Romantic Times Booklovers Convention—
and What It Meant to Me
I was a virgin! I had never been to the RT Booklovers Convention, and in fact, last year was the first time I had attended any readers’ conventions—mainly because I had been working full time and writing full time, so didn’t have any spare moments except to visit family.
I signed up for as many reader-reach-out venues that I could. It’s important because: there are so many people, you get lost in the crowd, and I’m not outgoing. Truly! So for me seeing a sea of people, none of whom I know, it’s hard for me to meet up with readers who love my books.
I had been asked to participate in the Pirates and Scalawags party because I write Highland medieval, and I was thrilled. I had several booksellers tell me how much their readers love my books, and the same with readers and reviewers. You can’t know how special it makes me feel when readers wanted to take a picture with me because I was one of their favorite authors. When I’m bogged down in trying to figure out my next story, or where the current one is going, or working on edits, it can be overwhelming. But when readers tell me how much they love my wolf or jaguar worlds and started reading about my Highlanders or fae, or how they read my Highlander and fae books and have suddenly discovered the hot wolves and jaguar shifters, I’m ready to jump into the books again and write my heart out.
Without positive feedback, I can find writing isolating. Although I will say as I’m fighting through the conflict in the worlds, I sometimes forget that. I mean, when you’ve got to focus on being with David in the waterfall pool right after he shifts from his jaguar form, it’s hard to feel I’m…alone. Which is just the way it should be. Hot, hot, hot, in the steamy jungle with a sexy jaguar—this one in Jaguar Hunt.
Yummm.
I did two personal appearances at the RT Book Club. Had a ball. In the one, a group of us got together to provide a huge, fantastic gift bag full of books and so many other wonderful treasures that it was truly…well, fantastic. The other authors and I had so much fun that we decided to pick the same time slot and do it again next year. And even do both slots that way.
Then, the next day, I was on my own, so I dragged a fellow author, and my roommate with me, who hadn’t had time to sign up and they were fine with it, so Ashlyn Chase and I had fun. I had several books to give away and met several bloggers who love my wolf and jaguar world, so they were delighted to receive autographed copies and took pictures with me. Now, I have to say, I would really much rather everyone took pictures of the books. LOL They’re MUCH more photogenic. But I loved it!
I also enjoyed the booksellers, bloggers, reviewers event put on by Sourcebooks, and there, signed a bunch of copies of the books they were giving away. And that was really nice. I also met with a new reviewer and am excited to correspond with her further.
A group of us, CH Admirand, Ashley Chase, Sara Humphries, and our coordinator, Jennilinh Dinh, had a lovely pizza and cupcake party for readers in our room and we had lots of fun and gave away a number of prizes and autographed books.
I participated in a number of events with a couple of fans, and then the last day, I thoroughly enjoyed the veterans’ program that was truly touching. Kim and others had done a wonderful job. And next year, when I’m not such a virgin and know what’s going on, I hope to bring some SEAL wolf books with me to give away.
Last, I participated in Pin the Kilt on the Highlander. I had tried to get into a paranormal panel, one that didn’t make, and actually was asked at the last minute to join another paranormal panel, but I was already committed to the Highland one that was slotted for the same time. Eliza Knight, Mary Wine, and I all hosted a game party and had two of Kim Killion’s models helping out, so we had lots of fun. Again, I had a lot of wolf and jaguar fans come up and tell me how much they loved the books and now wanted to try out the Highland ones they didn’t know I write. Next year, as we’ve been asked if we’ll do it again, I will bring Highland wolf books as giveaways too, because a wolf in a kilt is just as a hot as a Highlander in medieval times, and they still are—sexy Highlanders.
My final farewell, was lunch with a fan, student of my online writing classes and her critique partner, before I made the long drive to Houston. We had a great time, and will hook up for Readers and Ritas in November in Dallas where I will have fun visiting with readers all over again.
I had a blast at RT and am looking forward to it next year with all kinds of plans already! But first, I have RWA in San Antonio in May; Authors after Dark in Charlotte in August; a book signing and visit to the International Wolf Center, Sept/Oct in Minnesota, Readers and Ritas, Dallas in November; Coastal Magic in Daytona in February; Barbara Vey’s Readers Convention in Milwaukee in April; a trip to a wolf reserve in New Mexico in April, where five of my fans are joining me to have a blast, and then, RT in May!
Thanks for the wonderful program you and the other Romvets put on for the SOS America Military Tribute, Kim. It was lovely!
If you went to RT, what did you have the most fun at? If not, where would you like to go if there was a reader’s convention somewhere else?
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| Terry and Roxanne St. Claire at the Giant Book Fair |
Bestselling and award-winning author Terry Spear has written over fifty paranormal romance novels and four medieval Highland historical romances. Her first werewolf romance, Heart of the Wolf, was named a 2008 Publishers Weekly’s Best Book of the Year, and her subsequent titles have garnered high praise and hit the USA Today bestseller list. A retired officer of the U.S. Army Reserves, Terry lives in Crawford, Texas, where she is working on her next werewolf romance and continuing her new series about shapeshifting jaguars and also writes new YA books.
Please visit terryspear.com or follow her on Twitter @TerrySpear. She is also on Facebook at facebook.com/terry.spear and Wordpress at Terry Spear's Shifters terryspear.wordpress.com.
Mahalo, Terry, for sharing your RT experience! Sourcebooks is giving away a print copy of JAGUAR HUNT to one randomly selected commenter. To enter the giveaway,
1. Leave a comment, answering Terry's question:
If you went to RT, what did you have the most fun at? If not, where would you like to go if there was a reader’s convention somewhere else?
2. This giveaway is open to readers in the US and Canada.
3. Comments are open through Saturday, June 7, 10 pm in Baltimore. I'll post the winner on Sunday, June 8.
Mahalo,
Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City
