Finding The Right Book Con For You

Do you remember the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears? How she has to try all the different porridge, and the different beds before she finds the right one? Well, finding the right book con is exactly like that.

Since being published in 2011, I have been to several cons and events. Some have been large with thousands of people. I think the highlight of those cons have been the Mega-Star Authors I have fan-girled over and got my books signed. I remember my encounters with legends like Nora Roberts, Patricia Briggs, and Marjorie M. Liu. Squee!

The downside is I'm part introvert, so at some point (and it doesn't take much) the noise level and the sheer number of people overwhelm and exhaust me. I have to go hide in my hotel room.

I have also attended wonderful little luncheons, a pleasant few hours to connect with a table full of people. These are lovely, but they are over too soon. I wistfully wrap up bookish discussions and take my leave. My favorite is the Southern Magic Reader Luncheon in Birmingham, Alabama. Those ladies know how to party!

But there are some cons that fit you just right. They're a blast and when you leave, you're both exhausted and energized. A strange, but good place to be. For me, Authors After Dark is that con. It's not too big, and it's not too short.

You have amazing authors and readers come together, all united by their love of books.

This year, the Mistress of Ceremonies was the very awesome and sweet Sherrilyn Kenyon.

It's about 4-5 days long and you get to see the same people running around so before you know it they are familiar faces, and then friends.

The panels are awesome! Most of the AAD readers attending the con are serious readers, they know their genres and books, they can discuss book boyfriends and plot twists into the wee hours of the night. So authors are not just talking heads behind tables during sessions. Instead you have dynamic, deep bookish conversations.

Some of the panels I was on this year: Odd Paranormals, MCIR: What the heck is that? (Half our attendees thought it was Motorcycle Club, but went ahead and stayed for our discussion of Multicultural and Inter Racial stories -- Yay!), Crossing Genres and more. The Dragon panel was packed!

But most importantly, everyone is excited to be there and ready to have fun.

So thank you Stella and wonderful staff for this wonderful year! Next year, AAD will be in Savannah and it'll be the last one in the U.S. for a while...so I'm both sad and looking forward to it. I know it'll be grand.
For more information about the Savannah AAD in 2016  click on this link.

Special Authors After Dark 2015 Deal For Readers

AUGUST 12-16, 2015 at the SHERATON ATLANTA

MC: SHERRILYN KENYON

http://www.authorsafterdark.org/

So I'm a featured author at Authors After Dark this year again and here's a special message I got from the coordinator:

Hello everyone!

After talking with about 30 readers this weekend via email, FB chats and messages, we have decided to offer a 2 day ticket for the 2015 year to attempt to allow readers that can’t make the FULL event, time to party with us and Hangout!

The 2 day ticket will be for FRIDAY and SATURDAY. It cost 175$ (plus taxes and fees through Eventbrite) and that price includes 2 Dinners (both balls this year have dinners), Friday’s Lunch, all the parties, panels and events both days AND the 4 hour access to the booksigning.

This ticket will go LIVE on MONDAY May 25th at 9am EST and will run till the 15th of June. This gives readers 20 days to get their days in order to attend, and we can’t WAIT to see them!

Also, rooms WILL be available for FRIDAY and Saturday (though we suggest that readers come in THURSDAY night in order to not miss any of the panels or parties on Friday). Any reader coming in THURSDAY night will be able to participate in the BOOKIES and any evening events authors set up (Info on that forthcoming on the Reader group on FB).

Some information:
We cannot guarantee full welcome bags to anyone coming in just Friday and Saturday. This is because Authors send promo for this based on Numbers we have by June 1st in order to make sure they get their promo in on time.

Room reservations are recommended as the parties and balls run long, are costumed events for the most part, and the after hours events are ONLY able to be accessed if you have room keys. Room reservations are double occupancy, and we have the entire North Tower of the hotel, (meaning 60% of attendees will get balconies!) Once you register Room links are in your conformation emails.

These tickets are LIMITED to 150 ONLY.

All Attendees staying at the hotel will also be entered to win some serious prizes and be invited to impromptu events, parties and special room gigs. You never know who is going to just open up an event in Hospitality with free books and giveaways!

*** All Readers that have bought and WILL BE buying the FULL ticket will get some AMAZING welcome bags filled with premium swag, books (print and e BOOK) And will have EARLY access to the ball seating and extra entries in the welcome event prizes***

CLICK HERE FOR THE 2-DAY TICKETS!

Five Random Things About Me...

I'm attending a lot of conferences this year, including Authors After Dark later this week, and meeting a lot of new book peeps. But I think it's always more fun to go beyond the standard intro of "Hi! My name is X and I do Y..." So in the spirit making new book friends, here's five random facts about me...

1. I do Renaissance dancing with the Santa Angela Renaissance Guild. We get together and practice (and giggle) at lot, we dress up in awesome costumes,  and do public performances. We also educate people about historic dance forms.It's a lot of fun and involves a lot of giggling & dancing.

  (I'm the dark haired one with glasses in the front row)

2. I'm an animal lover and my 4-legged family includes: 3 cats and 3 dogs.

3. I have a signing dragon and she accompanies me to all my cons...so look for us!

4. My stories usually start when a vivid image pops into my head and haunts me. I just have to set the scene in my head down on paper and keep writing until the story is done.

5. Essentials for writing: Quiet, Nuts to snack on, coffee, and a cape. Yes, I wear a cape to write...not only does it make me feel like anything is possible, it also keeps me warm. No, I'm not posting a pic of me with my cape ;D 

See you at AAD or some of these other cons this year...

Authors After Dark 2014 in Charlotte, NC in August
Indie Romance Convention 2014 in Lebanon, TN in September
Kriti Literary Festival in Chicago in September
Readers and 'Ritas 2014 in Dallas, TX in November

If you're at any of these, come and say hi! :)

Other AAD Authors to check out:

Kerry Adrienne    Candace Blevins    Susana Ellis   Bethany Lopez    

Julie Morgan     JoLynne Valerie   Colette Saucier

Psst! Here's the scoop on Authors After Dark 2014

Authors After Dark is coming QUICKLY (in August) and organizer Stella Price has this report: OMG this year is going to be INSANE!

As always AAD is about the readers, and the amount of awesome we have put together for you this year, you would be INSANE not to attend….

First, our amazing Master of Ceremonies is none other than Alexandra Ivy ! She will be doing a cool little event to celebrate your favorite gargoyle, Levet on Friday ! Wanna know more? Check out the FB group where Alex will be talking about the awesome that she has going on!

Torquere and authors BA Tortuga and Julia Talbot will be Sponsoring our Welcome event, the Midnight Rodeo … And it looks like We will have some VERY COOL goodies and… Riding… happening… *SNICKER*

How about Parties? This year we have a special event called the Leather and Lace Ball ! Curious? We thought so! Take a ride on the wild side and let your inhibitions fly with five New York Times Bestselling Authors of erotic romance. Cuffs and corsets encouraged.

With:

J. Kenner, Liliana Hart, Carly Phillips, Janelle Denison, Jasinda Wilder and Lorelei James

The ladies will be talking more about this on the FB group starting soon!

New for 2014 is the Paranormal Party ! Join over 20 Paranormal authors who will be giving away goodies, some books and hanging out with you to snack and chat! Wanna know what authors are involved? You will have to join the FB group to see!

And of course, we have the amazing Masquerade Ball! This year it’s the SINS AND VIRTUES BALL! Are you a sin or a virtue? Join us for a wild costumed event! Prizes for the best costumes, including a 200$ gift certificate to Lori Ann Costumes!

Your Sins and Virtues Sponsors:

Sin Lust
Boone Brux
Opal Carew

Sin Pride
BA Tortuga
Andrew Grey

Sin Envy
Stella Price
TJ Michaels

Sin Gluttony
Desiree Holt
Saranna DeWylde

Sin Greed
Ann Mayburn
Heather Long

Sin Sloth
Lizzie T. Leaf
Julie Morgan

Sin Wrath
Stacey Kennedy
Marianne Morea

Virtue Charity
Kerry Adrienne
Trista Ann

Virtue Chastity
Jenn LeBlanc
Annabel Jospeh

Virtue Humility
Milly Taiden
Donna McDonald

Virtue Kindness
CJ Ellisson
Alexandra Ivy

Virtue Temprance
J. Kenner
Sidney

Virtue Diligence
Denise Grover Swank
Jenna McCormick

Virtue Patience
Lousia Bacio
Kallypso masters

And if THAT isn’t enough awesome that will be going on… This year we have an amazing off site costumed event… the Ladies on the Green event sponsored by the AAD Anachronistic Society! This will be an hour and a Half on the famous GREEN in Charlotte (a half block from the hotel). It will be a Costumed event (though Costumes are not required they are encouraged!) to celebrate Gothic, Victorian, steampunk dark historical literature! Your hosts will be: Sahara Kelly, Amanda McIntyre, Leanna Renee Hieber, A.L. Davroe and S.A. Price. Prizes and readings will happen, as well as photo ops!

And NEVER forget the Amazing Open bar with Mel Schroeder and friends! They have SO MUCH awesome set up for you just before the Bookies… you do NOT wanna miss that!

Getting excited yet? How about some info on the AWESOME mini events we have going on? Ready?

On Wed. Night, Join Sasha White and Joey W. Hill for a wild party and Q&A , Also, the Blind Date Book Party will be open to start your con right! (If you have never done a BDBP, you are MISSING out! You need to attend, Get your blind date book, find the author that wrote it, and hang out with them!)

Thursday? Panels up the wazoo, and the Bookie Awards ----- goodies and books to be given out! The hangout with The GNO girls lead by CJ Ellisson and Boone Brux for some crazy fun! And if that wasn’t enough? Readings and a Blogger Sleepover party as well!

Friday? More panels , a games carnival with Nina Gooden and Pals , Name that Author with Cat Johnson , and some other fun surprises!

Saturday? A few panels , the Big ass booksigning with 100 authors , the Cowboy Stampede party , the Readers Mad Tea Party with Hildie McQueen , An after the bookies event with a special publisher sponsor , And Jess Michaels’ Birthday extravaganza !

SEE? SO MUCH AWESOME! All the authors that are involved with parties will be talking about their involvement on the FB group, so join up and get ready to rock.

Oh? You say you’re not registered for AAD yet? You need to be! All registrants get put in the hat for the welcome party prizes, and these prizes are AMAZING! Breakfast with authors, Booze and Books, side trips to Carrowwinds…. We have a minimum of 90 special prizes…. So…

You need to rock this con! And as if this wasn’t enough…. AAD will be giving away something really awesome to registrants…. Wanna know what?

How about 5 VIP registrations for THE NOVEL EXPERIENCE 2015 in LAS VEGAS? YES… 5!

And…

How about this… If we hit 100 more registrations from April 10^th to June 10^th , we will give away 2 AAD registrations for 2015… 2!!!!! So get registered, get your room and get ready for one HELL of an amazing year with us!

JOIN US! WE CANT WAIT TO HANGOUT WITH YOU!

AAD REGISTRATION