Today I am so pleased to welcome Anna Zabo to Joyfully Jay. Anna has come as part of the GRL Blog Tour . She has also brought along a great giveaway. Please join me in giving Anna a big welcome!
The Events of GRL
There’s a lot to do at GayRomLit. I mean aside from sitting in the bar or the lobby or wherever and chatting with authors and readers and bloggers, or playing Cards Against Humanity into the wee hours of the morning.
There are signings and author spotlights and dances and dinners and…well enough things to keep you busy for the entire conference. So, I have some pointers to share about the events during GRL:
You don’t have to go to every event. Indeed, you can’t because some happen at the same time. There’s usually two fun fair events happening during the same time slot, so you kind of have to pick and choose—but you can take an hour or two off if you’re overwhelmed.
You don’t have to dress up for themed events. Some events are costume- or fancy-dress friendly, but you don’t need to have a costume or fancy dress to attend! Come anyway. It’s you we want to see! Of course if you do want to dress up, please! We want to see you too! But don’t stay away because all you have is t-shirts and jeans. Come as you are.
Dancing is fun, even if you suck at it. I’m a horrible dancer, but I’ve had the best time the past two GRLs just letting go on the dance floor. There’s something about dancing around to songs you love with people who get you.
Water and soda are perfectly acceptable bar drinks. Don’t worry about not drinking if you want to hang out with the folks in the bar (or at the parties). Plenty of folks don’t imbibe. Come and sit and chat. And if you see me, feel free to strike up a conversation. I’m a dork, but I’m harmless.
Please consider going to the Supporting Author Signing. It’s the first event of GRL and so important for the supporting authors, especially for those whom this is their very first GRL. For the people who are brand new, this is their big chance to connect with you the readers, so please stop on by and say hello to an author you’ve never heard of. Heck do that at the Featured Author signing too.
The Spotlights are great. Personally, I try to hit one of the reading of an author I’ve never read before, to get an idea of their work…and I usually end up running into the dealers room or hunting down that author to get a copy of the book.
And I’m going to make a little plug here to come to the Fun Fair event hosted by LA Witt and myself: Win, Lose, Draw, or Discover Your New Favorite LGBT Author! We’re playing romance trope Pictionary and there’s buckets of prizes, including two Kindle Fires loaded with books by Supporting Authors.
Blurb
Justin White may not look like an up and coming corporate superstar, but his new boss knows he has the smarts, grit, and determination to succeed. Now he just has to convince his company’s CFO, Eli Ovadia. Unfortunately, Justin can’t seem to keep his cool around the domineering Eli—and soon he finds himself taking their heat from the boardroom into the bedroom….
Still haunted by a tragic accident that left him with a wounded leg and broken heart, Eli has a need to be in control. But his desire for Justin makes him want to lose that control—and push them both far beyond their limits. But will his need to dominate Justin drive him away—or will Eli find a way to be the man he needs for both of them?
Bio
Anna Zabo writes contemporary and paranormal romance for all colors of the rainbow. She lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which isn’t nearly as boring as most people think. You can find her most often on twitter as @amergina or visit her website at annazabo.com. She also has a Tumblr, but that’s mostly photos of guys in suits. And Tom Hiddleston.
Giveaway
Anna has brought a copy of Just Business from either Amazon or B&N to give away to one lucky reader (she will gift the book from the retailer). Just leave a comment at the end of the post to enter. The contest ends on Saturday, September 19th 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.
- All book prizes are in electronic format unless otherwise specified.
- 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.
Hi Anna.
I’m sorry to be missing GRL this year. I so enjoyed the last 2. Don’t enter me in the giveaway. I read Just Business and just inhaled it. I rarely read BDSM even lite, but this book was sooo good. I’m going back to read book one because I loved those guys in book 2.
Wah, Mary! I can’t imagine GRL without you! Maybe I’ll see you at RT?
I’m going to miss you too Jay! It’s always so good to see you. I won’t be at RT either. Since I won’t fly, cons have to be within driving or one day bus distance. I know I miss a lot but I just can’t do it. 🙂
Boo! But I understand! Hopefully we will catch up again soon!
Hi Mary! Thank you so much! I hope you like Takeover, too. And I’m sorry you won’t be at GRL. 🙁
Sigh, sounds like so much fun…one of these days!
It is a lot of fun! Hopefully you can make it sometime! 🙂
Thanks for your post — now I finally know what GRL stands for! The event sounds like a lot of fun, and (as a non-drinker) I certainly appreciate hearing that those drinking water and soft drinks would fit right in. Have a great time at GRL.
I think anyone can fit in at GRL. It is an amazingly accepting group and you can let all your crazy out (or at least I manage to every year!) Hope you can make it one day!
Like Jay, I hope you can make it someday! And yeah, there’s no pressure to do anything you don’t want to do!
Hi! I’ve been wondering what the blog tour was, and now I think I know. I’m looking forward to GRL as a noob this year, and will stop by and say hello! I’m looking forward to checking out Just Business–sounds hot and fun!
Look forward to meeting you there Ivan!
Hi Ivan! Please do stop by!
Thanks for this post. It’s nice to know a bit more about GRL, and It sounds like a fun event 🙂 I hope you have a great time. I like the blurb of Just Business so thank you for the giveaway chance.
You’re welcome! 🙂
I wish I could arts GRL. It sounds like a lot of fun.
Thank you for the informative post about GRL. It’s nice to hear about the events/going ons there. I hope you have a great time there this year =)
I so hope to be able to make it to GRL some day, it sounds like so much fun! Thanks for your post & the giveaway!
I can’t believe it’s time for GRL again. It seems to get here faster than Christmas (which by the way is only 100 days away).
I’m always so jealous of everyone that gets to go. I’m not much of a traveler so I imagine I’ll never get to go but I have loads of fun looking at the pictures and reading the blogs. Your pointers were great! 🙂
I wish I could go to one of the GRL meetings one day, it sounds like a lot of fun and to meet all those authors, knowing they are the ones who write those wonderful stories… just like a dream. 😉
Thanks for the giveway too!
GRL is an amazing time. Everyone feels likes friends.
I wish one day I can join you in one of these amazing event… So far it’s been imposible, but I keep my hope! Meanwhile, I enjoy reading as much as I can about them (and watching a lot of photos).
Thank you for sharing your experiences!
sounds like fun