Saints and Sinners

by Donna MacMeans

I have a dilemma.

I'm leaving Friday for Lora Leigh's reader event in Huntington WV known as RAW (Readers Appreciation Weekend). The event has a theme of Sinners and Saints complete with a costume dance on Saturday night.

I have no costume.

Part of the problem (beyond the obvious procrastination) is that I wasn't sure what I wanted to be -- a sinner or a saint... wings or a devil's horns...what would you choose?

Now I have to admit a certain affinity toward a sinner costume. It's a well accepted assumption that bad girls have more fun, right? Quite honestly, I've never been a bad girl and I'm running out of time to try (grin).

However, all the sinner costumes show more skin than costume and, quite frankly, God created some bodies to be covered. Such a body is mine (sigh).

I thought about reviving my pink corset, and using that to promote the sort of bad girl image necessary for a proper sinner. (You may recall that corset inspired the observation from my daughter as she tightened the laces, "Mom - it's like you have a butt crack that goes right up your back!")

However, I'm a little concerned about the potential for a wardrobe malfunction. I love to dance. Once the music starts, it'll be hard to keep me off the floor. It's difficult enough to breathe in that corset much less dance. If the girls escape ... well... just the thought is enough to nix the corset.

So maybe I should go as a saint (though I'm not sure anyone would actually buy that). I've certainly seen enough angel wings on sale and I imagine a halo wouldn't be too difficult to construct out of tin foil. I have enough years of crafting kid's costumes to let such a small thing as a halo deter me. But wings are something of a pain when you're dancing. They have a mind of their own. Hmmm...not sure an angel costume will work.

So what about some other sort of Saint.

Val Kilmer played a thief known as The Saint in a movie by the same name. I don't think I could make a costume to resemble Val Kilmer - but I liked the idea of having an excuse to use his photo.

I found a group known as SAINT for Saving Animals In Need Together. I think I could make a convincing old dog.

Would God strike me dead it I went as this guy (minus the beard, of course)?

So help me out? Any ideas out there to save me from being excluded from the fun? If you're going to RAW - what are you going as? If you're not going to RAW - what would you go as if you could?

If you leave a comment, you've a chance to win a copy of Tracy Spear's Heart of the Wolf or Suzanne Enoch's Before The Scandal. So help a poor sinner...saint...out.

2008 RAW with Lora Leigh

by Donna MacMeans

Huntington, West Virginia may be known as the home to Marshall's Thundering Herd, but the thundering herd this last weekend were the romance readers and writers that descended upon the Pullman Plaza hotel for 2008 Readers Appreciation Weekend, otherwise known as RAW. Lora Leigh hosted this annual event of twenty five authors and one hundred and seventy five readers.

The event kicked off with a slumber party Friday night. We're talking sexy jammies, comfortable sweats, lots of pizza, and a DJ who kept the dancefloor rocking.

After breakfast on Saturday, the participants had a private booksigning. I stood on my chair, a shaky proposition, to bring you this photo of the crowd. I met lots of dedicated romance readers from all over the country - Louisana, Texas, Tennessee, Virginia... even one woman who traveled from Germany with her husband just for this event.
Here's (left to right) authors Erin McCarthy, Jules Bennett and Lucy Monroe.

After the signing I took a short break to explore outside the hotel, and discovered the road in front of the hotel had been closed off for a chili cookoff. (You can see the roadblocks barriers in the above pic.) A fantastic band provided wonderful loud music that followed me as I shopped in some of the unique area stores. Not sure why everyone wasn't dancing around the town fountain. It was a perfect day for it.

I headed back to the hotel for the dinner/masquerade dance Saturday night. I saw some fun, imaginative costumes -- but not on me. I just wore a mask and, of course, the hat. Author Dianne Castell, however, made a perfect Paula Deen - don't you think? Harlequin author Kay Stockham dressed in a fabulous blue feather mask.

Lots of baskets were raffled off to enthusiastic readers for the benefit of charity. The romance bandits contributed and Amy was the lucky winner. I need to thank Julia Bennett for Amy's photo as my camera battery died - darn technology.

Another signing for the public on Sunday and then we headed back for home. I had so much fun and met some great people. Can't wait for next year which will again be held at the Pullman Plaza in Huntington West Virginia. The event sells out quickly so if you're interested in attending, watch for details on Lora Leigh's website http://www.loraleigh.com/.

This year, I've attended the Romantic Times convention in April, Lori Foster & Dianne Castell's reader event in June, and now RAW. Have to say - romance readers are the best. They're fun, friendly, knowledgeable and avid, avid readers.

Have you attended a reader's event? Have you wanted to? Tell me about it. What did you like the best? If you haven't been to an event - tell me about the costume you'd have worn to the masquerade ball. I'm always looking for ideas and RT will be upon us again in April. I'm offering a Tshirt (large) and a tote bag from RAW for one lucky commentor.