a.c.Mason, who am I and why Authors After Dark?

Who am I?
I should start at the beginning. I was born. Mayhem followed.

Hi yall, I’m a.c.Mason! Everyone calls me Mason and I hope you will too.

I love spending time in the strange worlds I create and hiding in my writer lair. I’ve got hot men tied up in there. Shhsh. Don’t let word get out.

I should give you the lowdown on me and what I write.

In 2009, I released my first short novel fantasy mainstream fiction Aequitas I Betrayal and the sequel Aequitas II Punishment followed in 2011. This year so far I have three romance novellas coming out.

From Decadent Publishing http://www.decadentpublishing.com Available
Surrendering to the Right Man, Book 1 of the Soul Food Diner Series,






From Lyrical Press, Inc http://www.lyricalpress.com
Chocolate Damsel, Wolf-Spirit Series Book 1, coming May 2nd, 2011
Chocolate Temptation, Wolf-Spirit Series Book 2, September 19th, 2011



Why am I going to Authors After Dark?

A fellow author Susan Hanniford Crowley attended Authors After Dark 2010 and was telling me how great it was. After a little arm-twisting, Susan agreed that I should go too. lol. That’s the version of the story that I’m sticking to. I had heard there was a male tattoo artist in a kilt. I’m not against seeing that. I wouldn’t mind a Philly steak and cheese. My other more risky plan is to have either Daniel Craig or Joshua Jackson as my roommates for the conference or both. I'll share with my other two author roommates of course. Wink.

All right, enough of that for a moment, not that there can ever be enough of either one of those fine men. Lol.

I absolutely couldn’t wait to connect with readers. My pps. As much as I love writing about the strange worlds in my head, I adore when authors can carry me away to theirs. So I know what it’s like to be on the other side “a reader”. I’d love to pull aside some of my favorite authors and get a chance to find out where the idea for a character I connected with came from. How did they think up the world for a book I love?

I’m also being granted the opportunity to be on the following panels Erotic Historical, The Digital Revolution, Motivations For Writing, Choosing a Publisher.

I look forward to connecting with you at the conference.

If you want to learn, more about a.c. Mason go to http://www.acmason.com/.

Mason
a.c. Mason
Darkness ♀♂ Desires
www.acmason.com

Why Im going to AAD by Jean Murray

I am proud to say I’m an AAD veteran. I attended the very first conference in 2009. I was so thrilled. I met so many fabulous authors and devoted readers, like myself. The food and entertainment was killer. It was such an intimate setting to get to know the authors behind the fabulous stories I had read. I was forever inspired by the experience. At the time I was just beginning my writing journey, never once thinking the next time I would be attending as an author.

This year I’m an AAD author virgin. So be gentle J All kidding aside, I’m so excited to introduce my debut novel, Soul Reborn. It just released this month. I chose AAD to launch my book because of the fabulous people that will be there. I’ve never met such a diverse and friendly group of people willing to give support and encouragement. And by coming, I’ll be able to reach out to the readers and introduce myself. I’m going to participate in the great paranormal panels and am a featured author at the Mythos Ball. What better place to show off the theme of my book than going dressed as an Egyptian goddess!

The other reason I like AAD – it’s twisted. I love the unusual and unexpectedness of the panels and workshops. Where else can you learn to belly dance and strengthen your love muscles or get a tattoo. If you get a chance, stop by my website for a visit. I would love to meet you before the conference. See you in August!

Jean Murray

www.jean-murray.com

www.wickedromance.wordpress.com

Why I’m headed to Authors After Dark

Easy. This is a reader con. I want to hang out with people who love the same kinds of stories I do. Books are my passion. I live to read and to write. Nothing, aside from my family, captivates me more. And to get to play with others like me? I am so there.

When not wrangling kids, I’m lucky to spend my day in a book—either the one I am writing or one from my formidable TBR pile. For the most part, my passion is solitary. I often spend hours in the quiet listening only to the voices in my head (crazy, I know). A book, some chocolate (hazelnut) and I am good to go. During one stressful period of my life, I remember begging my sweet and enduring husband for the weekend to spend in bed and READ. I figure there might be one or two (or all?) at AAD who understand and can relate. If I weren’t a writer, I’d be wild about AAD anyway.

But I am a writer. I’ve got a book coming out this fall, so I’m also hoping to have my cake and frost it and then eat it with ice cream and chocolate sauce. In other words, I hope readers discover my books. I hope they dig my Shadow world and snatch up my romance trading cards. And then I just want to hang out and have fun with everyone.

I heard about AAD last year, but too late to come. When I saw the excitement online for this year, I said… YES! I can’t wait.

Readers, and by that I mean everyone, I’d love a chance to hear what you’re reading. I write dark paranormal/urban fantasy, so to lighten things up, I’ve been digging into some historicals. And I’ve just discovered steampunk. Why--I cry to heaven—did it take me so long?

So what are you reading? What’s on your must-read list?

Erin Kellison

A New Kid on the Block...Headed to AAD

Last year was my first experience at AAD, and one I’ll always remember. I attended as both a reader and an aspiring author, and didn’t know what to expect.

Upon arrival, my friends and I were greeted by the wonderful conference staff, eager to assist in any way possible. When you’re told this conference caters to readers, BELIEVE IT!

The panels were informative and entertaining, the parties were unique, and the vendors had a wonderful selection. Did I mention the number of free books?  Let’s be honest, who doesn’t love FREE books?  

But what impressed me most, was how authors, editors, agents, and readers intermingled. For example, my girlfriends and I hosted a party after hours in our hotel room. While providing refreshments for our guests, I stepped back and surveyed the area. Among the crowd stood Stella Price, Leanna Renee Hieber, Joey W. Hill, Eliza Gayle, a talented tattoo artist, an agent, an editor, several bloggers and readers…just to name a few! At the end of the event, I walked away with dozens of books, and new authors I’d just met, who I couldn’t wait to add to my ever-growing TBR pile.

Now, for you aspiring authors: As the event approached, I completed my first manuscript and scheduled live pitching opportunities with several editors from various publishing companies. I left AAD with a number of successful pitches and a lot of submitting to do! In October, I signed with Tease Publishing and released my first novel, MYTHIC, in February (available at All Romance ebooks). I’m still celebrating! So, I’m sure you can understand why AAD is dear to my heart, and why YOU should consider attending.

This will be my first year attending AAD as an author and I’m honored to be among such amazing talent. I look forward to meeting other authors, speaking with and gaining new readers, and having a wonderful time.

During the convention, I’ll have the distinct pleasure of participating in the following panels:

Myths and Magic (alongside Stella and Audra Price, Stephanie Julian, Carolan Ivey, Tilly Greene, Jennifer Armintrout and Erin Kellison)

Behind the Scenes of the Average Author (with Carolan Ivey, Judy Fennell, Diana Marie Bell, Rosemary Laurey, Misty Burke and Lydia Dare)

When the Ending isn’t HEA- Bending the rules and still being considered romance (alongside Stella and Audra Price, Jennifer Armintrout, PJ Schynder, Dahlia Rose and Yvette Hines)

If you’ll be in attendance, feel free to stop by and say hello. I’ll have prizes and swag to give away and I don’t bite…usually.  I hope to meet you all at AAD in 2011!

Jae Lynne Davies
Adding a Little Spice to the World of Romance
http://www.jaelynnedavies.com/

5 reasons why I love going to AAD

Oh man, there are a multitude of reasons why I love going to AAD, but I think I'll give you five to get you started, and then you can discover the joy that is Authors After Dark for yourself.

Charity Raffles—there are always so many fabulous bags/baskets to try and win, I don’t even think how I’d get it home if I won them.

Panels—are relevant, interesting, informative, and a great exchange of ideas and insights between readers and writers.

Parties—always unique and a total blast, plus panels don’t start too early the next day you can’t enjoy the evening stuff to the wee hours.

People—a pleasure to meet new folks and old friends, and then there's those I get to meet in person who otherwise I only get a chance to talk to online.

And, last but not least, I eat—the food is always light and very edible for me, the pickiest of the picky.

All this and so much more is why I'm eager for Authors After Dark in Philadelphia, and already have New Orleans on my schedule.  See you all there and be sure to bring your camera - there's always exciting stuff happening at AAD!

Tilly Greene
WARNING! Red hot romances ahead!
www.tillygreene.com

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Authors After Dark on the Con Schedule

I'm no stranger to attending conventions. They come in many different forms and flavors, all with their strong points and disadvantages, temptations and pitfalls.

The Day Job Cons:

I've spoken in front of between 50 and 250 people at conventions for the day job. These are venues full of suits and science, cutting edge technology and the latest in government guidance and requirements.

The food is good, the alcohol flows as a trap for the non-business savvy. You learn to drink with the big dogs and how to accurately gauge how much you can have to be effective in networking while avoiding making an idiot of yourself.

The Anime Cons:

Fun filled land of the otaku, anime conventions are packed with cosplayers and Japanese cartoon-lovers. I trade in my biz suit at these cons for cat ears and plaid Japanese school girl skirts, scampering around watching the latest fan subs and anime music videos, meeting Japanese directors and rocking out to J-pop concerts.

These are full of relaxation and shenanigans, with a touch of bouncy cuteness thrown in on the side. I'm a yearly attendee at Otakon and Anime Boston. I've been to Sakura Con, Anime USA, Katsucon and NY Anime Fest.

The Literary Conventions:

Romance, sci-fi, any genre on the shelves are covered in these conventions. They are the places to meet authors, agents, editors and publishers. There are tracks on both the craft of writing and the business of it, as well as the promotion and marketing of a writer's work. Workshops and panels cover every aspect of the writing world and beyond.

For me, these are an interesting mix of business and fun. I've attended Romantic Times, WisCon and PhilCon, sampling a taste of the differences in focus at each.

This year, I will be attending Authors After Dark for the first time. As a newly published author, the key reason I'm attending is to meet readers. I'd be tickled beyond imagining to meet readers of my work, definitely, but I'd also like to meet readers of the genres I write. Heck I'd like to meet readers just to enjoy with them the excitement of being at a convention to not only meet their favorite authors but to discover new ones (like me!).

I'm looking forward to getting a feel for another literary convention. Plus, there's always budget to consider. AAD is in Philly this year, allowing me to commute to the con from home. There's little you can argue when the con fee covers food and you have no airfare or lodging expenses. Plus I'll be lucky enough to speak on several panels, very huge opportunities for me.

Finally, AAD was scheduled at the right time. RT hit during a challenging time of year for me personally. Lori Foster and Balticon are the week of my little brother's wedding and family must come first.

Often, it's the timing as much as anything else that plays a roll in where you end up in life.

I do hope you'll all stop me at AAD to say Hi. I'm looking forward to meeting new people, be they readers or industry or fellow authors. To make it easy to find me, I'll be on the following panels:

• "When the ending isn’t HEA"
• "E book Authors"
• "Guess the book from the Sex Scene"
• "Author Blog Fail"
• "Food and Clothing in Romance: DETAILS"

I'm also on the Steam Ball Court and joining a group of authors in hosting at the hospitality suite from 4pm to 6pm on Saturday with lots of prizes and swag. :)

~ PJ Schnyder

www.pjschnyder.com

What Authors After Dark Has That Others Don’t From Theresa Meyers

I’m skipping the big conferences this year. You know, Romantic Times, RomCon and RWA national convention, but I’m making sure I go to Authors After Dark. Why? Because this year AAD is offering me something the others can’t. A chance to get to me you, really meet you, not just say hi as you pass by a signing table in a crowded ballroom.

I’ve never been to AAD before, but from everything I’ve heard from others, it’s one of the few conferences where you get to actually have fun and just hang out with others who love the same things I do—books!

Oh, I probably should have gone to some of the bigger conferences. I had my first print Nocturne, The Truth About Vampires, out in March and my second, The Vampire Who Loved Me comes out May 24^th. I also have my first book in my steampunk romance trilogy, The Hunter, coming out from Kensington in late October. But there were other things I had to think about. Did I want to be just one of the crowd? Did I want a chance to really sit down and mingle? While I’ve been to RWA’s national conference many times and spoken there frequently since I joined in 1993, I’ve always found it to be more about building up my craft as a writer and making business connections.

This year that’s not my goal. My goal is to meet more readers. Have fun with them. Get a chance to hang out and really enjoy the people who love to read paranormal romances featuring hot, sexy vampires and those who are into steampunk as much as I am. And since I live in Washington, I’ll get a chance to meet people I have only “seen” on Twitter or Facebook.

All in all, I’m really looking forward to AAD. I hope you are too!

Theresa Meyers

ETA: Theresa's Editor said that her Steampunk story will be out in NOVEMBER instead of October!