Jessie chats with the publishers at GRL 2014
Conventions are always so much fun and a great way to connect with other readers, new authors and, of course, your favorite authors. It's also a great way to check out your favorite (and new) publishing companies and see what's in store for them. I checked in with the publishers who sponsored this year's GayRomLit Retreat (aka GRL) in Chicago and asked them to share their favorite moment behind the table.
Geoffrey Knight, co-founder of Wilde City Press
"Every attending author at Wilde City has a photo made with their book behind the booth next to the logo. We have such close relationships with all our authors and it gives us such immense pride to have them here from all over the world. A publishing company is only as good as the people who write with it. It's great coming to GRL and being able to all be together."
Alex Whitehall, production manager, and Kelly Hiddlebaugh, marketing and sales for Riptide
"We had a reader who wanted to write down recommendations since she had no room in her suitcase for books. When we all started throwing out our many favorites, the reader threw up her hands and said, 'Too many, only two each.' We were stumped. Only two? We had to choose? We all finally found a compromise with our postcards (easy to pack and with codes) and she left with a huge handful."
Hans M. Hirschi, author and owner of Swedish publisher Yaree
"The atmosphere has been amazing. The brotherhood/sisterhood is there. There is no competition. As a new publisher it has been amazing and interesting meeting authors, readers and other publishing companies."
Tera Cuskaden, editor and art department coordinator at Samhain
"Heidi Cullinan's Carry the Ocean has been the talk of the conference for Samhain. We loved it when readers came out of the authors' reading excited. We loved talking to them about Carry the Ocean since we all were hardcore fans of the book ourselves."
Shannon Shell, editorial assistant at Dreamspinner Press
"For example, one reader showed us a shoulder tattoo and asked us to match a book to the image of a dream catcher with birds. Unfortunately, we couldn't find an exact match at the table, but we came close with Raven Feathers by Jackson Cordd. We love the interesting quests our readers send us on to find their perfect story."
Nicki Richards and Claire Siemaszkiewicz, publishers at Totally Bound
"There was a reader that loved print books and was a die-hard Carol Lynne fan. He had read ALL of her books, and when we showed him her newest release, The Brick Yard, he said, 'I just finished it last night!' Then Carol Lynne came over and it was such a touching moment. It's lovely to see so many die-hard fans who are completely dedicated to the genre and the authors they read."
Jessie Potts, also known as Book Taster, adores books in all forms. She also does reviews for RT Book Reviews magazine and works in the submissions department at Dreamspinner Press. You can follow her on Twitter (@BookTaster).