Like kick-ass heroines in a Harlequin Bombshell romance, the Romance Writers of America brass put Plan B into effect with Predator Drone speed and efficiency after floods damaged the Nashville hotel and conference facilities hosting RWA’s annual conference in July. Within days they’d transferred the venue to The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort in Orlando, same dates: July 28-31.

Expressing sadness and well wishes to friends and businesses in Nashville, and the hope of returning to the Gaylord Opryland (whose lobby was sickeningly inundated), the organization’s directors said they have “made arrangements to contribute a portion of our charitable donations from the 2010 Literacy Autographing event to Nashville Adult Literacy Council.”

Personally, we were keenly looking forward to hearing some good pickin’ in Nashville, but it looks like we’re stuck with “When You Wish Upon a Star”. And drinks with authors and editors may get a little weird with children clamoring for their mommies to take them to Goofy’s Wiseacre Farm. Nevertheless, the conference must go on, and we take our hats off to RWA for snatching victory from the jaws of defeat, and doing it compassionately as well.

Richard Curtis