by Lena Austin Attending the Romantic Times Conference was unlike any of the smaller, tamer, and --let's face it, more staid-- conferences I've ever been to before. Besides the great hugs from friends and professional contacts, these are the lessons I learned to make any conference better, whether you're an author or reader. 1. A good watch with an easily read face is a godsend.

2. The id card carriers you wear around your neck that have zippered pockets can be purchased at office supply stores and can hold a lot of the essentials like room key card, tickets, name tag, money, and all the buttons you can snag off the promo tables.

3. Use your smaller rolling tote from your luggage instead of that shoulder-destroying conference bag. No matter how hard you try, you will end up with more than you can reasonably carry every day.

4. A good pair of tennis shoes with arch supports is worth more than your fashion sense's pride. If you can't run, walk a mile, and dance in your shoes, don't bring them! Buy the shoes a size too large to handle the swelling. Also, be prepared with a bathing suit so you can soak your aching feet in the pool and/or hot tub for nearly instantaneous relief.

5. Even if you don't smoke, finding out where the smokers congregate means casual contacts with amazing people and you can hear what they are saying without shouting, "What?" all the time.

6. They aren't kidding when they say have a pile of your business cards with you at all times, even in the bathrooms or beside the pool. Sign your bookmarks in advance.

7. Your cell phone is your lifeline to everything. Bring the charger and load up on minutes. Put everyone's phone number in there ahead of time, especially your emergency numbers. Attach it to your id card lanyard around your neck and set it to vibrate like a Harley because you won't hear it ring half the time.

8. Analgesics are your friends. Don't leave home without them. Don't leave your hotel room without them.

9. Make a schedule plan you can scribble notes on. Be prepared to change it. You will be dragged hither and yon to events you didn't plan on, or find yourself running down long corridors like the white rabbit screaming, "I'm late! I'm late!"

10. Use gallon-sized Ziploc bags to organize your stuff. Don't bring the box, just empty it and stuff the bags in the side pockets of your rolling tote.

11. Note the locations of all bathrooms for a fast dash. There are no puppies to blame the puddles on.

12. You will starve at the book signing unless you bring your own granola bars. Do not depend on friends, editors, or the kindness of strangers. It ain't happening, no matter what kind of promises you get.

13. Clowning for the entertainment of the folks standing in line for LKH and the popular authors gets you visitors later and keeps you amused for hours. Quietly looking envious gets you nothing.

14. Carry a Sharpie and three pens. Get the pens from promo row.