Hi everyone! Well a week later and I am finally almost back to normal after my extended trip to San Diego for vacation and GRL. As always, I had an amazing time. GRL may not be for everyone, but for me it has always been an amazing experience and my favorite romance event of the year.
So as you may know, I spent Thursday through Tuesday at the conference hotel with my hubby who came in  for a little vacation. We got to go to the zoo, La Jolla, Coronado, the beach, and tour the USS Midway while he was there. A lot of GRLers came in early and so it was nice to get a chance to introduce him to folks who he has heard me talk about over the years.
I really had an amazing time at GRL this year. People often ask me which was my favorite (this is my fourth time) and I always say that each one is different. Between the locations, the people, and the activities, every GRL had a different vibe. For me things were surprisingly low key this year, despite the fact that I was running around from morning until way past midnight pretty much every day. Maybe it is the southern California vibe, but it was just a lot of good relaxing fun. As always, it was wonderful to see so many friends who I speak to all the time online but rarely see in real life. I got to room with my wonderful friend Leigh who I met at my very first GRL in Albuquerque and though sheer luck lives near enough to me that I get to see her throughout the year. And I had a wonderful time with my other friends, old and new. Every year I come back meeting new people and having new experiences. I truly love this community and really enjoy getting to spend so much time with everyone!
I tried to be really good this year and keep in touch via social media so if you follow me on FB, Twitter, or Instagram you may have seen my pictures. I also tried to do daily recaps on FB with lots of pictures of all the goings on. I can’t find any way to link to the posts, but if you scroll through my feed, things start on October 8th. We may need to be FB friends for you to see them, so please feel free to friend me at https://www.facebook.com/joyfully.jay if you want to check them out. You can also see my pictures here: https://www.facebook.com/joyfully.jay/photos. Most of them are tagged so that should help if you don’t want to go scrolling through my timeline.
And just for fun, here are a few I’ll post here:
Giveaway
And yay, to add to the GRL fun, I have a giveaway for you guys! I had two authors offer up some books for me to give away to you all, so hurray! Here is the deal. I have two prizes to give out. First, paperback copies of A Life Without You and Absolutely Eric donated by Erika Pike. And second, paperbacks of Gay for Pay and Fame and Fortune by TM Smith. Unfortunately I can only send these to US folks due to the high shipping costs. However, if I pick an international winner I will give a $5 ebook store gift certificate. (Please indicate on your entry whether you are US or International.)
To enter, leave a comment below. The contest closes on Friday, October 30th 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. Â 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.
Awesome pics. Thanks for chance. I hope to go to GRL one yr
Im Canada but would love one of these awesome books and love PBs so would give usa friends address.
Wow! You seem to have had a really good time! 😉
Thank you for sharing your pics with us, and for the giveaway. I live in Europe, so it is international here.
Pictures are amazing. Can’t wait until next year I’ll be there!!! Thanks for the giveaway!Â
U.S. here
So glad you had an awesome time. Thanks for sharing the memories :). I went last year but was unable to make this year.
Glad you had a blast at GRL! I hope to get the chance to go again when it comes close to me 😉
US here.
Looks like you had a really great time. I really hope to attend GRL one day. Just waiting for it to come near the Mississippi River, or within driving distance of it. I don’t fly  at all.Â
Thank you for the giveaway,
Elizabeth Gray
United States
Next year Kansas City. Is that close enough?
Great pics! Glad you had fun!
I’d love to win! I’m in the US.
I didn’t get a chance to talk to you this year. And I don’t need to be in the contest for prizes.
Glad you all had a wonderful time! I’m just a tiny bit green. 😉 Beautiful people there.
LOL, no worries, I understand!
Hello! Love your blog. Looks like a great time in San Diego!! Thanks for the giveaway!! Sweet!!! I’m in the US!! ????
It’s been wonderful seeing all of the pictures from GRL. Â I wish I could have attended, everyone looks like they had such a good time.
So glad you had a wonderful time! I’m in the US…
So jealous! Someday I will go! And I’m in the US!
Good to hear that you had a good time at GRL and that you had a fun vacation with your husband. Nice pictures 🙂 Thanks for this post and the giveaway chance. (international)
Hard to believe GRL has come and gone again. I’m pretty sure I’ll never get to go but it’s fun seeing pics. 🙂
oops, I’m in Texas.
Fantastic pics and memories. Â And just think there is always next year.
I live in the US
debby236 at gmail dot com
I enjoyed seeing your pictures and enjoying GRL vicariously. 🙂 Thanks for the chance to win some great books.
Wish I would of known you were in San Diego, would of loved to have met you in person.Â
If you haven’t guessed yet I am in The US and live in San Diego. Thanks for the opportunity to win books from author’s that I have yet to read.
Aw, that is such a shame! You could have come down to the conference hotel and met some folks. Hopefully you will still get a chance one day!
I’m so glad you had such a great time, Jay! I’ve never been to any reader conventions, but I can’t imagine a better time than hanging out and talking books with people who love them too. By the way, I share your love for the black and white photo. 🙂
LOL, thanks! That was a weird instagram filter fluke and then I was like, OMG! I love it!
And yes, it is amazing to spend days immersed in romance land!
I like the pics! Looks like you had a great time. :)Thanks fr the chance, by the way. I enter the international giveaway.
Thank you for the lovely post and great pictures! You all look like you had a ton of fun. Thank you for the giveaway chance! I’m in the U.S. =)
Looks like a good time was had by all, glad you were able to go and enjoy! 🙂 Thanks for the chance to win! I’m in the US and really need to plan better so I can try to make one of these events lol!!Â
I’m in Australia, GRL looked so great, I would love to go myself one time but wow it’s a long way to go.
Looks like a great time!Â
I’m in the US. =)
I just wanted to say I miss the crap out of you and had such a fun time! I’m glad my attempt at Baywatch run, and subsequent fall, video did not make it in this. Black and white may still be my favorite picture taken! ??????
Miss you too Linds! I can’t believe it has only been less than two weeks since we saw each other! Seems like so much longer!
Glad you had such a fun time! Thanks for sharing the photos. I’d love to enter the giveaway; I live in the US.