The Romantic Times Book Lovers Convention celebrated their 25th year as the leader and authority on book reviews for romance writers. It took place this past week {5-14 to 5-21} in sunny Daytona Beach, FL. This 7 day convention was comprised of daily workshops conducted by various authors.
I attended to receive my award for the Romantic Times BOOKreview 2005 Reviewers Choice Award for Best African American Novel, by a first time author for THE PARTY!
I co facilitated three workshops, with two other authors. The first workshop facilator did not attend, therefore, I was asked to step in to discuss the business of publishing. I am in the wrong business, because I truly have issues talking to large crowds of individuals. I introduced myself to the participants and discussed my book, and the self publishing process.
The second workshop I discussed plotting your story and characters, and I was assisted by Leslie Esdaile, whom is a writer of thrillers, romance, and vampire erotica.
The final workshop discussed the second part of self publishing and the importance of branding, marketing, and promotion.
Throughout the day, as the workshops are being conducted, for those not wishing to attend, there was a "promotions row". An area that consisted of various authors and publishers displaying and giving away their promotional information. Book marks, door tags, pins, buttons, condoms {Elloras Cave- all erotica!}, candles, post cards, candy, you name it they had it to draw in the reader.
During the night there were several themed parties that were sponsored by the various authors and publishers. Ellora's Cave, a publisher of various erotica whose main characters I think, {not sure} but think, they deal with fairies, angels, vampires, and the like. Their party was wild and crazeee...you had to be there to experience it.
Heather Graham, hosted and sponsored the Vampires Ball- enough said. Then on Friday, there was the Faires and Elves Ball to benefit SOS which is a non profit organization to assist military families. Both the Vampire and Fairies and Elves ball was costumed theme, so on Thursday there were Vampires, Bats, Pirates, Fair Maidens, and wenches mixed in with quite a few BDSM/SM costumes! Then on Friday, I felt like I was in a Lord of The Rings setting...
Saturday's party had a rock and roll theme meets Harley Davidson, meets the sock hop, meets the Seventies...LOL I had a ball nonetheless!
However, the culmination of the convention was Saturday's Book Fair, where over 300 authors participated in selling their books. I had so fun talking and meeting with the readers and other authors. That evening they had the Mr. Romance 2006 Contest, where men participated to become the next book cover model. This brother named Rodney won...sorry, that's all I remember is that his name is Rodney...
I sold my books, I bought alot of books, and in the end, I left with the knowledge that the business of writing all boils down to the love of reading.
SassyScribe
I attended to receive my award for the Romantic Times BOOKreview 2005 Reviewers Choice Award for Best African American Novel, by a first time author for THE PARTY!
I co facilitated three workshops, with two other authors. The first workshop facilator did not attend, therefore, I was asked to step in to discuss the business of publishing. I am in the wrong business, because I truly have issues talking to large crowds of individuals. I introduced myself to the participants and discussed my book, and the self publishing process.
The second workshop I discussed plotting your story and characters, and I was assisted by Leslie Esdaile, whom is a writer of thrillers, romance, and vampire erotica.
The final workshop discussed the second part of self publishing and the importance of branding, marketing, and promotion.
Throughout the day, as the workshops are being conducted, for those not wishing to attend, there was a "promotions row". An area that consisted of various authors and publishers displaying and giving away their promotional information. Book marks, door tags, pins, buttons, condoms {Elloras Cave- all erotica!}, candles, post cards, candy, you name it they had it to draw in the reader.
During the night there were several themed parties that were sponsored by the various authors and publishers. Ellora's Cave, a publisher of various erotica whose main characters I think, {not sure} but think, they deal with fairies, angels, vampires, and the like. Their party was wild and crazeee...you had to be there to experience it.
Heather Graham, hosted and sponsored the Vampires Ball- enough said. Then on Friday, there was the Faires and Elves Ball to benefit SOS which is a non profit organization to assist military families. Both the Vampire and Fairies and Elves ball was costumed theme, so on Thursday there were Vampires, Bats, Pirates, Fair Maidens, and wenches mixed in with quite a few BDSM/SM costumes! Then on Friday, I felt like I was in a Lord of The Rings setting...
Saturday's party had a rock and roll theme meets Harley Davidson, meets the sock hop, meets the Seventies...LOL I had a ball nonetheless!
However, the culmination of the convention was Saturday's Book Fair, where over 300 authors participated in selling their books. I had so fun talking and meeting with the readers and other authors. That evening they had the Mr. Romance 2006 Contest, where men participated to become the next book cover model. This brother named Rodney won...sorry, that's all I remember is that his name is Rodney...
I sold my books, I bought alot of books, and in the end, I left with the knowledge that the business of writing all boils down to the love of reading.
SassyScribe
Comments
Keep it up. Let me know when you're ready to do a novel on the BEST AND WORSE OF TOMAS....LOL
Keep kicking them out....EZRA, Tomas, Carlito, UNOMYNAME.