Last week, I had the privilege of attending my first reader event. Boy, was it exciting…and extra special to me.
You see, the Heart of Dixie Annual Readers’ Luncheon is an event I’ve been either coordinating or assisting with for 10 years as an unpublished author. This year I actually hosted a table and got to share my great publishing news with so many of the readers who encouraged me each year of my journey.
Here are a few of the highlights:
This is the lovely table I shared with historical author Cathy MacRae. Cool authentic police items to go with the “romantic thrillers” theme in honor of our guest speaker, JT Ellison, and a print of my first Harlequin cover that the luncheon committee had made as our author gifts.
Look at this awesome group of authors that hosted tables!
This is the Dani Wade author basket I donated as a door prize. After years of creating raffle baskets for this event, I was over the moon to create one especially for me. And these are the “wedding favors” I put together for the readers at my table, since HIS BY DESIGN is set in a wedding gown design firm.
Even though I didn’t have a print book available, I did sign swag for FINDING HER RHYTHM and SNOW BOUND at the author signing event. It gave me a chance to meet and talk with several new readers, which was totally fun.
Meeting readers for the first time in my “author persona” made me nervous — until I sat down and started talking. Then I simply smiled and enjoyed myself. Being surrounded by friends and fellow authors made it that much more special to me, especially my awesome Playfriends! (Marilyn Puett, Andrea Laurence, Kira Sinclair, Kimberly Lang, and me)
Some really great memories!