This past weekend was the 12th Annual Heart of Dixie Readers' Luncheon. It was my first time participating as an author, and what a fun time it was! Disappointingly, I wasn't able to sign books with the other authors since my first isn't out until August, but I still had a blast. To be included with the likes of Vicki Lewis Thompson, Linda Howard, Linda Winstead Jones, Beverly Barton, Debra Webb, and Rhonda Nelson? It's one of those dream come true moments, I assure you.
There were so many talented authors there, in fact, that I was torn between being a fangirl and being a dignified author. π I think I managed dignified fairly well, however….
Vicki was our guest speaker, and she is absolutely as hilarious in person as she is in her books. The visuals she created for the audience were laugh out loud funny, of course. I simply can't imagine getting up on that stage and speaking to an audience of nearly 200 the way she did, but I hope I'll be in that position one day. Not that I want to speak to a large audience, but I want someone to think I'm a big enough draw to justify asking me. Definitely a dream at this point, so I won't panic over the idea of preparing a speech anytime soon. π
Lunch was fabulous, the prizes were amazing as always, and my very own mother won not only a door prize, but also a raffle basket. She told me the next day that she counted 14 books in her haul — and that didn't include the petit fours, scone mix, tea, and other assorted goodies she also got.
Here I am at my table (I'm in the middle). You can also see this picture on my Meet Lynn page, as well as a photo of all the attending authors. (Barbara Vey of Publisher's Weekly featured the photo of the authors on her blog yesterday, too.)
How did your weekend go? Read any great books? I definitely got a haul of books, including the debut romantic suspense by chaptermate Christy Reece that I'm dying to dig into.
Like you, I attended the HOD luncheon and I was torn between being a fan and helping….I felt like a rubber neck, my head kept whipping around to look at all the authors! π
Then there was that moment I was holding an Author basket at the same time another one was being given away–and I nearly gave that one away as well. I was just too excited about the whole thing. π Luckily disaster was averted…
As for books…I got some good ones, but I didn’t get a chance to get Christy’s, by the time I got there, they were gone. LOL, so, darn, I have to go to B&N…..
LOL, Mary! I think you were on autopilot during the basket incident. π Everyone did a fabulous job, and those baskets were amazing as usual. I’m already thinking about my basket for the Southern Magic luncheon in November. π
I was there too and what a great day it was. Despite the foul weather and the flu scare, we had almost perfect attendance. That just shows how dedicated romance readers are. And next year you’ll be signing up a storm!
Yes, I thought we might have some cancellations due to flu scares, but that was a packed ballroom! π
Sounds like fun… Now if anyone asks me if I am published… I’ll just say that I know a published author. LOL
It was a lot of fun! And you’ve published some poems. π
Glad you had a great time!
Wow I’m seriously jealous! That sounded like so much fun! I wouldn’t mind trading lives with your mum by the way ask her if she wouldn’t mind… Free books! Paris! I think I had a dream like that once…