Hey Reading Ninjas, I've been out and about and to the other side of the world and back in the past week. Do you follow my FB? If so you'll have seen where I was and what I was up to. But for those of you who don't - why the hell not? I'm totally judging you - lol. But in the meantime, let me tell you
SHAMELESS girls trip..
otherwise known as Shameless Book Con and weekend away in Orlando with my girlfriends.
So normally, (pre-covid) I'd be doing a few weeks in USA, playing tourist and ending in Orlando for Shameless Book Con with my girlfriends - however, this year, because I've already done 3 weeks travelling across USA only two months ago, I can only do a week for Shameless. This is a real bummer, however, being the FINAL SHAMELESS EVER (boo!!!) I couldn't miss it, especially since I had to miss 2021 due to our covid border closures. So I dragged my ass on 3 planes and travelled around 35hrs after working all day and I got myself to Florida to hang with my girls and meet up with my book tribe. YAY!
The BIG downer of this year's Shameless was that so many of my author friends from over the years are not attending for the final year. The upside is meeting lots of new to me authors who I can introduce to you... Also, I'm still staying with Danielle Norman and Sonnie Wolf despite them not attending this year. Together with our girls Cindy and Abbey we're quite the little loud and inappropriate girl gang. I feel more than a little sorry for the poor chef at Kobe the night we hit town.
So, let's start with the fact that this year was the FINAL EVER SHAMELESS!!! WTF I know! But alas, it's true - so those of you who never got the chance to experience it will never know the unadulterated inappropriate pleasure and fun of a Shameless. I'm so sorry. Friday night was showcase author night - the night where new up-and-coming authors are introduced to the Shameless reader world and get to feature for our book dorky pleasure. Plus - what's a showcase signing without cocktails and finger food? Nothing better than book browsing than doing it with a red velvet cupcake in hand. I chatted, I purchased a few little lovelies that I'm bound to introduce you to in the near future and a schmoozed with Shameless peeps old and new... but mostly old. It was so great to be back after a three-year covid enforced break.
Bright and early Saturday I was back in full book dork, Ginger Reading Ninja t-shirt-wearing mode for the Bloggers Breakfast. This was the first year I was lucky enough to be invited to the blogger breakfast and I was so excited Ginger Reading Ninja made the cut and got that precious spot I've always dreamt of. And let me say I wasn't disappointed. Chatting books with 10 different authors and around about 20-30 other bloggers was book dork heaven. I always love to learn what makes authors tick, get ideas and tips from other bloggers and of course make contacts that will last long after Shameless is just a wonderful memory. Naturally, I walked away with a new appreciation of some authors I'd never read, the thrill of chatting with some authors I've read, loved and shared with you all over the past few years and some great books that will be literally shared with you my Reading Ninjas (yes, I have signed books earmarked by myself and the authors for blog giveaways). This year, it was a very modest haul owing to all the other cons I've hit up recently.
Then it was straight from breakfast into the VIP entrance hour of the main convention. Picture it... author tables full of books and swag as far as the eye can see... OH MY GOD! My book dork heart skipped more than a few beats not knowing where to start. Ok GRN, focus. Pre-order pick up first. Then the tables with freebies, then at least one full sweep - all to be done before general entry swarm the floor. I was doing so well, despite losing two maps within the first five minutes - And then I saw him!
I'm not ashamed to admit, the author side of me has an author goal/fantasy - it's one day having a Kevin R Davis (cover model) book cover with my Jakki Frances name on it. Well, when I stopped into Golden Angel to pick up my pre-order and a gift for you guys and she was situated right next to my friend Pepper North - I realised that standing between them was their shared book cover man candy KEVIN R DAVIS!!!!! Ok, that's when my heart stopped skipping and just stopped altogether and I went full-blown giddy fangirl. The poor guy! But hey what's a book dork to do when presented with an opportunity like this...
Once I got a hold of myself I was on the move again. And then I lost my third map of the day together with my phone - so sorry for the lack of photos from the floor for you. Don't worry, I found it again after a bit. I was so busy book-dorking that I'd left it in a stack of books at an author's table. I met so many authors whose books really appealed and of course, I snagged a few to keep me busy back home. I'm proud to say I completed my first lap right as general entry began, which meant I was able to just wander with everyone else and not worry about getting in for must-gets before they were sold out. As I strolled up and down the isles with my girls Cindy and Abby, I spotted a familiar orange book cover out of the corner of my eye. It was a book that I only stumbled across last week and absolutely loved and have already planned a blog for you all. So naturally, I stopped by the authors' table and book dork gushed how much I loved it and that I planned to share it with my Reading Ninjas in a few weeks and I'd link her in when I do... Guess what Ninjas? She's given me a signed copy for one of you - so keep an eye out in coming blogs...
By the time I'd done a leisurely stroll my energy was starting to flag, so we headed off to lunch and left our book peeps to it. And then a few hours later came the after-party; otherwise known as:
SHAMELESS SMUT GALA
This year's theme was Venetian Ball and it was all things opulent and decadent and over-the-top gorgeous. Imagine this, a room full of authors, readers, book models, dancefloor, finger foods and forever friends all brought together by a love of romance and fiction. I scrub up ok don't I? By this point, I'd found and charged my phone so instead of telling you about the gala, I'll just let the photos do the talking....
Let me just end with the unfortunate information that I had to cut my trip short and return down-under early - due to a bitch called Hurricane Nicole, who was threatening my safety and ability to actually travel. Normally, I'm all for extending a stay, but not due to closed airports and cyclones...
And so, the Shameless Book Con ended like a true fairytale that we've all read and wished we were part of - with the Ginger Reading Ninja making her exit at midnight in the back of a pumpkin/Uber. After many years the last Shameless chapter has been written. I'd just like to take this moment to thank Christine, Angie and all the smut fairies who have arranged Shameless for our book dorky pleasure every year - I'm sad to see it end as I credit Shameless with encouraging me to become a published author myself and explore many other areas of my life. So thank you, girls. The friends and the memories I've made via Shameless will stay with me forever - you have no idea how much you ladies have changed all our lives.
SHAMELESS BOOK CON. 2016 -2022.
PARTY ON IN INFAMY BITCHES
GIVE AWAY! Check out my brand new #bookstagram and enter my Shameless giveaway.
(Random draw - open worldwide. Winner announced xmas eve)
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