Tucson Festival of Books

The third annual Tucson Festival of Books is this weekend. Over 400 authors are attending, and reader turnout is expected to be around 100,000. If you're in the area or close by, plan on dropping by to have some fun. There are lots of vendors and entertainment venues, workshops and author and editor panels. Power house authors in attendance in the romance genre include Vicki Lewis Thompson, Mary Jo Putney, Jennifer Ashley and Susan Wiggs. Other authors include Kim Harrison (urban fantasy), Diana Gabaldon (sci fi/fantasy), Elmore Leonard (mystery) and Brad Meltzer (mystery) just to name a few.

I'll be presenting on two panels: Mining for an Agent: It Takes More than a Pick and a Shovel on Saturday at 1:00 p.m., and Sex is Not Enough on Sunday at 2:30. I'll also be moderating the panel on The Art of Writing Romance presented by Vicki Lewis Thompson and Mary Jo Putney at 10 a.m. on Saturday.

So come on and join us!

For more information, go here.

Tucson Festival of Books...

...was a great success! I can't find the numbers yet, but I know they anticipated over 50,000 attendees over the 2-day period. I do know there were over 450 authors (the largest number of authors at any book festival in the country!), and a couple hundred thousand dollars was/will be donated to literacy. As with last year's panel that I participated in, there were about 35 people in attendance at this year's discussion. (Not the standing-room-only that my fellow RWA chapter member Laurie Schnebly Campbell had, but for a no-name like me, it was a nice turnout.) Plus my books sold out at the U of A bookstore, so there weren't any for me to sign after the panel talk.

Mark your calendars now for next year's festival -- March 12-13!


I'm guest blogging over at Silk and Shadows today--come on over and say hi!

My Report on the Tucson Festival of Books

Despite a few glitches and the fact that I had to park several blocks away and hoof it carting along my books and giveaway goodies, the event was a success. They're already planning for next year--already selling booth space, as a matter of fact. My local RWA chapter plans on being there again, and we'd like to have several more romance panels (five instead of the three we did this year). And in spite of nervous jitters before my panel discussion, once it got underway I was fine. And had a blast. It helps when people in the audience are responsive.

Over 30,000 people attended, over 450 authors participated, plus they had food vendors (including someone who made kettle corn--man, oh, man, that was all you could smell. Now, that's advertising. Of course I had to buy some... LOL) Plenty of stuff for kids to do, and the weather was beautiful.

So if you had wanted to attend this year and couldn't/didn't, mark your calendars for next year and plan to attend. I'm sure you'll be glad you did!

Tucson Festival of Books

It's coming this weekend! A gathering of over 350 authors and exhibitors, with panel discussions and opportunities to chat one-on-one with some fabulous people, including J.A. Jantz, Elmore Leonard, Diana Gabaldon, Vicki Lewis Thompson, and...

Me! LOL

I'll be part of a panel discussion on Saturday at 11:30, and will be giving away/signing copies of Daring the Moon Saturday afternoon and Sunday. For more information, go here.

Tucson Festival of Books

It's coming--in just a little over a week! I'm excited.

And terrified.

The Tucson Festival of Books on March 14-15, sponsored by the Arizona Daily Star, presented by University Medical Center and hosted by the University of Arizona, has expectations of eventually being on par with the LA Times Festival of Books. Eventually?

This year, our first, we have 340 authors. That's only 110 less than the LA book fest. Mah knees are shakin'.

Why? Because Anastasia Rabiyah, Jill Knowles and I are holding a panel discussion on Saturday, May 14 on "Turning Up the Heat: The Spicier Side of Romance" in a room that holds 140 people. I have spoken in front of larger groups, but it was different. I wasn't talking to them about the difference between erotic romance, erotica and pornography.

But...I'll be ready. At least I'm not up there by myself.

So, if you're in the Tucson area next weekend, plan to come to the Tucson Festival of Books.

For more information, click here.

Tucson Festival of Books

Those of you who live near enough to Tucson to make a trip here, mark your calendars:

March 14-15 on the University of Arizona campus, the city of Tucson is holding its first Festival of Books. Some of the featured authors include Vicki Lewis Thompson, Diana Gabaldon, Father Andrew Greeley, J.A. Jantz and Elmore Leonard just to name a few. Over 300 other authors are participating. Including yours truly.

On Saturday, March 14, I along with fellow ero-rom authors Jill Knowles and Anastasia Rabiyah will host a panel on "Turning Up the Heat: The Spicier Side of Romance". In a room that seats 100. (Yep, my knees are already shaking...)

Leading up to all of this, the Pima County Library is working with my local RWA chapter and has put together several free workshops in various libraries in town. As part of the Amore and More! sessions, three of us (Laurie Schnebly Campbell, Jill Knowles and me) will speak on January 31, 2009 from 1:00-3:00 at the Himmel Park Branch Library. Our topic: It's Not Your Mother's Romance Anymore. We'll discuss how romance novels have changed over the years, what the various sub-genres under the greater romance umbrella are, and how they differ from each other.

Stay tuned for more details the closer we get to the events.