We did it! We arranged our schedules so we could all hit the Big Apple on the same day last week. We visited Kensington Publishing – our shared publisher – and our editors. On Wednesday we met in Connecticut and took the train into New York City Thursday morning.
Of course we had to do some window shopping on our walk to Kensington.
The publicity and marketing department spent a couple of hours with us, filming promotional videos and explaining their support efforts going forward, which are awesome. We had lunch with our editors, Larissa and Michele from marketing, and our agent. After lunch we toured around the Kensington offices meeting more people.
We spent another night in Connecticut, treating it as a fun blog mini-retreat. At the last minute, Barb couldn’t join us, but it was for the best of reasons – her daughter was in labor with Barb’s second grandchild!
Wickeds, chime in and share your favorite part of the trip, and your pictures, too.
Publisher Steve Zacharius, whose father founded the company, joined us for a picture in front of the company waterfall.
Liz: It was so much fun meeting the Kensington team – all the awesome people who make our books happen! We felt so welcomed and supported. It was truly a lovely experience. We got to sign our new books, record some fun videos and had a lot of laughs.
We have so many fun things in store for you readers in the coming year – appearances, new books, new series, the list goes on!
And don’t forget to enter the Kensington Halloween sweepstakes here for a chance to win our books and some fun Halloween-y prizes!
Jessie: I had such fun doing the videos with the other Wickeds ( we missed you so much, Barb!). I also loved meeting all the different staff members at Kensington and having the chance to put names to faces!
Julie: I am new to the Kensington family, and am thrilled to have joined them wearing my Julia Henry hat. I’m thinking about better ways to use social media, specifically Instagram, and got some great tips from them. We’re all working together, and that’s a wonderful feeling.
Sherry: I hadn’t been to NYC since fifth grade and was all agog. I took so many pictures and kept lagging behind as I took pictures. (New Yorkers, I tried to step to the side to snap pictures. I always hear the locals complain about tourists stopping in the middle of the sidewalks to take photos.) Of course it is always fun to spend time with my editor, Gary (on the left) and our agent, John Talbot. They’ve known each other for years and have some very funny stories. Getting to meet the behind the scenes people at Kensington was fabulous.
Barb: I so missed coming on this Wicked road trip, but this is why I stayed home.
Edith: The rest of us shared a lovely dinner overlooking Long Island Sound the last night, and then stayed up too late talking and emptying a bottle or two.
Readers: Have you ever been to New York City? And have you ever missed an event for a reason as good as Barb’s?
I have been to NYC once, but it was a short trip for work and I didn’t get time to see much of anything. One of these days I will go back and take my time. It sounds like you all had a wonderful visit, and a huge congrats to Barb and family!
I still have never done touristy things, Marla, like the Statue of Liberty or seeing a Broadway show!
They are both worth the trip. Promise!
I go to NYC at least one a year and stop in at Kensington to meet with the awesome staff. Last year, I worked it in before we set sail on the Queen Mary 2. This year, I want to see an Opera at the Met. Great city
Perfect!
I’ve never been to New York City.
What a wonderful reason to miss an event. Congratulations on the new grand! <3
2clowns at arkansas dot net
It’s pretty amazing, Kay. I always feel like the country mouse. Happy birthday!
Wow great fun…thanks for taking us along. The last time I was in NY was for a wedding. Congratulations to Barb .
We know how to have a good time!
This looks like SO much fun! Your next book should be about how to run a writers’ group. (Seriously!) I already have chapter ideas for you. I’ll be first in line at your group signing! 🙂
Fun idea, Susan.
Back when I was young and fearless and lived just northwest of the city, I used to drive in, park at Port Authority, and walk to the theater district to see plays with friends. I can’t imagine me doing either the driving or the walking fifty years later. The last time I visited, I took a train in from White Plains and if not for my wonderful agents babysitting me, I’d have been hopelessly lost. I did manage visits to both Kensington and my other publisher at the time and you’re right, the folks at Kensington are great.
Walking can really get tiring, Kathy Lynn.
I love NYC – lived in Greenwich Village for about ten years — so envy you all your trip! But, most of all, am jealous of your trip to Kensington and meeting all those who are only names on emails for me. How lucky for all of you! (Barb, too!)
It was quite the treat, Lea.
I haven’t been to New York City since 9th grade. I’d love to go back for a weekend, maybe catch a Broadway show, but I’m afraid my knee would not be happy with all the walking involved. Looks like you had a wonderful trip.
And congratulations, Barb!
We sure did, Liz.
Great photos. Aren’t babies beautiful? I have been to New York a couple of times but only to walk around for a little while. And I did have to leave an event to drive from Southern to Northern California for the birth of my first grandchild. Well worth it!
Of course it is!
Sadly, I’ve never been to NYC. Someday, I’d love to make it there, however.
Looks like you all had fabulous times, even you, Barbara. I’m a bit jealous you got to talk shop like that. I love chances to do that, and I’m a reader.
We totally talked shop, Mark – for hours.
Over many years I’ve been to NYC a few times. Sorry to say, mostly I’m underwhelmed. I just don’t care for big cities (and I lived in Boston for 18 years, which I loved). In HS we had two class trips to NYC and saw most of the standard tourist things. But that was 50 years ago. A couple of weeks ago I drove a school bus load of HS kids there to tour the garment district. I was just happy to find a safe place to park the bus and stayed in it! I won’t go into the details of how the entrance of the Lincoln Tunnel and the bus had a disagreement.
I’m glad you all enjoyed it and had such a great time. And, congrats to Barb on being a grandma. Certainly worth skipping anything for.
I sure wouldn’t want to live in New York, Ginny, but the occasional visit is pretty amazing.
What a fantastic trip!! Glad you all got a taste of my hometown. And I’m so excited about joining the Kensington family with my new series! I’ll be leaning on you all for tips. 😉
Please do, Ellen! (And have we even heard about the new gig? Because I want to!)
I’m really impressed that you all managed to coordinate your busy lives and actually do this. Looks great. And congratulations to Barb.
We started way early, Triss!
I’ve been to NYC once, but it’s been ages — hope to go again! Looks like the Wickeds had a fun, productive trip! Obviously, Barb had the most important meeting! Baby Etta is beautiful — congrats!
She did!
I’ve never been to New York City. To a small town Texas girl, it’s like another world, and I say that with the greatest of respect. 😊 It’s wonderful seeing the photos of the Wickeds and smiles on everyone’s faces. Grandma’s are #1, too, and Barb was exactly where she needed to be at that time. 💕 Please keep up the excellent work for cozy Readers. We appreciate y’all.
We have no intention of stopping, believe me.
Congratulations, Barb! It looks like all the wicked ladies had a wonderful time.
I lived in the Big Apple in the late 1970s Yikes – I just gave myself chills – that was so long ago. My first reaction on seeing your pix – It’s SO clean! Looks like it’s time for a trip back.
It didn’t seem particularly dirty to me, Kait. Maybe the area we were in?
The one thing you can say about Giuliani when he was Mayor is that he got the city cleaned up. They still have issues, but it’s much better than it used to be.
Thank you everyone for the good wishes. Little Etta arrived a couple of weeks early, but mom and baby are doing fine.
Looks like you gals had a fun, productive trip! And Barb: Mazel tov! What a blessing to have little Etta in your life.
I was once a buyer for a chain of junior clothing shops, so in the 70’s I went to Manhattan for 3-4 days at a time, about every six weeks. I love the city, so much, but the crowds and the noise levels are too much for me after a few days.
In the 90’s I took my mother and all three of my daughters to NYC for an extended weekend. None of them had ever been there, and we had a blast. They were shocked to see me talking to people on the subway, and a chance remark to our lunch waiter ended up securing the five of us a table at a very hard to get into restaurant for dinner that night, and a chef-made egg cream for us all to share.
New York is a living organism, and it has changed greatly over the last 45 years, since I first visited. Gone are the porn shops and XXX-rated movies in Times Square, replaced by a pedestrian mall with massive TV screens broadcasting national news. The High Line, the museums, the subway, the endless variety of ethnic foods–all treats to be experienced at least once!