Friends, Fun & Food

By Kay Stockham

As a lot of you know, last week was Romance Writers of America’s National Conference. Over 2,000 women (and a few brave men) descended on the Marriott Marquis in NYC for workshops, editor and agent meetings and more fun than you can imagine. As I decompress from conference (aka—try to catch up on all the sleep I missed while in New York), I’ve been going through pictures and thinking about how, had my friends NOT traveled to NYC as well, it simply wouldn’t have been as much fun.

My friends make me laugh. They understand my need for coffee, books, soda, chocolate (and not necessarily in that order!). And if you’re like me, you’ve opened yourself up to them, trust in them, confide in them and love them for who they are and who you are when you’re with them. Your friends are funny, right? Smart? Sarcastic, brutally honest, and worth their weight in gold? Yeah, mine, too.

For me, the RWA conference would not be the same without my friends. As we navigated LaGuardia trying to find each other and held on for dear life as our INSANE shuttle driver plowed through New York City traffic, we bonded in our desperation to get OFF the shuttle and arrive at the hotel in one piece. We laughed until our sides hurt, gorged ourselves on NYC food—everything from Italian, French, Thai and Cuban to questionable hole-in-the-wall restaurants that turned out to be quite tasty—and we learned street vendor hot dogs and pretzels tasted best when eaten on the go.

My friends and I toured New York via bus and boat, sat on the bleachers in Times Square and laughed at the Naked Cowboy, wondering if he stuffed his tighty-whities before hitting the streets with his cowboy hat and guitar, and we talked like only friends can do. But before you think conference is one big party, let me say now we worked, too. We went to workshops, took notes, held meetings with our editors etc, and THEN we dressed up for parties and gatherings that reminded us that life isn’t all about work. Getting together reminds us we need to take a step back, reassess, and recharge.

(SIDENOTE: Spotting Patrick Dempsey while in the Lego store on Times Square totally helped us recharge as well!)

Writing is such a solitary, sometimes lonely life but it doesn’t have to be, and I think most writers would agree that having a support system of fellow writers who understand what you’re going through with non-cooperative books, deadlines, etc is key to being an even better writer. We have to expand our boundaries, experience new things. And what better way than to share the process with friends?

I’ve told you a little about my best writerly friends so I hope you’ll tell me about yours. Tell me about the craziest thing you and your friends ever did, or trips you’ve taken, or how your friends have helped and supported you. Tell me whatever you want to tell me about them. Because I’m willing to bet your girlfriends are pretty similar in personality to mine.

I’ll chose a winner from those who post and give away winner’s choice of one of my backlist titles (if available)—Print copy for US residents (or ebook if preferred) and ebook if outside the USA.

Please post! I’d love to hear about your friends.

Kay