Skip to main content

Meeting Some Author Sheroes IRL at the Yale Pop Rom Fic Conference



 



Flashback Friday to 2 weeks ago when my fandom for romance authors was rewarded while sitting in a Yale University auditorium in a How to Write a Romance Novel workshop taught by publishing phenoms Adriana Herrera & Sarah MacLean! With my sitting in the front row seated next to brilliant Dr. Margo Henderson (Elysabeth Grace*) and Legendary Shirley Hailstock on one side; TWWBF2023 participating author Briana Ellis on the other, who recognized me even with my face half-hidden by my mask! I THINK Nalini Singh was in the audience along with Ms. Bev and so many other super talented, successful authors and book industry professionals. 5th annual The Write Women Book Fest featured panelist Leslye Penelope and I crossed paths in a hallway while searching for the ladies room. WordLink literary agent Macey Howell and I had a lovely chat after a different session. The sister to the documentarian for "Love Between the Covers" was quite engaging as she snapped pics per her sibling's instructions.  

Rev. Jeania Ree Moore and Dr. Katrina Jackson expanded our intellectual and historical horizons in providing context for the student-curated exhibit of "Black Historical Romance and the Archive" artifacts displayed. 

Practical information, thoughtful insights, a palpable sense of community, and fun and laughter and too much goodness to itemize. See some of the content here: 



Oh, and books by featured participants are still available for purchase from Possible Futures until 9/30: https://possiblefuturesbooks.com/events/lit-fest-2023 

*Her Cock & Oyster historical cozy mystery series along with her other works are available here: https://www.elysabethgrace.com/egs-bookshop  
Also, my binge reading inclinations prevent me from ordering the C & O series until AFTER TWWBF2023 is over - like as a reward for surviving the event and resisting that particular reading temptation when there's so much work still to do before 10/14.  

[Whenever I spoke to Dr. Margo or Ms. Bev or Ms. Hailstock or Adriana Herrera or Prof. Bly (Eloisa James), my inner dialogue went something like, "Breathe. Make eye contact, but not like a hyperventillating creepazoid freak! Like a sane person!" No one called security so...] 

Hope they do it again next year! 
Even my inner hermit is excited about it.;-) 



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Our Poet Laureate's Memoir + More TWWBF2025 Prep

Educator, poet, short story author, mindfulness guide and now the moniker of memoirist has been added to the long list of creative accomplishments earned by Poet Laureate of The Write Women Book Fest Aressa V. Williams.  She was born and raised in the vibrant community of Washington, D.C.'s Northeast neighborhood of Deanwood. Her Memoir evokes the nostalgia, challenges, victories, heartaches and joys of her life that connect with readers across generations and locations.    [photo credit: H.L. Brooks; image: two paperback ARCs of In Deanwood, A Memoir by Aressa Verdell Williams arranged on a tabletop; cover art of a sepia toned two-story colonial house with four columns - two on each side of the front door]  The ebook is currently available with print copies coming soon! https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/in-deanwood-aressa-verdell-williams/1147594007   Just under 3 weeks before day one of The Write Women Book Fest and we've finished decorating t-shirts for our aw...
Post a Comment
Read more

DIY Marketing TWWBF2025 + the Usual BAC Issues

Six(!) days until day one of the 6th and grand finale year of The Write Women Book Fest!!!  Last week was another hard one for federal workers in the DMV area along with other ongoing challenges, making it tough for a lot of people to prioritize joy. This coming weekend TWWBF2025 intends to celebrate and support talented authors, poets, creatives, and publishing industry professionals and their work, readers and literacy advocates while we also celebrate everything positive that this event has contributed to our community since 2019. [a two-image collage: right side - two posters atop the closed lid of a baby grand piano; both with "The Write Women Book Fest, 100+ authors Golden Angel, Eden Appiah-Kubi, Courtney Duke Foster, Jeaniene Frost, Maria Vale, Erin Wright, EC Poetry & Prose, July 19th QR Code thewritewomenbookfest.org, Use code FESTNEWS25 for 30% off!"; left side - an incomplete poster with "The Write Women Book Fest" and a blank sheet of paper with a g...
Post a Comment
Read more

Tapping into Your Power

The following two books celebrate powerful characters who overcome their fears to manifest their greatness for the benefit of themselves, their loved ones and communities. So satisfying.  [2 books from left to right: A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna, Direct Descendant by Tanya Huff]  A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna  contemporary speculative romance  Berkeley, July 2025   Sera's story of navigating otherness was worth the wait. The advantages, responsibilities, and consequences of being powerful are explored with nuanced observations, humor, and compassion. Themes on distinctions between family by blood, choice, and intention weave throughout this poignant tale about paying attention and recognizing personal details as fundamental to the evolution of one's perspective on who and what are valuable.  One of my favorite passages from the end of chapter nineteen:  Like this was a thing that had, somehow, become...
Post a Comment
Read more