My GRL experience

GRL is officially over for yet another year, and I'm sad. I've been looking forward to attending for so long now, that it just doesn't seem like there was enough time... The conference seemed to fly by. Now everyone is looking toward next year, which will be held in San Diego. It's a little too soon to tell whether or not I will be able to attend in 2015, I can tell you that I want to, finances and family situations willing.
So I thought I would share with you some of my pics and highlights from the conference.
 

The location - Indian Lakes Hotel

The lobby where many a conversation was had.

The fireplace lounge in the conference centre, where a poor Territorian was able to go to warm up on many an occasion.

So that's the hotel... There wasn't a single straight line anywhere and the rooms weren't square, however, I loved it. The food could have been nicer, but that's about the only thing I would improve.

I was so excited when I officially registered and picked up my GRL packet... Look... that's me... OMG

As for the people that attended GRL. HOLY COW... I've never met a nicer bunch of people anywhere. Everyone went out of their way to make you feel welcome and comfortable. There were a lot of newbies at this GRL, just like me and not once did I feel left out or overwhelmed by things.

I had several fan girl moments when I was able to meet my favourite authors. I unfortunately didn't get a pic with them all. Charlie Cochet and Andrew Grey being two of them. Here's a couple of the pics I did get.

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Cherie Noel

Wade Kelly

TJ Klune

BG Thomas

Mary Calmes

Freddy MacKay

Silvia Violet

The amazingly talented artist Catherine Dair, who joined the MCB crew in their Star Trek themed dress for the costume party on the last night of GRL

I attended several of the panels. The author Spotlights with the RJ Scott, Amber Kell and Stephanie Hecht where they discussed flawed heros was a lot of fun. As was the Mary Calmes, Poppy Dennison and Lynn Lorenz panel where the topic of choice was once close to my heart. Shifters. I also attended a Reading where Silvia Violet, JP Barnaby and Zahra Owens read from their works.

I had a great deal of fun interacting with not only other writers but with the readers as well. It's still a little mind boggling for me when readers would come up to me and tell me they loved my books. They were all so wonderful, and it was great finally being able to put faces to names.
 The swag room and the Author signing for me were a great deal of fun. Having that time to chat with the readers and discuss your books was incredible. The entire thing was very surreal to me.

My 2 foot section in the swag room.

My table at the book signing... Notice Sir Reginald Barkley Plattingsworth III made the trip to the US with me.

I was lucky and got to share a signing table with the incredibly talented Angel Martinez.

It was wonderful to be able to meet my eXtasy publishers, Tina Haveman & Jay Austin. I had a great time.

I want to send a big shout out to all the hubbies that attended. RJ's Hubby, Mr Amber Kell, Silvia Violet's Hubby Brent & Christy Thomas's hubby ET. It was fabulous that you all came and it was awesome seeing some of you again and meeting others for the first time.

Inquisitive little squirrel going hunting for nuts.

Silvia & Brent

RJ's Hubby taking part in the panel and reading an excerpt from Texas 6

Christy & ET

All in all I had an absolute blast. Do I wish the conference went for longer, yes. I ad such an amazing time I didn't want it to end. Was it worth the expense of flying from Australia to the United States? You betcha. Would I do it again? In a heart beat.

A big thank you goes out to Carol Lynn, Ethan Day, Reese Dante, Teresa Emil and the other organisers of this fantastic event. I have nothing to really compare it with, but I thought you did an amazing job and I can't wait to come back and attend a future GRL.
Thanks to all the readers who came up to me and talked about my books. And a big thank you to the other Authors who let me go all fan girl on them.