Yesterday I was in the car and the morning radio show I listen to was talking about Sandra Bullock giving a graduation speech at some college. They were going through the advice she was giving to the graduates, and the last quote they mentioned really struck me – “Go find your joy.” Growing up, ‘Joy’ was one of my mom’s favorite words so it has always held a special place in my heart. But as I was driving and daydreaming (how I have not wrecked my car while daydreaming yet baffles me) I started thinking about the joy the romance community gives me in general, but more in particular this past Romantic Times Convention.
What first popped into my mind was the absolute joy Lisa Kleypas spoke with when she took an hour of her time to go through her writing process and what is up next for her. And the joy Sarah from Smart Bitches projected as she sat with Lisa and interviewed her – as well as the joy on all of our faces in the audience. And this goes for so many of the authors in attendance, Lisa was just the first one I thought of. Her passion and her devotion to writing the best stories she can, really came across well.
The joy of readers and bloggers sitting in the bar and meeting an online friend in person for the very first time or their favorite author for the very first time.
The joy of walking into the hotel to check-in and seeing friends you only see once a year at this conference.
The joy of sitting in on panels and laughing and laughing as the authors talk about how they write sex scenes or how they write super hot immortals.
The joy of seeing pictures of readers literally rolling around a bed full of books.
The joy of Bourbon Street (oh wait, that isn’t romance book related *wink*)
My point, is that what I took away from the Romantic Times conference, and everyday from this romance community (I’m looking at you twitter) is joy. Yes, we have our kerfluffles – just like my husband and my kids bring me joy, but they also bring me laundry and dirty dishes. This conference made me smile and kind of re-energized me.
So thanks RT! And the people at RT! And the great thing about this romance community is that if you were unable to make it to RT, or if RT is just not your scene, you can find your joy on a blog, or on twitter, or anywhere else a romance conversation pops up. Where did you find your joy today?
My joy today was sitting down to read an old favorite. Well that and finally remembering my online bank password before I locked myself out again. :)
I so understand you. I´m looking forward to the Loveletter Convention this Weekend in Berlin/Germany. Its like the RT only smaller. I´m so excited to meet so many of lovely Authors like Nalini Singh, Lara Adrian or Larissa Ione. But the best is, my online friends from all over germany come to Berlin to visit me. We were talking, eating, drinking wine und have so much fun :-)
Sticking to reading/blogging, I experienced the joy of attending my first book conference a couple years back and it was very different experience. Meeting some of my favorite authors and bloggers and going on for hours about something that means a lot to me was a great feeling. It kind of revitalized me as a reader and blogger.
I took a long strenuous walk this morning WITH a romance novel. I listen to books while I walk and it makes exercising so much better. Joy!
This is why if I got to go to a convention I would want it to be one like that one. Readers may not always agree about specific books but they understand each other.
My joy today was sitting out on the porch with family watching my 16 month-old nephew.
Sophia that is an excellent idea! I would probably take longer strolls if I were also listening to a good book!
I’ve been in a reading slump/depression for ages. I lost a lot of my joy that I get from reading and writing after my father died in 2010. I get it back for brief periods but then I’ll go for times when it just doesn’t mean as much to me as it used to. So, when it does, I enjoy it and hope that one day I’ll be back to who I was. Right now, I’m catching up on the Kim Harrison Hollows series and loving it so that’s where my joy is coming from. And, I’m counting down the days to Lori Foster’s Readers and Authors Get Together; like you, I LOVE hanging with my reader, blogger, author and Twitter buddies! You will be missed this year, buddy!
What a great topic: appreciate what brings you joy. My reading joy comes when I reread a favorite…visiting those characters and world is like enjoying comfort food. I always close the book or turn off the kindle smiling.
Like Silke, I really enjoyed the Love Letter Convention in Berlin this past weekend. Joy is the right word for that, meeting online friends, favourite authors and just having fun interacting with everyone.
Great post Mandi! And I love Sandra Bullock ;)