For the 2015 Featured Blog Tour, today author is Clare London (Clare London will also attend UK Meet in Bristol):There’s a Brit in the Lobby!
So here I am – the short, plump Brit redhead, fresh in from the loooong Transatlantic flight, unnoticed and alone in the big, plush American hotel lobby, shyly picking at the hem of my “London” T-shirt, wondering whether I brought enough wacky clothes in my already overstuffed suitcase, whether I have enough swag, and how on earth I’ll ever be heard over the excited and happy US voices at the bar when I want – no, NEED – a frozen Margarita?!
Wait. Let’s re-shoot that scene. That is so NOT how I first experienced GRL LOL. And as I think you’ll see from the pictures chronicling my GRL history from 2011 to 2014…I’m happily immersed into it by now!
I went to the first GRL without really knowing anyone. I mean, I knew some of the attendee list from online, and I’d met some fellow authors at Yaoi Con and the NY Book Fair, but this was my first real MM fiction event. I even dragged my son along with me as moral support (he loved New Orleans! though he was disappointed in my party stamina, which was much less than his :).) I also arrived late because of flight times. Things were not looking good for me, the newbie.
Then I was invited to grab dinner with the lovely Elisa Rolle and her friend, I said hello to a couple of people whose names I knew, I bravely introduced myself to Ethan Day so I could find my souvenir T-shirt and bag … and I started to relax.
GRL New Orleans
To be honest, the one thing I learned was that, short of locking yourself away in your hotel room and avoiding every single scheduled and social event – it’s impossible *not* to mix and make friends. The first big step of any event like this is GOING there. After that, the mere fact of being around means that people say hello, even if you’re all peering at each other’s chest at first, to read your name. You soak in the enthusiasm and fun, you’re seated beside people you don’t know at the start of an author reading, but know much better at the end, and overall there’s an overwhelming sense of relaxation, belonging and community that can’t be beaten.
For those who are most shy – and believe me, I *am* – just draw a deep breath, find somewhere you feel safe but can see what’s going on… and then DIVE DEEP into the groundswell of happiness.
That’s NOT to say that you’re dragged off into huge groups, forced to take part in drinking games, and have to dance on tables! You are still in charge of how much you do or don’t. I’m an introvert, which means I like socialising, but need to recharge by taking time out on my own in the quiet. I told you how my son was disappointed in my lack of party stamina, remember? LOL
I plucked up the courage to travel on my own in successive years. I’m not saying the nervousness ever goes – and it’s been a new hotel, new journey each time – but I *know* in advance I’ll fit right in.
Some of my favourite events at GRL are the author readings. If you’re there this year, come and listen to me and my “cute” Brit accent! Though as I often say, it’s not *me* who has the accent ….. LOL.
GRL Albuquerque
Publisher: Jocular Press (June 26, 2015)
Amazon Kindle: Flashbulb (Flight HA1710 Book 3)
Blythe Harris was taking his first flight to the USA and hopefully a whole new client base for his bespoke upholstery business. An adventure for him, he was both nervous and excited to attract the attention of a handsome steward. Things might have gone further – if Flight HA1710 hadn’t failed.
Marc Stafford is a self-confessed player, and he used his charm to seduce his cute passenger. But in the aftermath of the crash, he’s struggling to recover his confidence. The TV declares him a hero for saving passengers, but at night his nightmares trigger painful flashbulb memories of the crash.
In an Irish hospital, Bly realises that although his broken leg will recover, his career may not. And in Chicago, Marc can’t face returning to work. Neither of them can shake off the memory of their brief, sexy encounter. Both of them need to be with someone who understands exactly what they’ve been through. And on a middle ground they can make all their own.
GRL Atlanta
Bio : Clare took the pen name London from the city where she lives, loves, and writes. A lone, brave female in a frenetic, testosterone-fuelled family home, she juggles her writing with the weekly wash and her day job as an accountant. She’s written in many genres and across many settings, with novels and short stories published both online and in print. She says she likes variety in her writing while friends say she’s just fickle, but as long as both theories spawn good fiction, she’s happy. Most of her work features male/male romance and drama with a healthy serving of physical passion, as she enjoys both reading and writing about strong, sympathetic and sexy characters.
Clare currently has several novels sulking at that tricky chapter 3 stage and plenty of other projects in mind . . . she just has to find out where she left them in that frenetic, testosterone-fuelled family home.
All the details and free fiction are available at her website. Visit her today and say hello!
Website: http://www.clarelondon.com
Blog: http://www.clarelondon.com/blog
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/clarelondon
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/clare_london
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/clarelondon
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/clarelondon
GRL Blog Tour Appearance Schedule
6/24/2015 April Kelley Rainbow Gold Reviews
6/25/2015 Anna Zabo Love Bytes
6/25/2015 Devon Rhodes The Novel Approach
6/25/2015 Erica Pike Elisa - My Reviews & Ramblings
6/30/2015 J.A. Rock The Novel Approach
7/1/2015 Arshad Ahsanuddin Rainbow Gold Reviews
7/1/2015 Lucy Marker Elisa - My Reviews & Ramblings
7/2/2015 Kim Fielding Love Bytes
7/5/2015 Jacqueline Grey Prism Book Alliance
7/8/2015 AKM Miles Elisa - My Reviews & Ramblings
7/8/2015 Kim Fielding Rainbow Gold Reviews
7/9/2015 Lei Carol The Novel Approach
7/9/2015 Jaime Reese Love Bytes
7/12/2015 Tempeste O'Riley Prism Book Alliance
7/14/2015 Cody Kennedy The Novel Approach
7/15/2015 Devon Rhodes Rainbow Gold Reviews
7/15/2015 Hans M Hirschi Elisa - My Reviews & Ramblings
7/16/2015 Andrew Q. Gordon Love Bytes
7/19/2015 Anna Zabo Prism Book Alliance
7/20/2015 Charlie Cochet Joyfully Jay
7/22/2015 Belinda McBride Gay.Guy.Reading and Friends
7/22/2015 Devon Rhodes Elisa - My Reviews & Ramblings
7/22/2015 Lissa Kasey The Novel Approach
7/22/2015 Zathyn Priest Rainbow Gold Reviews
7/23/2015 Melanie Hansen Love Bytes
7/23/2015 Vanessa North Joyfully Jay
7/25/2015 April Kelley Gay.Guy.Reading and Friends
7/26/2015 Della Van Hise Prism Book Alliance
7/29/2015 Laura Harner Elisa - My Reviews & Ramblings
7/29/2015 Lynn Lorenz Rainbow Gold Reviews
7/29/2015 Simone Anderson Gay.Guy.Reading and Friends
7/30/2015 Katey Hawthorne The Novel Approach
7/30/2015 Tara Lain Love Bytes
8/1/2015 K.C. Wells Gay.Guy.Reading and Friends
8/2/2015 Wendy Rathbone Prism Book Alliance
8/5/2015 A C Burch Gay.Guy.Reading and Friends
8/5/2015 Clare London Elisa - My Reviews & Ramblings
8/5/2015 Olivia Black Rainbow Gold Reviews
8/6/2015 Zathyn Priest Love Bytes
8/7/2015 Tara Lain The Novel Approach
8/9/2015 Jaime Reese Prism Book Alliance
8/12/2015 Belinda McBride Elisa - My Reviews & Ramblings
8/12/2015 K-lee Klein Rainbow Gold Reviews
8/12/2015 Laura Harner The Novel Approach
8/13/2015 Jeff Adams Love Bytes
8/14/2015 Christina E. Pilz Joyfully Jay
8/15/2015 Morticia Knight Gay.Guy.Reading and Friends
8/16/2015 Laura Harner Prism Book Alliance
8/19/2015 AKM Miles Prism Book Alliance
8/19/2015 Andrew Q. Gordon Gay.Guy.Reading and Friends
8/19/2015 Christina E. PIlz The Novel Approach
8/20/2015 Pat Henshaw Love Bytes
8/23/2015 Erica Pike Prism Book Alliance
8/24/2015 Jaime Reese Joyfully Jay
8/25/2015 Rick R. Reed Joyfully Jay
8/26/2015 Christina E. PIlz Rainbow Gold Reviews
8/26/2015 Simone Anderson Prism Book Alliance
8/26/2015 TM Smith Elisa - My Reviews & Ramblings
8/27/2015 Carter Quinn Love Bytes
8/28/2015 AC Katt The Novel Approach
8/29/2015 J.A. Rock Gay.Guy.Reading and Friends
8/29/2015 Laura Harner Rainbow Gold Reviews
8/30/2015 Posy Roberts Prism Book Alliance
8/31/2015 Marie Sexton The Novel Approach
9/2/2015 AKM Miles Gay.Guy.Reading and Friends
9/2/2015 J.R. Barten Rainbow Gold Reviews
9/2/2015 Jeff Erno Elisa - My Reviews & Ramblings
9/2/2015 Vanessa North Prism Book Alliance
9/3/2015 Erica Pike Love Bytes
9/4/2015 Morticia Knight The Novel Approach
9/5/2015 Jeff Adams Joyfully Jay
9/6/2015 A C Burch Prism Book Alliance
9/8/2015 Kim Fielding Joyfully Jay
9/9/2015 Charlie Cochet Elisa - My Reviews & Ramblings
9/9/2015 Erica Pike Rainbow Gold Reviews
9/9/2015 Lucy Marker Prism Book Alliance
9/9/2015 Silvia Violet The Novel Approach
9/10/2015 Lane Hayes Love Bytes
9/12/2015 Kaje Harper Gay.Guy.Reading and Friends
9/12/2015 RJ Scott Love Bytes
9/13/2015 Sue Brown Prism Book Alliance
9/16/2015 Anna Zabo Joyfully Jay
9/16/2015 Jordan L. Hawk Prism Book Alliance
9/16/2015 Olivia Black Gay.Guy.Reading and Friends
9/16/2015 Tara Lain Elisa - My Reviews & Ramblings
9/16/2015 Z. Allora Rainbow Gold Reviews
9/17/2015 Morticia Knight Love Bytes
9/18/2015 Nico Jaye The Novel Approach
9/19/2015 Tempeste O'Riley Love Bytes
9/20/2015 Carter Quinn Prism Book Alliance
9/23/2015 Chris Cox Rainbow Gold Reviews
9/23/2015 Jaime Samms Elisa - My Reviews & Ramblings
9/23/2015 Pat Henshaw The Novel Approach
9/23/2015 Shira Anthony Prism Book Alliance
9/24/2015 Laura Harner Love Bytes
9/26/2015 W.S. Long Gay.Guy.Reading and Friends
9/26/2015 Wendy Rathbone Love Bytes
9/27/2015 Nic Starr Prism Book Alliance
9/30/2015 Andrew Q. Gordon Prism Book Alliance
9/30/2015 Katey Hawthorne Joyfully Jay
9/30/2015 KC Burn The Novel Approach
9/30/2015 Lei Carol Rainbow Gold Reviews
9/30/2015 Melanie Hansen Elisa - My Reviews & Ramblings
9/30/2015 TM Smith Gay.Guy.Reading and Friends
10/1/2015 K-lee Klein Love Bytes
10/2/2015 Jaime Reese The Novel Approach
10/3/2015 RJ Scott Love Bytes
10/5/2015 Melanie Hansen Joyfully Jay
10/6/2015 Rick R. Reed The Novel Approach
10/7/2015 Hans M Hirschi Rainbow Gold Reviews
10/7/2015 Lane Hayes Elisa - My Reviews & Ramblings
10/7/2015 Posy Roberts Gay.Guy.Reading and Friends
10/8/2015 Jacqueline Grey Love Bytes
10/10/2015 Aisling Mancy (Cody Kennedy's adult pseud) Gay.Guy.Reading and Friends
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