GRL 2014The lead up to GayRomLit has been going on for months.

I’ve been on different blogs as part of the GRL Blog Tour, which in some cases coincided with the Hat Trick 2 tour. I visited Elisa – My Reviews & RamblingsJoyfully Jay, and Prism Book Alliance (and I’m a proud member of #TeamPrism, which will hold a raffle during GRL so find me for some tickets).

I was a member of the Dirty Dozen, a group of GRL supporting authors, who spread the word about each other’s works on a blog tour during September.

On Tuesday, Will and I finally travel to the event itself. GRL is one of our favorite trips of the year and after a summer of packing up, moving and settling into a new home. We’re more ready than usual for some fun!

As I’ve written before I’m more excited than usual about GRL this year because for the first time I’m attending in an author capacity. I’m part of the Supporting Author Book Signing on Thursday from 10am to noon and on Friday from 1:30pm to 2:10pm I’m in the Author Lounge. I’ll also have stuff in the swag room. If you’re attending, I hope you’ll find me over the course of the weekend and say hello so we can talk books.

So besides the two places I have to be, what other sessions am I attending? Here’s the schedule I’ve assembled for myself so far looks (subject to change if some  bright shiny object draws my attention…there’s also some time slots I haven’t figured out yet):

Wednesday: It’s all about the writer’s workshop. While the whole lineup looks great, I’m particularly interested in the sessions on blurb writing (because I hate blurb writing), creating the author brand and working with bloggers. Plus Madison Parker, who takes fantastic photos, is taking author head shots on Wednesday. Hopefully I’m feeling photogenic this day, or at least photogenic enough that she can make me look good.

Thursday: There’s a YA/NA panel in the afternoon I’m looking forward to. Clare London is also doing a reading and I try to never miss her reading.

Friday: Stephani Hecht is on a panel discussing flawed heroes. There’s a spot Friday morning where I need to be cloned because T.A. Chase and Devon Rhodes are on a panel about series while Sam Kadence/Lissa Kasey and Rick Reed are doing readings. Geoff Knight, another author I don’t miss reading, is up later in the day as well. In the afternoon Nothing Better Than…Blue Notes with Lane Hayes and Shira Anthony has my attention because there’s going to be signing–some opera and some standards.

Saturday: Z.A. Maxfield, K.A. Mitchell and Jordan Castillo Price talk about Snarky & Sexy Guys. Saturday is also the huge Featured Author Signing, which will be awesome to get some of our favorite books signed and talk with everyone. That night is also the Time Travel Costume Party. For the first time Will and I are bringing costumes and we’re excited about actually dressing up for the party this time.

Sunday: GRL wraps up with the farewell brunch. While GRL is done, Will and I have an afternoon in Chicago planned. Sunday is the third anniversary of our legal marriage and we’re going into the city to celebrate by seeing The Joffrey Ballet’s new production of Swan Lake.

More than everything I listed above, it’s going to be great seeing everyone. All our old friends from GRL’s past (which are too numerous to list out here) plus meeting new friends, too.