GtPGKogPYT4p61R1biicqBXsUzo" /> Google+ Authors After Dark 2013 Sheep Style! (part 1) + prize pack #1 | I Smell Sheep

Saturday, September 7, 2013

Authors After Dark 2013 Sheep Style! (part 1) + prize pack #1

This is the first of 3 post going up today about AAD. Each post has a different prize pack giveaway so make sure you visit them all. 
*You only have to comment on one post to get those extra points
Was AAD 2013 worth the money and 5 1/2 hour drive?

Authors After Dark 2013 in Savannah, GA was my first reader/author convention. Compared to the multi-media cons I go to, AAD was a relaxed atmosphere for the readers. Relaxed doesn't mean not a lot to do because there were things to keep you busy from the time you got up till the time you went to bed. I liked the way the events and panels were scheduled. And OMG! the books and swag the featured authors gave out! The time and money the authors put into making this event rock for the readers was incredible and I truly appreciate every one that participated (list of featured authors)

The great thing about this con was the accessibility of all the authors. You could grab them before or after panels, at all planned events like lunches, themed dinners or parties and even down in the main atrium where the bar was. Lots of authors were kind enough to invited large groups of fans to go out and eat diner or lunch with them.

Having Mary Janice Davidson as the Master of Ceremonies was genius. That lady is a freaking hoot! If you ever get a chance to attend a panel with her on it GO! You will laugh your ass off. 

The Riverfront Marriott was a great choice. My bed was so comfortable and the staff was for the most part pleasant. The location couldn't have been better. You just walk out the back door and head down the Riverwalk where there were tons of stores and restaurants. 

There was a strong indie press and self-pub author presence with a a slant towards erotica and GLBT. 


And remember, AAD 2014 is in Charlotte, NC next year! Registration starts Sept 10. Here is the link to the website if you are interested in going.








The drive to Savannah (Wed)
I rented a car for the drive. Baaart wanted to stop at South of the Border at the NC/SC line, but I told him it was a tourist trap and we would stop at the SC welcome center.

At the SC welcome center I sat in the lobby and checked email. Baaart went out to do his business and I caught him trying to call Katie collect!



The Hotel- Riverfront Marriott
this was the lobby looking out at the Savannah River

On Sat. Baaart and I walk along the River Front to by some souvenirs and enjoy the sites. 

This freaked Baaart out a little bit

This was our room who I shared with the lovely Lisa Guertin. Baaart brought his favorite pillow
This is lovely Lisa! In her water costume for the Elemental Ball. She made this from a the pattern I sent her that I found online.


Rednecks and Romance Welcome Event and
The Welcome Ceremony (Wed)
first we had small welcome event where we got swag, books and redneck wine glasses. Made from a candle stick and a mason jar.


At the big Welcome gathering Stella Price, one of the masterminds behind AAD, welcomed us and then MJ said a few hilarious words


It was a packed house and check out what was waiting for everyone at their seats! More Swag and books! That red bag is FULL of swag!
 Baaart was just wanted to chill after the long drive.

*then it was off to sleep while visions of authors danced in my head*

Thursday was our first full day with panels and fun!
We (by we, I mean me and Baaart and sometimes lovely Lisa) went to the Cherry Popping Waffle Party breakfast with Torquere Press

then it was off to the panels!

Self-pub panel with (left-right)
Melissa Schroeder, Kallypso Masters, Eliza Gayle, Kendall Grey, Sahara Kelly, Jenn LeBlanc, Cat Johnson
they talked about everything from marketing to street teams to $.99 books.

Kendall (her book Inhale is free for kindle and it looks fantastic!) and Sahara. Cat had this next to her and made it hard to concentrate.

Eliza writes naughty books with titles like Roped, Displayed, Whipped and Burned! 

Urban Fantasy Panel (left to right)
Dianna Love,Seressia Glass, Jennifer Estep, Kristen Painter, Amanda Carlson and Amanda Bonilla
these women were a hoot and talked about my favorite subject. Kristen Painter kept the room in stitches.

Blogger meet and greet
 It was cool to meet the girls I have been talking with online. Special shout out to Jackie from Literary Escapism, Annie Slasher from Booked and Loaded and Steph from Fangs, Wands and Fairy Dust. I found out I was the oldest reviewer there! Not sure what that says about me...

There were the Bookie Awards! There were a lot of them and Joey Hill won a lot <G> No pics, which sucks cause everyone dressed so nice :)

The Magical Carnival  Inflatables Party
(and NO they didn't have 'those' kind of inflatables!) Some people went to the Riverboat Ride and the rest of us... played and won books and swag! I also got a golden sword which might or might not be made of plastic...

Rita Sawyer ran the balloon pop and Tes Hilaire did sparkle tattoos! I got a howling wolf (duh!)
Shhh... pretend you don't see the pink unicorn in the room

Virna DePaul sponsored the bean bag toss, but CJ Ellison (her room was party central each night by the way) was running the "Ring" toss... things that make you go hmmmm.

Hanna Martine ran the roulette wheel and I won her book A Taste of Ice with a sexy cover.  There was a table for party hats. Baaart picked mine out you can see it below.

 The lovely Julia Talbot and BA Tortuga did face painting. Yes, I did get a sheep! (duh!)

 Sydney Ayers ran the cotton candy table

*day one was over so I got all safe and snug in my bed while visions of man-titty danced in my head*


GIVEAWAY
Prize Pack #1 PNR/UF giveaway
one winner will get a crap load of stuff
(US only because of cost)
*there is a separate rafflecopter for INT only entries for some AAD swag

here is everything including the big purple bag! You can fit a small child in it.

close up of the books. The Vampire Bites is a sampler of the 12 authors that sponsored the Vampire Ball

close up of swag from two different angles. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway a Rafflecopter giveaway

54 comments:

  1. i would love the attend BEA but perhaps it's only because i saw a lot of post on it... when i see the ADD now i would be glad to attend once too nothing similar exist in my country!

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  2. Miki, come to Berlin next year!
    Thanks for the great post Sharon, I really love experiencing AAD through your eyes. (Not entering as I won so much lately already).

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  3. I would love to go to the RT convention. So many different authors and genres. It would be heaven. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  4. If we ever had something similar with all these great authors in the UK I would be there!

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  5. I never really have the extra funds to go to these events, so it's great to see the pictures and hear the stories. It makes me feel like I've been there.

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  6. I really want to go to Dragoncon someday :)

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  7. It looks like ya all had so much fun! Ive never been to an author event but i want to go! AAD is the one i want to go to the most! It has pretty much most of my favorite authors, the events are very...eventful. lol I cant wait to go to one! Thank you for the awesome giveaway!

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  8. I totally appreciate the overview of the AAD! This is the one I've been the most curious about. I have to admit that I've never been to any cons of any kind (gotta fix that now that I've escaped from Alaska, LOL) and I absolutely LOVE the pics and descriptions you provided. THANK YOU!

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  9. This is a wonderful post! I would love to attend AAD. I've been to 2 RT conferences and I enjoyed myself immensely. Thanks for the free book, Kendall!

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  10. This looked like it was a lot of fun. I would love to go to Dragon Con or AAD. Both seem to have loads of fun, great panels and more.

    Thanks for this recap. The pictures are so cool.

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  11. I wish I could go to the Vampire Conv in New Orleans this year.

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  12. AAD and GRL are the ones that most interest me! One day I will get to go!

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  13. I made a huge mistake and started filling out the international rafflecopter. I'm sorry.

    I've never been to a CON so I really don't know. They all look like a ton of fun. Maybe AAD would be a nice place to start. Thank you so much.

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  14. I've never been to con...well except for Megacon.

    Thanks for another totally awesome giveaway!!
    elizabeth @ bookattict . com

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  16. I would love to go to AAD every time I see it I think some day that will include me. I wounder where they are headed to next year? second choice would be the Vampire Convention.

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  17. haven't gone to any of these but sure looks like you had a blast (I'm tired just reading about how much wash going on) :) thanks for sharing the goodies

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  18. I would love to attend RT and AAD one day.

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  19. I WOULD LIKE TO GO TO RT IN 2014!THANKS FOR THE GIVEAWAY! SHELLEY S. calicolady60@hotmail.com

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  20. I would actually love to go to all of them. Since RT is in New Orleans next year, I just might get to go to part of it...fingers are crossed.

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  21. I haven't been to any but next year I plan to go to a few. I've been dying to go to AAD and RT and hopefully next year will be it. It looks so fun. I'd love to meet all my favorite authors and bloggers. I am definitely going to the Coastal Magic Convention in Feb. which looks like it should e a blast.

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  22. I've never been to one and don't even know the names of them, but they look like great fun and if one came to my area, I would try to go. Thank you for the great giveaway!
    Bonnie Hilligoss - bonnie at bonnieanddave dot com

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  23. I've never been to a con but I'd love to go to Comic Con! Thanks for sharing the pictures and for the great giveaway!

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  24. I really wish I could attend the Dragon Con. Thanks for the gieaways

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  25. AAD was my first Con when it was in Philly. I really enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere. Then I went to Lora Leigh's con. I had so many friends there so that was great! I can't decide which one I liked the best.

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  26. BEA, AAD would be awesome....comic con too

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  27. I think it would be so cool to go to any of the conferences. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  28. I've been to go to either AAD or SD Comic Con.

    mythic021@gmail.com

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  29. AAD or RT, for sure!

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  30. I have not been to any conference yet. I am hoping to start next year with Lori Foster's since it is both small and fairly close to my home (just about a couple of hours away). But I would love to go to AAD also :)

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  31. I only went to the public signing for AAD but from you great pictures I think I will have to go for the whole event next year.

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  32. I have not been to any con, but I would love to go to Authors After Dark. It looks fantastic and many of my favorite authors were there. Thanks for the great giveaway!

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  33. Thank you for taking the time and making sure we felt like we went along for the ride. =)

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  34. There are quite a few that I would love to go to. I have always wanted to go to the San Diego Comic Con but anything to do with Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Sci-Fi...any of those I would love to visit!! Thank you so much for this amazing Swag giveaway!!!!

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  35. I have yet to attend a con, but I've heard great things about Lori Foster's... AAD sounds fabulous, and RT and RWA, but those also sound huge and a little intimidating ;)

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  36. I haven't been to AAD in 2 years and I miss it. I would love to go to RT.

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  37. That's great -- I sent out a big box of swag out to a winner last week. I had also mailed it home. It's expensive swag now.
    If people are interested in all the cons in one place they can check my post on it -- I would hesitate to throw it in here for etiquette but I would love to share the information!
    If you would like to, however, please feel free.

    S

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    Replies
    1. I just shared the link to you post on my FB page. Very helpful! here is the link to Steph's Con post http://fangswandsandfairydust.blogspot.com/2013/09/ReaderCons.html?spref=fb

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  38. I would love to go dragon con or Carolina con.

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  39. Done (entered in reverse order!)

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  40. our winner never got back to me so I picked a new one! and just sent an email :)

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