Aloha to San Antonio - Authors Galore, Menger Hotel, and Librarian's Day

 

The stars were bright in San Antonio for RWA's Annual Conference, including Avery Flynn, Kimberly Kincaid, Cathy Maxwell, Carly Phillips, and Robin Covington.

Cathy and I enjoyed an evening stroll.  Above is the La Antorcha de la Amistad - the Torch of Friendship.  Sculpted by Mexican artist Sebastian, it was a gift from the Mexican government to the City of San Antonio in 2002.

Another view of the Tower of the Americas ...

... and the Alamo at twilight.

 The corner of Alamo Plaza and Crockett Street leads to the historic Menger Hotel.

From Wikipedia,

By the 1870s, the Menger was the best known hotel in the southwest. The hotel is mentioned several times in the works of O Henry, and hosted Ulysses S. Grant in 1880. It hosted Theodore Roosevelt at least three times, most notably in 1898 when he used the bar to recruit Rough Riders, who fought in Cuba in the Spanish-American War.

The Victorian interior offered a step back into a luxurious past ...

... including a stained glass ceiling.

The next day, I attended the Librarian's Day, including a networking event with ...

... Shana Galen holding a chocolate kiss martini, shaken but not stirred, in honor of her new historical romance, LOVE AND LET SPY.

Navy Veteran-turned-Harlequin author Geri Krotow (right) greets the chief librarian from Fort Sam Houston.   What's better than a day spent with librarians?!?!

One randomly selected commenter from this week's blogs wins a book choice from my convention stash.  To enter the giveaway,

1. Leave a comment about a historic hotel that you have visited.

2.  Comments are open through Saturday, August 16, 10 pm in Baltimore.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, August 17.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Jennifer McQuiston (left) and Candis Terry (right)