Today I am so pleased to welcome Bru Baker to Joyfully Jay. Bru has come to chat with us today as part of the Coastal Magic Blog Tour. Please join me in giving her a big welcome!
Hi everyone! I’ve been on blogs all week promoting my latest release, Downward Facing Dreamboat, but I’m taking a break from that today to talk about something else I’m crazy excited about–the Coastal Magic Convention in Daytona Beach, Florida!
I’m ready for Coastal. Like, not just on a spiritual level, though I am totally ready to commune with my tribe and spend a few awesome days with like-minded romance readers and fabulous authors. I mean my body is ready for Coastal. Those of you who live in places where it never gets below freezing can’t truly understand just exactly how wonderful a week in Florida sounds come February.
Given that it’s only December–well, it’s going to be a long winter for this Hawaiian-born Filipina transplanted into the very cold Midwest.
Coastal is the perfect mix of books and sun and it really gives me something awesome to look forward to in the dead of winter. Plus it’s the start of my book conference season, so it makes me smile to think about for a number of reasons!
Last year was my first time attending and I wasn’t really sure what I’d be walking into. I’d heard from both authors and readers that this was one of the events they looked forward to most every year, which set the bar kind of high expectations wise.
And let me tell you, friends, Coastal Magic blew those expectations out of the water.
If you’re a reader and you’re on the fence about whether or not to go–GO! Everyone was lovely, the venue is perfect, and well, you can’t ask for better weather than Daytona in February. Everyone from warmer climates thought we were crazy for hitting the beach when it was in the seventies–but when you’re coming from negative temperatures, the seventies feel sweltering. (I will note that I didn’t get in the water, but I’m really more of an “appreciate the ocean from a distance” kind of a girl than a “get wet and sandy” kind of girl. It has nothing to do with the temperature.)
I had an absolute blast last year and my expectations are even higher for this year. It’s an intimate group and everyone is so friendly and welcoming. I didn’t know many people but I never felt like I was a stranger. We even had people from the scrapbooking convention at the same hotel come to the signing because they’d met so many super friendly people attending Coastal throughout the week and were interested to learn more about it. It’s really a great vibe.
What part of a beach vacation in winter would you look forward to the most? Do you soak up the rays and read or frolick in water? (And what kind of book is your favorite beach read?) Comment on any of these questions to be entered to win one of TEN Dreamspinner Press $10 gift certificates!
(And since it is the holiday season, even though we’re talking about beaches…head over to check out Dreamspinner’s holiday book sale! All of my holiday books are 50 percent off until Dec. 31, and all of the other backlist holiday books in the store are, too!
Registration info:
https://coastalmagicconvention.com/
February 20-23, 2020
Join us for reader, blogger, and author shenanigans! We feature a lineup of over 50 amazing storytellers that showcases best-selling favorites, along with debut and “new to you” authors who are sure to catch your attention.
Bio
Bru Baker writes sophisticated gay romantic fiction with strong characters, real-world problems, and plenty of humor.
Bru spent fifteen years writing for newspapers before making the jump to fiction. Whether it’s creating her own characters or getting caught up in someone else’s, there’s no denying that Bru is happiest when she’s engrossed in a story. She and her husband have two children, which means a lot of her books get written from the sidelines of various sports practices.
Visit Bru online at www.bru-baker.com or follow her on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
Giveaway
Bru has brought ten $10 Dreamspinner Press gift cards to give away. Just leave a comment at the end of the post to enter. The contest ends on Sunday, December 22nd at 11:59 pm ET.
- 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.
February in Florida sounds nicer than the northern Frozen Tundra!
I’ve heard of coastal magic but not much of what happens there. If others are singing high praise then it must be something. Hope you have a great time when it’s time.
Oh lordy, I HATE being cold, so the beach would be a dream! I love reading in the beach because when you overheat you can jump in and come back and drip all over your paperback for another few hours.
Coastal Magic looks like fun. I wish it was closer!
Even though I live near a beach town, the Northern California water is cold this time of year! I tend to go for the sexy, lighthearted reads with a touch of intrigue!
Soak up the sun and reading!
So cool that you guys are giving us this chance!
Me, I looooove swimming. So I’d be spending plenty of time in the water. The downside is, I’m of Irish descent so I turn lobster red at the drop of a hat even with 50 SPF! So when not in the water you’d find me hiding under one of those gigantic umbrellas. ?
As for the reading? I’d have to go with sweet and romantic. I mean that’s what going to the beach with your partner is all about right?
I’m a fan of your writing Bru, I usually preorder books on the day preorders released.
Have fun at Coastal Magic, I’m in Australia, so it’s a no go for me.
I wish I could spend many days on the beach. It’s been to cold.
If anyone was to be successful and get me to a sunny beach, I would be resting in the shade on a hammock, drinking sweet iced tea and reading (covered in factor 50+ to protect my pale skin) 🙂
Sounds like a great experience. I hope you have a lot of fun there! I wish I could go, but I am unfortunately too far away to even consider it
I am h oping to go this year.
I burn so I don’t usually sit in the sun for too long. I’d probably be in the water some times, but reading in the shade or doing something touristy.
I don’t have a favorite beach read, it always depends on my mood. And I go to the pool more than a beach.
i AM NOT A BEACH GOER SAND ON KINDLE ARE NOT A GOOD COMBO. BUT I LOVE ANDREW GREY AND PARANORMALS BEST.
I would like to remove my entry. I made a mistake in entering. Thank you.
Thank you, I will go ahead and remove your original entry. Jay
Here in the Pacific Northwest (PNW) our winter precipitation is rain and/or snow. I’d love to have a winter beach vacation parked under an umbrella soaking in the warmth; strolling the beach looking for shells and sea glass at dawn, and then meeting the fabulous authors at the Coastal Magic Convention. My favorite genres are SF/F, PNR. Sorry you’ll no longer be hosting the DSP authors.
Just to clarify, while I realize it is a fine distinction, we are still hosting DSP authors. We are not currently reviewing DSP books or allowing authors to use our platform to promote them while the publisher is not paying their authors. We welcome current and former DSP authors who wish to promote or have reviews for non-DSP books.
I would definitely splash in the water the whole day 🙂
This giveaway is gross. And the way that Bru Baker and Rhys Ford have passive aggressively been digging at Jay WHILE USING her platform is bad form and quite frankly, reprehensible. Bru & Rhys are finger pointing that people who don’t agree with them are bullying and being mean. From what I’ve seen, the two of them with a few others are the ones getting nasty. It’s sad to see, but speaks volumes. Also, don’t use the race card. You come from a position of privilege, as this giveaway shows, and people aren’t boycotting your books because of your skin color. It’s because you’re being an ass.
Did you just tell a person of color to sit down and shut up? Talk about being an ass. Good for you for policing them for being uppity and getting above themselves.
I wish I could join one sometime
Sounds like a lot of fun
Sitting on the beach under a shade umbrella people watching and reading