Thursday, November 18, 2010

Sore Heads, Soaking Stockings and More

I've fallen down on my blog commenting a bit this week, and I apologize! It's all down to the weekend away, house guests and midnight lamb -- and the Romantic Novelists' Association Winter Party! I shall redeem myself shortly, I promise.

Since I don't get out much, the thought of dressing up (and even brushing my hair) had me quivering in anticipation. The annual RNA Winter Party was held last night in the gorgeous Library of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers in Westminster.
The exterior of the Institute.
After meeting up with several RNA Tweeters at the Waterstones bar in Piccadilly (have you ever heard of anything so fabulous? A bar in a bookstore?), we coerced the doorman at The Ritz to flag us down a cab for the short journey to the Institute.


The interior of the Library.
The library was packed with writers, agents, editors and publishers -- all there to party it up! It was noisy and crowded but loads of fun, and I got to catch up with a lot of people I'd met at the conference and meet some new writers, too. It was all good except for one thing: my feet. Shoved into my foreign high heels, I was experiencing pain like never before. Despite the rain and the freezing cold, I couldn't help ditching the shoes and running in my stocking-ed feet down the street towards home! Freedom!
And the fun continues today: I'm off to Hannibal House (yes. Hannibal) to prove my identity for my first British passport! Other exciting news: over on High Heels and Book Deals, The Hating Game is reviewed! Pop over if you get a chance. And I'm very sorry to say I've finally had to enable word verification on my blog. I like enlarged penises and all, but... not on my blog, no.
What are you up to today? And do you believe high heels were invented to inflict pain on the women of the world?

48 comments:

  1. Sounds like a great event. Enjoy

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  2. Sounds like a fantastic time! And yes, I'm convinced a man invented high heels just to torture us. Same with pantyhose!

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  3. A bar in a bookshop, now that sounds great.
    What a great night, isnt London something else for buildings? Glad you freed your feet.

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  4. A bar in a bookstore? Now that's a cool idea. And I promise I didn't invent high heels.

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  5. Europe is so much cooler than lame America. Now I'm depressed. Thanks a lot Talli!

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  6. Fun!
    I used to wear heels in college, but now I say hell no. The highest I'll go is about an inch. I like kitten heels okay, but I'm a wedge girl through and through.

    I don't mind this WF form...

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  7. Oh, I don't like it when my feet hurt, but I do love high heels on the right occasion! Those pictures are great, Talli. It all looks like such fun!

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  8. You need to get on down South here. Real women don't wear high heels. They go barefoot.

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  9. Wow, this party sounds like so much fun! The building that it was taken place is sooooo pretty. I'm sorry your feet got sore though...you should give them a good wash and a massage and wear very-fuzzy socks. =) That should help!

    ~TRA

    http://xtheredangelx.blogspot.com

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  10. Wow! So happy that you got to experience it all, especially the bar in the bookstore! What a lady, what a night!

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  11. i can't wear high heels to save my life. No balance. If i wore high heels, i would break my ankles. straight up.

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  12. What a gorgeous place for a writers' party, just perfect. Sounds like an exciting time. I'm off to put some revisions in a proposal today. Happy Thursday to you :)

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  13. High heels were definitely invented by a man who hates women. Have a great day proving who you are :)

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  14. But they WERE fabulous shoes! One must suffer to be beautiful.

    You know, I'd never appreciated the IMechE as such a grand building before, always seems to be dark and I only see the entrance from the pavement! Must try approaching from Horseguards next time, to get the full effect.

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  15. Talli!! I got my review of your fun book but I thought we're supposed to put it on amazon on the 1 Dec? I'm confused!! LOL!!!
    The Winter Party was worth wearing those heels and suffering elegantly!! Oh yes!! Take care
    x

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  16. A bar. In a bookshop.

    *vanishes*

    *comes back*

    Sounds like it has all been go, go, go for you, Talli! Glad you had a nice time at the event - looks fabulous!

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  17. What a fabulous event to be able to attend but somehow I think the bar in Waterstones would have been more to my liking. Not so much standing around in killer high heels :)
    Thankyou for commenting on my review of Her Fearful Symmetry, I am not sure if you subscribe to comments but I have now responded there if you are interested:)

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  18. Wow, that's awesome. Great pictures!

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  19. Looks most impressive and it sound like you had a great time. Make sure you wear comfy shoes for Hannibal House though.

    How sad that you've had to reinstall word verification. It's not that I mind doing it. It's just that it reminds me how many weird folk there are out there.

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  20. I've been to one with a coffee bar ... but a real bar - that's something else!
    Glad to hear you had a great time, feet notwithstanding (!!)
    BTW high heels were indeed invented by a men to torment women, so women invented stilletos so they could get their own back!

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  21. Yay! I saw the review Talli!!! I love all the exposure... you're going to do a fabulous job! I can't wait to see it sky rocket on December 1st! I have my post all ready to go!!!

    Amazing event, no wonder you chose to be a romance novelist, I would too getting to visit all these beautiful places.

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  22. Talli,
    Glad you're having such a wonderful time, you deserve it.

    Ugh, high heels! I admit they look great, especially when I thumb through a catalogue or click pics of them online & even get closeups of them--but to actually wear 'em? Nope.

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  23. Oh, Talli, you gave me nostalgia galore about London. I've been to conferences in Westminster and other lovely London post codes and they were always so much fun!

    Looks like you had a fantastic time. Except for the heels but, girl, we've ALL been in those heels!

    Jai

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  24. high heels are super evil... as for my plans, work work work! Then mouse fittings for the Nutcracker. *snort* :D

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  25. Sounds like you had a wonderful time, apart from the sore feet. I love wearing heels, but when they're uncomfortable it's definitely time to take them off.

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  26. High heels are EVIL! Pure pure evil! My poor feet are battered and blistered.

    Yes, the shoes are beautiful. When my feet aren't in them!

    Hope everyone's having a great day.

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  27. Enjoy! Looks to be a great event.

    High heels are death traps with straps!

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  28. Adding the Waterstones bar to my list of things to see when I am in London in January.

    Moved to Oregon in June, no one wears heels here they all wear sensible shoes and my feet are in heaven.

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  29. LOL! Spammers can be, persistent can't they?!

    Wow that building is amazing! That sounds like it was so much fun. Minus the torturous high heels of course. I'm convinced they were created by men to get back at us...

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  30. It sounds like it was a great event! I'm glad you had a good time!

    I hate heels. Ugh. They probably were invented by a man! And I have to wear them on Saturday.

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  31. yay you are one of us now!*throws confetti in the air* next step is to embrace the heels and love em

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  32. I don't mind word verification when your blog needs one. Congrats on the review and can't wait. Don't worry about catching up, I don't think anyone really minds. We understand.

    CD

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  33. Well I'm 5ft and used to swear by high heels until a fractured a bone in my right foot. Now, I just don't care!

    A bar in a bookshop?! They should be mandatory!

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  34. Ooh! I hate high heels. Never indulge.

    Since I'm so far behind on my blogging too, I would certainly forgive you--especially since you're doing so many fun things.

    Congrats on THG review!

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  35. Most definitely - but they make us look so darn good so who cares?

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  36. Ooh... So jealous! How fun!

    Jenni

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  37. Wow! A bar in a bookstore!

    Sounds as if you're having fun, in spite of the high heel problem. I like high heels but sometimes I prefer platform wedges. More comfy.

    Enlarged penises, huh? Hmmm.

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  38. The soiree looks fabulous! And what a building. :)

    High heels = torture, for sure!

    The inventor of high heels = evil.

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  39. What a fab evening and it was lovely to meet you. Never heard of a bar in a bookshop before - how perfect.

    Hope your feet are starting to recover (they were gorgeous shoes though).

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  40. *plans hostile takeover to take possession of that Institute*

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  41. All the events sound exciting and worth a toe blister! But a pair of funky rainboots wuld be much more comfortable, eh?
    Gorgeous places! Thanks for the pictures.

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  42. There are few things better than relieving yourself of a painful pair of heels!

    Glad to hear you enjoyed the event, which looked to be great time.

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  43. Sounds like a fabulous time! And a bar in a bookshop? Brilliant. Whoever invented that needs an award, like, now.

    High heels were definitely invented to cause us pain. There is simply no pair that doesn't hurt after an hour or so, no matter how comfy when you first put them on (and so few are even then!). Ah, but they're so beautiful sometimes, how do we resist?

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  44. Have a blast! And we need more bars in bookstores! We're writers! Okay. I'm not speaking for everybody...but wine.

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  45. Yes, high heels were a man's torture invention, no doubt about it. Luckily, once in a while a woman comes up with a design that's attractive yet comfortable, and those are the ones to hunt down and purchase at all costs!

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  46. By the way, I am hosting a Mad Lib Contest to celebrate Harry Potter coming out, if you're interested! :)

    ~TRA

    http://xtheredangelx.blogspot.com

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  47. Hi Talli - great looking building and the Library interior - too too interesting! I like Diane's comments - high heels and pantyhose .. the pits! Bar in a bookshop sounds good though ..

    Yea .. first British passport - the first of many I hope - welcome to the British peoples! ..

    I think your application would be rejected if they knew what your blog consisted of .. so no worries re the word verification!

    Enjoy the weekend .. Hilary

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  48. One of the best days of my life was when I swore off high heels and panty hose. There are definitely some advantages to getting older. :)

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Coffee and wine for all!