Reflections of Former Times
May 22, 2025
This time last year, my husband passed away, and so I’ll always associate Memorial Day Weekend with his loss. It’s also an opportunity to look back and reflect on the good life we had together. In a similar manner, recently I reconnected with an old writer friend from the early days when we were both first published. We reminisced about attending Romantic Times and RWA conferences, since we’d each started out as romance writers before switching to mysteries. I’m sad that those days are gone. The conventions were fun and mind-blowing at the same time. Let me share some of these fond memories with you.
Romantic Times
The cover models!
The costumes!
The themed parties!
And the giant book fair and the friends…. The memories live on.
Romance Writers of America
The packed workshops!
The glitzy gowns!
The awards dinner!
The best part – Free books1
What event(s) in the past helped shape your career path, and does it still exist? Leave a comment for your chance to win a first edition print copy of an earlier sci-fi/fantasyromance title from my collection.
May 22 is the Last Day to enter our May contest. One winner will receive two cozy mystery novels. Don’t Delay! ENTER today!
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Posted in Let's Talk, with Nancy J. Cohen • Tags: Let's Talk, Nancy J Cohen, Reflections on Former Times, Romantic Times, RWA | 11 Comments
hm. I can’t say that I’ve attended events which affected my career path. I can see how some would, though! What I *have* attended are gem faires and bead shows that have affected my hobby of making jewelry – when I attend them, I always get all kinds of ideas for things I want to make or try!
Those trade shows sound like fun and I can see how they’d be inspirational for your designs.
Nancy, RWA has gone through some tough times, and I haven’t been a member in more than a decade. However, like you, I started out writing romance, before switching to mystery. I have to credit RWA with providing me with an enormous education about writing and the publishing industry. It’s also where I met my agent.
I wouldn’t be published without RWA and our local FRW chapter. And like you, I learned a tremendous amount from other authors at both levels.
I’ll echo Lois’s remarks. I also started out writing romance and attending RWA conferences and our chapter’s conference for many years. I didn’t know what I didn’t know when I started out. Turned out that was a LOT! But it is true that the more you write, the more things come together. Many of my RWA friends are still friends, especially my early critique partners. In my other career, a site visit at another organizations aquaculture facility was very revealing and educational for me. I came back to my job inspired me to elevate our practices up to this higher standard. That proved the best for our fish and frogs and made our stock healthier. It also made my work less frustrating as everyone in the program had to follow the new Standard Operating Procedures.
I’d toured an aquaculture tilapia farm as research for one of my books. It was fascinating. Glad you were able to work it into your job.
When I was working as a social worker years ago, I remember attending a professional development workshop for a weekend that I found quite helpful. I am not certain if it still exists, but I enjoyed it while it did.
It’s always helpful to attend professional development workshops. You were fortunate to find an effective one at the time.
When I started writing, RWA still was offering excellent business related classes, but sadly the implosion occurred slightly thereafter so I never took advantage of becoming involved – especially as I was still working and as I was writing mystery, trying to be active in that world.
I grew into my career with RWA and learned most of the business aspects of writing from other published members. Sisters in Crime is helpful in the mystery field that way.
My winner is Maria Arcara. Congrats! I’ll be in touch via email. Thanks to all who commented.