Hi guys! Today I am thrilled to welcome author Z.A. Maxfield to the blog. I am a huge fan of her writing and really excited to have her visit today. ZAM is here as part of the Joyful Approach: Countdown to GRL and is talking to us about her favorite GRL memories. She has also brought a great giveaway — a signed copy of her latest print release, Rhapsody for Piano and Ghost. So please join me in giving ZAM a big welcome!
Z.A. Maxfield’s Five BEST GayRomLit Memories
I thought I’d talk about my five best memories from the two GRL’s I’ve attended and tell you a little bit about why they were so special to me.
In descending order here they are:
5. The GREAT CUPCAKE CAPER part one: So I’m trying to remember who was there…Lynn Lorenz, Belinda McBride, and Tara Lain, and I drove into Sante Fe last year to explore. On the way back we got a wild hair and Googled Cupcakes. The cool thing was not that I purchased six outrageously decadent cupcakes. The cool thing was those cupcakes made it possible for me to lure invite several very nice people to carry heavy boxes of books and swag to my room to for me… You know who you are. Ah! The promise of cupcakes! Works every time.
4. Why do I never WRITE THINGS DOWN? It’s clear trusting my memory sucks. At the first GRL in New Orleans, William Cooper and I hosted lunch for some fans and aspiring writers. I had such a good time. I have a picture. If this is you, please remind me because I don’t remember names. You all made me feel like a rock star, and I adored every minute I got to spend with you! Thank you so much.
3. One of the best things I ever experienced is the first time I met someone who knew who I was because she’d read my book. She had a little fangirl moment in an elevator. (Aurora, I still fangirl you right back for that!) That exact incident didn’t happen at a GRL, but I had the opportunity to see it happen to so many wonderful writers — that moment when a writer realizes his or her hard work pays off, that writers have fans, and those fans appreciate them.
I’ve caused that moment for other authors, I hope, because at heart, I’m a reader first, and a writer second. Thus my third favorite moment from GRL was in Albuquerque, when I noticed I was sitting next to Tom Webb and Laura Harner and I mentioned I’d read them and liked their work very much. They had the same fun reaction I did when Aurora fangirled me. I made their faces happy! Good times. 😀
2. MLR Press did an absolutely wonderful party at a stunning venue in Albuquerque last year. I had the honor of helping pick up candy skulls in LA and I glued something to one single papier mache cereal box but I didn’t really have anything to do with how the event turned out.
I can’t say enough about Laura Baumbach. She is the classiest person I’ve ever met in all the ways that truly count. MLR’s party had a Dia De Los Muertos theme and we spent some time honoring people we lost – two of whom were very special to me. It was gut wrenching but also truly magical. Memorable. My hat is off to Laura and all the people at MLR for making that event one of the nicest I’ve ever attended.
1. The first year of GRL, in New Orleans, I snuck away for a quiet dinner with William Neale in the Court of Two Sisters restaurant. It was a great meal: good food, beautiful setting, terrific company. He reminded me of my husband a little, humble, intelligent, full of humor. He was inexhaustibly kind. Bill was a true southern gentleman. He talked about architecture and his garden and his husband. I talked about my family – my husband, kids, and writing.
William passed away only months after that. Hardly a week goes by that I don’t have a moment of sorrow over his passing. I’ve always let people know how much I respect them while I’m with them and I know I said that then — that I’d had a terrific time getting to know him. I told him how much I admired him. How much his friendship meant to me.
That was a great night with a wonderful man. I will always be grateful for the opportunity I had to share that evening with him. That wins Best GRL moment hands down…
What will your best GRL moments be? I look forward to sharing my next ones GRL with you!
If you aren’t attending you can still join in the excitement! I’m giving away an autographed copy of Rhapsody For Piano And Ghost, my latest print release to ONE LUCKY WINNER!
Thanks for making new memories with me!
ZAM
Giveaway
ZAM is offering a signed copy of Rhapsody for Piano and Ghost to one lucky reader. Leave a comment at the end of the post for a chance to win. The contest will close Friday, September 6th at 11:59 pm EST.
- By entering the giveaway, you’re confirming that you are at least 18 years old.
- Winners will be selected by random number. No purchase necessary to win. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning.
- If you win, you must respond to my email within 48 hours or another winner may be chosen. Please make sure that your spam filter allows email from Joyfully Jay.
- Winners may be announced on the blog following the contest. By entering the contest you are agreeing to allow your name to be posted and promoted as the contest winner by Joyfully Jay.
- Prizes will be distributed following the giveaway either by Joyfully Jay or the person/organization donating the prize.
- By entering you are agreeing to hold Joyfully Jay harmless if the prize or giveaway in some way negatively impacts the winner.
- Readers may only enter once for each contest. Duplicate entries for the same giveaway will be ignored. In the event of technical problems with the blog during the contest, every effort will be made to extend the contest deadline to allow for additional entries.
- Void where prohibited by law.
Unfortunately I dont get to come to GRL, maybe if I win the lottery! But I do look forward to living it vicariously through the posts of those that attend – and get mightily jealous!
Sadly, I won’t be able to attend GRL, but thank you for sharing your memories with us. And thank you as well for the chance to win!
Count me in for the giveaway. Thanks.
What wonderful memories. I hope to bring home some great memories after this GRL in Atlanta, my first time attending! Thank you for the giveaway.
ZAM, some of my best moments were definitely hanging out with you in ABQ! Such a great event full of wonderful people. Fan girl moments waiting to happen behind every corner. Love it! – LE
Aw, one of these days I have to get to GRL! Sounds every bit as wonderful as I imagine…
Sounds like GRL is a fun place to be. Unfortunately I will never attend as it’s in USA and I can’t afford to get there 🙁
No GRL for me this year. I am poor! LOL but please count me in 😉
Sounds like tons of fun. Thanks for the giveaway 🙂
Sadly, I can’t go to GRL. But I’m really hoping to be able to in a couple years! *fingers crossed* I just hear so many wonderful things about the people there.
Would love to go someday.
CUPCAKES! I would work for cupcakes too. Thanks for the giveaway.
I’d love to go if it was around me.
Count me in please! 🙂
Please count me in. Thanks
I owuld go to all these things if I could. Instead I work. Bummer.
I hope to be able to attend some time in the future. Hope everyone has a fantastic time!
Kassandra
sionedkla@gmail.com
I am finally coming to my first GRL this year – yeah! Though I did meet you at the book signing for AAD in Philly a few years ago – I was the one who fan girled about Sparky! I read my signed copy on the train home that evening, even though I had just read it a few weeks earlier, and also had a TON of other books I had gotten. 🙂
Those are wonderful memories. GRL sounds great. I hope everyone who attends has a fabulous time.
Awesome giveaway, thank you!
Great giveaway xx
Those are awesome memories, I can’t wait for this year’s GRL!
tiger-chick-1(at)hotmail(dot)com
Oops, meant to say next year’s GRL
GRL sounds like a blast – hope to go to one someday. Thanks for the contest. The book seems interesting an has some nice reviews. Please count me in the contest. Thanks.
Ohh… I’m so sad I most probably will never attend GRL. I’m too poor to afford the plane ticket or for the gas… *sigh* But I love seeing all the pictures. ahaa!
Thanks for the giveaway~~
please count me in. :3
Thank you for sharing your wonderful memories with us. I’ve never been to any kind of convention or retreat like this, but when I read things about the get-togethers they always sound like amazingly good fun with great people.
Count me in, please! This sounds like a great givaway!
I’d love to participate. Thanks!
I am so excited (barring a natural disaster of some kind) I will be at GRL. Can’t wait to meet so many of my favorite authors!
I really wish I could go to GRL! Looks like a ton of fun!
Please count me in.