By Rachel Haimowitz
Love first and foremost to the organizers, who pulled together an amazing con that was smooth sailing from start to finish. From the author readings to the beignets and café au lait each morning to the parties around the pool, the event was loose and social, and never once was I at a loss for things to do or people to do them with.
Love next to the amazing community of readers, writers, bloggers, industry professionals, and the many who fall into more than one of those categories. What a joyous experience to gather together in one place to share the thing we all have such passion for, and to share that passion with each other. As I mentioned on my own blog, the best thing by far about GayRomLit was the opportunity to put faces to names, to meet people we’ve all been chatting with for a long time, sometimes years. It’s just as exciting for the authors as it is for the readers, because we’re readers too; just ask Rowan Speedwell, who was subjected to a soft but uncontainable “Eeeeeee!” every time I found myself speaking to her :)
Love also to not having to explain why we read, write, and love gay romance—a discussion that comes up constantly at primarily het romance cons—because everyone at GRL already knew and understood. Of the many things that set GayRomLit apart as a must-attend conference among the many cons available to M/M romance readers, that shared understanding and pleasure is the #1 reason for me.
And lastly, love to New Orleans, the perfect city for the inaugural GayRomLit. I wish I’d had time to see more of it, but what little I did get to enjoy was an experience unlike any other city I’ve ever seen.
For these reasons and many others, I can’t wait to go back next year, when GRL will be in Albuquerque, NM, and I very much hope to see you all there as well!
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Riptide Grand Opening Giveaway
Leave a comment on this post for a chance to win any backlist book of choice (excluding Crescendo) by Rachel Haimowitz!
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Riptide is having a Grand Opening tour, of which this blog post is a part. At the end of the tour stop, Riptide also awards one lucky commenter a big Riptide swag bag, US resident only. If an international winner is chosen, they will substitute for a gift certificate to All Romance E-Books.
The best part is, that each comment in the blog tour earns you one entry in the grand prize drawing for an iPad. Other prizes are a Nook and a Kindle.
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Links:
Website Riptide Publishing | blog tour list | website Rachel Haimowitz | Weblog Rachel Haimowitz
I wish I had been able to go. I decided that visiting my family was something I should do before I meet a whole bunch of new people. Hopefully next year I will be able to go. Glad you enjoyed your time there.
ReplyDeletesabrinayala at gmail dot com
Same here, Bookishly Awesome. I had family obligations which prevented me from attending.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to start saving my pennies now for next year!
Thanks,
Tracey D
booklover0226 at gmail dot com
This sounded like such a great get-together with an amazing list of authors. I'd love to be able to go one of these years and hope that the gatherings continue.
ReplyDeletejoderjo402 AT gmail DOT com
It was great to meet you and talk with you at dinner! Sorry if you got my cold, though...
ReplyDeleteSounds like a wonderful event! I would like to attend in the future too :)
ReplyDeleteemmettmke@yahoo.com
I wish I could have gone it sounds great
ReplyDeleteAm jealous Maybe next year
Sarahs7836(at)gmail(dot)com
@Bookishly Awesome and Tracey: I'd say you made the right choice there; family's important, and GRL will be around for a while. Maybe next year? :)
ReplyDelete@Joder: Tons of fun. I think it might have been a tough environment if you're shy, because there wasn't much in the way of structured activities (no panels or moderated discussions), but everyone was so open and friendly--it was such a welcoming atmosphere.
@Chris: I had a blast meeting you, even if you did share your germs along with your insights :D
@Bentrumors and Sarah: There's plenty of time. I don't imagine this con going away anytime soon.
Sounds like it was a blast :-) I might get to go next year since I live in NM.
ReplyDeletesmaccall AT comcast.net
I would have loved to have met other m/m lovers. I got no one to "squee" with near me . Congrats to Riptide. I look forward to reading and reviewing (on this blog!) what you have to offer :)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Sharon! If RDB isn't on our reviewer mailing list yet, just let me know and I'll add you and get you some ARCs :)
ReplyDeleteI have been reading the GRL events...wish I wasnt as far as I should have been.
ReplyDeleteI would like to go, but it's sooooo far...
ReplyDeletemariaml254 at yahoo dot com
I would like to go, and will one of these years, but not until my husband is out of school, has a job, and we've paid back my parents somehow. *sheepish smile*
ReplyDeleteadara adaraohare com
Thanks for dropping by everyone!
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you for the awesome post, Rachel! :)
How did I miss this? It was great meeting Rachel at the event. Having dinner with her was an experience I wouldn't have wanted to miss.
ReplyDeleteAs I've said before GRL was a great time to talk to tons of people and put faces with names.
And look, you can't even tell we're all hung over in that picture...all but Rachel! lol