Hey friends!
Book Bonanza.
Holy moly. What a ride.
(Note: as always, if you want to me to "narrate" this newsletter for you, click the "Listen to This Newsletter" button above!)
(I was one of the first to arrive. Soon after this pic, the halls were packed!)
I’d been to a few signings before, sitting with authors in NYC and signing their books that I’ve narrated. Last Fall I also went to Indies Invade Philly as a narrator (and brought along some of my own books to sell on the sly:)
But this was the first time I had a “big girl” author table all to myself… and I loved every second.
Here’s a pic of my little corner of the Book Bonanza world before the all the attendees came in like they were shot out of a cannon!
(My fun little corner! Check out that author banner, yo!)
Seriously, there was some ENERGY pulsing through the Gaylord Texan Resort. Over 1,800 readers wheeling around carts packed full of books waiting to be signed. Volunteers dressed like disco unicorns, their sequined horns like little sparkly beacons for whoever needed their help. Over 200 authors and assistants manning their booths, signing, hugging, chatting, picture posing…
It. Was. Wild.
And, ya know, since running my own table wasn’t enough, I figured I would also produce a romantic comedy anthology with eleven other authors and be in charge of premiering that as well.
(pictured: five Smartass authors - Susannah Nix, Jiff Simpson, me, Karen Grey and Jenny Kate)
Oh, and I somehow squeezed in being on four audiobook panels along the way (more on those below).
Whew!
I’m writing this from the airport about to head home and this girl is tired. And pretty damn exhilarated.
I figured it would be fun to list my Top Ten Favorite Moments from Book Bonanza ’22 as a wrap up to this wild weekend.
Ready? Here we go.
In no particular order…
My Top Ten Favorite Moments from Book Bonanza ‘22
- Meeting readers and listeners who up until this point I’ve only known on the internet. There are so many awesome, supportive people who are in my readers group, who write early reviews for my projects, spread the word about my new releases… (you know who you are!) and I couldn’t be more grateful that they’re in my corner. Seeing them in person and getting to thank them for what they do was such a joy.
- Seeing so many BIG-ASS copies (we’re talking 750 pages) of Smartasses – a sexy nerd rom com anthology circulating through the room and getting signed by 12 awesome authors. This project was a brainchild of mine about nine months ago and it’s been a real labor of love seeing it through to its premiere at Book Bonanza ’22. Our proceeds from this run are all to support Reading is Fundamental and promote literacy and that feels damn good. Our run for the public starts next month. If you’d like, you can PREORDER NOW.
(It was equal parts exciting and daunting seeing all these boxes of books waiting for me in Texas)
(Super readers Tracy Musgrove and Phara Puett Blair picking up their preorders!)
- Hanging with a whole crew of my fellow audiobook narrators in-person after so very long. Our jobs are really solitary in general (let’s face it, we spend the majority of our workdays alone in a tiny dark box, telling stories into the microphone) and the past few years filled with cancelled events have meant little real-life interaction with our pals. It was awesome to reconnect and talk shop with them all!
- Waking up early each morning and watching excited book people cruising the halls of the Gaylord Texan, gearing up for the next big day. There was a real Disney World kind of joy permeating the place!
- Experiencing the awesome creativity that pours out of passionate readers! The books and frames and canvases they make to capture signatures are a friggin delight. And there are so many great vendors who sell book-inspired merchandise. I lost my damn cool when I saw these sparkly cups people custom ordered of a gal reading Flirtasaurus (while wearing dino jammies) and another reading These Walls Can Talk (wearing narwhal jammies). Those details cracked me up and got me all misty-eyed.
(This amazing listener created a whole section in her scrapbook dedicated to books I've narrated!)
(Here is the great Andi Arndt posing with a sparkly These Walls Can Talk-inspired water bottle)
  
(My heart just about burst over these Flirtasaurus-inspired creations!)
- Connecting with authors I’ve narrated for multiple times, some of whom I’d never hung out with in real life until now. I got to chat with Aly Martinez (5 books and counting!) Susan Stoker (14 books!), Samantha Christy (16 books!), Jana Aston (so many I've lost count!) and so many more. It’s never lost on me how cool it is that these authors trust me to bring their books to life in audio.
(Jana Aston and me after "Audio Match," a panel about the author/narrator relationship)
- Watching an awesome cast of narrators tear up the live reading of These Walls Can Talk! We presented the first 45 minutes of the original play for a packed house and tons of enthusiasm. It was such a kick introducing the piece to a new audience and celebrating the fun with those who have been on the ride since the beginning. It got me even more stoked for our These Walls Can Talk Vegas Marathon this October!
(My awesome assistant Ronyelle Baker and I cheesing about the packed house for TWCT!)
(The cast of These Walls Can Talk tearing. it. UP.)
(Us all celebrating and picture-posing afterward)
- Hearing readers’ tell me what my books and plays mean to them. A few times I had to write down the kind things they said in my notebook so I could read them again on the days I need a boost!
- Getting to play Billie in the live reading of the Sex/Life Netflix pilot inspired by BB Easton’s book 44 Chapter About 4 Men. It’s so inspiring to see a book take on such a big life and get adapted into a hit series!
(Narrators all ready to read the Netflix Sex/Life pilot script!)
- And most importantly... coming home to my family. Lordy Lordy I missed them! Big props to my husband for holding down the fort while I was gone. I know it ain't easy!
(Reunited with my crew!)
I kind of can’t believe that I’m doing this all again in a few weeks for Apollycon in Washington DC!
Will I see you there?
Oh, and right before I left for this trip, we revealed the cover for Sharkbait! Did you see?
Here she is!
Sharkbait, Book 3 in The Natural History Series is coming on September 27th! I can't wait to share Louise and James' story with you! If you'd like to get on the list for an early review copy and/or help spread the word on release day, be sure to fill out this form HERE. Preorder link for the ebook is below (paperback and audiobook links coming soonish!), and... my friend (and fellow Smartasses anthology author) Susannah Nix is offering an awesome freebie right now I'm sure you'll want to gobble up, so be sure to scroll down below!
Big Thanks and Lots of Love!
xoxo
Erin
(Baby's first author banner!)
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