GayRomLit— or as some refer to it as GRL— truly is the must-attend event for
people who create and celebrate LGBT romance. For those who are unfamiliar with
what GRL is I can try and summarize it. Every year in October (this year it’s
the 17th to the 20th with pre-events on the 16th)
the LGBT community consisting of authors, narrators, readers, and professionals
gather to share in their love of LGBT romance. There are signings, author
lounges, many events, spotlights, it really is hours of fun.
The location
changes every year and on the opening night of each year the spot for the next
year is announced. During this time at
GRL there are two signings. One for Registered Authors and one for Featured
Authors.
At these
signings you can go to the authors’ tables, talk, have them sign swag they
have, books you’ve brought, pick up pre-orders, and they will even sign
something you brought from home.
Lounges are
set up as well these are outside the signing times. Registered authors have one
and featured have two lounges.
There will
also be spotlights with readings, Q&A’s and so much more.
Now until
October 14th Diverse Reader is spotlighting authors that will be at
this years GRL. And if you want to know more about it simply head over to the
site by clicking here:
Now for our
Spotlight Author of the day!
Thank you
so much, Meredith and Diverse Reader, for giving attending GRL authors a chance
to check in with readers before the big event!
So, about
me…
I’m 100%
introvert. Myers-Briggs said so, but let’s get real—I could have told them that
without taking the test. Nevertheless, since starting my second (or maybe it’s
the fourth…) career as an author, I’ve come to terms with the notion that I
can’t just sit in my chair and write—sometimes I have to go out into the world
and talk to people.
Consequently,
I’ve attended a bunch of different conferences over the years. RWA Nationals
(romance writer centric; really big). RT Booklovers (romance reader centric, really
bigger). But my favorite has been GRL, because it’s… well… cozy. It’s
nowhere near as overwhelming to little ol’ introvert me as those other really
big shows—not that they don’t have good points too. But GRL is family.
Everybody there already loves our genre, so I don’t have to warn anybody who
comes to my table during the signing (as I do at RWA or RT), “This is a romance
between two men.”
This will
be my fifth GRL. For the last three years, I’ve attended as a Featured Author.
Even though I have nineteen published books (twenty if you count an omnibus
edition), this year I decided to scale back a bit and go for Registered Author
status (the better to coddle my introvert soul). I realized last year that I
didn’t want to sit in the big Featured Author signing on Saturday—I wanted to
attend it! Because let’s face it—authors of LGBTQ+ fiction are also readers
of LBGTQ+ fiction. I want the chance to fangirl over my favorite authors too,
rather than gaze longingly at them across the giant ballroom!
My books
fall into roughly three categories: paranormal romantic comedy, supernatural
romantic suspense, and contemporary romantic comedy. Are you sensing a theme
here? Yep. I like to keep reality a safe arm’s-distance away whenever possible!
I
currently have five series plus several stand-alone stories. The ebook edition
of the first in my six-book Mythmatched paranormal romantic comedy story
universe, Cutie and the Beast, is on sale for 99¢ at all online
retailers today (August 20th).
Oh, and by
the way, I have another confession to make: I rarely attend the big evening
parties, even at cozy GRL (for reasons you can probably guess *cough* introvert
*cough*). But I’m more than happy chat with people over a beer in the bar, or a
cup of tea and a muffin in a lounge somewhere. I hope to see some of you there!
Cutie
and the Beast (Fae Out of Water #1)
Temp
worker David Evans has been dreaming of Dr. Alun Kendrick ever since that one
transcription job for him, because holy cats, that voice. Swoon. So when his
agency offers him a position as Dr. Kendrick’s temporary office manager, David
neglects to mention that he’s been permanently banished from offices. Because,
forgiveness? Way easier than permission.
Alun
Kendrick, former Queen’s Champion of Faerie’s Seelie Court, takes his job as a
psychologist for Portland’s supernatural population extremely seriously.
Secrecy is paramount: no non-supe can know of their existence. So when a
gods-bedamned human shows up to replace his office manager, he intends to send
the man packing. It shouldn’t be difficult—in the two hundred years since he
was cursed, no human has ever failed to run screaming from his hideous face.
But cheeky
David isn’t intimidated, and despite himself, Alun is drawn to David in a way
that can only spell disaster: when fae consort with humans, it never ends well.
And if the human has secrets of his own? The disaster might be greater than
either of them could ever imagine.
(On sale
for 99¢, August 19th – 20th only)
Single
White Incubus (Supernatural Selection #1)
Does a
bear shift in the woods?
Well,
partially. That was what got grizzly shifter Ted Farnsworth into trouble. He
wasn’t trying to break the Secrecy Pact. He just wants people to see the real
him. So he signs up with the mate-matching service Supernatural Selection —
which guarantees marriage to a perfect partner. Not only will Ted never be
lonely again, but once his new beaver shifter husband arrives, they’ll build
Ted’s dream wilderness retreat together. Win-win.
Quentin
Bertrand-Harrington, scion of an incubus dynasty, has abstained from sex since
nearly killing his last lover. When his family declares it’s time for him to
marry, Quentin decides the only way not to murder his partner is to pick
someone who’s already dead. Supernatural Selection finds him the ideal vampire,
and Quentin signs the marriage agreement sight unseen.
But a
mix-up at Supernatural Selection contracts Quentin with Ted. What’s Ted
supposed to do with an art historian who knows more about salad forks than
screwdrivers? And how can Quentin resist Ted’s mouthwatering life force? Yet as
they work together to untangle their inconvenient union, they begin to wonder
if their unexpected match might be perfect after all.
Stumptown
Spirits (Legend Tripping #1)
What
price would you pay to rescue a friend from hell?
For Logan
Conner, the answer is almost anything. Guilt-ridden over trapping his college
roommate in a ghost war rooted in Portland’s pioneer past, Logan has spent
years searching for a solution. Then his new boyfriend, folklorist Riley
Morrel, inadvertently gives him the key. Determined to pay his debt—and keep
Riley safe—Logan abandons Riley and returns to Portland, prepared to give up
his freedom and his future to make things right.
Crushed by
Logan’s betrayal, Riley drops out of school and takes a job on a lackluster
paranormal investigation show. When the crew arrives in Portland to film an
episode about a local legend of feuding ghosts, he stumbles across Logan
working at a local bar, and learns the truth about Logan’s plan.
Their
destinies once more intertwined, the two men attempt to reforge their
relationship while dodging a narcissistic TV personality, a craven ex-ghost,
and a curmudgeonly bar owner with a hidden agenda. But Logan’s date with
destiny is looming, and his life might not be the only one at stake.
Nudging
Fate (Enchanted Occasions #1)
Not
exactly a match made in Valhalla.
Half-norn
event planner Anders Skuldsson is under strict orders from Asgard not to meddle
with Fate. But with Enchanted Occasions’ latest booking—a competition for the
hand of Faerie’s one true prince—crashing around his ears, it’s really
difficult to toe that particular line. But if Andy pretends to be a contender
for the prince…. It’s only temporary, so Odin can’t blame him. Right?
Conall of
Odstone’s half-brother, Prince Reyner, was supposed to choose a mate before
being crowned and wed. But the idiot left Con to impersonate him. Again.
When Con
meets Andy, his anger turns to desire… and despair. Even if Andy forgives him
for his imposture, how could someone eligible for a prince’s hand settle for
the court outcast? And the double-deception isn’t their only obstacle. Unless
Andy makes the right choice, their fates could be sealed by…well… Fate.
Clickbait
(Geeklandia #2)
After the
disastrous ending of his first serious relationship, Gideon Wallace cultivated
a protective—but fabulously shiny—outer shell to shield himself from Heartbreak
2.0. Besides, romance is so not a priority for him right now. All his web
design prospects have inexplicably evaporated, and to save his fledgling
business, he’s been compelled to take a hands-on hardware project—as in, his
hands on screwdrivers, soldering irons, and needle-nosed pliers. God.
Failure could actually be an option.
Journeyman
electrician Alex Henning is ready to leave Gideon twisting in the wind after their
run-ins both on and off the construction site. Except, like a fool, he takes
pity on the guy and offers to help. Never mind that between coping with his
dad’s dementia and clocking all the overtime he can finagle, he has zero room
in his life for more complications.
Apparently,
an office build-out can lay the foundation for a new relationship. Who knew?
But before Alex can trust Gideon with the truth about his fragile family, he
has to believe that Gideon’s capable of caring about more than appearances. And
Gideon must learn that when it comes to the heart, it’s content—not
presentation—that matters.
Now
exclusively on Kindle Unlimited
GRL
pre-order form (orders accepted through September 15th to allow for
delivery time):
About E.J. Russell
E.J. Russell—grace,
mother of three, recovering actor—holds a BA and an MFA in theater, so
naturally she’s spent the last three decades as a financial manager, database
designer, and business intelligence consultant (as one does). She’s recently
abandoned data wrangling, however, and spends her days wrestling words. Her
paranormal romantic comedy, The Druid Next Door, was a 2018 RITA® finalist and
the winner of the 2017 Rainbow Award for Best Gay Fantasy Romance.
E.J. is married to
Curmudgeonly Husband, a man who cares even less about sports than she does.
Luckily, CH loves to cook, or all three of their children (Lovely Daughter and
Darling Sons A and B) would have survived on nothing but Cheerios, beef jerky,
and satsuma mandarins (the extent of E.J.’s culinary skill set).
E.J. lives in rural
Oregon, enjoys visits from her wonderful adult children, and indulges in good
books, red wine, and the occasional hyperbole.
Where to
find E.J. at GRL (other than hiding behind a convenient potted palm):
Registered
Author Signing
Thursday,
October 17th, 10:00AM – 12:00PM
Author
Lounge
Thursday,
October 17th, 3:00PM – 3:45PM
Thanks so much for hosting me today, Meredith!
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