Wednesday, June 8, 2011

My Very 1st Author Signing Experience!

This year I had the great pleasure of attending
my very 1st author signing! 
It took place at the annual Lori Foster event in Ohio!

Photobucket

I traveled with the wonderful Mandi from Smexybooks to the event. We traveled from the state of Maryland to Ohio and the trip took us 8 hours.  Let me just say that Mandi is an absolute sweetheart for putting up with me this weekend. LOL!  We had lots of great convos while traveling.  We talked about some of our favorite books, authors, and couldn't wait to meet all of the people that we tweet with on a daily basis.  We also found out that we like the same music and bonded over the musical stylings of Kenny Rogers.  Oh Kenny!  As we drove through West Virgina, we saw some beautiful scenery as there were many mountains all around us.  There's nothing quite like seeing that while listening to some Kenny Rogers.  If you haven't experienced this yet, I suggest you do so. 

Photobucket
Mandi and I. 
Yeah, I ganked this photo from her site.

 After arriving to our destination and putting all of our stuff in our room, we went downstairs to find our tweeps and mingle!  The first person we found was Bridget Locke from Reading, Writing, and Life..Oh My! whom I absolutely adore!  I had a blast with her this weekend!   We all then sat with KatiD from Katidom and her friend LeeAnn.  Colette from A Buckeye Girl Reads greeted us next.  My C!!!
Photobucket
I forgot to take a pic with her and so many people because I was so overwhelmed by everything, so she lent me one of hers.  Then we meet up with two of my favorite tweeps!  Stacy (my Snooks!) from Stacy's Place On Earth and Liza (LL!) from Blogging by Liza

Photobucket

I then met my very first author ever!!!  Monica Burns!
Photobucket
Yes Monica popped my cherry and she was so nice to me!  LOL!  We talked throughout the weekend and she was gracious enough to give me a copy of her book Kismet and signed it personally to me as my first.  If you haven't read anything of hers do so!  I loved her book Pleasure Me that came out at the beginning of the year.  Her hero is a virgin!  Yes you heard me right and the book is so sensual.  Great writing!

As the night went on the authors started coming into the ballroom. We were all so excited pointing them out.   Then I heard the magic words, "NALINI IS HERE!"  So a couple of us went up to her and introduced ourselves.  I went total fangirl on her and told her just how much she meant to me.  I also told her that I absolutely LOVE her character Raphael from her Guild Hunter series...and that I named my mini after him. LOL!  She chuckled and then I left her alone after that.  But I just had to let her know.  My mom even knows who Raphael is because I talk about him.  So when I told her that I meet the woman that wrote the books she was so excited for me.  Here is a pic of her during the "intimate chat" with her readers.
Photobucket
We actually got the chance to sit with her and probe her mind!  How awesome is that?!  When she uttered the words, "Who's got a question?"  my hand flew up first!  I just couldn't wait to chat with her and asked her which character's book would be next and she told me that Raphael and Elena would be!  I then asked her if Illium aka Bluebell would get a book of his own.  She said yes and now I can't wait to read it.  I then got to take a pic with her and it may look like I'm crying in the pic, but I'm not. 
Photobucket
Seriously, she was so sweet and patient to all of her fans.  Took the time to talk with them, explained her writing process, discussed her series, and I had the pleasure of sitting next to her at dinner.  I let her know how much I love her books and what they meant to me...and how they keep me sane.  And that she's a rockstar!  Soooo sweet!

Photobucket
Virna DePaul, Lori Foster, and Nalini Singh!

Photobucket
Here's Lori Foster at the signing.

Here is Virna DePaul signing my copy of Chosen By Blood!
I'm currently reading it now and am enjoying it!
Btw, she's gorgeous in person!  I totally
have a girl crush on her now. 

Photobucket
Here I am with Rosalie Stanton.
I picked up a copy of her book Lost Wages of Sin
for my buddy Dren. DanteTongueLove!!!

Photobucket
I got the chance to meet mah Boo JA Saare!!
I love her so much and was so happy that we got the chance to spend some time together.

Photobucket
Here she is again taking a photo with us!
Liza, Stacy, Bridget, Jaime, and me!

I also got the chance to meet to other great tweeps
will I was there!
Photobucket
One of my fav tweeps Jenny from Supernatural Snark and
Mollie from Book Fare Delights joined us in this pic!
Jenny, me, Liza, Mollie, Mandi, Stacy

All in all I had a blast this weekend and can't wait to attend next year.  I met so many great authors including Anya Bast and have to admit that I was a little scared to go up to some of the others.  But they were all so friendly and seemed to be having a great time as well.  I also had meeting new tweeps and bloggers.   The event is so laid back and everyone enjoyed themselves.  There are lots of great prizes that were raffled off for charity.  We all raised $8,000!!  How awesome is that!  I'll be attending next year...will you?

22 comments:

  1. Great post! Can't wait to join you next year :) and sooo happy you decided to post the pictures!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Virna is awesome! I've got to meet her twice and she is always so great.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I wish it were closer. Sounds like it was an awesome time. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'm jealous of all your pictures!! It looks like I missed a lot by missing breakfast. Never.again, lol.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I forgot to say that I had a great time meeting you and everyone else. :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. That is so cool. Thank you for sharing your experience. Looks like you had tons of fun. I hope to go to one some day.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I had so much fun meeting you! You are just adorable and have such a sweet presence about you. I had a blast and was thrilled to get to meet so many readers and authors who I've "known" electronically, but you especially!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Jenny and I have already discussed coming next year so we can spend more time with you Bells!!! :D So glad you had such a wonderful time!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I loved meeting you at the Lori Foster Get Together. Can't wait until next year!! Same table, okay!! Hugs~

    ReplyDelete
  10. RRR - You better come next year girl!

    Paranormal Haven - She was an absolute sweetheart!

    ChrisS - Hopefully you will find something closer to you to attend. :)

    C - I'm so happy I got the chance to meet you!

    Victoria - I hope you can one day as well. :)

    KatiD - You were an absolute joy to hang with! You had me cracking up all weekend! Loved it!

    Mollie - It was an absolute pleasure to meet you and I can't wait to see you and Jenny next year! We'll have even more fun!

    FV - It was. :)

    Nancy Naigle - You were such a sweetheart and I will sit at your table next year for sure! Can't wait to read your book!

    Jen - It was and if you get the chance to go I suggest you do. :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. What a wonderful opportunity. I am glad you had a great time. I appreciate your sharing your fun vicariously through you post today.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Bells, I loved your recap of RAGT. It was as fun and delightful as you are! Girl crush! ;-) So flattered and felt the same way. Wish we'd had more time to chat! Looking forward talking to you soon.

    ReplyDelete
  13. This was my first year too! I was so excited all over again reading your post! It really was the best time ever. I will go back next year for sure. My cheeks hurt from all the smiling and the fan girling I did. My girlfriend and I drove from Canada (7 hr drive) and had a blast. I came home with 31 books!!

    Great post. MichelleKCanada
    http://anotherlookbookreviews.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. Denise Z - Thanks for commenting. :)

    Virna - You were so sweet to me all weekend! Can't wait to see you again so we can talk about Knox my new Book Boyfriend. ;)

    MichelleKCanada - I'm so glad that you had a great time as well. I totally fan girled all weekend as well. Next year if you go we'll have to say hello to each other! :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. I could just kick myself for not going to this! I have never been to a readers/blogger con before. I did go to my first SSF con this past weekend. It was great. I am going to try and go next year for sure! Thanks for all the great pics.

    ReplyDelete
  16. BELLS I LOVE YOU!!!!! You are just the cutest person ever. Your face in that picture with Nalini is hilarious, you're so adorable and fangirl and happy. I love it:) So glad I was able to spend a little time with you:)

    ReplyDelete
  17. I'm so jealous! I will definitely be there next year!

    ReplyDelete
  18. AWWWWWW I have enjoyed seeing everyone's pics from this event!! YOU ARE SO ADORABLE I cannot wait to hug on you and Mandi in August!! heehee!!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Sharon - You will absolutely love it next year! :D

    JENNY!!!!! - I can't wait to spend more time with you next year girl. It was an absolute pleasure to meet you!

    Marq - Yes girl! Next year for sure! All the MD peeps can go together. WOOT!

    Pam - I can't wait to see you in August as well! We are going to have so much fun and AAD is going to be one big old love fest with all of us seeing each other for the first time!!!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Arrrggg it was so much fun!!!!! I loved mtg everyone!

    ReplyDelete