Monday, August 15, 2011

Awesome AAD

HEY!!!! Guess what?! Authors After Dark was fantastic again this year. Stella and her crew do an amazing job of getting readers, agents, editors, publishers, and authors together. I think of all the conferences I've attended, AAD does THE BEST job of that.

Oh my gosh there's so much to tell. There was the Resplendence Karaoke party with the MBA hottie who crashed the party to dance and sing with us. I'm told he's coming to future cons because he had so much fun. I'm personally thrilled to death. That man was GREAT eye-candy. I'd love to examine his, um, MBA up close and personal.

I got propositioned by an attendee. I coulda been a cougar, folks. I did the right thing and just said no.

Jen B. (Three Wicked Writers commentor and friend) came to see me at the book signing. She's recommending me as a pen pal via email for her brother. Hi, Christopher. She told me you checked out my site and didn't blink. SO impressed with you on that alone. So if you're visiting the blog, send me that email. I loved your sis. She's good people.

I got to meet Victor J. Banis, GLBT writer for the history books. That man puts me in awe. He's been through legal battles for his art and for standing up for what he believes in. I'm humbled.

I'm even a bigger fan of Jennifer Armintrout (the real one. Not the one who stole her name and threw in a middle initial--The Real Jennifer uses her real name. It's not a pen name) and her alternate exploratory name Abigail Barnette and Jill Welch, photographer extraordinaire. Love you ladies. A road trip has never been more fun.

We got to meet a CRAZY lonesome toll-man. "There's a lot of bad people in Philadelphia," he warned ominously, even before we arrived. His old movie voice was fantastic, as were his creepy-ass eyes. *shiver*

Spending time with my best buds, Jen, Jill, Bronwyn Green, Brynn Paulin, Carol Lynne, Jude K., Gwendolyn Cease, Jess Jarman, Simone Anderson, and new one, Ethan Day. I met so many fantastic people that I couldn't possibly list them all here. Ping me if I forgot someone. I met new author William Cooper and new to me author Kris Cook (OMG, love that man), FAB bosses Jessica Berry and Tiff Mason (Resplendence).... There aren't enough hours to tell you how great AAD was.

Liz Strange from Canada, wished I could talk more with her. We never got to that strip bar. It all fell apart and I never had phone numbers to reach everyone who wanted to go. Maybe next year? I know it's a drive so I'll keep my eyes peeled for you over the next couple of years.

Also got to talk to Topaz Promos lady, Laura K! Hey sweetie! She introduced me to a new fan, Heather K. Heather, hon, you left breakfast too early and I didn't see you again the rest of the con. I looked for you and held a book for you. So did Laura. Contact me and send me your email addy. If nothing else, let's get you that free book. Pick a title of mine and I'll send it over to you. Put your name in the subject line, send to WattsMia(at)AOL(dot)com. It was great to meet you. I would have enjoyed sitting with you to just talk.

I finally met Heather Osborn (Samhain) and Louise Fury (Agent: look at the Mia in Cartoon posts for the AAD con last year in which I offered to submit, then discovered I hadn't been talking to Louise at all, but a very willing sex therapist *headslap*).

My keen ability to say sh*t without thinking, continued. I ended a panel announcing, "I'm full of dick!" in response to another person who encouraged me by saying I really did know the topic (which was, You don't Know Dick). I announced to a non-attendee who was trying to get out of the elevator, that I was moving aside for him to exit, "Unless he wanted to jump me" (wiiiiince), which I actually was thinking leapfrog when he protested my getting out of the way. There were so many more of those little public gems. See what you miss when you don't go to conferences?

While Hilton continues to suck as a forum for conferences, trying to squeeze money out of us and the hostess at every opportunity, Stella and her crew were the best. I love you guys. Thank you for the memories and the connections. Can't wait until next year.


2 comments:

Molly Daniels said...

Didn't you take any pictures? Geez...I'm going to have to come along just to be the official photographer!

And....should not have tried to drink my tea while reading next-to-last paragraph! Logging off to clean my keyboard and screen....

Bronwyn Green said...

You *are* full of dick! ;)

It was another great conference! Still wish I could have seen the lonesome toll-man, though.