Kathy Jund, one of our readers in Southern California met up with Carol Fitzgerald at the Romance Writers of America Literacy signing at the Anaheim Convention Center last Wednesday. Here is her report on that event, as well as her commentary on some of the other romance-themed events she attended surrounding the conference.

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One of the highlights of the Romance Writers of America “RWA” conference for me is the "Readers for Life" Literacy Autographing where last night more than 400 authors signed books, the proceeds of which will fund literacy charities. The authors sit at cloth-covered tables theatre style with copies of their books that have been donated by their publishers with pens poised, ready to sign --- and often with goodies like bookmarks, upcoming chapters, pens and candy to share. Readers make their way from aisle to aisle to meet favorite authors and explore new ones; all proceeds of the evening this year will be donated to ProLiteracy Worldwide, Read Orange County, and Literacy Volunteers—Huntington Valley. Since 1990, RWA has raised $716,000 to fight illiteracy.  

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The weather got gloriously better towards the end of our trip and thus my reading moved from the couch to lounge chairs on the patio and even poolside!

I have been looking forward to HEADING OUT TO WONDERFUL by Robert Goolrick (June 12th) for months now. As many of you recall I was just crazy about A RELIABLE WIFE, which was a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection. There are many parallels between the two books including the lonely characters who have lots churning inside.

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Spring Break for me is about reading. It’s a chance to do some catching up and some reading ahead. And I did a little of each this trip while also realizing there are some classics that I clearly missed that I need to explore.

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At the American Library Association’s (ALA) Annual Conference held in New Orleans, Louisiana June 24-27, LeVette Fuller from Shreve Memorial Library in Shreveport, Louisiana was the lucky recipient of the $20,000+ Great Graphic Novel Library Giveaway, sponsored by Brodart Company, Diamond Book Distributors, and GraphicNovelReporter.com.

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At the Texas Library Association’s (TLA) Annual Conference held in Austin, Texas, April 12–15, Eduardo Zepeda from Weslaco Public Library was the lucky recipient of the $20,000  prize in the Great Graphic Novel Library Giveaway, sponsored by Brodart Company, Diamond Book Distributors, and GraphicNovelReporter.com.

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Three years ago, comics and graphics novels first grabbed a significant presence at the Miami Book Fair International. I actually was at the meeting when Mitch Kaplan, one of the founders of the Fair and the owner of the fabulous bookstore Books & Books, asked John Shableski from Diamond Book Distributors to create programming and booth presence for comics creators and publishers. And oh, how the idea has grown since then. This year, there were more than 50 comics folks participating and there was a Comix Galaxy track of programming throughout the weekend, as well as a two-day School of Comics—which used to be one day.

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While this was just my third Comic-Con, it was interesting to see that I already have created my own way of navigating the show to ensure I get to as much as I can. Unlike our intrepid editor, John Hogan, I did not grow up reading comic books, but rather just the newspaper strips, thus I am not as familiar with all of the creators --- but I am catching on fast. While I have been lucky enough to meet many authors in my day and have attended quite a few conventions, there is nothing that really compares with the interaction at Comic-Con. The lines of fans who cannot wait to meet their favorite creators generates a true feeling of excitement and brings such energy to the show. Seeing the enthusiasm of true fans and their groundswell of attention to what they love really cannot be beat. Yes, I have seen autographing lines at many conferences, but truly nothing compares to Comic-Con.

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Somehow, when I was plotting my Con schedule, I had missed that Ray Bradbury would be here (related story: Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 is on our list of the hottest graphic novels of summer). He had been one of the featured guests at the first Comic-Con back in 1970, when the crowd was a mere 300 at the U.S. Grant Hotel. I had seen him three years ago at the L.A. Book Festival in what was one very memorable afternoon. Thus when I learned he was on the lineup, I found my way to the room where he would appear. On the way, I thought I was on the right line, only to be told it was one for Boondock Saints 2. When I said I wanted to see Bradbury, I was told, "There will not be a line like this for HIM." Well, while I did walk in the room without waiting, the room still was filled with what looked like a couple of thousand people, and when Bradbury's wheelchair hoist got him to the presentation level, the place immediately erupted into a standing ovation. The thing about the Con: There's something for everyone.

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How did people who flew to San Diego manage to get their swords, guns, and other fake weapons on board airplanes? Or was Fed Ex rather busy these last few weeks flying costume weaponry?

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