Monday, August 12, 2013

The Great Bus Trip Reunion (aka FictionFest 2013)

Imagine, if you will, a bus full of authors driving from town to town, stopping morning, noon and night to sign books for their fans. 

If you were filling this bus and it was coming to your town, who would be on it? If your list includes the likes of Angela Knight, Gena Showalter, Kristan Higgins, Kresley Cole, Allison Brennan, Sherry Thomas, Elizabeth Hoyt, Jade Lee and Roxanne St. Claire (and more!), then welcome to my world, back in 2008. 

To say that it was a memorable week would be the understatement of the decade. To describe the oodles of books we signed would be ridiculous. To mention that there was talk about hopping across the Canadian border one night, where ladies' night promises full male nudity, might be telling tales out of class (what happens on the bus stays on the bus?). But to say that some of the friendships forged there have stuck would be the absolute truth. 

Why, might you ask, am I bringing up a bus trip from five years ago? Well, because in just over a month, Kristan Higgins, Roxanne St. Claire and I will be reuniting at CTRWA's Fiction Fest, and I can't wait!!

Here are the deets:

When? Saturday, September 21, 2013
Where? Beautiful Mystic, Connecticut, which is totally worth visiting for the aquarium, maritime museum, downtown shopping, nearby vineyards, and all sorts of other cool stuff.

Want more? 


The Connecticut Romance Writers Fiction Fest 2013 will be held on Saturday, September 21, 2013. The keynote speaker this year is 6-time RITA Nominee, Winner, and NY Times Bestselling Author, Roxanne St. Claire.  We’ll also be welcoming Jim Azevedo from Smashwords for a double session workshop, and life coach/organizer Lisa Lelas.
The all-day conference will be held at the luxurious Hilton Hotel in Mystic, CT.  Just tell them you are with the CT Romance Writers (or give them the code “CRWA”), and you will receive the discount room rate of $169.
Fiction writers of all genres, but especially romance writers, are welcome.  Once again, the conference will feature workshops on craft, industry, and the writer’s life. We will have an exciting raffle, an editor/agent hot-seat luncheon (where THEY get to answer YOUR questions), and a few surprises. In addition, editors and agents will be available for pitch appointments. Stay tuned for the workshop schedule and complete list of agents and editors.  This conference drew 160 participants last year, so be sure to register early to reserve your spot!

Agents:
Mary Sue Seymour, The Seymour Agency
Emmanuelle Morgen, Stonesong Literary Agency
Stephany Evans, Fine Print Literary Management
Rachael Dugas, Talcott Notch Literary Services
Editors:
Chelsey Emmelhainz (Avon Harper Collins)
Susan Litman (Harlequin) (Can take pitches for all lines)
Debby Gilbert (Soul Mate)
Katherine Pelz (Berkley)

Registration rates are as follows (includes registration, breakfast, and lunch):
CTRWA/CORW/Colony Romance Writer Members: $135
Non-members: $155
New Member Special: $160 (includes member rate registration, plus discounted membership to CTRWA!)
  

(Copied from the CTRWA Fiction Fest web page. Click for more, and to register!)

For now, though, let's think about that fantasy bus tour that's coming to your town. Who are you going to put on the bus, and why?

13 comments:

  1. So looking forward to FictionFest! See you there!

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  2. You should totally do that again next year when I won't be in college!

    It sounds awesome!

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    1. (Resists. Urge. To. Suggest. Playing. Hookey.)

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    2. OMG Jess, best news! I had mom sit down after work today and watch Kristan Higgins' RWA speech and, after I mentioned with a hopeful grin that Kristan would be doing a smaller conference next month...the same one I had been so excited about on Monday (I was at work with her that morning when you posted this blog and was looking up trains and buses on my phone to see if I could somehow get there) and she said, "We'll fly there."

      SO as of now, I will see you in September! :D *happy dance*

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    3. OMG, yay!!! Mystic is an awesome place to hang for a weekend ... :)

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  3. Went to FictionFest last year and it was easily one of the best writers conferences I've attended. Looking forward to this year!

    You should put some of Kristan Higgins' Man Wars men on the bus, too!

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    1. Julia is officially on the bus. With the Man Wars guys. Best. Idea. Ever.

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  4. Man Wars bus? Have you guys been spying on me? Can't wait for the conference...always one of the best!

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  5. Totally behind Julia's idea! Although, we might not ever get off the bus. LOL. Love Fiction Fest for so many reasons: lots of great workshops to choose from; meeting new friends; fabulous agents and editors to pitch to; and the energy level is so off the charts, that I come home and want to write, write and write some more. Think 2013 is going to be the best yet.

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  6. I'm bummed I won't be there with you this year. My step son is getting married in Nashville, so family trumps (I think my husband had his doubts).

    As for who I'd have on the bus--it would have to be a very big bus--I'd want all my CTRWA pals there and it would have to be fun if Steven King and Nora Roberts hopped on. Of course, I would be sitting with Diana Gabaldon. I'd love to hang out and pick her brain for a few days.

    You all have fun at FF. I'll see you in November. October's meeting coincides with a book signing at the Granville Harvest Fair. Geesh! I'll be having withdrawals by then.

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  7. I am so counting my pennies so that I can come up for this. I need to coordinate my schedule too. As for the bus...like PJ, I think this has to be like the MegaBus, but safer. She also chose some of the people I would like to see, but I would also like to see Jill Shalvis would be a great addition, Robyn Carr, Colleen Gleason/Joss Ware, J.R. Ward, Susan Andersen, Carly Phillips, Leslie Kelly, Janelle Denison, Stephanie Bond, Julie Leto, Tess Gerritsen, Robin Cook, Michael Palmer, Beth Harbison, Louisa Edwards, Michael Connelly, Kathy Reichs, Patricia Cornwell, Tom Clancy, Richard Castle, Joanne Rock, Catherine Mann, Karin Tabke, Tawny Weber...I could keep going for days.

    Peace and love,
    Paula R.

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  8. Fiction Fest was where I came home, found my people, got it. Every cliché about finding home base. So...I'll be there.

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