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Hit The Ground Running + Giveaway by C.H. Admirand



It was an amazing, but exhausting trip that began last Friday just after dawn. My hubby and I drove to Wisconsin, I was invited to Barbara Vey’s Reader Appreciation Luncheon, and couldn’t wait to attend. Mary Burton and I co-hosted a table of readers. I gave away ARCs for ONE DAY IN APPLE GROVE with heart-shaped measuring spoons and bracelet & earring sets that my daughter designed. Here’s a pic of what we gave away :)



I had a blast filling a pretty wallpapered box with goodies for the door prize…with all three of my contemporary cowboy books and the first two books in my contemporary small town books—plus some really fun things: measuring spoons, strawberry ceramic measuring cups, candles, Kindle Paperwhite, etc. Here’s a pic of the box, unwrapped, and then with Jenny the winner and myself.





After the luncheon we jumped in the car to drive down to Kansas City, MO…let’s skip the traffic and foggy part and go straight to arriving at 1:45 a.m. on Sunday. LOL! The hotel was beautiful and the staff so warm and welcoming. But above all, my favorite part is working behind the scenes with JoCarol and Johnny Jones and her fabulous staff of volunteers. :)

In between stuffing bags with books and promo, I was invited to the MALA author meet-and-greet at the Plaza Branch of their Library on Monday, and had the pleasure of chatting with librarians who told us we were their rock stars—thanks Terry and Amy! 

On Tuesday afternoon it was off to Dog-Eared Books in Independence, MO. A special thank you to Tina and Connie for inviting me to visit their store. I LOVED their Western Romance section. Here’s a pic :)



Wednesday began before 5am with KC TV's early morning coverage of RT. Reporter Erika Tallan had us form a Conga Line--she's at the front of the line :)



Wednesday was also the Cowboy Corral Reader Event, I was prepared and brought three cases of my cowboys to giveaway…and didn’t have enough books! Here’s a pic of two of the cover models, Len Gunn and Scott Nova...both attended at the CC—and yes, they both take far better pics than I do. LOL!
 





On Thursday, Deb and Leah’s presentation for the spotlight on Sourcebooks was really interesting, especially with the breakdown of where readers are finding SB authors; it’s different for every author.
Friday was the Afternoon Delight Bookseller & Librarian Event hosted by Anne Elizabeth, Sara Humphreys, Christina Skye, Angela Knight and myself. Here’s a pic of the cake with our covers on it ;) I only had two cases of books to give away for this event, my last cowboy book and the first small town book—and again, I didn’t have enough! 




One thing that seemed universal in chatting with readers, librarians and booksellers—they all loved the recipes. I handed out postcards with a pic of one of the recipes that appears in the last book in my small town series: Gram’s Boston Cream Pie—it’s my man-catching BCP—it caught my man, and I’m keeping him!



Saturday was the book fair. Here's a pic one of my FB reader friends, Jenni, and table-mate author Lara Adrian.



We had to leave right after the book fair was over--my darling hubby had to be at work bright and early Monday am, and it was supposed to be an 18 hr. drive from Missouri. Let's not talk about his idea to drive straight through and then finally stopping at 1:30am on Sunday--or the traffic and construction, on a Sunday!

As promised, I have a giveaway today, an ARC for ONE DAY IN APPLE GROVE. It’s my last one, so it’s good luck, since the book releases on June 4th



Here’s the question: Have you ever attended a RT or another Reader Event? Be sure to leave your email address when you comment, Random.org will be selecting the winner.

Happy Reading!
C.H.


Comments

  1. Wore me out just reading about it, CH! I'm going to my first readers' conferences this summer, RomCon, AAD and Boas and Tiaras. Even though RWA isn't a readers' conference, all of us are readers, so I make a lot of connections with fans there. :)

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  2. Glad you had fun. I loved seeing the photos.

    Thanks for the giveaway.

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  3. Hey Terri...I'm still trying to recover, but there is no rest for the wicked. :) I haven't had a day to just relax yet - today am headed to PA to visit my Mom in the nursing home.

    I'll see you at AAD and RWA...hmmm Ive never been to RomCon or Boas and Tiaras...sounds like fun. :)

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  4. Hi Pat :) Thanks - if you'd like to enter, I need your email addy. :)

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  5. Haven't been to RT but it's on my list for 2014. LOVE RWA and looking forward to seeing everyone in Atlanta! You had enough on your platter than you needed two forks to get around it all, but oh, my the memories and FUN, y'all had.

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  6. Great pictures, CH! I love the one with Scott Nova. He is such a nice guy. Really. I usually do RT and RWA. I need to add a few to my repertoire.

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  7. Oh my! Sounds like the fun just never stopped! Thanks for showing so many pictures for us to see. I loved it!
    Amelia

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  8. I have never attended. Those pictures were great.

    gmapeony@yahoo.com

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  9. I haven't attended RT but did go to a local romance readers and writers get together. It was fun and cozy. Loved it!

    little lamb lst at yahoo dot com

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  10. Mickey Mac
    Thanks for this giveaway!
    mickey3214@aol.com

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  11. I'm afraid I haven't but I would love to. I almost got to one a few years back but my sister canceled out on me at the last moment and it was too late to find transportation. I keep hoping because I know I would love it and meeting some favorite authors!

    catslady5(at)aol.com

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  12. No, I haven't

    bn100candg at hotmail dot com

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  13. Wow! I was out of breath after reading about your busy week! Glad you made it back safely and I bet your readers were thrilled with all of the lovely things you provided! I had the wonderful opportunity to visit RT a couple of years ago, it was SO thrilling to be able to chat with the authors whose works I enjoyed.

    Good luck with the new release!

    elewkf1 at yahoo dot com

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  14. Sorry; forgot my email:
    patoct@yahoo.com

    thanks.

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  15. Very nice pics. Sounds like a good time.

    Pat B

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  16. I have never attended RT or any other Reader's convention. I really want to though. Its just that there's never an event like that here where I live. (MN) So it sucks! >.< All the goodies, swag, and giveaways I see makes me so jealous of the ppl that got a chance to attended. Not to mention the fact about meeting my favorites authors would've been awesome! Maybe one day I'll be able to go to one of those events.

    xjaypeezy@gmail.com

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  17. Hey Carolyn! I can't wait to go to RT in 2014--New Orleans! I haven't been there since RWA was there the year I published my first book with Avalon :)

    Today my plate was pretty full too. Just got back from visiting Mom in PA and of course I got lost in the woods in PA--for about 45 mins this am...but only about 15 mins on the way home tonight! LOL

    See you in Atlanta!

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  18. Thanks, Shana - I love the one with you and Rosie Gulch's Gals :) That was a fun event, even though I was the one passing out tickets at the door :)

    See you at RWA:)

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  19. Hi Helen - Thanks. RT can be overwhelming, but there are smaller Reader Events that are just as much fun to attend, and actually some of my new favorite events. :) Check out Lori Foster's Author Get Together http://lorifoster.com/connect-with-lori-online/readerauthor-get-together/ held in June, but at this point, they are already booked and have a waiting list. :)

    Lora Leigh's RAW (Reader Appreciation Weekend) http://www.llraw.com/ in September is a much smaller venue and we have more time with readers :)

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  20. Hi Lil - sounds like fun. There are so many cropping up these days, that depending on where you live, you can usually find one.

    But I did notice, there aren't any on the East Coast...will have to see what we can do about that. :)

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  21. Hey Catslady - sounds like you have to get your sister on board again to see if she'll drive you.

    I highly recommend both Lori Foster's Event and Lora Leigh's Event if you are in the area :)

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  22. Hey Bn - fortunately with the internet, there are blog chats and virtual tours--not quite the same as meeting face to face, but fun :)

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  23. Hi Elf - Hmmm...maybe I ran into you at that RT :) I've only been able to attend since it was in Houston--I think that might have been 2007--can't remember.

    But up until that point it wasn't something I budgeted for. Once you attend, you realize how many readers attend and how important it is to get out there and meet them. :)

    If you're near Louisiana--RT will be in New Orleans in 2014!

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  24. Hey Pat! Great! Random.org will be picking the winner tonight :)

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  25. Hey Pat B - it was fun, but you know I was so tired from all of the running around during the day, that I didn't get to any of the evening parties this year -- Yep...I am officially feeling like the grandma I am :) LOL!

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  26. Hey JPeezy - I'm not sure how far the drive to Wisconsin would be for you, but we drove from NJ to Barbara Vey's Reader Luncheon in Milwaukee, WI. It just costs so much to ship the books and promo I give away, that it always seems better to just drive--that and I really hate to fly :)

    BUT check her out, it was a fun event again this year - her second year - and she had some great authors there. Here's the link to her event http://www.barbaraveyreaders.com/

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  27. Congrats to Elf2060! Random.org just chose your name as my winner. I'm going to send you an email right now :)

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