By now, you’ve probably read all you ever wanted to about the RWA conference in NYC, but winning a RITA award for THE MOON THAT NIGHT made for such an exciting time I’m hoping you’ll indulge me.
Since I blogged here a while back about looking for a dress for the RITA awards ceremony several people have asked me what I ended up wearing. The black one? The blue one? The brown and cream colored one-shouldered ditty Ellen was all set to take up a collection over?
Unfortunately – or, perhaps, fortunately, given none of the dresses I had initially considered was less than $250 - the answer is none of the above.
I did order my first pick in both black and navy blue, planning on returning one of them, but neither of those dresses worked out. Although they were both the same size, the navy dress turned out to be too big and the black one, although it did fit better, had a flaw in the front, causing the pleats to pucker awkwardly.
So it was back to the drawing board. Back to the prospect of spending an entire day at the Mall of America trying on dress after dress after dress.
For the heck of it and with no expectations of success, I stopped at the strip mall just a mile from my house while I was out running other errands. Low and behold, on the clearance rack no less, I found a simple long, black stretchy thing. I headed back to the dressing rooms thinking this was too good to be true. It fit. It was comfortable. It was amazingly hand washable. And it was only $40! Is that the ultimate dress or what?
(In the picture here I'm with my seventeen year old son. It was so fun having him there for the awards ceremony. And if you missed my original post on RITA dresses or just want to look at some pretty pics, here's the exact link for that post: http://www.superauthors.com/2011/04/searching-for-rita-dress-by-helen.html#comments. Sorry, Ellen, I forgot to say, "I owe it all to you know who" when I went up to accept the RITA!)
I have to admit that a part of me wondered what I might’ve found if I’d ventured the forty-five minutes, two-tank-fulls-of-gas drive to the Mall of America, but why tempt fate?
Besides, I'd already decided I wasn't going to win the RITA, so there were no worries about having 2,000 people staring at me all at once. I would've put money on me not winning. Didn't even prepare a speech. Why get myself all worked up about something that wasn't going to happen? There were really wonderful books nominated in my category and, on top of everything else, I'd just become aware the day before the awards ceremony of a DNF from a popular review site on the book that was up for a RITA. I loved THE MOON THAT NIGHT. I loved the characters. The story. But it wasn't going to win.
So what did it feel like to hear the title of my book, my name, being read over the speakers in that big ballroom? Surreal. Unbelievable. Like a dream. My mind was frighteningly blank as I walked up to the stage, and as I stood there looking out at a sea of mostly darkness, I was overcome with emotion. My son was out there. So proud of his mom. There were writers out there - the toughest reviewers in the world - who liked my book. I get all choked up thinking about that moment.
Writing is such a solitary profession. We don't get performance reviews and raises like normal people. We don't get paid much, and we have very little control over our careers. All we can do is pour our heart and soul into our stories, hoping we've been able to put down on that computer screen what's in our head. Our heart. Then we throw them at the wall to see if they stick.
Sometimes we get DNFs. Sometimes we win awards. Sometimes we get both on the same book.
Big sigh. Wipe eyes. Blow nose. Boy, did I get off topic!
Back to the dress ... 
So do you love sales or do you steer far and wide from the clearance racks? Are you a coupon clipper or have some other tried and true way of saving?
nothing. The fifth in the Mirabelle Island series is on the shelves as I type this and my August release, HER SURE THING is available now at eHarlequin. To celebrate I’d love to give away today one copy of the previous four Mirabelle books, or another from my backlist.Cheers,
Helen
43 comments:
Congratulations on winning the Rita and for having found a bargain on a dress, and for a seventeen year old son who doesn't mind being seen with his mom.
I have read both The Pursuit of Jessie and Her sure thing and loved both of them.
PS. Since I have all your books don't enter me in the drawing.
Congratulations!!
LOVE SALES!! If there is something I absolutely I must have, but it's too expensive, I can wait until sale time to snap it up.
The dress is gorgeous! And loved your mirabelle series, congratulations on your win. AS for the DNF? Ignore it - one person's opinion x
I can't believe anyone would not finish reading The Moon that Night!!!! The book was nominated and you won the RITA! I would never be able to get my ADHD son in a suit or to sit through an awards ceremony, I think it's great that your son was there supporting you! I love what I can see of your dress. I remember your first blog on dresses. I think it's great that you found the dress in the litte strip mall. I hate shopping. If I don't see something in the first 10 or so minutes,I'm all for going back home. I've been lucky and found stuff right away. I think the shopping gene skipped me and my sisters ; We're all the same... hate going to the mall.
Congrats on your $40 dress. That's definitely a bargain and looks beautiful too!
I rarely buy anything not on sale. I am 5'10" tall, so I DO buy my pants at a speciality store to get a 36-37" length, meaning that I can't wait for sales there. But otherwise, I'm your bargain person!
I DO use coupons, but usually only if the item is on sale too. I converted our kitchen closet into a pantry, complete with sturdy shelves for all my boxed/canned goods. I keep my deep freeze well stocked with sale items too. Everything is arranged with the oldest foods on the right so that I can keep adding new stock "behind" the old.
I get together with girlfriends (from 2.5 hours away) a few times a year, and we will exchange unwanted coupons, as well as freebies. There could be soaps/shampoos/conditioners from a time share, hot sauce from a vendor in downtown Toronto, toothpaste from a dentist, and free products from online (like P&G shavers). Extra toiletries go to a women's shelter or teen pregnancy centre. We exchange our used books and magazines too (of course!), and they end up at a retirement residence. If we dislike a product or if we even like a product, we often call the 1-800# to comment and then receive wonderful (big dollar) coupons in the mail soon thereafter. Save.ca and websaver.ca mail coupons to your doorstep too.
Helen, congratulations on your Rita and you looked beautiful. How cool that your son was there to bask in mum's glory. Having a 16 year old myself, I know it takes a lot to impress them but you surely did.
Karina
Helen ~ Congratulations on your RITA win. I think finding a bargain dress is wonderful. I do remember the blog about the perfect dress and loved the options you posted. I shop as little as possible these days. I think the thing I'm most impressed with is that your teenage son went to a romance writers's convention.
Helen,
Congratulations on your RITA. Your acceptance speech was wonderful, and I was so happy to be in the audience and see you win. Way to go!!!
Kristin
Congrats, Helen on your RITA....and your dress bargain! I love bargains, too. Cute son; anxious to read your books!
Congratulations, Helen!!!! What an honor to win the Rita.
I love the story of your clearance dress. If you can get a dress for so little money that looks that fabulous, you deserve another award!
Thanks Ellen! My son and I stayed on in NYC for another 4 days after the conference, so I feel very fortunate that he'll spend time with me.
So glad you enjoyed both books!
Thanks Marybelle!
Scarlet, glad you're enjoying Mirabelle, and I know you're right about the DNF being one person's opinion. No writer can expect a book to please everyone. I seem to keep trying though! lol
Snookie, I agree there must a shopping gene and it skipped me, too. Nailed my mom and sister, though.
It's funny, but my son loved getting that suit. It's a young man's style and kind of shiny fabric. Trendy stuff! As for sitting still ... he's pretty low key. Again, I'm lucky!
Laney, I'm amazed ... you are one organized lady! Good for you. One of my SILs is like that. I always think she should write a book about her ideas. Blog about it? Now there's an idea!
Thanks Karina and Kaelee!
Just to clarify, Kaelee, my son came for the awards ceremony only, not the entire conference, and then we hung out for a few days after taking in the NYC sites. He got quite the bonus for being there RITA night!
Hi Kristin! And thanks. For having had nothing planned for a speech, I did okay. Almost forgot to thank my wonderful editor, Johanna, though!!
So nice meeting and chatting with you in NYC.
Thanks Jackie and Mary!
Congratulations Helen on winning the RITA.
I love shopping sales and couponing. I am all about saving money and finding good deals.
CrystalGB
Helen, I am a great organizer but a terrible (or should I say great?) procrastinator too! I tell myself that if I do something early, I could find out later that it needed something else or the whole thing was cancelled, so why did I bother in the first place. (I hope that makes sense.)
I have read hundreds of organizing/home management/time management books, and I know you won't be surprised to learn that I keep track of all those books - so I don't waste my time re-reading them later. I frequent three local libraries (in southern Ontario), plus I check out libraries wherever my sister happens to live (Saskatoon, Regina, Calgary, and little towns in-between).
When we renovated our kitchen back in 1998, I created floor plans, complete with legends so I could further describe each part of the process. I had 17 contractors here for estimates, and it was ONLY the 17th who agreed to do it the way I wanted (plus gave me great suggestions to incorporate). Most didn't do custom cabinetry, and I wanted to utilize every square inch in my tiny kitchen. One company pushed to have my stovetop vent outside, claiming it HAD to be that way (on the wall visible from my front door so my customers could see food boiling over, etc.), but I stood my ground. My stove had been on an inside wall for the previous 40 years and the house was fine. Apartments don't necessarily vent outside, so why should my house? The same company told me NOT to have my countertops 3" higher than normal because it would limit my resale value. I didn't listen to him on that either, as first of all, evolution dictates that every generation will become taller and taller; secondly, we planned on living here until "the home", so why not save our backs the aggravagion of lower countertops; and third, who is to say that the next owner won't be tall too? Needless to say, I didn't go with that company - and actually had a hard time getting away from his incessant calls and had to threaten him with legal action for him to stop calling here! Oh, the joys....
What I HAVE learned is that everyone is different. I prefer usefulness over beauty (but prefer both, if possible, of course). I dual purpose many items, mainly because our house is only 1,050 square feet for four adults. I've never owned "good" cutlery or china, and we use our dining room table as our kitchen table (so I could have more storage space in my renovated kitchen). That pantry I mentioned earlier has labels for everything stored, as I can't see in behind some (lower) items easily and I DO forget. Things move around, depending on sale items, so the labels move too. It is nothing for me to have 60 cans of soup, as my son takes one to work most days for his lunch (and we occasionally eat them too!), and I stock up on specials. If we run out of something, I often don't buy it again until it is on sale. I cut roasts down to steaks or chops quite often because roasts are half the price. The list is long, but I know you get the point. We all do what we can.
Thanks for sharing all the dress-deciding blogs and now the after pictures. I am thrilled for you that your son went too. My son would have been bored like crazy and I'm sure would have rolled his eyes a lot. He's 6'4" tall, so at least I can look up to him like you do to yours .
Congratulations, Helen! Read The Moon That Night and loved it! I have also read one of the Mirabelle Island books and loved it.
As for your dress, I think you looked very elegant. Who would have known that you got the dress at such a bargain? I hate shopping for clothes in general. It was different when I was much thinner, but havng to buy the bigger sizes and then still not looking like I'd hoped to look is depressing.
I do love a bargain, though I don't go out of my way to find them, admittedly. When my daughter was in 8th grade, her middle school held an 8th Grade Dance, which was a big deal. Though I said I'd never spend that kind of money for a dress, I did wind up spending over $200 for her dress for that dance. It freaked me out, but it was a lovely dress on her. A couple of months after that, during summer break, I found two formal dresses that we'd looked at in May that had cost in the $100-200 range for $7 apiece. I bought both of them on speculation.
When her junior prom came along, I was determined not to pay that much. On impulse, after finding only maybes at several stores, we stopped at a David's Bridal and found a lovely black formal gown for $50. Yessss! Her senior prom dress was more expensive but not outrageous.
For myself, unless I need a really nice outfit for some reason, I pick up my clothes at Target or Sam's Club or Wal-Mart, or I don't buy anything.
Hi Helen,
You sure did look gorgeous at the Ritas. Way to go Bargain Dress!
I had planned to walk out if you neglected to thank me (for everything) in your speech, but then you went and made me cry. (In fact, I'm tearing up again just thinking about it.) By the time I was back in control, the moment for protest had passed. Next time you win, you know what to say, right? :-)
I'm so happy for you and so glad your son was able to be there with you! What a memory for both of you.
Congratulations again. Your book definitely deserved a win!
Ellen
Thanks Crystal!
Laney, I got exhausted just reading your comment. LOL You have much more stamina than me, but you're oh so right about needing to be more organized in smaller spaces. The more space I have the less organized it is.
My son's 6'1", so at a whopping 5'2" I get neck strain looking up at him!
Thanks JV - glad you liked TMTN. I don't want to even think about what I spent on my dd for her dances. I think having never gone to prom myself had me splurging for her!
Ellen, next time I win (LOL) you got it! And thanks!
Congratulations, Helen, on the win and on the bargain dress! I'm not a shopper. Was in my teen/early 20s life, but that seems like a whole other lifetime. Now, I rarely shop, but when I do, I'm all over the bargains.
Congratulations again, Helen! You were beautiful (as always *g*) and your son is a doll! So glad you found a dress you loved that was such a steal :-)
I'm all about the sales and have taught my daughters to love the clearance rack. My older daughter (she was with me in NY) came home from running errands today with a cute top that only cost her $3 ;-)
Hi Patricia and thanks! Bargains are the best!
Thanks Beth! Nice to see you in NYC. I was surprised by how many people had their teenage or young adult kids with them. Do ya think the NYC location had something to do with it? lol
Congrats on winning the RITA! Hey the way I look at it you got lucky with the dress. That doesn't happen to often.
Lovely post, Helen. I'm so very thrilled for you. I'm sure your acceptance speech was perfect. Wish I could have been there.
And I love a bargain! Makes me feel triumphant on a different level.
Your son is a doll.
Deb
Congratulations, Helen on your win. You dress is pretty - great choice. I love bargains. I try to buy things on sale and I love to clip coupons.
Congrats again on your Rita, Helen! Getting a bargain on a great dress is a bonus for sure. And how wonderful that your son could be there and see everyone applaud his mom.
As for sales, I love them. But I've bought some shocking mistakes that I end up never wearing just because they were a good deal.
Congratulations on your RITA. It is always nice when one of my favorite authors wins. I have your latest book which just arrived and can't wait to dive in.
You give me hope the right dress is out there. I am still looking for my Mother of the Bride dress and headed, ironically, to NYC to shop with my sister who is getting married in Bali. We both are complaining about our bodies which aren't 18 years old anymore!
How wonderful to have your son there with you!
Peace, Julie
Congratulations on your RITA and your bargain dress. I am so not a shopper and can't remember the last time I bought a dress. The Pursuit of Jesse is packed in my bag to read on my vacation next week.
Congratulations, Helen, and thanks for the little peek into your Rita experience. Awesome that your son was able to be there with you, and lovely to have that golden lady to inspire you on flat days.
Congrats Helen :) As my budget is small I sorta have to shop at the clearance rack. But over the years I learned to appreaciate a bargain rather then feel upset about not getting exactly what I would like. Stuff is usually not what I dream of, but I now dream of having a comfortable life. Rather than a fabulous wardrobe. And this way I have a bit more money to indulge in my love of romance.
Congrats. Helen!
I think you look super classy in hour $40 dress. And I'm so proud for you :)
As for the review, new Super author got a really tough review on her first super on one of those popular sites and made the NYT the next week. So maybe it was a good thing. Maybe I should hope for a really crappy review! LOL.
Enjoy the beautiful statue and the beautiful son. You are so deserving :)
Liz talley
Thanks, Tammy!
Joan, I think I've learned my lesson from past "great deal" mistakes, but I see my daughter sometimes falling into that trap!
Julie and Linda, hope you enjoy TPOJ!
Sarah, she is just bit inspiring!
Kirsten, I'm sure fabulous wardrobes are overrated. Comfortable lives, on the other hand, are not!
Liz, I'd definitely take 10 bad reviews for a NYT's showing!
Congrats again, Helen! I thought you looked gorgeous in that dress. I'm all for getting the perfect dress at a bargain. I dare say Rita looks a little jealous in the pics...didn't think anyone could outshine her, did she?! LOL.
I was moved both by your speech and by how proud your son looked.
Big congratulations Helen- so wonderful and so deserved! Lovely to have your handsome son there with you as well. The dress looked amazing too.
Jealous? She in her shiny gold finery? Not.
BTW, Rita's put on a few pounds. LOL My first Rita has a smaller base that isn't quite as classy as new Rita's taller wooden base!
Thanks Autumn!
I'm with snookie on the shopping. If I can't find what I'm looking for in ten minutes, I'm out of there.
Browsing the internet on the other hand .....
Rita looks gorgeous and so do you Helen. Congratulations. I'm so pleased your son was there with you too.
Congratulations on your Rita! So well deserved!
I'm not much of a shopper generally, so I need to get dragged into a store. lol Internet shopping is much nicer. ;)
Helen,
Congratulations on the Rita and I loved hearing about your $40 dress. Excellent bargain you snagged. It looks elegant. I am definitely a bargain shopper.
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