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One of the great things about conventions like Authors After Dark is how accessible the authors are to readers. This wasn’t just a meet an author for a minute at a signing, but time to really hang out as friends.
After several versions of this recap, I’ve decided to do this the same way I handle True Blood recaps for Heroes & Heartbreakers: highlights and snark.
No order here. Just awesomeness and plenty of photos.
And if the photos make you wish you’d been in New Orleans last week, make sure to read to the end for a giveaway of goodies from the event including coveted signed books.
Jeaniene Frost
I didn’t hide how much I wanted to meet Jeaniene Frost at this event. There were hugs, a photo and talk of the Alpha Showdown (she’s cool with Curran winning). Even though I think I look about 17 in this photo, I don’t care. I’m fangirl sharing it.
Red Dress Run and Laurie London
Saturday was the Red Dress Run on Bourbon Street, a local event where revelers don red dresses (hence the name) and run from bar to bar drinking. This made for exceptional people watching on Saturday. Our group decided balcony dining was a must that night. Here we are on the balcony:
Left to right: Katiebabs, Kristin from My Bookish Ways, Pamela from Wicked Lil Pixie, Jen from Red Hot Books, Chelsea (me!) from Vampire Book Club, author Laurie London, Tori from Smexy Books and Mandi from Smexy Books. (Photo compliments of Pamela)
And because watching the red dress folk from above wasn’t enough, we interacted.
Author Laurie London and I get photo bombed by a couple drunk guys on Bourbon Street.
Dirty, Dirty, Dirty
Not only are romance writers and readers funny, but we can also work the dirty humor. This included the “Guess the Sex Scene” panel. The fact it was standing room only for this one should tell you something. Authors read sex scenes from (mostly) erotica – not their own – and readers had to guess which book it came from. In order to make it fair, they needed to swap out the hero and heroine names – and needed a volunteer. I’m the helpful sort, so the very first reading used my name for the heroine and Alexander Skarsgard for the hero. Yep. Nicole Peeler read it and made it dirty and hilarious. Laughter filled the room. I do still think ASkars would be more of a giver than the hero from that book…
Amanda Carlson and Kristen Painter
I wish these two lived near me. Sweet, clever and incredibly funny women. Though, I recommend keeping an eye on Kristen when she’s dancing behind you. She may grab your hips.
Kristen Painter, Chelsea from VBC and Amanda Carlson
Kristen came prepared with lots of beads.
Urban fantasy authors FTW! (Chelsea from VBC, Amanda Carlson and Allison Pang)
Kelly Meding…
…signs my copy of Trance with the phrase “thanks for adopting me at breakfast.” This may be my new favorite inscription. And it’s true. Like many of the AADNOLA attendees, I hit Café Beignet often. It’s also pretty. See?
Well, one morning Kelly Meding arrives and sits at a table by herself. I invited her to join us, we had great conversation and I was able to marvel at her ability to eat beignets without getting powdered sugar all over herself. A woman of many talents
Kelly Meding can eat beignets without making a mess. It's a superpower. (Photo via @KellyMeding)
Later in the week, she also joined a big group of us at the Old Absinthe Bar on Bourbon.
The baby-faced women must stick together on Bourbon!
Dakota Cassidy Accepts an Award
If you’ve ever met Dakota, you know she can make you laugh. When accepting the Bookie Award for Most Accessible Author, she called out Jeaniene Frost (a good sport) with the simple, “Girl, I smoked you.”
Cemetery Tour
Jaye Wells lead a tour of the Garden District – including former homes of both Anne Rice and Trent Reznor – that took us to the famous Lafayette Cemetery No. 1.
Chelsea VBC, Jaye Wells and Pamela/SpazP at Lafayette Cemetery No. 1
Inside Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 in New Orleans
Candace, Missie and Twitter Recognition
Finally met VBC reviewer Candace in person. And then had the totally awesome VBC reader Missie from The Unread Reader recognize me from Twitter. I was thrilled. She asked for a picture. This one.
Left to right: Missie from The Unread Reader, Chelsea from VBC and Candace from VBC.
Candace Gets Man Handled by a Model
I’m so proud of VBC reviewer Candace. A romance book cover model was with us Saturday night, and couldn’t resist our girl. He leaped on her with a “hold me.” The photo is blurry due to the speed, but I had to share it anyway. Even when I met Paul Marron (Lothaire), he didn’t try to wrap his legs around me.
Candace (VBC) getting handsy with a male model
Dancing in the Street
I arrived in New Orleans on Wednesday. Kristin from My Bookish Ways and I immediately got in the NOLA spirit. Only an hour in and street dancing occurred.
NOLA makes me sassy.
Bloggers, Readers and Friends Galore
AADNOLA was like a giant sleepover with better food, no bedtime and dirtier jokes. Tons of giggling was involved. Photo explosion follows (then the giveaway).
Lunch with two of my favorite ladies: Mandi from Smexy Books and Pamela from Wicked Lil Pixie. (Photo compliments of Pamela)
In a late-night, being ridiculous mode with Sara from Wicked Lil Pixie (a.k.a. @CdnMrs)
Getting touristy with friends at Jackson Square
Out on Bourbon Street with Nicole a.k.a. @kyatty2007
With the women from FrostFans.com
Dinner with many a Frost Fan. Okay, it wasn’t dinner in the traditional sense. Almost everyone ordered a salad and dessert. I had crème brulee.
I wish all of you could have joined me in NOLA this last week. Instead, though, I brought back books.
One VBC reader will take home a signed copy of Jeaniene Frost’s First Drop of Crimson, one signed copy of Pamela Palmer’s A Blood Seduction, a signed copy of Kelly Meding’s Trance, a copy of Nicole Peeler’s Tempest’s Fury and lots of great swag.
Use the Rafflecopter form below to enter. Enter on or before Thursday, Aug. 23.
Thanks so much
So jealous at all the fun you had. Thanks for sharing the goodies!
i loved the photo bombers and the male model pics. hilarious. sounds like a blast.
You just like the pictures with boys in them. 😉
Great pics! Thank you!
Sosososososo glad I got to spend so much time with you!!! <3 U!!!
You, too! <3 <3 <3
Oh thank you so much for sharing these pictures, it’s so nice, I was so sad to be so far.
you guys look like you had a great time. so sad I had to miss it but hope I get a memento
Great recap! We is so darn cute 😀
@Melliane & @Margaret D – Thanks! Good luck in the giveaway!
I wish I was there. Thank you for sharing, looks like you all had a fabulous time.
It looks like you had an awesome time. I wish I could have been there. I need to find out about these things early enough to go. Giveaway is awesome! I hope I finally win something!
Great recap and love looking at all the pictures from NOLA. Sounds like it was a blast.
It’s probably for the best we don’t live near each other. I’d get nothing else done! Unless I can find someone to pay me for “hanging out.”
I am so jealous of everyone you got to meet, but most especially Jeaniene Frost!!!
*muah* It was so awesome to get to meet…finally. I loved hanging out and wish I had more time with everyone! Guys, you need to enter this giveaway, I promise you’ll love all the goodies. There were TONS of stuff. It’s fun to share the love!
It looks like it was so much fun. Wish I would have been able to go.
I loved looking at all the pics. Looks like everyone had a blast. I wish I could have gone!
Wow! Looked like a lot of fun!
Chelsea, honestly, it was so great meeting you! Kristen is right, we would get nothing done — but man, it might be worth it. Minnesota is a great place to live, wink, wink!
Can’t wait to do it again.
Amanda
oooh….books!!
wow! so jealous. thanks for posting the pics. It is nice to put faces to the bloggers I talk to all the time 🙂
I know you’ve heard this before, but I am so jealous!! It looked like great fun, I wish I coud get there someday.
Jealous of all the fun you had. I definitely have to go to New Orleans and join in on all the fun.
Wish I could have been there, looked like so much fun!!! Maybe another time…
So jealous. Love jeaniene frost. I want the signed jeaniene book.
Thanks for sharing all the pictures 🙂
AAD looks like one fun event! so jealous of you..
i’m international, so i can’t enter the raffle 🙁
Sounds like you had a blast.
Derek is such a great sport, he hd so much fun hanging in the Absinthe bar and meeting Candace (LOVE YOU PIXIE NINJA!!), what a GREAT con! So glad we got to meet! (even if it was right there at the end) 🙂
Don’t enter me!! I got way too many books of my own at AAD
*smoch*
Jenn
Looks like an amazing time. 🙂
Great recap. Wish I could have gone this year. Definitely have it on my list for next year 🙂 And that Derek. Haha. I love him. He’s so great 🙂
Wow looks like you all had fun. Wish I could have gone. Maybe next year.:)
Great pictures. You must have had a blast. 🙂 Great giveaway opportunity.
Carol L
Lucky7450 (at) aol (dot) com
WOW! What a blast!