Gay Romance Northwest Meet-Up – Sept. 14, 2013 – Seattle

Seattle Central Public Library; Hotel Monaco

12:00pm – 8:00pm

Programming Schedule

Gay Romance Northwest Meet-Up

(Seattle Central Public Library, 1000 4th Ave., Microsoft Auditorium)

12:00pm – 1:00pm: REGISTRATION

1:00pm – 5:00pm: PROGRAMMING

1:00pm – 1:30pm: Keynote Address

Marlene A. Harris, Technical Services Manager, Technical and Collection Services, The Seattle Public Library

Ms. Harris discussed how publishers, authors, and readers can connect to local libraries and librarians as well as utilize library spaces to increase awareness of LGBT fiction and expand LGBT library collections.

Read Marlene’s keynote online: How to Get LGBT Romance Books into Libraries by Marlene Harris

Panel Discussions

Each panel consisted of a discussion with the panelists and the moderator, followed by a Q&A session with the audience.

1:30pm – 2:30pm: Panel 1 – The “In’s & Out’s” of Gay Romance

This panel discussion will examine multiple perspectives on the gay romance genre, including genre definitions and tropes, breaking into m/m writing, different subgenres, writing (or not writing) sex scenes, and other topics.

Moderator

Megan Derr (Head of Operations, Less Than Three Press, and Author, Dance with the Devil, Prisoner)

Panelists

• Astrid Amara (Author, The Archer’s Heart, Demolished)
• Stormy Glenn (Author, Full Moon Mating, The Cat’s Meow)
• Daisy Harris (Author, Men of Holsum College, From the Ashes)
• Ethan Stone (Author, In the Flesh, Past Tense)
• Anne Tenino (Author, Frat Boy and Toppy, 18% Gray)

2:30pm – 2:45pm: Break

2:45pm – 3:45pm: Panel 2 – Behind the Curtain: Editing, Publishing, and Cover Art

This panel explored gay romance from the viewpoint of publishers, editors, and cover artists. Discussions included working with publishers and editors, submission recommendations, why the “headless torso” covers are so prevalent, and other topics.

Moderator

Tracy Timmons-Gray (Gay Romance Northwest)

Panelists

• L.C. Chase (Cover Artist and Author, Riding with Heaven, Pickup Men)
• Samantha Derr (Editor-in-Chief, Less Than Three Press)
• Lou Harper (Cover Artist and Author, Last Stop, Dead in L.A.)
• Nicole Kimberling (Editor, Blind Eye Books and Author, Turnskin, Bellingham Mysteries)
• Devon Rhodes (Editor-in-Chief, Total E-Bound and Author, A Sticky Wicket in Bollywood, Chasing the King of the Mountains)

3:45pm – 4:00pm: Break

4:00pm – 5:00pm: Panel 3 – Diversifying and Evolving the Genre

This panel explores special topics such as diversity (or lack thereof) in LGBT romance, and how the genre is evolving.

Moderator

Laylah Hunter (Author, All Wrapped Up, Masks Off Too!)

Panelists

• Heidi Belleau (Author, The Druid Stone, Apple Polisher)
• Kade Boehme (Author, Don’t Trust the Cut, Wide Awake)
• Ginn Hale (Author, Wicked Gentlemen, The Rifter)
• Rick R. Reed (Author, Caregiver, Raining Men)
• Andrea Speed (Author, Infected, Josh of the Damned)

Read the GRNW 2013 Wrap-Up and Call to Action: What I Learned While Running a Gay Romance Conference

Other 2013 GRNW Meet-Up Activities:

* Select titles by all GRNW Attending Authors were available for sale courtesy of the University Book Store.

* The Gay City LGBT Library Book Drive ran throughout the conference.

* Free conference snacks and swag were available.

Gay Romance Northwest Meet-Up “Happy Hour”

(Hotel Monaco, 1101 4th Ave.)

5:00pm – 8:00pm: Happy Hour (Paris Ballroom, one floor down from the lobby.)

5:30pm – 6:30pm: Signings and Meet & Greet with GRNW Attending Authors

6:30pm – 7:30pm: “5 Minutes in Heaven” Author Readings

Other Happy Hour Activities:

* The Happy Hour featured free appetizers and a cash bar for cocktails and other drinks.

* Free books and special giveaways were awarded throughout the Happy Hour.

* Lots of free swag from publishers and authors!

* Select titles by all GRNW Attending Authors were available for sale during the Happy Hour courtesy of the University Book Store.

* The Gay City LGBT Library Book Drive ran throughout the Happy Hour.

* GRNW Community Partners were also featured.

GRNW 2013 Attending Authors

GRNW 2013 Authors were available for book signings and questions during the Happy Hour. 2013 Attending Authors were:

Visit the 2013 Authors page to learn more about who attended.

GRNW Sponsors and Partners

Old Growth Northwest and the Gay Romance Northwest Meet-Up wish to thank the following organizations for their support:

GRNW Sponsors: Blind Eye Books, Bold Strokes Books, Dreamspinner Press, eXtasy Books, Harmony Ink Press, Less Than Three Press, Riptide Publishing, Samhain Publishing, Storm Moon Press, Torquere Press

GRNW Partners: Gay City, Gay City LGBT Library, GeekGirlCon, Hedgebrook, Lambda Literary Foundation, Pride Foundation, Queer Geek!, Rainbow Romance Writers, Rose City Romance Writers, The Seattle Lesbian, University Book Store

Questions?

Questions about the schedule for the Gay Romance Northwest Meet-Up and Happy Hour? Please contact Tracy Timmons-Gray, Event Coordinator, Gay Romance Northwest Meet-Up.