Authors After Dark Contest

Well, I'm back and a week late with this post. After weeks of running around like a chicken with its head cut off (I know that's awful but that's what my mother always says) getting ready for the event, it's come and gone.

Philly was fantastic and well worth the long drive. From the beautiful buildings to the debate on whether the best cheesesteak is with or without the wiz, I thoroughly enjoyed the city.

And if you're wondering… I did try a cheesesteak one day with provolone as highly suggested by one proprietor and then one with the wiz at another restaurant a few days later. My verdict: I like it better with the wiz.

The #1 thing I love about AAD is how much I get to interact with readers, authors and awesome bloggers.

Other conference highlights for me:

I started the conference by sitting on a panel about self publishing with authors Kristen Painter and Delilah Devlin. (love them, by the way) It's always interesting to hear others experiences as well as hear what other authors are curious about.

My take away: While my self publishing experience has been rewarding in so many ways both financially and creatively, it's a lot of work and not to be taken lightly. It's an option. Just as deciding to publish through a digital publisher over a traditional publisher is an option.

The branding workshop I was scheduled to give ended up being an impromptu and enlightening conversation between authors and two amazing cover artists, Kendra Egert and Pickyme aka Trish. I love when unexpected stuff like that happens.

I was very lucky to be offered the chance to sit on the BDSM panel again and it was a standing room only event. Thanks to our fabulous moderator and co panelist, Tilly Greene, we were able to get through a lot of information in that one hour. The film crew made me a little nervous but I had a great time.

My take away: A lot of readers that attend AAD are interested in learning more about this subject. We need a longer panel.

On Friday, the first annual Bookie awards were presented where I'd not only been nominated in a couple of categories but some of my favorite readers asked me to fill in for a presenter who couldn't make it. Not gonna lie. The best part was winning. lol

Slave to Pleasure won a bookie for ebook novel of the year!

The Shifter panel I sat on gave me some interesting insight into how other authors build their worlds as well as what readers seem to really like.

My take away: I must read Blood Law by Karin Tabke and the Others series by Jess Haines. And I'm never ever forgetting the death by dildo scene in Mari Freeman's book.

I also got a lot of swag and several books, much of which I will be giving away here on the blog. For this week, I am going to do another swag bag like last time, filled with goodies that came from AAD, including at least two to three books. (I'll surprise you) Keep reading and then leave a comment to be entered to win. (Drawing next Monday morning)

Besides meeting lots of readers, another highlight for me is getting the chance to meet authors I've only talked to online. I can tell you for sure that Kris Cook stole the show with his awesomeness. I think everyone's blogged about meeting him. How cool is that?

I want to list them all but I know I'm going to forget someone. Please know its my stupid memory and not a slight against anyone. It was a pleasure to meet and talk to all the Resplendence authors that I so often do word wars with: Bronwyn Green, Brynn Paulin, Mia Watts, Simone Andersen and Jennifer Armintrout. You ladies rock (and you give good party!).

Melissa Schroeder, another great author that's as straightforward as they come. Love ya!

As always, I need to thank my roomies, Cat Johnson and Lissa Matthews, for hanging with me as well as tolerating me.

Can't wait for next year in New Orleans!

I leave you with a few random pictures because I seem to have lost the ability to take decent pictures at a convention.