Finalist in the 2019 Booksellers Best Awards: Ghost of a Chance

Last week, I came in from walking the dogs to find my husband making dinner.

“Oh, someone called while you were out.” He indicated my phone lying on the counter, where I’d left it charging.

I checked the number. Not one I recognized. I’d been getting a lot of automated calls lately, so even had I been in the house, I wouldn’t have answered it. “Huh,” I said, picking up the phone to activate the voice mail. “It’s probably one of those Chinese spam callers again.”

But I was wrong. When I listened to my message, it was from one of the organizers of the Booksellers Best Awards, calling to tell me that Ghost of a Chance was a finalist in the best paranormal romance category.

My initial reaction was one of disbelief, so much so when I was asked if I was planning to attend the RWA National Convention, where the awards were being held, I said no. I mean, I wasn’t. Attending hadn’t even been on my radar beyond some wishful thinking. So I stammered my way through the conversation, still somewhat stunned. I was so certain someone would call back to inform me there’d been a mistake that I didn’t announce it on social media right away. I did tell the members of my crit group, who immediately read me the riot act for not planning to attend.

I still didn’t quite believe it was all real. I told a few people here and there, and the opinion was universally the same. I had to go to the RWA convention.

I had to jump through some hoops to arrange things, but yes, I’m going to RWA in July. I’m beside myself with nerves and excitement, so instead of focusing on the awards themselves, I have a new thing to worry about: what the heck do I wear?

I rarely travel. I spend most of my time in jeans, T-shirts, and barn boots. I don’t really own anything “business casual” or something fancy for the special night out. I’ve been poking around the internet trying to come up with photographs and videos of previous conventions to get an idea both of day wear and evening wear and the general consensus seems a bit all over the map. So, just for fun, I invite you to drop a comment here either with a link or your advice as to what I should pack with me. I have a feeling I’m going to have some shopping to do!

I came across this fabulous speech given by Suzanne Brockmann last year on receiving the Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award. It’s well worth watching again. I’ll drop a warning here for language–I know it bothers some people–but honestly, that’s part of her point here. Two seconds into it, I forgot I was supposed to be watching for some clothing ideas.

To make this interesting, I’ll pick someone at random from the comments and send you a signed print copy of Ghost of a Chance–or if you already have it, a chance to win my new story coming out in July, Bishop Takes Knight.

Contest open until June 1, 2019!

6 thoughts on “Finalist in the 2019 Booksellers Best Awards: Ghost of a Chance

  1. The conventions I’ve been too tend to be crowded, hot, and air-conditioned to death, so comfort is key. I have to remember that seasons are opposite to here, so a pair of comfortable sandals and a sundress with a cardi would be just as functional as my standby of ” jeans with a fancy top and heels”

    So for day wear…
    https://i.pinimg.com/564x/07/43/62/074362190cd440da1011a0a7e6f4df70.jpg
    https://i.pinimg.com/564x/d2/c1/e8/d2c1e82447f9b903c335fbd46edf38e7.jpg
    https://i.pinimg.com/564x/f1/f6/72/f1f672e52b053cae99e46c00290d32f3.jpg
    https://i.pinimg.com/564x/05/45/4b/05454b367420655922cacb2a1f9a8570.jpg
    https://i.pinimg.com/564x/b6/b7/b3/b6b7b3382637c9d331482c92f6a2f6a1.jpg
    https://i.pinimg.com/564x/cf/a0/85/cfa085d29e6c48879f93a313403cd1ac.jpg

    For the award ceremony:
    The thing is you want to look as if you put in some effort. I mean how many times are you going to be a finalist at a freeeeaking award ceremony? (Lots, naturally, but just go with me here, lol). You want to look great, and if you win you want to walk up to collect your award like “of course she won” πŸ˜€ πŸ˜€ With that in mind I’d personally go for a longer gown, but then Princess Diana wore that short black number after her divorce was announced and she looked stunning. So…

    Short:
    https://i.pinimg.com/originals/eb/8c/5d/eb8c5d58157f995b9f94c075524c7d8b.jpg
    http://www.cocktaildresses100.com/products/small/elegantcocktaildresses/elegant-cocktail-dresses-jsyd82009-1.jpg
    https://www.abiyenial.com/UserFiles/ProductImages/0/822/orj/dantel-kisa-abiye-elbise-siyah-122716.jpg

    Long:
    https://www.lulus.com/images/product/xlarge/3131180_127122.jpg
    https://www.jywal.com/wp-content/uploads/JYWAL-10682-582×870.jpg
    https://dtkp6g0samjql.cloudfront.net/uploads/photo/file/14108017/gallery_hero_8c6b1ab7-47e6-4ee7-aa92-ded59a18819f.png
    https://www.1st-dress.com/images/201303/source/Classical-Black-Lace-Formal-Evening-Dress-with-Cap-Sleeves-WD1-023-699-b-1-1363256179.jpg

    Hope these help πŸ™‚
    Just remember don’t pack anything that needs ironing.

    • Images! You provided images! I’m going to have to come back and after I’ve had a chance to look at these–thank you!

      But what is this “ironing” you speak of? πŸ™‚

      • What can I say, I love visuals.
        You’re most welcome – a happy distraction from edits, lol.
        Yeah, I think it was something my mother once told me about in hushed furtive whispers. πŸ˜€

        • *snort* I don’t think I even own an iron anymore!

          And I love visuals, they’ll really help me on my shopping spree–thank you!

          Okay, I love your sense of style here! I should hire you as my personal shopper!

          • I don’t. My kids didn’t know what one was until they visited their grandma.

            Excellent!

            Thank you! I confess I pulled some of them from my “my style” board on Pinterest, lol. Oooh, now there’s a thought, although I’d have to fit you in between books πŸ˜‰

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