Wild Card Wednesday – Behind Closed Doors

Welcome to Wild Card Wednesday here at Behind Closed Doors!

This week I’d like to share my experience in Denver for RomCon University and Rom Con 1014. This is the second year I’ve attended RomCon and the first for the University and I have to say by far, this is the best convention I’ve ever attended. As you all know, I’m a veterinarian when I’m not writing and publishing. I’ve attended hundreds of conferences and conventions…in Las Vegas too…and RomCon beat them all.

Why? The other attendees (authors and readers) made it extra special for me. Not only did I get to help host four events, I made a heck of a lot of new friends, went all fan girl on a few authors, and was basically put up on a pedestal by my number one fan. My husband schmoozed with everyone and promoted me and my work every single chance he had, even at the hotel bar during the World Cup. That man simply rocks!

Even when a gamer convention overlapped ours, my husband didn’t let that stop him. He proceeded to inform anyone who would listen all about romance authors and how today’s books are nothing like those in the 1980’s. For someone who doesn’t read the genre himself, my husband can outsell any PR person out there when it comes to my poetry and erotic romance in general. His proudest moment was when he sat next to Lexi Blake at the hotel bar while she waited for them to set up her cocktail hour event for the readers. He doesn’t know her from Adam or Eve, and yet he chatted with her as if he was her old friend. He in turn ran up to the room to tell me all about it and how he told her how nervous I was to be on the Erotic Author Chat Panel with her. Come to find out, she’s like me…a Nervous Nelly in front of groups.

It goes to show you, even the authors we admire and look up to, are a bundle of nerves at times and have the same fears we do. All of us get devastated by low rated reviews and boosted by the high rated ones. All of us worry we’re not good enough at times, but we have to simply forge ahead and keep writing. Why? Because it’s in our blood. We HAVE to write and get out tales out for others to read.

RomCon University was the portion aimed specifically at authors. So many great lectures available, but I had to keep it tailored to a choice view since I had other events to host/attend. I learned about price points that sell best and not so well. I learned that Ingram Spark will be able to distribute eBooks, paperbacks, and hard covers of any of my future releases AND get them in front of the buyers of brick and mortar bookstores. I confirmed and reinforced many things I already knew about Indie Publishing. I came away refreshed and ready to tackle even more. I’ll definitely attend next year. For a little more of what I learned, check out my article on Writer’s Words of Wisdom HERE.

The first author event I was involved in was my very first chat panel. I had the pleasure of being on the Erotic Authors Chat panel this year with Angel Payne, Amelia James, Lexi Blake, Jayne Rylan, and Virginia Cavanaugh. I was a bundle of nerves but everyone made me feel right at home including those in the audience. Jenna Jacob and her husband Sean sat near my end of the table and helped boost my confidence. I could have sat up there all day chatting with everyone but as soon as it was over, I had to make a mad dash to my next event…

Get Crafty with the Authors turned out to be a very busy event. We had tables for knitters, beaders, scrap bookers and sewing. That’s where folks found me. I’m not a big sewing person anymore, but I couldn’t pass up on the quilted mass market sized book cover. The pattern was easy to do and I had all the prep work done ahead of time. With minimal assembly, folks at our table created their own cover. We also had English Paper Piecing. I got to take a few of those kits to try out for myself!

With a short time for a dinner break and a dress change I was ready for my next event…The Book Signing! Since there wasn’t enough time between the signing and the Dancing with the Decades and Karaoke Party, many of us had to go to the signing in costume. My decade was of course the 70’s. I went as my own version of Elton John. I molted feathers all over the place but no one forgot me!

I trailed feathers from my room all through the convention center until I got to the room for the book signing. There I set up my books and some swag. On a whim, I put out my Tawny Savage book The Bigfoot Chronicles 1 and 2. That’s the one that literally flew off my table! People love that 7 foot hairy beast and want more. It’s coming I promise! Readers and authors alike stopped by my table and picked up one, two or ALL of my books. Whoohoo!

I signed books, swag, autograph books, Kindle covers, Nook covers, book bags and RomCon programs. I signed books over to the people asking for them and for other names they gave me *wink wink*. Your secrets are safe with me, gang! LOL!

One of the folks who befriended my husband and me was Jai C and her daughter Gina. They sought us out every day at meal times, and at the events. I made a special gift to Jai C of copies of all of my books. Some of it is new to her, but I do know she’s really looking forward to reading the menage a quatre in Sweet, Sulty, and Oh So Taboo!

Now on to the Decades party and set up of my games. I had Hungry, Hungry Hippos and Kerplunk for people to enjoy and earn tickets for the raffle of tons of prizes donated by all of the participating authors.

I don’t have a lot of pictures of this event since I was a tad busy playing the games and then enjoying the music. Let’s just say I did get groped/mauled on stage during the costume contest—and enjoyed every minute of it! LOL!

At the end of the night, my hubby and I made it back to our room in one piece and collapsed into bed.

The next day I got to participate more as a fan. I had a lot of fun in the Build A Villain event and I sat in the audience for a few other chat panels. All in all it was a relaxing day. Good thing too since I had one last event…

Chocolate Mangasm!!

I was in charge of the Naughty Bingo games this year. Instead of using regular bingo markers, I printed off tiny covers of the books of all the participating authors. I gave the players a list of Naughty Words to choose from and they filled their cards in as they saw fit. It was a hell of a lot of fun yelling out those words. Some folks blushed, while others made me repeat them over and over again just to see if I would blush. LOL!

While the color in my cheeks wasn’t from any embarrassing moments, I did get a few others to blush with the words in the game and the prizes I handed out. I got the biggest kick out of people asking me what the hell a whip tickler was. LOL! I gave one out as a prize to BDSM newbie. She’s so inspired by my game and that of the other authors, she’s planning on trying out a few of the new toys when she goes back home. That’s what it’s all about. Having fun and learning about new things to put a little more spice and kink in the bedroom. 😉

All in all, I had a wonderful time and will definitely be back again next year to hook up with our new friends and make even more fabulous memories. Of course, I’ll be there with my famous rainbow hair! Thank you RomCon for making it all possible!

~Tammy