RAW 2012 - Event Recap & Photos
I spent this past weekend in Pittsburgh as an attending author at Lora Leigh's annual Reader Appreciation Weekend, aka RAW. What an awesome event! I got to spend time with some fantastic readers and writers, making new friends and acquaintances while reconnecting with old ones.
And I have lots of pictures to share...
First of all, the author line-up on the official event T-shirt...
I roomed with my fellow paranormal romance author, Carrie Ann Ryan. Here we are in our costumes for the masquerade ball. I (left) went in Regency style like one of my historical heroines (I enjoyed thinking of myself as Cathy from Wuthering Heights!) and Carrie Ann (right) was a dark princess.
RAW wasn't all partying. Though we did get together for drinks & fun whenever we had a chance, and made sure people knew where they could join us. ;)
To be fair, Carrie Ann and I met with readers in the designated room too, not just in the bar. LOL
One of my favorite parts of RAW was the 'author speed dating' event. I loved getting to meet with table after table of so many readers, all of whom were delightful. If you look closely you can see me in the photo above - I'm the person sitting profile on the farthest left (toward the back), with the long dark hair and solid grey dress.
Jayne Rylon casting a spell in the bar! Yes, she and two others dressed up as Harry Potter characters. It was magical. LOL (That's Mari Carr, aka Hermione, in the red on the right.)
Speaking of 'in the bar' (a phrase that always seems unavoidable when discussing writers' & readers' gatherings), our pajama party collided with a bachelor party. Fate? We teamed up to cause lots of mischief. That's me in the grey on the far right and Carrie Ann in the magenta beside me. Also pictured: Jo Carol Jones, Jayne Rylon, Mari Carr and Shayla Black.
Carrie Ann and Joy of Joyfully Reviewed with one of the bachelor party gentlemen. Yes, the sparkly pink riding crop you may have noticed in earlier photos (originally a costume accessory) went just about everywhere with us. That's all I'm saying about that!
The groom-to-be humored everyone by donning the famous Joyfully Reviewed bunny ears.
Back on the dance floor at the pajama party, all the authors gathered for a group photo. I'm in the very center slightly behind & between Dana Marie Bell (black pajamas) and Beth Williamson (pink pajamas).
We wrapped up on Sunday with a book signing. By that point I'd already signed so many things that a pen had actually broken on me, staining my manicure deep purple. LOL I considered it a badge of honor from getting to meet so many lovely readers!
Another favorite moment of mine from RAW - at the book signing I was reunited with authors Emily Cale and Lisa Fox for the first time since this past spring's RT Convention. And this time they got to meet Carrie Ann, too.
Left to right: Emily Cale, Lisa Fox, Ranae Rose, Carrie Ann Ryan
It was actually Carrie Ann's first book signing! She did wonderfully. Here she is with a table full of her books.
Me with avid reader and amazing vocalist Anique (she gave a singing performance at the party the night before and it was incredible) at the book signing.
Carrie Ann and I may have bitten off a little more than we could chew when it came to loading our luggage back up on the final day. We decided to take all our luggage down in one trip on one cart. We were each crushed by the cart a bit in the elevator (as pictured, LOL) and it ended with a little broken glass and fallen rose petals. Don't worry though - no one was hurt and we cleaned up the champagne glass that was the unfortunate casualty of our determination.
And last but certainly not least, here are the lovely ladies we have to thank for such a wonderful weekend. On the far left is Jo Carol Jones, the event planner, and Lora Leigh herself is pictured in the center.
I'll be attending RAW 2013 next October, as will most if not all of the other authors who participated this year. Hope to see you there! I really enjoyed myself and can't recommend this event highly enough.
And I have lots of pictures to share...
First of all, the author line-up on the official event T-shirt...
I roomed with my fellow paranormal romance author, Carrie Ann Ryan. Here we are in our costumes for the masquerade ball. I (left) went in Regency style like one of my historical heroines (I enjoyed thinking of myself as Cathy from Wuthering Heights!) and Carrie Ann (right) was a dark princess.
RAW wasn't all partying. Though we did get together for drinks & fun whenever we had a chance, and made sure people knew where they could join us. ;)
To be fair, Carrie Ann and I met with readers in the designated room too, not just in the bar. LOL
One of my favorite parts of RAW was the 'author speed dating' event. I loved getting to meet with table after table of so many readers, all of whom were delightful. If you look closely you can see me in the photo above - I'm the person sitting profile on the farthest left (toward the back), with the long dark hair and solid grey dress.
Jayne Rylon casting a spell in the bar! Yes, she and two others dressed up as Harry Potter characters. It was magical. LOL (That's Mari Carr, aka Hermione, in the red on the right.)
Speaking of 'in the bar' (a phrase that always seems unavoidable when discussing writers' & readers' gatherings), our pajama party collided with a bachelor party. Fate? We teamed up to cause lots of mischief. That's me in the grey on the far right and Carrie Ann in the magenta beside me. Also pictured: Jo Carol Jones, Jayne Rylon, Mari Carr and Shayla Black.
Carrie Ann and Joy of Joyfully Reviewed with one of the bachelor party gentlemen. Yes, the sparkly pink riding crop you may have noticed in earlier photos (originally a costume accessory) went just about everywhere with us. That's all I'm saying about that!
The groom-to-be humored everyone by donning the famous Joyfully Reviewed bunny ears.
Back on the dance floor at the pajama party, all the authors gathered for a group photo. I'm in the very center slightly behind & between Dana Marie Bell (black pajamas) and Beth Williamson (pink pajamas).
We wrapped up on Sunday with a book signing. By that point I'd already signed so many things that a pen had actually broken on me, staining my manicure deep purple. LOL I considered it a badge of honor from getting to meet so many lovely readers!
Another favorite moment of mine from RAW - at the book signing I was reunited with authors Emily Cale and Lisa Fox for the first time since this past spring's RT Convention. And this time they got to meet Carrie Ann, too.Left to right: Emily Cale, Lisa Fox, Ranae Rose, Carrie Ann Ryan
It was actually Carrie Ann's first book signing! She did wonderfully. Here she is with a table full of her books.
Me with avid reader and amazing vocalist Anique (she gave a singing performance at the party the night before and it was incredible) at the book signing.
Carrie Ann and I may have bitten off a little more than we could chew when it came to loading our luggage back up on the final day. We decided to take all our luggage down in one trip on one cart. We were each crushed by the cart a bit in the elevator (as pictured, LOL) and it ended with a little broken glass and fallen rose petals. Don't worry though - no one was hurt and we cleaned up the champagne glass that was the unfortunate casualty of our determination.
And last but certainly not least, here are the lovely ladies we have to thank for such a wonderful weekend. On the far left is Jo Carol Jones, the event planner, and Lora Leigh herself is pictured in the center.I'll be attending RAW 2013 next October, as will most if not all of the other authors who participated this year. Hope to see you there! I really enjoyed myself and can't recommend this event highly enough.
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