Whew! I leave for GRL tomorrow. I'm driving (11 hours) so I won't get to my hotel until the evening. There are other early birds who are already there, and with luck, I'll meet up with some of them and orientate myself with the area. I am seriously happy that the hotel I'm staying at is across the street from a Starbucks. There is another cafe down the street according to my Tomtom. I won't be missing out on my coffee!! Whoot!
If you are going to GRL come and see me. I'm very approachable!
Where will I be?
10/18 1:30 pm to
1:45 pm Portsmouth Ballroom 5 Author Reading
10/18 3:00 pm to
3:45 pm Portsmouth Foyer – 2nd
Floor Author Lounge
10/19 2:00 pm to
2:45 pm Portsmouth Foyer – 2nd
Floor Author Lounge
10/20 10:00 am to
12:30 pm Portsmouth Ballroom 4 & 5–
2nd Floor Featured Author
Signing
During the author lounge(s) I will have a ton of things to give away.
- Ceramic coffee cups
- Mood straws (that change with the liquids temperature)
- Nail files
- Pens
- Trading cards and bookmarks,
- Sunder notebooks
- And a select few canvas tote bags and mouse pads
- Oh, and candy!
For the Author Signing, I thought I would do something different. I will be giving away a copy of Caledonia Destiny and Sūnder...
Yes, you heard that right! So make sure that you come see me for the Featured Author signing on Saturday.
What else is going on?
There is a ton of things to do in the evenings (list copied from the GRL website) and I'm going see if I can catch a few.
THURSDAY EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
GRL Opening Day Supporting Author Booksigning
Portsmouth Ballroom V - Second Floor
Thursday morning, meet some of the new voices in LGBT romance. Take advantage of this time and get to know these rising stars and discover some hot new books! Readers are invited to bring their favorite books with them or, in many cases, books can be purchased directly from the author or publisher. Or, if you don't want to pack all that extra weight in your bags, come prepared with book labels or swag that the authors can sign instead.
7:30 - 9:30 PM
2018 GAYROMLIT OPENING NIGHT Pajama Party!
~Co-sponsored by GRL & MLR Press~
Holley Ballroom/Foyer - First Floor
We’re kicking off the opening night of our 8th year in the most comfortable way possible. You’ve been asking for a Pajama Party and we’re finally delivering! Come as you are or throw on your footy-pajamas, nightgown, flannel Nightshirt, or perhaps even that themed onsie you impulse-purchased and have yet to wear. Grab a plate and make your way through a full breakfast buffet! There will be coffee and hot tea on hand along with a cash bar for those who prefer to grab their favorite libation and chill with old friends and new – hosted by GayRomLit and MLR Press. Whether you're attending for the first time or back for a reunion unlike any other, the opening night event sets the tone for the entire weekend and is not to be missed.
9:30 PM – 1:00 AM
2018 THURSDAY LATE NIGHT Karaoke Slumber Party!
Portsmouth V - Second Floor
Join DJ Randy and your Karaoke MC's, Trina Lane and Ethan Day immediately following the opening night Pajama Party as we kick off a few hours of Karaoke goodness. Since you're already dressed down in your comfy-best and have a belly filled with a hearty breakfast, you can start this late night slumber party off on the right foot! Trade in your hairbrush for a microphone, gather a group of your besties and sing yourself silly along with the rest of your GRL family! We'll close out the tail end of the evening dancing with DJ Randy!
***We want to ensure that everyone attending this event feels comfortable participating without discovering a video of themselves on Facebook or You Tube the next day. For this reason, there will be absolutely NO live streaming or video recording allowed during the Karaoke event. As always, pictures are totally fine so long as you have permission from your friends to include them before posting.
FRIDAY EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Extasy Books Presents....For The Love Of Games 2018
Holley Ballroom - First Floor
BINGO is back by popular demand but that will just get us started! Some returning games from last year "Ping Pong Twerk", "How's It Hanging?", "They don't pop balloons like this in Sunday School!" and we will have a bunch of new ones as well! Join us for guaranteed FUN, LAUGHS and tons of PRIZES
FRIDAY LATE NIGHT EVENTS
9:00 PM - 1:00 AM
Game Night Bonus
LEE * MADISON * JEFFERSON - First Floor
For those of you who couldn’t manage to get your fill of game night with eXtasy, we’ve had three of the smaller rooms within the first floor event space set up with table rounds and chairs. Gather up some friends and bring your favorite game or grab a spot to kick back and conversate with your fellow attendees! The bar is just around the corner for those who want to grab a cocktail and some snacks. *Space is limited
9:15 PM - 11:45 PM
Author Medley
AMPITHEATRE - First Floor
Join our rag-tag, mixed bag of Featured and Supporting Authors and Indy-Pros who’ve signed up for random blocks of time to do god-knows-what! That’s right, folks, gird your loins ‘cause the sky is literally the limit! You might get a naughty book reading from one author or narrator, followed by insight into a new release from another, or someone showcasing their unique talent for bird calls or ventriloquism the next! We don’t know what’s going to happen and neither will you unless you show up and see for yourself. *Seating is limited
SATURDAY EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
10:00 AM - 12:30 PM
The Featured Author Book Signing
Portsmouth Ballroom IV-VIII - Second Floor
One of the Retreat's highlights each year is the big booksigning event on Saturday featuring the biggest names in LGBT romance. This year's iteration will feature the 90 featured authors in an all-star extravaganza not to be missed. Readers are invited to bring their favorite books with them or, in many cases, books can be purchased directly from the author or publisher. Or, if you don't want to pack all that extra weight in your bags, come prepared with book labels or swag that the authors can sign instead.
2:00 - 3:10 PM
The 2018 Featured Narrator Reading Event
Portsmouth Ballroom IV, Second Floor
Join us for this very special event highlighting some of the best in M/M or Gay Romance audiobooks and the award winning narrators who perform them. This moderated event will feature live reading selections from each of our 2018 Featured Narrators who will take the stage one at a time. There will be an opportunity for each one to take a few audience questions allowing attendees to get to know the individuals who bring the books you love to life with audio-performances that always leave you wanting more!
The 2018 GRL Fun Fair Events
If you enjoyed all the zany shenanigans of the Cockwalk or playing Red Hot Pictionary with the sassy lasses of GRL, you’re not alone! Whether part of a group or experiencing the Retreat for the first time, we know you’ll have a blast interacting at these events. This year the Fun Fair events will be held on Saturday afternoon in the Evergreen Ballrooms and will be 1 hour in length per event. Each Fun Fair event will have its own dedicated time slot and they'll be scheduled back-to-back with no other competing events occurring simultaneously.
3:20 - 4:20 PM
Celebrating Rock Star Readers
Portsmouth Ballroom I-III, Second Floor
Join ten of your favorite authors as they celebrate the fabulous readers of LGBTQ romance! Everyone goes home a winner during a fun-packed hour of games and giveaways. Collect raffle tickets as you help authors guess which of their characters are represented on their mystery cards, but be careful not to use any of the restricted words! The more raffle tickets you win, the more chances of nabbing one of the grand prizes! Emcee Michael Pauley will corral Alexa Land, Aimee Nicole Walker, Charlie Cochet, Hailey Turner, Kyleen Neuhold, Lucy Lennox, Macy Blake, Nora Phoenix, Piper Scott, and Sloane Kennedy with special guests Jeff and Will from The Big Gay Fiction Podcast.
4:30 – 5:30 PM
Fun and Games with RRW
Portsmouth Ballroom IV, Second Floor
The Rainbow Romance Writers are back with a different game and plenty of prizes! Come play Three Facts and a Lie and learn about RRW authors, have some fun, and pick up some great books and swag!
9:00 PM – 1:00 AM
THE 2018 TOTALLY TUBULAR EIGHTIES COSTUME PARTY
Portsmouth Ballroom V - VIII, Second Floor
Gear up for a travel back in time to the decade of decadence! You can come as you are or like...totally embrace the 80’s spirit! Grab your Jordache jeans, shoulder pads, leg warmers or parachute pants! Tease up that mall hair, sport a side pony and accessorize with a neon scrunchie or those massive Jody Watley hoop earrings! ‘Cause this costume party is way more than just a nice day for a White Wedding! Channel your inner Material Girl, preen around the room ala Prince in Purple Rain, sport your New Edition hi-top fade or your best Heavy Metal Hair Band, or you know, like, anything Michael Jackson wore...like ever! And if you fear all this fun will leave you Hungry Like A Wolf, no worries, kids, we’ve totally got your back! Nosh on an assortment of freshly baked cookies, fudge brownies, whole fresh fruit with assorted candy bars, chips & pretzels. You can wash all of that down with freshly brewed coffee, teas, assorted soft drinks, bottled water or grab your favorite libation from the cash bar. You won't want to miss this final opportunity to party down to all the greatest hits from the 80’s with your fellow GRL family on the final full day of the Retreat.
SUNDAY EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
8:00-11:00 AM
GRL Farewell Brunch
Holley Ballroom - First Floor
Enjoy the hearty breakfast buffet you've come to expect at GRL, then grab your besties to say goodbye while creating a few final memories and keepsakes before you head back home. This event is sponsored by GRL.
Thank you for stopping by and reading!!
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