Bernard, Anne Elizabeth, Delilah Marvelle, and Julie Miller for the fun goodies!

Cathy's Bag (left) and Caridad's Bag (right)

The prep room - books, books, and more books!

Then it was time for LIGHTS, CAMERA, PARTY - The Series Romance Way sponsored by Lisa Childs, BJ Daniels, HelenKay Dimon, Judy Durante, Carol Ericson, Delores Fosson, Crystal Green, Jan Hambright, Lynn Raye Harris, Candace Havens, Rita Heron, Brenda Jackson, Lisa Renee Jones, Janette Kenny, Kimberly Lang, Jade Lee, Jennie Lucas, Julie Miller, Jill Monroe, Kathleen O'Reily, Kira Sinclair, Amanda Stevens, Tawny Weber, and Rebecca York. 

Series authors Julie Miller and Olivia Gates

For lunch, it was back down to the prep room to help Anne Elizabeth stuff the goodie bags for the booksellers' party, AFTERNOON DELIGHT.  The most fabulous Kate Douglas came down with extra stuff.  I say fabulous because I shared the story of how she previously donated 10 stuffed wolves to my Fort Meade Tea Party.  My younger son had "recruited" one of the wolves to play football with his other stuffed animals.  Ultimately, the wolves were given in special goodie bags to the military nurses from Walter Reed Medical Center.   Kate laughed at the story and gave me a stuffed dog (from her next series) for my son's football team!  We exchanged stories about Hawaii as her son lives in Kaneohe.  

Jesse "manning" the Goody Room

AFTERNOON DELIGHT was indeed a delight for the booksellers as they enjoyed cakes with book cover.  We had so much cake that Anne Elizabeth invited readers walking by to join the fun.   I didn't take a picture of the cakes ... but Sarah Wendell from Smart Bitches Trashy Books did and posted on her blog.  Click on the link to read her recap and view her photos.

"Scottish lovers" Margaret Mallory and Melissa Mayhue

We all rolled upstairs for the RT BOOKREVIEW AWARDS.   Cathy and I sat in front of some Erotic Readers who shared their goodies with us, including a ruler engraved with SPANK ME from Skylar Kade, "because life is too short to behave."

Someone mentioned "Mercury in Retrograde" as many award recipients and audience members were a bit weepy as the program progressed.  Perhaps the most touching was when Olivia Gates accepted her award for Series Romance.  She lives in Egypt and was unable to promote her latest book when it was released at the end of January.  Olivia thanked the romance community for rallying around her during the political upheaval.    

Knitting buddies Christina Skye and Elizabeth Boyle

After the awards ceremony, I dined with Anne Elizabeth, Cathy Maxwell, Christina Skye, and Bobbi Smith.   Once again, Cathy and I turned in early while readers gathered in the lobby, dressed in Faery Wings, for the Faery Ball.  Before you think of me as a wallflower, I sowed my wild oats long before I was married.  Comfy in my bed, I read the RT Magazine.

Time to giveaway another book - winner's choice from my RT stash.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment about AFTERNOON DELIGHT - what does it mean to you?   To me, it is a song from the '70s band Starland Vocal Band.  It is also indulging in cake (as we did at the Booksellers' party).

2.  This giveaway is open to all readers.

3.  Comments are open through Saturday, April 16, 10 pm in Hawaii to enter the contest.  I will announce the winner on Sunday, April 17.

Mahalo,

Kim in Hawaii

Weekly Winners and RT Recap (Wednesday) - Let them eat Cupcakes!

Our weekly winners ...

Saturday, April 2, Delilah Marvelle's A PERFECT SCANDAL
- Jodi T

Sunday, April 3, Sherrill Bodine's TALK OF THE TOWN
- Majorie

Sunday, April 3, Julie Miller (winner's choice)
- Alinaduffer

Monday, April 4, Caridad Pineiro (winner's choice)
- Catslady

Tuesday, April 5, Christina Skye (winner's choice)
- Ameliad

Wednesday, April 6, Diane Whiteside's THE SHADOW GAURD
- Heather

Thursday, April 7, Kathryn Caskie's SEVEN DEADLY SINS
- Kati

Friday, April 8, Lecia Cornwall's SECRETS OF A PROPER COUNTESS 
- Chelsea B

Saturday, April 9, Military in the Movies (winner's choice)
- June M.

Sunday, April 10, Who are SOS Readers (winner's choice)
- Molly

Monday, April 11, Kat Martin's A SONG FOR MY MOTHER
- Estella

All winners - please send your mailing addresses to sos.aloha@yahoo.com.

If you did not win this week, don't despair!  I have nine boxes of books taking a Pacific Cruise (media mail from LA).   So that means more books for you, SOS readers!

Speaking of LA, I continue my recap of RT (Wednesday) - Let them eat Cupcakes!

I woke up at @ 2 am as my roommate, Cathy Maxwell, crept into the room.  I thought she was arriving at 1:30 pm ... but it was 1:30 am.  Since I had not seen her in 9 months, we chatted for an hour before we both fell asleep ... only to be awakened at 7 am by perky Anne Elizabeth, inviting us to join her for breakfast.   Despite my lack of sleep, how could I refuse since the invitation included Elizabeth Hoyt and Jade Lee?

After breakfast, Jo Carol (the convention director) asked me to help with the goodie room - readers could select up to 9 books donated by the publishers.  Dogs dream of bones, cats dream of mice, and readers dream of books ... and this was a reader's heaven!   I watched readers carefully inspect books like fine wine, carefully drafting the best of the best for their wine racks, er, book shelves.

During lunch, I set up the SOS Table in Club RT - a vendor's area with many goodies.  Readers could also enter the drawings for baskets donated by authors.   Club RT offered tables for authors to chat with readers - again, it was a reader's dream come true!

I popped into four readers' parties:

- Western Reader Roundup hosted by C.H. Admirand, Lori Armstrong, Margaret Brownley, Cindy Holby, Cat Johnson, Janette Kenny, and Beth Williamson .... the authors demonstrated the two step!

CH Admirand and Cat Johnson

- He's A Pirate Treasure Hunt hosted by Cherry Adair, Katharine Ashe, and Maureen O. Betita.  Captain Jack Sparrow would have been proud!

Katharine Ashe, Maureen O. Betita, and Cherry Adair

- Intergalactic Bar and Grille hosted by Marcella Burnard, Nathalie Gray, Jade Lee, Janet Miller, Karen Miller, and Linnea Sinclair.  We answered questions related to space fact, movies, and books.


Marcella Burnard and Jade Lee

- Saucy Sirens Through History was hosted by Sahara Kelly, Sabrina Jeffries, Heather Graham aka Shannon Drake, Gennella DeGrey, Kristi Cook aka Kristi Astor, Renee Bernard, Zoe Archer, Victoria Alexander, Trish Albright, Kaitlin O'Riley, Sharon Page, Amanda Mcintyre, Kieran Kramer, Sally MacKenzie, Mia Marlowe and Bobbi Smith. 

Heather Graham

Sally MacKenzie with a reader 

Victoria Alexander

Sabrina Jeffries with a reader 

Mia Marlowe

Kristi Cook

Bobbi Smith

I hustled upstairs to the Avon Live Feed with Katharine Ashe, Elizabeth Boyle, Tessa Dare, Sophie Jordan, Cathy Maxwell, and Sophia Nash.  Afterwards, we enjoyed wine and cupcakes.  I'll share a secret - Cathy Maxwell loved the Peanut Butter Chocolate Cupcakes!  

Sophia Nash and Cathy Maxwell

At this point, Cathy and I were exhausted so we just retired to our room as readers appeared in the lobby dressed in saris for Ellora's Cave Bollywood Party (which I heard was a roaring success).

So let's giveaway one more book - winner's choice from my RT stash - to randomly selected commenter:

1.  Which author would motivate you to give up sleep?

2.  Comments and giveaway open to all readers.

3.  Comments open through Saturday, April 16, 10 pm in Hawaii to be considered for the giveaway.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, April 17.

Mahalo,

Kim in Hawaii





RT Recap (Tuesday) - Arriving in Tinseltown

"We'll have the Happy Hour Chardonnay."

This is how I celebrated my arrival in Tinseltown.  Perhaps I should back up for a moment with a few details.  I left Honolulu at 8 am and sat next to Flo - an Air Force brat, retired Air Force spouse, retired Air Force civil service, and grandmother to Army and Air Force families.   Her wonderful stories from a  life well lived kept me laughing through our five hour flight.

In fact, Flo serves as the Family Readiness Group (FRG) leader for her daughter's unit (she is the commander, single mom, and currently deployed).  So Flo stepped forward to care for both her teenage grandson and the FRG group.   Thankfully, Flo has been rewarded for selfless act - two years ago, her daughter nominated her for Regis and Kelly's annual program, "Mom's Dream Come True".   She and her husband won a trip to Miami for the show's taping, where their daughter surprised them in person. Flo and her husband also won a trip to Greece plus $25,000 from KMart.  Lesson learned - good things happen to good people.

From LAX, I hopped into the Super Shuttle with Darynda Jones and her sister plus some South African businessmen, destination:  Westin Bonaventure Hotel (featured in TRUE LIES with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jamie Lee Curtis). 

After settling into my room, I joined Anne Elizabeth, Renee Bernard, Elizabeth Hoyt, and Jade Lee/Kathy Lyons for sushi.   When our waitress asked if we wanted house Chardonnay or Happy Hour Chardonnay, Jade Lee responded, "We'll have the Happy Hour Chardonnay."

There is a saying in the military, "What goes TDY, stays TDY."  The same applies to RT.  Anne Elizabeth, Renee, Elizabeth, and Jade are awesome ... but I can't tell you why!   Actually, they're awesome because they write excellent books!

After dinner, Anne Elizabeth and I visited Kathryn Falk, Lady of Barrow and founder of RT, in her penthouse suite.  We met her new puppy, General Patton, an Australian Shepperd.  We also chatted about the convention schedule that was about to unfold.  

Anne Elizabeth and I then wandered downstairs to the lobby bar where we shared drinks with Jennifer St. Giles plus Dayna and Annette from Between Your Sheets.

I fell into bed about midnight ... where was my roommate, Cathy Maxwell? 

To celebrate RT, one randomly selected commenter can choose a book from my incoming stash.   To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment - how do you pass time when you are traveling on airplance, boat, train, or car?

2.  This giveaway is open to all readers.

3.  Comments are open through Saturday, April 16, 10 pm in Hawaii.  I will post the winner's name on Sunday, April 17 as part of the Weekly Winners Announcement.  I will also send an email to the winner if I have an email address (if I don't have your email address, send it to sos.aloha@yahoo.com).

Mahalo,

Kim

Join me later today for an interview with Andrea Penrose as we celebrate the release of her "debut" mystery SWEET REVENGE.  (I use quotes because her alter ego is Andrea Pickens/Cara Elliott).

Aloha to Julie Miller and Semper Fi

During the SOS Military Tribute, I ask the audience to sing each service's hymn.  One author who sings the Marine Corps Hymn with pride is Julie Miller.   She is the daughter and sister of Marines.  Julie has also been an SOS sponsor since 2006 (if not longer).  Her books reflect her family's values of excellence and service:

Julie Miller is an award-winning author--with a National Readers Choice Award and a Daphne du Maurier among other prizes. In 2009, she was honored to receive a Career Achievement Award in Series Romantic Suspense from Romantic Times Book Reviews. Several of her 40+ books have appeared on the USA Today, Borders/Waldenbooks and BookScan Top 100 Romances bestseller lists.

After writing single-title paranormals for Dorchester, Julie joined the Harlequin/Silhouette family when her first Intrigue, ONE GOOD MAN, was published in 2000. Since then, she has crafted the best-selling, award-winning Taylor Clan series for Intrigue, as well as its equally successful spin-off series, THE PRECINCT. While she continues to write about cops and crime scenes for Intrigue, Ms. Miller occasionally writes for Harlequin Blaze--where her romantic suspense books get a steamier twist, and her military heroes have been especially popular. She has also written for continuities and other special projects at Harlequin/Silhouette.

Julie is a teacher who grew up in Missouri and now lives in Nebraska with her husband (a teacher and YA author), son (a college student majoring in Music Business) and an assortment of spoiled pets. She's been dubbed the resident "Grammar Goddess" of her local writing group, The Praireland Romance Writers.

Julie has many duties at the RT Booklovers' Convention - she is the captain of the Series Romance workshops.  And, of course, she'll be signing her heart out to the Marine Corps Hymn,

From the Halls of Montezuma,
To the shores of Tripoli;
We fight our country's battles
In the air, on land, and sea;
First to fight for right and freedom
And to keep our honor clean:
We are proud to claim the title
Of United States Marine.

Our flag's unfurled to every breeze
From dawn to setting sun;
We have fought in every clime and place
Where we could take a gun;
In the snow of far-off Northern lands
And in sunny tropic scenes;
You will find us always on the job
The United States Marines.

Here's health to you and to our Corps
Which we are proud to serve;
In many a strife we've fought for life
And never lost our nerve;
If the Army and the Navy
Ever look on Heaven’s scenes;
They will find the streets are guarded
By United States Marines.

In honor of Julie, I am giving away one of her books from the SOS Military Mixer.  I'll ask Julie to sign it to for the winner.  The winner will also receive a Marine Corps tote bag from Kaneohe Bay.  To enter the giveaway,
 
1. Leave a comment about what you like to sing - golden oldie?  Top 40?  And where do you sing - shower?  Driving?  Cooking? 
 
2. This giveaway is open to US residents only (international readers can request convention bling at COUNTDOWN TO CONVENTION).

3. Comments are open through Tuesday, April 12, 10 pm in Hawaii, to enter the giveaway.

The winner will be announced on Wednesday, April 13, during the Weekly Winners announcement post. (note the delay due to my travel schedule with RT).

I also contact the winner if I have winner's email address

4. If you are new to SOS Aloha, please make sure I know how to contact you. If your Blogger profile does not provide your email address, please send it to sos.aloha@yahoo.com. (I have several unclaimed prizes because I do know how to contact the winner).

Mahalo,

Kim in Hawaii

Make sure you stop by COUNTDOWN TO CONVENTION to see how you can help me (questions for authors) and what I can get you (RT magazine, bookmarks, and trading cards).

Aloha to Annie Marshall

Ohana (family) is the focus of Hawaiian society.  For the military, ohana includes the active duty, retirees, veterans, spouses, dependents, and extended family.  Today's guest is military veteran, military spouse, and cosponsor of the SOS Military Mixer - Annie Marshall:

I come from a large military family and was the first of our females to join the service! In fact, when asking my great-grandfather’s permission, he said, “It’ about time the women in this family did something other than passing out donuts at the USO.” With his endorsement, the rest is history! LOL

After spending eight years in the United States Army, I met my Knight in Shining Armor, face to face, on the battlefield of a medieval reenactment with a sword and shield in my hands and a claymore in his. Then I married that man in a Twelfth Century Norman wedding ceremony one and a half years later. Then after seven years and two wonderful children, he decided to take his turn serving our country in the Army! So now instead of making formations, I stand amidst the ranks of Army Wives and make care packages for my GI Joe! And I’ve found that not only do I come from a strong military family, I come from an amazing stock of strong women who support their military men. Believe me, this job is much tougher.

Annie with cover model Bill Freida

Annie is the author of Celtic Paranormal Romance

Then at the age of twenty, I read "A Knight In Shining Armor" by Jude Deveraux. I was hooked and to this day, it remains one of my favorite novels!

Most of my books have a paranormal flare to them. I truly enjoy writing (and reading) about ghosts and time-travel. And if I can incorporate a castle or two in them, even better!

While living in Europe, I was able to visit several castles and fell in love with the medieval time period and have been fantasizing and writing about them ever since.

My family history is Scottish, Irish, Welsh, and Spanish. My husband's is Irish, Scottish, and English. We celebrate our different heritages and are teaching our children the wonders and joys of being Celtic!

Annie's books reflect her heritage and service:

In honor of Annie's service as a military veteran and spouse, I am giving away one of Annie's books from the SOS Military Mixer - signed to the winner!  To enter the giveaway,

1. Leave a comment about your family's heritage - have you visited the "motherland"?

2. This giveaway is open to US residents only (international readers can request convention bling at COUNTDOWN TO CONVENTION).

3. Comments are open through Saturday, April 2, 10 pm in Hawaii, to enter the giveaway. The winner will be announced on Sunday, April 3, during the Weekly Winners announcement post. I also contact the winner if I have winner's email address.

4. If you are new to SOS Aloha, please make sure I know how to contact you. If your Blogger profile does not provide your email address, please send it to sos.aloha@yahoo.com. (I have several unclaimed prizes because I do know how to contact the winner).

Mahalo,

Kim in Hawaii

Make sure you stop by COUNTDOWN TO CONVENTION to see how you can help me (questions for authors) and what I can get you (RT magazine, bookmarks, and trading cards).

I close with Annie's grandfather's Navy log during WWII

L Louisville KY 4:00 am 6/2/44
A Memphis TN 11:00 am 6/10/44

L “ 11:15 am “
A New Orleans LA 4:00 pm 6/12/44

L “ 10:30 am 6/18/44
A Panama City FL 4:00 pm 6/19/44

L “ “ 7/3/44
A New Orleans LA 9:00 pm 7/4/44

L “ 6:00 pm 7/11/44
A Key West 3:00 pm 7/15/44

L “ 180 degrees 3:00 pm “
A Gulf Port MS 4:00 pm 7/18/44

L “ 7:00 am 7/21/44
A New Orleans LA 2:00 am 7/22/44

L “ 10:30 am 7/29/44
A Colon Panama 1:00 pm 8/5/44

L “ 8:00 am 8/7/44
A Panama City Panama 5:00 pm 8/7/44

L “ 12:00 pm “
A San Diego CA 3:00 pm 8/19/44

L “ 6:30 pm 8/22/44
A Pearl Harbor HI 2:00 pm 9/2/44

L “ 7:00 am 10/2/44
A Kauri (T.H.) HI 7:00 pm “

L “ 7:00 pm 10/5/44
A Pearl Harbor HI 7:00 am 10/6/44

L “ 2:00 pm 10/14/44
Crossed International Date Line 6:11 am 10/20/44
A Eniwetok Marshalls Islands 6:00 am 10/26/44

L “ 12:30 pm 10/26/44
A Guam (Mariana) 6:00 am 10/31/44

L “ 3:30 pm 11/3/44
A Ulithi West Caroline Island 8:00 am 11/4/44

L “ 4:00 pm 11/12/44
Crossed Equator 0 Degrees/39 Longitude 12:20 pm 11/15/44
A Hollandia New Guinea 6:00 am 11/16/44

L “ 4:30 pm 11/20/44
A Bougainville Solomon Island 5:00 am 11/25/44

L “ 8:45 am 12/15/44
A Lai New Guinea 5:00 am 12/18/44

L “ 6:00 am 12/20/44
A Manus (Papua New Guinea) Admiralty Island 5:00 am 12/22/44

L Manus (Papua New Guinea) Admiralty Island 12:00 am 12/27/44
A Luzon Lingayen Gulf Philippines 7:00 am 1/3/45

L “ 5:30 am 1/18/45
A Leyte Philippines 2:00 pm 1/23/45

L “ - - - - - - 1/27/45
A Nasugbu Bay Luzon Philippines 6:30 am 1/31/45

L “ 2:00 am 2/2/45
A Mindoro Philippines 7:00 pm 2/3/45

L “ 5:00 pm 2/4/45
A Leyte Philippines 7:00 am 2/6/45