I am incredibly lucky to be able to live in Southern California, the exact setting of the yearly RWA conference this year. Especially because I am a current AVON ADDICT and I was invited to the Avon Romance Publishing party at Mastro's Restaurant down in Newport Beach to meet and greet all my favorite authors! 

Can it get any better? 

Mastro’s. Newport Beach. Dry ice martinis. This was the setting of the Avon Romance Publishing party.

I walked in and was immediately welcomed SO warmly by Jessie, and they brought me to Pam so I could meet her as well. Seriously, they were so nice and amazing to me. It was reiterated several times how 8,000 people applied to be Avon Addicts and only 25 were choose for the first 6 month spot. WOW! Well, I REALLY love to read Avon books so I guess that showed in my application… haha! I’m still flabbergasted about how excited they continue to be about the Avon Addicts program when I’m just so excited to get these books on a monthly basis and be able to chat about them! That is a win-win. 

Our six month tenure will end soon and while I will be so sad, I will still be super excited to see who gets selected for the next round and the fun things they will come up with! PLUS, once an Avon Addict... always an Avon Addict! (Amy Valentini, who is an Addict Goddess, said it best!). You better be applying! 

So. In case you were wondering who I met at this swanky party... YES, all my favorites plus new authors that I can't wait to try!! 

I immediately spied Sophia Nash's name, chatting with friends next to the bar. 

Susan Elizabeth Phillips. ZOMG. SEP!!!

As I was waiting to jump into SEPs conversation (she was talking quite a long time with someone showing her phone photos – seriously, the amount of times I noticed people ‘waiting’ to speak to other people was hilarious – pretty much cause I was doing it, I noticed everyone else!)....

I ran into Elizabeth Lowell and her writing partner so I had to tell her that her latest ‘Beautiful Sacrifice’ was so well researched, I always learn things from her novels! Then I had to blunder about and say that my favorite was this book, and I loved it, and her name was Cat, and she fell on the steps… der… what was the name? Well, she knew it – To the Ends of the Earth but I can only hope that she appreciated the love. I love my brain, how it can remember crucial information right when I need it. Not. 

Then, I jumped in with SEP and fan-girl'd all over here. She was so gracious, funny, and nice! 

I met the editor of Eloisa James, whose name is escaping me, but she was perfectly hilarious and I enjoyed chatting for awhile. It was her idea for Eloisa to create Paris in Love! 

Then, I met Jennifer Bernard, whom I was passed the book through the Avon Addicts club and her next anthology sounds super awesome (the LA Firemen going to help in a CO wildfire scenario!) and they had Eric the Fireman representing! Yes, he was cheesy beefcake for the ladies of Avon but never fear, Avon donated generously to the LA Fire Fund (or whatever the actual name was) and Eric was an actual Fireman from LA and super witty and hysterical about the fact all us ladies were getting our pictures with him. icon_smile.gif Well, who could resist? Not I…

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Kristi & Eric the Fireman


Tessa Dare – whose historical novels are fantastic – and who is so nice. Super gorgeous too, her purple dress was fantastic! She ended up winning a RITA the next night (the equivalent to the Oscars!). Congrats Tessa! 

Then I saw Sarah Maclean, whose stories I love. She introduced me to Toni Blake. 

Let me interject that Toni Blake's dress was super amazing. I was in love with it! Such a fashionista! 

Next to them was Julie Ann Long, I totally fan girl’d over her stuff.

I saw Julia Quinn, who I have met several times and who is my hand down favorite historical writer. Okay, maybe not favorite. Because I do love Eloisa James… However, I had met Julia Quinn a few years back and totally squee'd over her then so I just said 'Hi!' and... I LOVE your purse! 

Sarah Maclean, who really is one of the nicest people I met that night, also introduced me to Jennifer McQuiston who is a NEW author - just signed a few months ago - with her first novel coming out Spring of 2013. 

What Happens in Scotland sounds fantastic. I got the rundown - which I will share with you - aren't I nice? hehe - Apparently set in Scotland (hey, I had two martinis) the H & H wake up in bed together with wedding rings on. I had to double-take... and ask but it's a Regency, right, don't the need bans? NO, they married in SCOTLAND! It sounds awesome! 

What a wonderful night. Thank you Avon Romance for inviting me to this fantastic party. It was a night I'll never forget!