Next week is the annual Romantic Times convention, this time at the O’Hare Hyatt Regency in Rosemont, Illinois (outside Chicago). Everything starts on Wednesday, April 11, and runs through Sunday, April 15. I’m involved in several different events—both ebook and print book fairs, a workshop panel on group blogging with four of the other Nine Naughty Novelists (PG Forte, Kinsey Holley, Kelly Jamieson, and Erin Nicholas), and the infamous Cover Model Karaoke Party with the fabulous Smutketeers. I’m also part of a Kindle Fire giveaway organized by Alanna Coca that will require you to find me sometime during the convention and get your ticket punched (literally).

RT is, in fact, a five-day party for readers and writers alike. Writers get a chance to meet other writers and hang out with friends. Readers get a chance to meet their favorite writers under decidedly informal circumstances (I found myself sitting next to Catherine Coulter at the awards ceremony last year—gasp). It’s all both exciting and a little terrifying and well worth doing. And now for the shameless promotion part.

If you’re in the Chicago area during the week of April 11, please consider dropping by the O’Hare Hyatt Regency and saying howdy. Book fairs are long and sometimes monotonous—authors love it when somebody stops off to talk. In particular, I’d love it if you’d talk to me. I’ll have jellybeans. I’ll have book thongs. I’ll have other goodies. Y’all come!