One of the pleasures of blogging on Jungle Red is meeting far flung writers, and then you go to a distant conference and get to meet them in person! First day, first table I sat down at, there was Jim Collins. Here's Jim a few years ago at Malice (I think), taking one for the team for our Jungle Red Writers panel.
And here he is this weekend at Pennwriters--Jim is working on his first novel, and we'll be thrilled when it comes time for him to talk about it as a guest on Jungle Red. 
Here's the conference's amazing bookseller, Jilann Burnett of Second Chapter Books in Middleburg, VA.... where I will have to pay a visit, and not just for the bookstore. A well kept secret (up to now) is how many celebrities have second homes there. Shhh.
Then there are all the talented writers you meet. That's Donna Galanti on the left (who's guested here on Jungle Red) with her second novel, THE HUMAN ELEMENT. And Kathryn Craft in the middle. Her novel is women's suspense (up my alley) set in the world of dance, THE ART OF FALLING.
Gayle Lynds gave a brilliant keynote that earned a standing ovation. She started out by saying, "I'm Gayle Lynds, and I'm a writer." To thundrous applause. She talked about her new spy thriller, THE ASSASSINS, which sounds irresistible. She's giving a workshop today on plotting which I wouldn't miss for the world.
And here's J. L. Delozier (I'm holding her book TYPE & CROSS which was a finalist for the Thriller Award for best first.
And here's Ramona DeFelice Long and Kimberly Kurth Grey with their anthology of essays and poems and stories, INTO THE WOODS, by Mindful Writers Retreat authors. All of its proceeds will go to benefit the Children's Heart Foundation. It's going to be my train ride reading back to Boston on Sunday. Yay Amtrak!
I know this has been a busy weekend for writers. Anyone reporting in from RT? Elsewhere? Has the sun come out?
