2016 RWA Conference Report

Stamford Grand

I'm just home from the 2016 RWA Conference held in the gorgeous Stamford Grand in Glenelg, South Australia.

Glenelg Jetty at Sunset

I attended an agricultural conference in the exact location in 2002, and I loved it then. I think I love it more now. There are many more shops (eateries, coffee shops, plus general shops) within short walking distance. The beach and park are still beautiful. The Stamford Grand is still spectacularly elegant. I'm so very glad I went again - and my memories weren't let down one bit :)

I've attended the RWA conferences from 2009 - 2014, and each time I've overdosed. For an introvert who works at home, with CFS, being at a conference with 300+ is not the greatest place to be :)

I've always done conferences wrongly, and in 2014 I came home so sick, I swore I'd never go again. But it's isolating when you don't attend because there is no other way to get industry news. Publishers say things at conference that you don't hear otherwise. Early this year, I found myself incredibly frustrated about the things I didn't know. So I went this time, determined to do it differently and remain well.

Heart sculpture on the foreshore

Instead of jamming everything I could into a few days, I was extremely selective about what I did. I stayed off-site so that meant I had to go outside and walk in the fresh air. This worked, because my brain wasn't hurting from overload, my eyes and ears weren't throbbing from being over-stimulated by colours, people, sounds. And I wasn't always tempted to be there, doing something, seeing someone, talking.

I focussed on what I needed to do - I met with my collaborators (Jennie and Lisa) and publishers (Harlequin Mira and Escape). I spent time with people I 'work' with, look up to, or find inspiring. I didn't see everyone I wanted to. I didn't attend every session I wanted to. I didn't even attend the Sunday of the conference, and I skipped the late night parties (oh, how I missed them!). I skipped late night chats (missed those too).

Love this view

I think I may be onto something. Although, I've had some mega sleeps since coming home, and I have the twinges of a cold, I don't feel as zonked or washed out, or shattered as usual - that's a huge win!

I'm hoping I may have got it right this time. And I'm trying to think that getting to some is better than missing it all!!

Here are some photos of the fun.

Lisa, Jennie and I - taking terrible photos :)

Goodies in the Conference Bag

Lisa, Me and Jennie - celebrating with another bad photo

Last Chance Country in the Harlequin display

Me enjoying the Harlequin Author Party (Lilia Kanna took this for me)