Aloha to Barbara Vey's Reader Appreciation Luncheon - Goody Bags!

Continuing my recap of Barbara Vey's Reader Appreciation Luncheon (link and link), everyone received a tote bag from Debbie Macomber, the guest speaker, plus a dozen books!

Each author donated a door prize.  I was chatting when the first author began to read the numbers ... 

5 ... 3 ... 1 ... 4 ... 3 ... 2 ... 7 

I won "spy tools" from romantic suspense author Cindy Dees!

How lucky are you?  Have you won anything from a raffle, lottery, or other game of chance?  One randomly selected commenter from this week's posts win a book choice from my convention stash. Comments are open through Saturday, May 3, 10 pm in Baltimore.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, May 4.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Coming tomorrow ... new authors to meet!

Aloha to Barbara Vey's Reader Appreciation Luncheon - the incomparable Eileen Dryer

Continuing my recap of Barbara Vey's Reader Appreciation Luncheon (link),  I was honored to share a table with Eileen Dreyer (link):

New York Times bestselling, award-winning author Eileen Dreyer, known as Kathleen Korbel to her Silhouette readers, has published 28 romance novels, 8 medico-forensic suspenses, and 7 short stories.

2012 sees Eileen enjoying critical acclaim for her first foray into historical romance, the Drake's Rakes series, which follow the lives of a group of British aristocrats who are willing to sacrifice everything to keep their country safe. After publication of the first trilogy in the series, she has just signed for the next trilogy, following the graduates of the aptly named Last Chance Academy, who each finds herself crossing swords with Drake's Rakes. Eileen spent time not only in England and Italy, but India to research the series (it's a filthy job, but somebody has to do it).

A retired trauma nurse, Eileen lives in her native St. Louis with her husband, children, and large and noisy Irish family, of which she is the reluctant matriarch. She has animals but refuses to subject them to the limelight.

These words only touch the surface of who is Eileen Dreyer ... she is simply awesome!   I was so awestruck that I didn't take pictures of our table.   But here's a picture of the first time I met Eileen at RT/LA in 2011:

Eileen, left, laughs with Patricia Rice and Cathy Maxwell. And she laughed along with us at the luncheon!   Eileen treated us to a fabulous goody bag:

Zsa Zsa was so excited with the goodies that she jumped into the picture.

So here is a better picture of the "Regency England" themed goodies.  Notably absent are the Scottish Shortbread cookies which I already ate.  

Mahalo to Forever for expediting the ARC for TWICE TEMPTED, scheduled for release in November (link).  I am one lucky reader who will enjoy it now with with my tea! Quoting Eileen, it's a filthy job, but somebody has to do it.

Are you a fan of tea?  If so, what flavor?  One randomly selected commenter from this week's posts wins a book choice from my convention stash.  Comments are open through Saturday, May 3, 10 pm in Baltimore.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, May 5.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Coming tomorrow ... more romance authors!

Image Courtesy of Barbara Vey
barbaravey.com

Aloha to Barbara Vey's Reader Appreciation Luncheon (part 1) - Romance Rocks!

Aloha!  I arrived in Milwaukee on Saturday morning for Barbara Vey's Reader Appreciation Luncheon (link).  Above are the three "coffee" stooges who greeted me at the airport.

The luncheon featured 60 authors with 7 readers at their tables - 480 booklovers celebrating romance! Tracey Devlyn (link), second from left, transported her readers to Merry Ole England. 

Angie Fox (link), holding book, celebrated MY BIG FAT DEMON SLAYER WEDDING with her fans. 

Elizabeth Hoyt (link) played peek-a-boo.

Deeanne Gist (link), second from left, is cute as a button with her fans.

Two "princesses" from the royal table of Susan Elizabeth Phillips (link).  

Jeannie Lin (link) showed off the bento box for each reader at her table.  I loved bento boxes in Hawaii!

Have you visited (or traveled through) Milwaukee?  One randomly selected commenter from this week's blogs wins a book choice from my convention stash ... which has been boosted by the luncheon goody bags.  Comments are open through Saturday, May 3, 10 pm in Baltimore.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, May 4, at SOS Aloha (link).

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Coming tomorrow ... my table with Eileen Dreyer! 

Aloha to Spring Sunshine, Walking Trails, and Cherry Blossoms

Howard County offers several walking trails along the Little Patuxent River.   I parked near Savage Mill and found my first friend -  the Korean Jindo Dog!  

The Jindo was accompanied by a group of Korean hikers who also enjoyed the spring sunshine!

The Little Patuxent River winds its way under ... 

... Interstate 95!

The two mile hike ended at the Guilford Pratt Truss Bridge. From the Preservation Howard County Preservation (link),

The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad's Guilford Pratt Truss Bridge spans the Little Patuxent River along Old Guilford Road. The 1902 bridge represents two industries of importance to Howard County, railroading and granite quarrying.

The B&O's legacy is well known. Part of that legacy is its experimentation with and use of new bridge designs, such the Pratt Truss, patented in 1844, according to the United States National Park Service Historic American Engineering Record. Maryland was home to America's only granite production outside of New England in the early nineteenth century, and by 1890 granite production in the state had increased to 23 active quarries, according to the 1971 official Maryland Hall of Records Commission state history, The Old Line State.

Walking back to Savage Mill,  I spotted beautiful homes ...

... and cherry blossoms along the river.

What's blooming in your backyard?

 Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

I also spotted a gorgeous cherry blossom tree on Fort Meade in its historic cemetery.

Aloha to O'Lordans Irish Pub in Westminster, Maryland

Last Sunday, I drove through Maryland's rolling hills to Westminster, Maryland, where the Washington Romance Writers (WRW) hosted its annual retreat.  I met one of its members for lunch at O'Lordans Irish Pub.  From its website (link),

The stone building appears on the maps between 1867 and 1870 as part of a land tract marking the opening of the west end of town. It opened as a foundry where they developed and refined innovative machinery such as the "Lion Fodder Crusher", making the job of local farmers easier. In 1878 the property was purchased by B. Frank Shriver Company. Having paved the way for advances in the canning industry, Shriver sold the property to Farmers Supply Company.

We have knowledge of several special uses of the building. There was a live chicken house, barber shop, teen center and practice hall for the Westminster Municipal Band. The first floor housed the Stone House Restaurant owned and operated by the Sharkey Family in the 1930's. It also Housed B's Coffee Shop operated by Bernice "B" Fox in the 1980's. 

My luncheon partner enjoyed Beef and Guinness Stew:

Tender beef slowly cooked in a rich Guinness gravy with pearl onions, carrots & potatoes. Served with old world bread.

I savored Bangers and Mash (that was also cooked in Guinness beer).

Can you guess my luncheon date?  Do you have a Irish pub near you?

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City 

Aloha to Baltimore Area Council (BAC) Scouting Achievements - Eagles and Volunteers

You may recall the Oahu Chief - a statue outside my youngest son's elementary school from Pearl Harbor.

Kalani I Ka Lewa

Ascend to the Heavens

Kalani I Ka Lewa by artist Viliami Toluta’u was inspired by the natural instinct in humanity to be free as we are in America. The young Ali’i (chief) is releasing an eagle into the heavens, symbolizing the potential of children to soar high in life with education as their wings. 

Note the chief released an eagle ... 

... my oldest son completed his Eagle Scout Project in Hawaii.  He created the "Hickam Historic Trail".  I posted pictures on our travel blog, ALOHA ON MY MIND, at this link, link, and link.   We moved one week after Andrew passed his Eagle Scout Board of Review - the Aloha Council mailed his Eagle Award to our new address in Maryland. 

Each spring, the Baltimore Area Council (BAC) recognizes the Class of Eagles from the previous year.  This year, the BAC invited Andrew to participate in their reception.   In 2013, over 400 Scouts in the BAC received the rank of Eagle (with 100+ attended the reception).   

The reception also recognized two teen girls who received the Silver Star for Venture Crew (seated with the Eagles above) and notable adult volunteers (seated below).   Finally, the BAC recognized four more volunteers for working with Socuts with special needs.

Do you have any Scouts in your family?

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City