So, I had this idea last year.
Allow me to set the stage. I was a new baby author and I was headed to my first author conference. I was excited and nervous and so wanted the chance to hang out with my favorite authors. I mean, let’s be real, as a huge book nerd the fact that I get to hang out with other authors is basically the greatest things about writing books!
And the thing is, I am not above buying affection! So last year I reached out to some of my favorites and asked if they’d hang out with me if I plied them with dinner and strong spirits. Turns out, they totally did! I decided to call that event The Bluestocking’s Dinner based on all the bookish gals from our favorite regency era novels and it was one of the coolest experiences of my life. Seriously, at one point I looked around a table filled with Nalini Singh and Susanna Kearsley and Jennifer Probst and so many others and they were all talking about their favorite books and it was so wonderful I nearly peed my pants! This year, I knew I had to up my game. I invited some veterans from last year and several newbies and every single genre of romance was represented around the table.
We sipped on a specialty cocktail called The Hemingway, and scarfed down an incredible carb-filled dinner, and told stories and everyone was so much cooler than I dared dream! Guys, it was awesome! Since I know some of you are book nerds too, I thought maybe you’d like to see the details on how it all went down. Read on for the highlights and to see how you can get your hands on the greatest gift bag ever!!
So first of all, the invitation is everything.
Ok, normally it’s not so important, but many of these authors had zero idea who I was, so I needed the invitation to look legit. Luckily, I have an ultra talented art director here at The Chic and a production assistant who dreamed up the idea for a book invitation and the results were gorgeous… and obviously, blue.
I hosted the dinner at Bar Americain… literally because I’d seen Bobby Flay talk about it on the Food Network years ago and I had always wanted to go there. When I realized it was close to our conference venue I was like, sold! Each guest got a pretty fabulous Bluestocking’s gift bag, which just so happens to be part of the prize that we’re auctioning off with all of the signed books. Oh, you didn’t realize there were signed books coming your way? Keep reading!
Rather than regular old seating cards, each author got a little printable of a quote from one of her books. We also had extras that they each signed that are included in the the gift bag as well! I know, it’s like book nerd Christmas! This year’s attendees were Mary Kay Andrews, Julie James, Sarah Maclean, Jennifer Probst, Caisey Quinn, Kerrelyn Sparks, Sherry Thomas, Lauren Willig, and C.L. Wilson who I plied with questions about the Fading Lands all throughout the appetizer course. Fairy king and fated love? Yes please!
This picture is basically the greatest thing I can imagine. The majority of the dinner guests were basically strangers, so after eleven minutes when I was like “Everyone, pretend to laugh really hard!” they were slightly thrown off, but totally game. I want to frame this and hang it over my mantle. Maybe we need to include a copy in the fabulous Bluestocking gift bag!
I’m sure by now you’re like, We get it! What’s in the gift bag?? Well, all of these amazing books you see here and all of them are signed by the author.
In addition to all of those awesome reads, the gift bag includes the same goodies that each author took home with her from The Bluestocking’s Dinner! It’s got three different Alex & Ani bracelets and nail polish from OPI. It has the coolest pen ever from DN Woodcrafters and my favorites from Pixi Beauty. It’s got a book lovers poster from Amanda Catherine Designs and the today notepad from Printable Wisdom… guys, it’s one heck of a gift bag!
Which begs the next question. How in the heck can you get your hands on this thing? By bidding on it in our charity auction!! You see, every author at that dinner had just come from a super cool signing to support literacy charities. Because guys, did you know that 36 million people in America cannot read well enough to fill out a job application? Or that 493 million women around the world cannot read a book to their child, because they don’t know how? Imagine what a blessing books have been in your life and how much the ability to read would bless someone else’s. So we all chipped in, and signed a bunch of books and we’re hoping that you’ll bid. Or tell your friends to bid… maybe you all go in together and then divide up your favorite authors. But the point is, we’re trying to raise as much money as we can to support ProLiteracy and every single penny we raise is going right to them. We hope you’ll consider spreading the word with us and maybe getting your own piece of The Bluestocking’s Dinner! Click here to bid!
