As promised, here’s my Romantic Times Booklovers Convention (RT) roundup.

After hearing about RT in Pittsburgh three years ago (or was it four?), Derek (my husband) wanted to go with me. Well, that and we have cousins in Chicago who we wanted to visit — they’re jazz musicians and music teachers.

We arrived at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare Tuesday afternoon after a turbulent flight on a smallish plane. My stomach wasn’t happy, but thankfully, I didn’t have to use the barf bag. Weeks and months before RT, I’d been texting and Tweeting back and forth with author friends who I wanted to get up with in Chicago, and the first I met when we got to the hotel was Jill Smith (aka, the senior reviewer for RT Book Reviews who gave ALL SPELL BREAKS LOOSE such a fabulous review — see previous post if you haven’t read it yet). Here’s pics of Jill with Derek in the hotel bar. Needless to say, I bought Jill’s drink.

Tuesday night was one of the main reasons that I went to RT this year — to finally meet my agent, Kristin Nelson. I’ve been a client for six years, and had the dubious distinction of being the only one of her clients whom she’d never met. She’d told me that if I was going to a conference this year to let her know and she’d be there. I said RT, and she was there. We went out for truly wonderful Mexican food where Kristin and Derek had killer margaritas. I already knew that Kristin was sharp and savvy and funny — Tuesday night was confirmation. We talked about my new series, and she made suggestions that’s going to make it even better. She’s simply amazing. Here’s a pic of me and Kristin after we got back to the hotel (bear in mind it’d been a LONG day for me. Well, that andd I can’t take a decent pic to save my life).

While Derek was taking pics of me and Kristin, I heard several people yell my name. It was two of the other reasons why I came to RT: my author/mentor mom Linnea Sinclair, and quite possibly the cutest YA author out there Stacey Kade, who is also a fellow Greyhound Mom. We talked for a while, then Derek and I headed upstairs. It’d been a long day.

Wednesday was one of those days that I didn’t have anything scheduled until later, yet I was incredibly busy. Though one thing I definitely remember was visiting the book room, where as part of your RT registration, you get FREE BOOKS! I scored 10 YA books and copious swag for my teen niece (and aspiring author) Logan. Yep, she thinks that I’m the Best Aunt Ever. ; ) They also had onsite shipping so you could send all of your ill-gotten booty directly home.

At 4:30 was Linnea’s annual Intergalactic Bar & Grille Party. Games were played, fun was had, drinks were consumed. I provided two gift bags containing the first five books in the Raine Benares series with an IOU for ALL SPELL BREAKS LOOSE. I signed & personalized each book for the winners, and got their addresses to send them a copy of ALL SPELL as soon as I get my author’s copies.

On Wednesday night, a group of us met in the bar then headed out to dinner to Chicago Fire Oven (awesome pizzas). It was me, Derek, Linnea, Kristin, Stacey, Kasey Mackenzie and Jeri Smith-Ready. Here’s a pic of me, Kristen, and Linnea.

On Thursday, Derek and I went into Chicago to the Shedd Aquarium. Unknown to us, it was Spring Break in Chicago last week. Dang, but that place was packed with kids. We had a great time, and got some postcard-perfect pictures of the city skyline and the unbelievably blue Lake Michigan. The pic of the beautiful white building is the Shedd Aquarium.

On Friday, Derek & I took the train into town to visit our cousins. We went shopping in some cool and funky second-hand and vintage clothing stores. I scored a long, tailored & sleek tuxedo jacket for $15. It looked great with my jeans and high-top black Chucks. Sorry, no pic. Daniel and Stephanie took us out to what is a Chicago hot dog legend — Hot Dougs. I love the rest of the name: “The Sausage Superstore.” The line wraps around the building every day. People wait because it’s just that good. I had one of the specials which was a white wine and dijon rabbit sausage with some kind of decadent, gooey cheese, and a mushroom sauce, topped off with a basket of fries that’d been fried in duck fat. Sheer decadence.

Friday night, we went to Gibsons Steakhouse with Linnea, her husband Robbie, Stacey and her husband Brian. Unbelievable steaks, stupendously huge desserts. We got one dessert for the whole table. It was some kind of chocolate mousse cake type thing. Fabulous. I especially liked the steak knife driven down through the center.

Saturday was the Giant Book Fair. 350 authors and an insane number of fans. Having Anne Rice, Charlaine Harris, JR Ward, James Rollins, and Sue Grafton there signing as well definitely increased attendance even further. I found my table, turned around to get the lay of the land only to find that the only thing separating me from Anne, Charlaine, and James was about 20 feet of carpeted ballroom. YES!!!!!

I was actually able to talk to and get books signed, and photos taken of Anne Rice and thriller author James Rollins. I tried to be cool and not have a complete fangirl moment. I think I might have succeeded. Not. My sister is also a big Anne Rice fan, so I got a book signed & personalized for her as well.

I was also thrilled to finally get to meet Ilona & Gordon Andrews. They are SO NICE!

During the course of RT, I met and spoke with: Charlaine Harris (the kindest and most gracious lady on the planet. Period.), Shannon K. Butcher (paranormal author and Jim Butcher’s wife), Mari Mancusi (YA author and my agency sister), Jennifer Estep (paranormal author and the sweetest girl), Isabo Kelly (great scifi romance author and a really tall girl), and Rachel Caine (seven kinds of awesome). I know there were others, but I just can’t recall them at the moment. (Too much stuff in my head.)

In summary, it was awesome. Next year’s RT is in Kansas City, MO, and I do believe that I’ll be going. : )

I just got the June issue of Romantic Times Book Reviews, which means that I am now free to post the stupendously magnificent review of ALL SPELL BREAKS LOOSE. I got an advance copy of the review before going to RT in Chicago last week. (I’ll post about Chicago on Friday, I promise.)

First to set up how impressive this review is. RT ranks books using the following: (first of all, RT doesn’t award 5 stars; 4½ stars is as high as they go.)

4½ stars GOLD = PHENOMENAL — In a Class by Itself.
4½ stars = FANTASTIC — A Keeper. 
4 stars = COMPELLING — Page-Turner.
3 stars = ENJOYABLE — Pleasant Read. 
2 stars = PROBLEMATIC — May Struggle to Finish. 
1 star = SEVERELY FLAWED — Pass on This One.

RT also has what they call “TOP PICK!” basically meaning outstanding/awesome

ALL SPELL BREAKS LOOSE was awarded the top ranking possible — 4½ stars GOLD and a “TOP PICK!” There were 298 books reviewed in the June issue. Of those 298 books, only 2 were awarded the GOLD designation — and ALL SPELL BREAKS LOOSE was one of them.

(huge, big frikkin’ grin)

Needless to say, last week in Chicago I gave the reviewer Jill Smith several hugs over the course of the week, and bought that tiny woman a drink on our first night there. I’d have bought her dinner, but she never slowed down long enough. I know I’ve thanked you plenty of times last week, Jill, but thank you again!

Without further delay, here is Jill’s review of ALL SPELL BREAKS LOOSE. Enjoy! (I sure did.)

When a fantastic series comes to a close in such a spectacular fashion there is pure pleasure for the exceptional experience and a touch of sadness for good things coming to an end. Over the course of the Raine Benares series, Shearin has proven herself to be an expert storyteller with the enviable ability to provide both humor and jaw-dropping action. I am very much looking forward to Shearin’s next endeavor and hope that she revisits this world again in the future. Brava!

SUMMARY: On the plus side, elf seeker Raine is no longer hooked to the soulsucking rock called the Saghred. On the downside, the rock is now in the hands of megalomaniac goblin Sarad Nukpana, who is planning on destroying the world as Raine knows it. Plus, the damn rock stole her magic as a parting gift. To save their worlds, elves Raine, Mychael and Piaras, as well as goblins Tam, Imala, Talon and Prince Chigaru, must sneak into the goblin capital Regor, stop Sarad and destroy the evil rock. With traitors to the right and vicious sea dragons to the left, this will be a piece of cake — not.

I am one more tired author. I got back from Chicago last night — I had an AWESOME time, complete with two serious fangirl moments. I’ll post about it (with photos) in the next day or so. For now, here’s your Monday snippet from All Spell Breaks Loose:

Tam had reasoned that his former teacher would be hiding where no one would come looking for him — and he meant no one, not even Sarad Nukpana.

There was a house that was considered cursed, possessed, haunted, you name it; this place had it. And since the people doing the considering were goblins; that said a lot in my opinion. Before we’d left his house, Tam had given us the quick and dirty details on this place. People either went in and were never seen again, or they felt the sudden need to kill the friend who’d gone in with them. Down through the years, a few families had been stupid or suicidal enough to actually buy the place and move in. They ultimately came out in either coffins or straightjackets — and others had never come out at all. But the icing on the cake was when Tam told us that as a boy even Sarad Nukpana had been scared of the place. What scared you as a kid tended to stick. So if Kesyn Badru wanted to be left alone — and he did — there was no place he’d rather be.

Yeah, I saw this ending well. Kind of like Carnades being responsible for getting us safely home. Look how that had turned out.

I’ll be leaving tomorrow for Chicago and the Romantic Times Booklovers Convention. Keep an eye on my Twitter feed on my website home page. I promise lots of Tweets and photos!

Now, without further delay, here’s your Monday snippet:

“Khrynsani guards,” Imala whispered. “They appear to be questioning everyone going into the square.” Her dark eyes narrowed dangerously. “I stand corrected. Only one of those men is Khrynsani. The other is one of my agents — or was.”

The glare Imala was giving him promised that not only was his career over, but his life was about to follow in its fading footsteps.

“He was one of Carnades’s guards,” Tam told her.

Imala nodded once. “And one of my most trusted,” she said quietly.

Tam never took his eyes off of the rogue agent. “Would you like to speak with him?”

Imala’s smile was chilling. “Yes, thank you. There is nothing I would like more.”

Webmaster Todd has made a few upgrades to my site just in time for the Romantic Times Booklovers Convention next week in Chicago. Derek will be going with me this year!  We’ll be arriving in Chicago at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare (the convention hotel) on Tuesday afternoon (April 10), and will be there through Sunday morning April 15. If you’re coming to the convention, or live in the Chicago area, we’d love to meet you! Really, if you see us at the convention and we’re not in deep, serious conversation with someone, please come on up and introduce yourself.  I WANT to meet my fans!   : )

As always, there’s the Giant Bookfair on Saturday April 14 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Admission is only $5. There will be about 300 authors there to meet and sign your books (the list is in the link above). Books can be purchased at the author’s personal table, or you can bring your books from home to get them signed. (You can get your books from home “stickered” at the entrance so the folks at checkout will know that those are books that you brought with you.)

And on Wednesday, April 11, from 4:45 to 5:45, I’ll be at Linnea Sinclair’s (my Author Mentor/Mom) Intergalactic Bar & Grille party. There will be prizes, goody bags, games, and of course drinks. Come by and meet the crew!

Okay, what all this has to do with Twitter is that I’ll be doing a lot of tweeting (with photos) from the convention. Tweeting and posting photos is easy for me from my smartphone.  I don’t know how much time — if any — that I’ll have to post on my blog, but you can now easily keep track of what I’m up to — at the convention or anytime – from the comfort and convenience of my home page.  You don’t even have to have a Twitter account. If you do already have a Twitter account and want to follow me, just click on my photo in the right nav under my Twitter ID “@LisaShearin” and it’ll take you to my home page. There’s a “FOLLOW” button there.

I promise lots of Tweets and pics from Chicago!

Lisa