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.
Coastal Magic is an event that I have always wanted to go to but just haven’t made it yet. Who wouldn’t want to be at the beach in February! Thanks for the chance to win a gift card, because I can always use more of your books!
Kind of tricky to say what I would like on a winter vacation to the beach since I live on the gulf coast! Not a fan of sand and heat but seeing the emerald coast in the winter while I am working? Can’t beat it. I get down to Destin several times a week and love to see the gulf!
I’ve heard about way too many shark attacks this year so a beach vacay would see me lounging under a beach umbrella with an adult beverage and my tablet.
One of my friends goes to Coastal Magic every year and loves it! I hope whoever wins enjoys it as much 🙂
I’ve never been to a beach and I sunburn easy but I would love walking along the beach looking for shells and sea glass then sitting watching the sunset reading and sipping a sweet cocktail or glass of good wine.
Sorry about the mess Bru and though I may not agree with Dreamspinner I still support my favorite authors and you are one! ( and Rhys as well)
I am going to make it to coastal one of these years, as it’s an author meet up, and not a publisher showcase , the discrimination that’s running rampant throughout mm land shouldn’t stop me from seeing my favorite authors. The highest quality authors today, who may not be the most prolific ( proper editing takes time) but whom have the best quality product. I will certainly look forward to meeting Bru ??
A beach vacation in winter requires lots of reading material, and a blanket to snuggle in to, lol. I would love to go to Coastal Magic one day, but I live in New Zealand so it would be a massive undertaking to get there, and the budget is not currently travel friendly.
I love to read and enjoy the water but when I get hot I’ll get in up to my chest to cool off and then go back and read more. I love to read light and fun books on the beach. No one wants to see my crying, so I definitely need fun.
I have always wanted to go to Coastal Magic -it is on my to do list 🙂 I would love to go visit Ali in Australia on my Feb. birthday. It would be so different and fun. A chance to win a DSP gift card – woohoo – I can easily spend it on all the DSP authors I love. Rhys, Bru, Amy – too many to list. I am saddened that they won’t be on here anymore.
I love wandering on a beach and finding stuff along the edges of water.
Im thrilled for the chance at DSP gift cards because the authors still there are fantastic and deserve recognition and love.
I love sitting on the Beach reading a great romance story. Peaceful and energizing it feeds my soul.
I just love the surreal feeling of coming from cold, snowy Northeast weather to summer. Doesn’t even need to be that warm; just being able to be outside and enjoy the sun is amazing.
I am not normally a sun kind of person, but at that time of year I would soak up some vitamin D!
I’ve never been on a beach vacation! I have gone to the beach and walked it however. I don’t have a favourite “beach” read but I think any book while sitting in the sun would be glorious.
I’m sad to see that Jay will no longer support all authors.
I just like to sit on the deck and watch the waves and feel the breeze. I’m from down south so the beach is wonderful.
Oohh Florida! Sounds like you’re gonna have a good time 🙂
I’d like to attend someday but it would probably be hard getting me off the beach. I can sit there all day just watching the water, the people, the birds. Love the beach.
I love the beach. Any beach! And I love the title of your book
I love a beach vacation in the winter. I enjoy going and doing nothing but curling up on a lounger in the shade and reading until I get too warm and then jumping in the water for a bit before returning to my lounger to read some more. Plus cocktails.
I knew nothing about Coastal Magic before today but now I want to go. Shame it won’t be in 2020. Have a great time, Bru.
Congrats on the new release, Bru! My favorite part of a beach vacation is to sit in the shade (I’m not really a sun person) with a tall, cool drink and read.
I love the sun, water and sunsets too for winter beach vacation I really really hate the snow and the cold. Have a great time And I’ll be thinking of all of you enjoying the warmth and great books.
Congratulations to Bru Baker. 🙂 It’s a shame I live on the other side of the world from all these conventions in the US…
I love beach vacations in the winter. I read part of the Lord of the Rings trilogy on one. I tried to read Crime and Punishment on another. Didn’t get past the first chapter. We’re going on a family beach vacation for new years, and I’m bringing my kindle so I have choices!
A beach holiday in winter would be awesome ? lounging on a sunbed reading ALL the books.
Put me under an umbrella with my kindle and keep the drinks coming!
I love the sun and the beach. That coupled with a good book and some peace and quiet would make for a perfect vacation, no matter the season?
I would swim swim swim. I’ve never been in the ocean so I’ll definitely be swimming.
I wish I could get to Florida and escape snow and cold. Have fun! I’d enjoy spam my up some sun on a beach somewhere.
Congratulations on the new release Bru, can’t wait to read it. I am sorry that this will be your last appearance at Joyfully Jay, it is very sad that Dreamspinner authors are being boycottted, not cool at all. As you said “boycotts, bans, orchestrated PR attacks, they hurt me. They hurt my friends. No matter what you think of the organization, I’d hope you think enough of ME to act civilly.” These are those of us who stand with the authors no matter what.
Do you stand with the authors who are not getting paid by Dreamspinner, Brenda?
Beach holidays, whether in the winter or summer, means me digging me feet into the sand and reading. Then a little splashing in the water; then right back to the digging and the reading. Havent been to the beach in almost 5 years. Need to fix that!
I WANNA GO! This con is on my bucket list! And I cant Wait to read your latest! And I’m grateful that your giveaway supports Dreamspinner authors. I’ve found So many of my favorite books there. Thanks for your support and I hope we get to do an event together in 2020, you know, especially if we need an emergency ice cream run! Hugs!
I’m not much of a beach person in general, but I read everywhere. If I do wind up on a beach, I’m reading!
I’m not sure I could do Christmas on a beach. I missed the snow when I lived in California too much. As for beach reads, anything fluffy and fun.
Have fun at Coastal.. jealous cause living in Alaska isn’t warm.
I love the beach and the ocean! I spent a few Easter breaks in Florida when I lived in Michigan. Now that I reside in Texas it doesn’t get that cold but the water is always a draw for me. I have spent a couple of summers in Long Beach, California with my family which was awesome! We grew up there and even thought there have been many changes it is still home.
Thanks for the chance to win!
Yeah…not much for swimming at the beach but I love to sit & listen to the sound of the waves?? I have never been to a Florida, but was raised in California with beaches just a bus ride away. I miss the sound of the waves & could use a bit of warmth from a sunny day!? Have to admit I do NOT miss the sand ?
I’m not a beach person. Give me the mountains with the cold, snow, a fireplace and a nice cabin. That’s probably why I enjoy stories set in the mountains or during autumn and winter rather than in the summer.
I wish I coukd go anywhere where it’s warm and sunny right now, here in Sweden it’s very cold and very dark right now. Going to a place where I could meet likeminded readers and authors would be a dream come true, and if it’s warm and sunny as well, that would be Paradise for me.
I don’t swim in the sea but I love being at the beach and I live by one–though it isn’t a glossy white-sand beach! I reserve that kind of beach for holidays in warmer places–my fave kind of holidays, although as I live in New Zealand I fear I’d never make it to Coastal Magic, much as I’d love to! My local beach is kind of rugged and strewn with driftwood but is great for walking the dog and listening to the waves. Re DSP–I have always been a keen buyer of their quality product. I have sympathy for authors who have left because they feel let-down or the payments due to them haven’t been made. But I also support the right of the authors who have remained to hang in there. I understand why bloggers would target the company but I don’t know why they would boycott and therefore punish the authors! That is denying them a marketing tool for their income! Anyway, I am saddened some of my favourite authors won’t be on here any longer and I will miss them.
One of these years, I’ll get up to Daytona Beach for costal magic. It’s only about a 6 hour drive north for me.
As to authors I’ll miss – I’ve been keeping my distance from all the bruhaha don’t know exactly who’s leaving and who’s staying.
I live near the beach, and I love to wander down to the lagoon with a book on a not-too-sunny day and read. I have many must-read authors, and Bru Baker is one of them!
I live in the North, where just the idea of wearing a t-shirt or sandals outside in February is enough to sell me on the idea of Coastal… and that was before I checked out the spectacular lineup of authors. Consider it added to my bucket list 🙂
Any book is a good book to read on vacation. I live in So Cal; so more is more to me regarding the weather!?
Welcome, Bru! I hope you’ll have another great time at Coastal Magic come February.
“What part of a beach vacation in winter would you look forward to the most?” I’d like to sit under a sun umbrella with a refreshing drink in hand and alternate between reading a good book and looking at the ocean.
I would soak up the rays and read.
I love the beach. Swimming, snorkeling, the drinks, the great naps.
The convention sounds wonderful especially in February. I usually soak up the rays with a book and I don’t mind if it’s a summer read or not.
I didn’t even know Coastal Magic was a thing! Beach and books…. I’m in!
I love watching the water and snuggling up with a good book.