Dreamin' Convention 2015

What an amazing weekend! This was my fourth year attending. The previous three years, I attended as a reader. It was relaxed and fun. I met new friends and found new authors I enjoy reading.

This year, I attended, for the first time, as an author. Exciting and scary.

Buildin' the Dream

This portion of the conference is for writers, with a variety of workshops offered. I always wish I could clone myself so I could attend all of them.

I taught a workshop on a writer's environment. I taught a similar workshop, last year, but I've learned a lot since then in my efforts to create a more receptive environment for my own writing. I hope those who attended gleaned something helpful.

Arizona Dreamin'

This is the event for readers. The amazing team that created and runs AD, arranges the schedule, set up, the Man of Our Dream contest, and entertainment. The weekend is jam-packed.

The readers choose 7 book clubs sponsored by featured authors, have lunch with an author, and dinner with an author. Each author prepares their own book clubs.

I had two goals going into this event:

1. Participate as an author. I'm a bit of an introvert...definitely an introvert. This would require I step out from behind my safe wall of reserve. More than once, I wanted to chicken out. I didn't. Success!

2. I wanted to make my portion of the event as much fun as possible for my readers and those willing to give me a chance. I hope they had fun.

I found another author I enjoy, Lynn Peters, and added a couple to my want-to-try list.

The next Convention is in 2017.

This year's Man of Our Dreams contestants:

James, the blond holding me, won the contest two years ago and coaches the guys competing. I feel like I know James, at least a little bit, so felt comfortable letting him hold me. All the guys are charming. They flirted and made themselves available all weekend, from chatting to helping out by fetching and carrying. They're delightful. Thank you, gentleman. It was fun.

Grumbling heroes... posted on FB 1 June...

Fitzgerald: Our numbers are sparse, this day.
Richard: Indeed.
Leo: Is a search party in order?
Richard: I think not.
Jack: No doubt the other heroes will all return soon enough and probably before our Lady is prepared to entertain them.
Leo: You're certain?
Jack: This isn't the first time our numbers have been few.
Karl: What happened, this time?
Jack: Our Lady's dance card has been a bit crowded of late.
Ken: She went dancing?
Jack: It's a figure of speech. You have such things in your time.
Richard: Jack, you're too vague.
Fitzgerald: He enjoys being cryptic.
Jack: Dancing isn't cryptic.
Leo: Depends on your point of view.
Fitzgerald: It matters not. All that matters is will she return soon?
Daniel: If she leaves us hanging around here, I'm leaving.
Jack: She never abandons her own. She attended the famous Dreamin' Convention.
Richard: I remember. She attended last year.
Jack: She's always attended as a reader. This year, she attended as an author.
Richard: Well done.
Leo: Did she have an enjoyable time? She needed some laughter.
Jack: She missed some old friends who weren't able to attend but also made some new friends, and yes, she laughed.
Richard: Good to hear it.
Jack: Yes, she'll be back to revealing secrets in no time.
Fitzgerald: It's decidedly unsettling to know one's secrets will be unearthed.
Karl: I could have gone my whole life not knowing she's going to do that.
Daniel: Revealing my secrets? I may leave, anyway.
Leo: Too late.
Jack: Not to worry, Daniel. She only writes HEA.
Todd: Happily Ever After, right?
Jack: Precisely.
Richard: I don't know why the rest of you are grumbling. I'm the one who has been delayed.
Jack: She takes no pleasure in falling behind.
Leo: What may we do?
Fitzgerald: Send flowers?
Daniel: Chocolate.
Richard: Cooperate.
Todd: Appreciate her.
Jack: Our thanks, my lady.
Fitzgerald: Now, please do put pen to paper in a more timely fashion.

Arizona Dreamin'

The special even ticket price of only $59 are only available through March 22nd.

Have you purchased yours?

http://arizonadreaminevent.com/

Look what arrived, this week:

Books to sell at the conference!

It's so lovely to see all my books in print, and they look so pretty on the shelf:

Coming sales...

As you plan for your shopping in the coming weeks consider adding a conference to your wish list.

http://arizonadreaminevent.com/

In case you don't want to click on the link:

May 29-31, 2015 at the Embassy Suites in Paradise Valley/Scottsdale

(The link has a link to the hotel.)

There will be 27 authors of various genres of romance for you to speed-meet. You'll be given the opportunity to choose 8 author book clubs, with 9 other readers, for 30-minute sessions. You'll be able to have lunch with individual authors. On Saturday evening, you'll choose one author with whom to share dinner at the "Dress Like Your Favorite Character" costume.

Hmmm... I need to decide on my costume. Decisions. Decisions.

On Friday night, there's the Dreamin' Dollars auction and Live entertainment. Lots of laughs.

A bookstore is provided, offering the work of the authors participating.

The "Man of Our Dreams" cover model competition is fun.

Raffle baskets, with 100% of the proceeds going to charity.

Free Goody Bags and Arizona Dreamin' t-shirts for everyone. I'll be picking up my third.

If you've any questions, please feel free to email me (address in the left hand column) or contact me on FB.

You can buy the ticket and attend the conference without staying at the hotel, or stay at the hotel and participate as much or as little as you like. It's a lovely location.

Arizona Dreamin' Event...

One of the features is a Speed-Meet. Attendees enjoy the opportunity to socialize with each other and meet the authors. Tables are set up, and all 27 authors spend 5 minutes at each table giving their pitch. The attendees don't change tables, the authors do.

If you don't know which Book Clubs you want to attend, this is a great opportunity to learn more about each author. I'm a plan ahead sort of person. I look over the list of authors and choose whose Book Club I want to attend before the conference. The Speed-Meet is still a lot of fun.

Once every author has visited every table, you have the opportunity to sign up for 8 book clubs. Some clubs fill up faster than others. Juggling can be a bit of trick, but everyone is helpful. I have enjoyed every club I've attended.

Tickets are still available for the "Early Bird" price of $89. Please add my name in the comments section, so they know I sent you. :-)

 http://arizonadreaminevent.com/

May you be blessed.

Tickets to Arizona Dreamin' are available...

The total cost for the event itself is $89. This doesn't include the hotel, should you decide to stay there, though the hotel does offer a discount. Yes, you may attend the event without staying at the hotel. I like to stay at the hotel so I'm not driving back and forth. I also use the conference as a mini type of stay-cation. I always come away feeling refreshed and energized.

http://arizonadreaminevent.com/

This will be my first time as a presenting author. The previous conferences, I've attended as a reader. It's also one of the smaller conferences, something my introvert self likes. Stepping up as an author is no small feat. I'm planning my book clubs and table. I want the event to be fun for readers like the wonderful authors I attended in order to meet made it fun for me.

Suggestions are welcome. :-)

May you be blessed.

Remembering Arizona Dreamin' 2014...

http://arizonadreaminevent.com/

This year, the location changed. The new venue is also very nice.

I presented a workshop at the Buildin' the Dream portion of the event. What an amazing experience.

A little bit about the Man of Our Dreams contest. The guys volunteer to participate. They spend the conference flirting with everyone. It's all in good fun. James, the blond standing behind me, won last year and is now in charge of the event. He's a cover model and guides the men in their pursuit of the title, including things like being respectful of boundaries. Yes, this is important to me, which is why I'm sharing it here.

And here is the Man of Our Dreams picture, from this past year:

I'm always one of the first people to have a picture taken. "Get it over with." Yes, this is me stepping way outside of my comfort zone, but I refuse to miss out on the fun. So, I have my picture taken, and then stand back and watch everyone else. This is where you see that the men are new to this, too. As the pictures progress, the men relax and have more fun with the woman.

Good fun.

Pre-Sale Tickets to Arizona Dreamin'...

Have you heard of Arizona Dreamin'? It's the most unique reader event around, and I am thrilled to be a Featured Author for 2015! The best part is, I have a pair of tickets for you - my fans and friends - for only $89 each! Leave a comment if you want them, first come first served. All the info about the event can be found at http://arizonadreaminevent.com/ Tickets will go on general sale on September 1st, so let me know ASAP!

Remembering Arizona Dreamin' 2013...

http://arizonadreaminevent.com/

The second AZ Dreamin' Conference I attended, I also participated in the Buildin' the Dream Conference as an attendee. Buildin' the Dream is authors helping authors. It was the perfect addition.

I also wisely booked an extra night at the hotel. It gave me an opportunity to unwind, write, and absorb the weekend. It also gave me a chance to see everyone off and help clean up. Working together builds camaraderie. For an introvert, it's a great structured opportunity to interact with people, to feel helpful without feeling compelled to talk. I can listen and contribute to the conversation or listen and work without saying anything. People don't expect you to talk if you're working.

This is the picture with my choice for Man of My Dreams, Lance Ramsey:

Preparing for Arizona Dreamin' 2015...

I'm one of those who needs to plan ahead, way ahead. Thursdays are for the Dreamin' event. For the next few weeks, I'll share the pictures take of me with a few of the male models. They're fun.

http://arizonadreaminevent.com/

I attended my first Arizona Dreamin' Event in 2012. It wasn't my first conference. I've attended several Lord of the Rings events. I enjoyed every single one. I met wonderful people in person I'd known online, sometimes for years.

In 2012, I met several women I still interact with online and some of them I look forward to seeing every year at the Arizona Dreamin' Event. Simply thinking about them makes me smile. I can't remember ever laughing so much in my life.

*squirrel*

I met Jimmy Thomas, businessman and cover model, for the second time. He hosts a romance novel conference in Las Vegas every summer. Unfortunately, I can't afford both, and I prefer the smaller group at Arizona Dreamin'. Several of my friends attend both.

The official photos:

 My favorite, at the pre-conferance party:

Deena Remiel (author), Shannon, Jimmy, Sonya, April London (author), and me:

RhondaPlumhoff (author), Kristina (Kristina's Books and More book reviewer), Sonya, Jimmy, Shannon, Jamallah Bergman (author), me, and April.

I have an announcement...

I'm going to be 1 of 27 authors featured at Arizona Dreamin', a Romance Readers Event, at the end of May 2015. I'm nervous and excited.

I'll also be attending the Buidlin' the Dream event.

http://thedreamsconvention.com/

I'm going to make Thursdays my information day here.