RT Booklovers Convention – Page 2

Smashing Freebie!

Jeffe Kennedy / May 13, 2014 / Blog

Where I'm writing today! — Where I’m writing today!

I’m in New Orleans this week, attending the RT Booklovers Convention. I posted my “appearance” schedule last week. Alert readers will note that today, Tuesday, is *not* on this list. That’s because I’m hiding in my courtyard in the French Quarter getting my words in. The above is where I’m sitting as I write this.

Yes – kind of awesomely gothic and tropical.

A fun thing that I’m part of this year is a Freebie jump drive from Smashwords. Mark Coker blogged about it here. The drive contains 349 free books, including my Petals and Thorns. I mean this in the nicest way possible when I say I hope it’s a gateway drug for the rest of my books. 😀

Meanwhile, you might catch me wandering around the Quarter, but I’ll definitely be around tomorrow and the rest of the week!

Find Me at RT!

Jeffe Kennedy / May 9, 2014 / Blog

I’ll be at the RT Booklovers Convention in New Orleans starting on Sunday.

As they say in show business, I’ll be there all week. 😉 So, if you’re in the neighborhood, find me and say hello!!

For those who don’t know, Tip Number 1 for Finding Jeffe? Look for the hat. Seriously. Sometimes people not on site ask for pics of me, to find out what hat I’m wearing. I wish I could say I’ll be wearing this one, but likely they’ll be a bit less dramatic. (Caution, if you get frisky and look around at other pics on my Tumblr, be warned that there’s some very naughty ones…)

Tip Number 2: Look in the bar. Although, this IS New Orleans so there are a lot of amazing bars. This might not be much of a guarantee this year.

Tip Number 3: When all else fails, go for the scheduled appearances!

RT Book Reviews Welcome Party
Wednesday, May 14, 2014 – 10:00am to 11:45am

I’ll be hanging out, wandering around, you know…

Mardi Gras World Carnivàle!
Get ready for a once-in-a-lifetime experience as the publishing industry unites to celebrate books, authors and especially readers. This event is sponsored by several publishers including: Ellora’s Cave, Gallery, Forever, Kensington, Random House, Samhain, Sourcebooks, Tor/Forge/Tor Teen, and Totally Bound Publishing and author Heather Graham. Mardi Gras World is about a mile from the hotel, and continuous bus service will be provided to take guests to and from the hotel.

A second-line band will lead us through the float den as we get to see the gorgeous Mardi Gras floats up close. After the fun spectacle, you will be led to an event space overlooking the mighty Mississippi where you will be treated to a spectacular southern culinary experience and enjoy local live music that will capture the spirit of New Orleans! Each publisher will host a food station with delectable New Orleans dishes like jambalaya, etouffee, beignets and many others. A great way to start the six-day extravaganza!
Event Date:
Wednesday, May 14, 2014 – 7:15pm to Thursday, May 15, 2014 – 12:00am
Off-Site: Mardi Gras World

Look for me on the Kensington float! No, really!

Kensington’s Karmic Carnival
Your fortune awaits! Kensington invites you to peer into the past and glimpse the future of romance at a magical celebration of Kensington authors and (psychic) reading. Indulge in delicious snacks and refreshments as you chat with your favorite authors, meet the Kensington team and score special prizes. Enjoy spell casting, fortune telling and, of course, great books! As we gaze into our crystal ball, we see a fabulous party filled with fun treats and good books in your future!
Event Date:
Thursday, May 15, 2014 – 5:15pm to 6:15pm

I’ll have copies of The Mark of the Tala to sign and give away!!

RT Pub Crawl
What would give our attendees the perfect New Orleans experience? The answer, of course, is a trip up Bourbon Street — but, in true RT style, arriving as one gigantic group! Imagine 2,000 book lovers descending on the notorious street with drinks in hand (both alcoholic and nonalcoholic) and a plethora of local music spilling out onto the colorful streets of the French Quarter. Also, imagine sampling local foods as you stroll along the strip — like treats from Cafe Beignet, located at Musical Legends Park.

And what would make this experience even more fun? Having 10 of your favorite publishers and author-groups host at 10 of the best bars on Bourbon!

At their respective bars, a special area will be designated for each sponsor where they will have a bevy of authors standing by to meet and greet RT attendees. They will also have a string of Mardi Gras beads with their logo to hand out to RT attendees who visit. Each sponsor will be doing something different at their assigned bar. Some will have goodies and giveaways, some will have a limited amount of free drinks and some will just be wild and wacky — adding to the party atmosphere on Bourbon Street. But all will have a strand of beads with their logo — this is important!

Event Date:
Thursday, May 15, 2014 – 6:30pm to 8:30pm

I’ll be part of the bevy at Pat O’Briens! (Which I once got kicked out of, back in the day. I’m sure they don’t remember me…)

Club RT (Friday)
Come by Club RT and meet your favorite author in a relaxed, informal setting. We’re sure you have several burning questions, and no doubt the authors would love to hear your points of view. What better way for them to improve their own writing than by listening to their most devoted fans? Who knows, you might end up inspiring an author to add a character to their series.

Event Date:
Friday, May 16, 2014 – 11:15am to 12:15am

Come visit meeee….

Giant Book Fair

Meet more than 700 authors who will autograph books, posters and bookmarks. Bring your “keepers” and have them signed!

This year we have combined our Giant Book Fair with our E-Book/Indie Expo to provide a great, new, merged experience. Find all of your favorite authors in one place!

This event is also open to the public and tickets can be purchased for just the Giant Book Fair. You can purchase a ticket at the door the day of the event. Pre-ordered tickets will be picked up at the hotel on the day of the Giant Book Fair.

You may bring in your books from home to get them autographed. However, they must be checked in and stamped (with invisible ink, so there’s no damage to your books) before you enter the book fair. Also only two books from home per author are allowed.
Event Date:
Saturday, May 17, 2014 – 11:00am to 2:00pm
Location: 3rd Floor
Room: Grand Ballroom & Mardi Gras Ballroom

Note that you don’t have to attend the convention to come to this. Fun!!

FAN-Tastic Day Party
Meet a revolving door of hundreds of authors as they make appearances every 30 minutes in this high-energy event. Be one of the first 500 attendees and you’ll receive a goody bag filled with free books and promotional items.

Event Date:
Saturday, May 17, 2014 – 6:15pm to 8:00pm

I’ll be wandering around, likely all blingy, because afterwards is:

Harlequin’s Dance Party
Harlequin Enterprises hosts a spectacular dance party and an evening of glamour where you will meet the stars of romance.
Event Date:
Saturday, May 17, 2014 – 9:00pm to Sunday, May 18, 2014 – 12:00am

Yay dancing!!!!

Wow – I’m tired just reviewing all this. Send wine and chocolate.

Hope to see you there!

RT Booklovers Convention! What to Wear

Jeffe Kennedy / April 23, 2014 / Blog

First off, I posted this to the website, and waxed breathless about it on Twitter and so forth, but I got all wrapped up in posting the NestPitch stuff and never mentioned it on ye old blogge here. My upcoming release, The Mark of the Tala, first in my Twelve Kingdoms trilogy, got the best possible review from RT Book Reviews! You can’t read it online for another two months, unless you’re a subscriber, but this is what it says:

“This magnificent fairy tale will captivate you from the beginning to end with a richly detailed fantasy world full of shapeshifters, magic and an exciting romance! Andi isn’t your ordinary must-have-a-prince-to-save-me type of princess. She begins as the invisible middle sister, not a great beauty like Amelia, nor a warrior like Ursula – instead Andi is content to remain a wallflower, until she meets Rayfe and her entire world is turned upside down. She makes wise choices, all to save her people from the harsh realities of battle, and even when faced with horrible options, her course is one of truth, loyalty and love. Rayfe is dark and intense, keeping his feelings close to the chest, but trusts Andi to make the right decisions. They are a remarkable pair, one who celebrate individuality with a partnership that will last for a lifetime.”

– RT Book Reviews, 4.5 Stars TOP PICK!

4.5 Stars is their top rating, so I’m over the moon. The story threads this reviewer picked out are exactly what I wanted this book to show. The book comes out May 27 (so soon!), but I’ll have copies to sell and give away at the RT Booklovers Convention, which starts May 14. It takes place in fabulous New Orleans this year, so this gathering which is already essentially one big week-long pary will be extra festive. I’m particularly thrilled to be sharing a house in the French Quarter with some writer and book blogger friends.

On one of my author loops last night, someone asked about dress code and how to know what to wear. Seeing as how this is my 5th RT Convention, I offered some advice. Then I thought, I should just post it here, too. Because there is kind of a trick to it, which isn’t always clear to the uninitiated.

Each evening there’s a big party that you can find on the agenda. If you click on the links on the website, you get more details. For example, Thursday night is the Samhain Saints and Sinners party and it says:

Calling all angels and devils! Samhain Publishing invites you to join us Thursday evening for a wicked good time. Sweet and sinful eats. Delightfully dangerous beats. Amazing author treats! Come dance the night away with our Samhain Authors — whether you wear halos or horns, you’ll be sure to find some kindred spirits!

The translation here is that people will come in costume as angels or devils. You don’t HAVE to – and lots won’t – but that’s your cue. Heather Graham’s party used to be called the Vampire Ball or the Fairy Ball (they’ve kind of morphed over the years) and still says “Calling all vampires, vixens, queens and kings … royal courts of light . . . and darkness!” So that gives you a costume cue, should you choose to accept it. Vampires AND fairies is how I read that one.

For the Harlequin Dance Party, they say “a spectacular dance party and an evening of glamour” which means dress up and be sparkly.

For the rest of the time, it’s generally business casual. A lot of people dress up – it can be a big fashion show – and a lot of people don’t. Many authors dress in ways that reflect their book themes. I tend to stick with my own personal style. I often see the advice to wear comfortable shoes, and for walking around the French Quarter and the Riverwalk, I’d definitely agree. However, this is a great opportunity to show off your fabulous heels too! You know I’ll be wearing mine. 🙂

Growing Up and Letting Go of Nostalgia

Jeffe Kennedy / April 26, 2013 / Blog

This is me back on campus at ol’Wash U. Thanks to Felicia Conway Korengal for the pic!

So, I mentioned on Tuesday that I was still processing my 25th College Reunion. People keep asking me if I had fun and if I’m glad I went and my usual answers have been “kind of” and “yes.” I think it’s good that I went and I don’t regret it, and there were many fun moments, but I didn’t really enjoy myself all that much.

I felt super emotional – lots of sadness – and I wasn’t sure why.

A few things played into this, I think. I’ve been back to campus and St. Louis many times over the last 25 years since graduation, but always with very specific plans. Sometimes I was there for work and arranged to see local friends. Once I arranged for a celebration of my favorite professor, who was dying of cancer. Many of his former students from over the years came together to talk about how much his teachings meant to us. That was an amazing, fulfilling experience.

This time, it was the random luck-of-the-draw, whoever turned-up-for-the-reunion thing. There were some people I knew – Felicia being one – and a whole lot of people I didn’t remember. Very few of them remembered me. I ended up walking around by myself a lot, which was fine because I’m good with that, and it also replicated how I was in college. Most of the time I went from place to place on my own, caught up in my own thoughts, following my own schedule. So that put me very much back where I was then.

And I became profoundly aware of how different I am now.

It was kind of wrenching to realize.

See, for a very long time, I regarded my college years as an ideal time in my life. And it was, in many, many ways. At Wash U, I found my tribe in a way I never had before. I blossomed – socially, intellectually and, dare I say, spiritually – and when I graduated and moved on, I deeply missed the community I’d had there. I grieved for it. I may have idealized it.

Because, walking around, visiting all my old places, memories came back to me that made me see how unhappy I’d been at times. Especially in the first couple of years. It was a time of great growth and change for me, which often means pain. To my surprise, instead of happy nostalgia, I re-experienced a lot of that old pain. An amazing sensation, 25 years later.

The extraordinary thing that hit me was, how much better my life is now.

It’s especially clear to me as I plan to go to the RT Booklovers Convention next week. My schedule is already full – meals and drinks and parties with friends, various writing and reading communities and publishers. There are so many people I’m excited to see and talk to.

They are my new tribe.

It’s an interesting experience, to realize you’re not the person you were. Almost like a little death. No wonder no one remembered me – I’m not at all who I was then. Which, I suppose, is how it should be.

I walked onto that campus at 19 and left four years later a transformed person. Of course that didn’t stop. One of the things I most value about the education I received at Washington University is the tools they gave me to continue a lifetime of learning and growing.

Learn and grow I have.

It will be interesting to see who I am in another 25 years.

Off to Convention!

Jeffe Kennedy / April 9, 2012 / Blog

It’s that time of year again: the RT Booklover’s Convention!

I head out tomorrow morning and I will *try* to keep up with pics and gossip here as best I can. (But those of you who’ve followed along before know how well this usually turns out. I always think I’ll have plenty of time and then suddenly it’s Sunday, I’m on a plane home and all I can remember is a blur of faces and one, long, nonstop conversation. I suspect time-warp – I really do.)

If you’ll be there, look me up! Here are some for-sure appearances:

Tuesday, 6:30 pm, Ghost Tour – this should be super-fun. And Cindy Spencer Pape and I will likely be in the hotel bar afterwards.

Wednesday, 2:15-3:15, Panel – SPECIALTY: WRITING UNDER MULTIPLE NAMES: PROS & CONS
PANELISTS: Lynne Connolly (AKA Lynne M. Connolly/Lynne Martin), Seleste deLaney, Jeffe Kennedy (AKA Jennifer Paris), Cindy Spencer Pape (AKA Cian Fey), Hunter Raines (AKA Lacey Savage), LaVerne Thompson (AKA Ursula Sinclair)

Wednesday, 3:30-4:30, Reader Party! – THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE SIDEKICK
HOSTS: Laura Bickle (AKA Alayna Williams), Marcella Burnard, Jeffe Kennedy (AKA Jennifer Paris)

Wednesday, 9:00-Midnight, Party! – ELLORA’S CAVE STEP UP & STOMP

Thursday, 4-6, Signing! – E-BOOK, INDIE PUBLISHER & GRAPHIC NOVEL EXPO

Thursday, 8:30-Midnight, Fairy Ball! – THE CLAN MCFAE PRESENTS A MAGICAL SCOTTISH FLING & COSTUME COMPETITION

Saturday, 6:15-7:30, Party! – FAN-TASTIC DAY PARTY

Saturday, 8-9, Moar Party! – CARINA PRESS COCKTAIL PARTY
Join Executive Editor Angela James, Carina Press authors and other members of the Carina Press team for cocktails during a celebration to thank everyone for their support as we head into our first anniversary!

Saturday, 9-Midnight, Still MOAR Party! – HARLEQUIN DANCE PARTY
Harlequin Enterprises hosts a spectacular dance party and an evening of glamour where you will meet the stars of romance.

I’ll be at workshops and private events here and there, too. Otherwise your odds are pretty good of finding me in the bar. Look for the hat. Feel free to stop by and pull up a chair!