Today I am so excited to welcome the fabulous Jambrea Jo Jones to the blog. Jambrea is here as my first guest as part of the GRL Blog Tour (I am one of the Featured Bloggers). Jambrea is sharing some thoughts with us about her GRL experiences. She is also offering up a copy of a book from her backlist to one lucky winner. So please join me in giving Jambrea a big welcome! (P.S. To see Jambrea’s pics more clearly, click on them)
GRL. What a wonderful experience. It is something I wait for every year. I remember it before it was GRL. Carol Lynne was having a little retreat at her house. I wanted to go so, so bad. It wasnโt to be, but I did get a badge sent to me. I was so happy to get that little piece. I saw the pictures and could see how much fun they were having.
I was really just starting out in my writing journey at the time and a BIG fan girl of Carol, still am. Love that lady. When it was announced that it was going to be a formal thing to thank readers and that it would be held in New Orleans, a place I had never been, I knew I had to go. No matter what. I was lucky that year, my mom had some air miles I was able to use and I had roommates to share the hotel cost. I was ready. It was then and there I knew Iโd want to go to each and every GRL there would be. I had such a fun time visiting a place Iโd never been. The people were so great and I felt at home. Iโm a shy person until you get to know me. Or until I get to know you. But at GRLโI could be myself. Talk about books Iโve read or written.
I watched a few people do some readings and knew I would never do that. How could they stand in front of all those people and readโfrom their own books!!! The parties were nice and the people even better.
2012 found us going to New Mexico. Another place I had never been. This time I figured Iโd drive. What the heck, right? I ended up driving all the way there only stopping for gas and potty breaks. I also picked two people up so I drove for around 36 hours right through. I was just a tiny bit tired, but it was so worth it because once I hit that hotel it was like I was coming home for a reunion. I saw people from last year and new people that I wanted to meet that Iโd talked to online. This year I went in with my fellow Totally Bound authors to do a fun game called Dirty Pictionary. Or something like that. It was a fun time and I hope people enjoyed themselves. On the way home I might have had a small mishap with the car. A semi-truck blew a tire and there was nowhere to go but over it. Never fear, duct tape really does fix everything. I vowed never to drive again.
2013 we were in Atlanta, yet another place I hadnโt been to. I didnโt drive, I flew and I was very happy. Starting in 2012 six of us Totally Bound authors went in together to do an anthology. For Atlanta we placed the stories in the hotel we were staying and had characters from other stories visit ours. In my story I had one of my guys work in restaurant there in Atlanta so I made sure that I went there. The food was just as yummy as the guys in my story thought it was. And remember above when I said Iโd never do a reading? Yeah, well, I did one in Atlanta. It didnโt go too bad. I also did a Q&A session. There were three of us. Youโll never guess who the other authors in my group were. Eric Arvin and TJ Klune. I had a front seat to the proposal. And yes I cried.
2014. This year we will be in Chicago. I have been there before and remember when I said I wouldnโt drive again? Well, Chicago is only 3 hours away, so it seems silly to fly. Iโm not sure what Iโll be doing this year because we havenโt been told yet, but Iโm excited either way. I love GRL and the family of my heart that will be there. I canโt wait to meet new people and see old friends.
I will be giving away an ebook copy from my backlist. www.jambrea.com
Giveaway
Jambrea is offering up a book from her back list to one lucky winner. Just leave a comment below to enter. The contest closes on Friday, May 2 at 11:59 pm EST. Updated: Due to some issues with site comments the contest entry date is extended to Saturday, May 3rd at 11:59 pm EST.
- By entering the giveaway, youโre confirming that you are at least 18 years old.
- Winners will be selected by random number.ย No purchase necessary to win. ย 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. ย 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.
Thanks for sharing your experiences! As a first time GRL attendee this coming October, I am always looking for info on the retreat and am really looking forward to the event and meeting all of the wonderful authors that create the fantastic worlds that I read!
You are going to have SOOOOoooooo much fun. ๐ I have enjoyed each and everyone of these. ๐
GRL Retreat sounds great! ย Thanks for the giveaway. ย Count me in.
It is such a blast. If you get a chance to go, you really should!! ๐
Thank you for sharing your experiences with us. I’d love to make it to a GOD one day! Thanks for the giveaway as well.
I hope it comes close enough for you to get one. It is such a wonderful experiance. ๐
If I win the lottery I WILL come to GRL – as it is I have trouble getting to the UK meet! So I live for all the blog updates and live vicariously through them!
I SO want to go to the UK meet! Someday. I’ve been thinking of planning a trip to England in the summer of next year. Not sure if we’ll be doing it or not. It cost SOOOOoo much. lol
Great interview. ย I’d love to go to GRL someday!
Thanks, Rodney! I hope you get to. ๐
This is going to be my first year at GRL, and I’m sooo excited! Reading all these posts about past years is making me very impatient. ๐
Well, I can’t wait to meet you! ๐
One of the highlights of my very first GRL was meeting Jambrea! And like her, I will be going to every one I can. It’s the great people and fun times that draw me back.
It was SO awesome meeting you! And dinner last year was AWESOME! We’ll have to do something this year too. ๐
Good guest post – I know you have enjoyed going to GRL and it sounds like you’ve had some interesting adventures! ย Hopefully there will be no car shenanigans on your way to or from Chicago! Make sure to eat a Chicago Dog for me!
OMG! I sure hope not! lol And I will! I LOVE Chicago Dogs!!! AND the pizza. YUM!!!
Loved you sharing your experience at GRL and the pics. Glad you had a fantastic time. Thank you for the giveaway.
marsh10(at)netzero(dot)com
Thanks, Shorty!!! ๐
I enjoy the books more if they are about real or at least believable places and things. Thank you for all the hard work you put into your books.
Thanks, Ann! ๐ I do a mix of both. lol I’m a sci-fi geek at heart, but I love a good contemporary too. ๐
One day I am going to one of these events. ย I so want to meet and participate. ย And one day I am going to win one of these contests!!!!!
Good luck, Temple!!! ๐ And I sure hope you get to go. I love how GRL moves around. This is the first year it will be some place I’ve been before so it is exciting to see all the new places. ๐
I am hoping to be able to make it to either Rainbow Con or GRL next year! The pics I have seen always look like everyone has so much fun! Thanks for the chance to enter ๐
I never take enough pictures! lol I hope you get a chance to go!
I hope you have a wonderful time!
Thanks, Trix!
Looks and sounds like lots of fun. Hopefully one year I can get down to the states to attend.
I hope you can, Demetra! ๐ย
It sounds so wonderful. ย I wish I could go.
Maybe GRL will be closer to you soon! ๐ They are always moving it around!
I hope I get to meet you this year!
I hope so too, Allison!
Great pictures. Looks and sounds like you had an amazing time. Thank you for the giveaway.
Thanks!! ๐
thanks for the details, sounds like you had fun. Thanks for the giveaway!
Thanks, Penumbra! ๐
Awesome
This will be my first GRL!! I have already met some incredibly nice people through the FB group and blog hops and look forward to meeting everyone in person in October!
*waves* I finally found the perfect dress to be River Tam!
Kassandra
I’m really hoping GRL comes to California soon! I’d love a chance at going to one. I enjoyed reading about your GRL experiences and thanks for the pictures.