For those that don't get the title, RWA = Romance Writers of America. Every year, they hold a national convention and this year it's in San Antonio, Texas! When I heard that last year, I told Hubs that I was going. San Antonio is, after all, just a short six hour drive down I-35. What could be more convenient?
So I'll be heading to RWA Nationals this week. I'm terrifiedly excited and nervously jittering. SO MANY WRITERS. One small Riverwalk. And margaritas. It's an introvert's nightmare and my every dream come true. *Takes steadying breath*
On our way home from our Great All-American Family Roadtrip a couple of days ago, I got the idea to make a Texas-themed playlist for all the writers descending on Texas this beautiful July. So here it is.
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNGDRL6jNuBbv_8FXYpmMHJNfsq7FTDIK
I tried to include some of my favorite Texas-themed songs, some of which are in the playlists for my Love & War in Dallas series. Or some of them are just by my favorite Texas artists. Not all of the Pistol Annies are from Texas, but Miranda Lambert is, and I thought "Hell on Heels" was a pretty good theme song for some (most?) of the ladies headed to RWA14. And I stopped myself at a reasonable number of videos. I couldn't include all of Robert Earl Keen's albums, or all of the tracks on Lyle Lovett's Road to Ensenada which might have been about his breakup with Julia Roberts and also helped me find myself again after a breakup (but not with Julia Roberts). Or all the songs I drank to in parties while single in college. And for some of my favorites, there aren't good videos on You Tube.
I wish RWA had asked my opinion and organized a real Texas country music concert for the conference. It's not that I'm a huge country music fan - I listen to music like I read - I'm an omnivore. But when you're in San Antonio, you need more than the Riverwalk and five or six margaritas to experience Texas. You have an opportunity to discover the soul of a nation and music can help you do that.
Since there will be no concert, pop my playlist on and get ready for San Antonio. If you're going to be at RWA, I'd love to meet you! I'll be the girl with the margarita, singing Willie Nelson songs.