Jayne Ann Krentz Signing

So, last night was kind of rock star awesome. I had High Tea with Jayne Ann Krentz (who also writes as Amanda Quick and Jayne Castle), then went to her workshop/signing at Kepler's in Menlo Park. At one point I think I actually stopped, put down my teensy oh-so-cute tea cup and said, "Wow. I feel like I'm in a very surreal dream." Jayne spoke, answered questions. I sat with my wildly talented critique partner A.J, the fantabulous Herron sisters, Jayne's publicist (who I actually had breakfast with in Orlando last summer), our SFARWA membership guru, and Ms. Bates, the Amish Romance Queen.


There were scones (I learned how to say scones properly thanks to the Canadian in the bunch), and William and Kate royal tea sets (almost went back to buy them), and did I mention Brenda Novak showed up?? Oh, my suspense-driven heart was swooning. The serving gals wore aprons, served on wooden tiered platters, and poured out of cozied ceramic tea pots. The mini-sandwiches were delish, though I couldn't tell you what was in them. (I should've taken more pictures, I know, I'm working on that flaw of mine.)

After High Tea, the crew walked over to Kepler's bookstore where a crowd gathered in the back to watch Jayne speak. There were many things an aspiring writer/author could've taken away from the night, but the one thing that stuck with me was this:

"There is never a book that couldn't be improved upon by the act of deletion."

Brilliant, I tell you. Brilliant. Although she would say she's mastered the art of career suicide, I argue to the contrary. The woman knows this business. She knows her writing. And she obviously knows how to make work sell in this market.

Here I am, after I had her sign my book:


And here's what she wrote:


I had such a great time. Oh! And to top the cake, when I came home, my wonderful mother-in-law had cleaned my house, top to bottom, kitchen sinks to laundry baskets. After I thanked her profusely, I watched the newest Deadliest Catch (SOOO GOOD), then hit the hay. I doubted my dreams could've matched my reality. I was right. The night could've have gone better.