Comments on: RWA, The Eagle and Me http://www.fictionwithfriction.com/2008/08/06/rwa-the-eagle-and-me/ The Hottest Gay Romance Authors Are Here... Fri, 21 Nov 2008 01:15:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Laura Baumbach http://www.fictionwithfriction.com/2008/08/06/rwa-the-eagle-and-me/#comment-1294 Laura Baumbach Sun, 10 Aug 2008 04:41:55 +0000 http://www.fictionwithfriction.com/2008/08/06/rwa-the-eagle-and-me/#comment-1294 Thanks, Wave, I truly appreciate the very kind words and the support. It takes time, energy and money to persist but it's worth it! Thanks, Wave, I truly appreciate the very kind words and the support. It takes time, energy and money to persist but it’s worth it!

]]> By: Wave http://www.fictionwithfriction.com/2008/08/06/rwa-the-eagle-and-me/#comment-1293 Wave Sun, 10 Aug 2008 02:03:25 +0000 http://www.fictionwithfriction.com/2008/08/06/rwa-the-eagle-and-me/#comment-1293 Hi Laura I want to say right off the top that the M/M genre couldn't have a better advocate than you. It just seems that change in the industry is as slow as molasses especially in New York. Obviously it's better to advocate for change from within the industry and it is coming since this year there was a panel discussion. Perhaps in a few years the romance industry will evolve sufficiently that there will be recognition across the board for all types of romance regardless of genre, particularly in the area of critical acclaim for some of the authors who write M/M romances.. I really appreciated your perspective. Next year's panel should be a whole lot easier to sell now that the first one has been so successful. Kudos to you. Wave Hi Laura
I want to say right off the top that the M/M genre couldn’t have a better advocate than you. It just seems that change in the industry is as slow as molasses especially in New York. Obviously it’s better to advocate for change from within the industry and it is coming since this year there was a panel discussion. Perhaps in a few years the romance industry will evolve sufficiently that there will be recognition across the board for all types of romance regardless of genre, particularly in the area of critical acclaim for some of the authors who write M/M romances..

I really appreciated your perspective. Next year’s panel should be a whole lot easier to sell now that the first one has been so successful. Kudos to you.

Wave

]]> By: lisabea http://www.fictionwithfriction.com/2008/08/06/rwa-the-eagle-and-me/#comment-1284 lisabea Fri, 08 Aug 2008 13:36:00 +0000 http://www.fictionwithfriction.com/2008/08/06/rwa-the-eagle-and-me/#comment-1284 You go, Laura. OMG and I've been flying my paper airplanes cuz I'm a total moron. I was surprised by how many big name authors gripped my hand and grinned and said they love their man love. Really. OH I'd name names...but... It was the women my own age, readers, that had me slack jawed. But of course, I spend much of my life amazed by the lack of sensitivity shown by others. My self included. One thing that stands out to me (other than that motorcycle...) was fabulous dude I met in line for the Berkley signing. He was at RWA as a fan of chick lit and a newbie writer. He had no clue that m/m romance existed and we talked for over an hour. There are many readers who just don't know this genre exists. I mean, heck, I didn't know this genre existed until recently. So RWA? 2500 potential buyers. In one place! Hungry for books!! Woot! It's also such a great place to meet readers. Every author there is a reader first. So beyond the pointing and gawking at the lovely ladies (Meljean!!!) and signing of books, the discussions on reading, character development, genre, history, marketing...it was fricken lovely. Not to mention the beverages. You go, Laura.

OMG and I’ve been flying my paper airplanes cuz I’m a total moron.

I was surprised by how many big name authors gripped my hand and grinned and said they love their man love. Really. OH I’d name names…but… It was the women my own age, readers, that had me slack jawed. But of course, I spend much of my life amazed by the lack of sensitivity shown by others.

My self included.

One thing that stands out to me (other than that motorcycle…) was fabulous dude I met in line for the Berkley signing. He was at RWA as a fan of chick lit and a newbie writer. He had no clue that m/m romance existed and we talked for over an hour. There are many readers who just don’t know this genre exists. I mean, heck, I didn’t know this genre existed until recently. So RWA? 2500 potential buyers. In one place! Hungry for books!! Woot!

It’s also such a great place to meet readers. Every author there is a reader first. So beyond the pointing and gawking at the lovely ladies (Meljean!!!) and signing of books, the discussions on reading, character development, genre, history, marketing…it was fricken lovely.

Not to mention the beverages.

]]> By: Laura Baumbach http://www.fictionwithfriction.com/2008/08/06/rwa-the-eagle-and-me/#comment-1283 Laura Baumbach Fri, 08 Aug 2008 13:21:27 +0000 http://www.fictionwithfriction.com/2008/08/06/rwa-the-eagle-and-me/#comment-1283 There title was my choice. I chose it knowing it wasn't the best title but that it was one that would be accepted easier than not. Having the panel presented was more important than what the panel was called. The content was the focus not the four words it was titled. One of next year's panel title submissions from me is titled 'Love by Any Other Name: Tips on writing and publishing non-traditional romances.' Radclyff and Kate Douglas have agreed to join me on this one if it is accepted. Three of us write, two of us publish. Working from within is the key to effective change, IMO. I'm happy to be a RWA member and the opportunities it provides me. It's up to me to make the most of what is offered. There title was my choice. I chose it knowing it wasn’t the best title but that it was one that would be accepted easier than not. Having the panel presented was more important than what the panel was called. The content was the focus not the four words it was titled.

One of next year’s panel title submissions from me is titled ‘Love by Any Other Name: Tips on writing and publishing non-traditional romances.’ Radclyff and Kate Douglas have agreed to join me on this one if it is accepted. Three of us write, two of us publish. Working from within is the key to effective change, IMO.

I’m happy to be a RWA member and the opportunities it provides me. It’s up to me to make the most of what is offered.

]]> By: Laura Baumbach http://www.fictionwithfriction.com/2008/08/06/rwa-the-eagle-and-me/#comment-1282 Laura Baumbach Fri, 08 Aug 2008 13:12:05 +0000 http://www.fictionwithfriction.com/2008/08/06/rwa-the-eagle-and-me/#comment-1282 We attend conferences like RWA to network and keep abreast of the changes within our community,Jesse. We belong to the official organization of the romance community and pay the membership fees so that we can try and affect changes from within and have our voice heard. Ranting from the sidelines does nothing. Working from within got us a voice this year. Opening doors takes time and persistence, and yes, sometimes membership fees. One of the problems I faced with putting the panel together was not having a large group of M/M writers to ask to join the panel so our voice <em>could</em> be heard. Not enough are members of RWA to help out. And why should RWA pay attention to writers who aren't a part of their organization? Our panel was well represented in the end. We need to invest in ourselves and our genre once in awhile, IMO. We attend conferences like RWA to network and keep abreast of the changes within our community,Jesse. We belong to the official organization of the romance community and pay the membership fees so that we can try and affect changes from within and have our voice heard. Ranting from the sidelines does nothing.

Working from within got us a voice this year. Opening doors takes time and persistence, and yes, sometimes membership fees.

One of the problems I faced with putting the panel together was not having a large group of M/M writers to ask to join the panel so our voice could be heard. Not enough are members of RWA to help out. And why should RWA pay attention to writers who aren’t a part of their organization? Our panel was well represented in the end. We need to invest in ourselves and our genre once in awhile, IMO.

]]> By: Wave http://www.fictionwithfriction.com/2008/08/06/rwa-the-eagle-and-me/#comment-1281 Wave Fri, 08 Aug 2008 10:36:03 +0000 http://www.fictionwithfriction.com/2008/08/06/rwa-the-eagle-and-me/#comment-1281 Hi Laura It was great to get your perspective on the RWA conference, but what I still don't understand is why M/M authors continue to pay RWA's huge fees to be treated poorly by an organization that refuses to promote their books! The fact that your panel was called <em>Alernative Lifestyles</em> and was given a time slot of a Friday afternoon in the same time period as major awards were to be handed out speaks volumes for the RWA. Well, that's my rant for the day. At least you and LB had fun at The Eagle club :) Hi Laura
It was great to get your perspective on the RWA conference, but what I still don’t understand is why M/M authors continue to pay RWA’s huge fees to be treated poorly by an organization that refuses to promote their books! The fact that your panel was called Alernative Lifestyles and was given a time slot of a Friday afternoon in the same time period as major awards were to be handed out speaks volumes for the RWA. Well, that’s my rant for the day. At least you and LB had fun at The Eagle club :)

]]> By: AllyBlue http://www.fictionwithfriction.com/2008/08/06/rwa-the-eagle-and-me/#comment-1279 AllyBlue Wed, 06 Aug 2008 18:58:19 +0000 http://www.fictionwithfriction.com/2008/08/06/rwa-the-eagle-and-me/#comment-1279 LOLOL! Sounds like y'all had a pretty fantabulous night :D I'm jealous! I want to hang out with y'all at the Eagle! LOLOL! Sounds like y’all had a pretty fantabulous night :D
I’m jealous! I want to hang out with y’all at the Eagle!

]]> By: Laura Baumbach http://www.fictionwithfriction.com/2008/08/06/rwa-the-eagle-and-me/#comment-1278 Laura Baumbach Wed, 06 Aug 2008 17:57:24 +0000 http://www.fictionwithfriction.com/2008/08/06/rwa-the-eagle-and-me/#comment-1278 LOL! It was a Kodak moment, lb. I feel so back for that bike and it's owner. That car driver was creepy! LOL! It was a Kodak moment, lb. I feel so back for that bike and it’s owner. That car driver was creepy!

]]> By: lisabea http://www.fictionwithfriction.com/2008/08/06/rwa-the-eagle-and-me/#comment-1277 lisabea Wed, 06 Aug 2008 17:43:09 +0000 http://www.fictionwithfriction.com/2008/08/06/rwa-the-eagle-and-me/#comment-1277 Hilarity ensued, Laura. I can't say enough how glad I am that we ditched the goings on at the hotel and went out to make our own fun. Yay us. OMG the sound of the car going over that poor bike! And the look on those sweet young faces when you said "We write gay erotica." PRICELESS. Hilarity ensued, Laura. I can’t say enough how glad I am that we ditched the goings on at the hotel and went out to make our own fun. Yay us. OMG the sound of the car going over that poor bike!

And the look on those sweet young faces when you said “We write gay erotica.” PRICELESS.

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