RNN talks to Penelope Watson, romance author, blogger and member of NECRWA (New England Chaper of the Romance Writers' of America about the upcoming Spring Conference, April 27-28, 2012, held in Salem, Massachusetts.

Penelope's Top Seven Reasons Not To Miss The 2012 NECRWA Spring Conference (April 27-28, 2012)

1. Fabulous speakers: Including writing guru Michael Hauge, bestselling author-turned-indie-success story Marie Force and RITA award winner Kristan Higgins.
2. Killer work-shops on craft, industry and marketing: (Hey, even Penelope is giving a talk!-- Penelope Channels Miss Manners: How To Promote Yourself Without Peeving Everyone Off).
3. Salem, Massachusetts: You just can't beat this historic New England town. It's got charm, great shops and restaurants, and maybe even a ghost or two to entertain.
4. Not Just A Pitch, A Critique: Forget about that stressful oral pitch. At the NEC conference, you can submit 10 pages of your WIP prior to meeting with an editor/agent of your choice. It's a unique opportunity to discuss your manuscript and hopefully get a request!
5. Cocktails, Psychics and Tiaras: Don't miss the chance to schmooze with New England's finest romance writers and professionals. There will be cocktails, psychic readings, and a nice assortment of tiaras on Friday night.
6. Ghost Tour: Want to get up close and personal with Salem's past? Ghost Hunters Marley Gibson and Patrick Burns investigate the paranormal side of Salem.
7. Book Fair Extravaganza: Participate in Saturday's book fair with your fellow authors. It's a festive occasion to meet and greet readers in the Salem area.

Want to find out more? Check out the NECRWA website, and/or the conference website.

Learn more about Penelope Watson, the author, and/or the romance blogger.

Last week, I went to New York City for the 2011 Romance Writers of America conference – ok, not so much for the conference itself, but for the literacy signing and some of the publisher parties. So, I took the bus to NYC to stay with Carolyn in Brooklyn. Early on Tuesday afternoon (6/28), I made the trek from Brooklyn to Times Square. While the signing started at 5:30PM, it was a beautiful day, and I thought I would play tourist for a couple of hours. However, when I finally found the Marriott Marquis, there was a HUGE line for the signing. I decided to just suck it up and get in line.

The Romance Writers of America announced the finalists for the 2010 RITA Awards and 2010 Golden Heart Awards today. The 2010 RITA honors romance novels published in 2009, while the 2010 Golden Heart Awards honor romance manuscripts.

The winners in each of the categories will be announced on July 31st at the 2010 RWA National Conference in Nashville, TN.