GRL Registration

As I write this, GRL Registration is over by exactly 24 hours. In the past day, I have seen joy at the anticipation of reunion, disappointment and animosity over the process, and fear of the unknown. For those of us who are registered as both featured and supporting authors, it’s a tempest of emotion: excitement about going, and guilt about getting in. So, for this month’s post, I’d like to show you what GayRomLit means to me, and why it is a gathering I will fight year after year to attend.

GayRomLit – New Orleans (2011)

I think I signed up months after registration opened, when I finally got the balls up to go to something as an author. It was my very first event as a published author. I. Was. Terrified. But, I met a few people in that hotel who showed me that, even though the Little Boy Lost series was still in process, and I felt like a total fraud, I had every right to be there. The very first person who made me feel that way, was Damon Suede. As I stood in the lobby of the hotel, passing out my porn boy bookmarks, and praying no one would talk to me, a whirlwind came in through the doors. Everyone seemed to be drawn to this new charismatic man. I had no idea who he was, had never heard of Damon or Hot Head at that point. But, I went over, like everyone else, and I handed him a bookmark because I had no idea what else to do. He looked at it, and then at me. He threw his arms around me, and said “I’m so glad you’re here!”

And, with that simple phrase – for the first time in my entire life – I belonged.

”

GayRomLit – Albuquerque (2012)

Albuquerque was easier for me because by that time, I’d gone to a few porn events with the boys. Being with them helped bolster my confidence and sense of belonging. I did my very first Q&A, holding my own as I sat between arguably the two biggest powerhouses in the genre – Abi Roux and Amy Lane. (Both of whom, I came to adore, by the way). It was also the first time I was really recognized by name, and by the books I’d written. Aaron had come out within days of GRL, and had started to create a bit of a buzz.

So, I pulled out the shredded back shirt, and I made my statement. I am JP.

    

GayRomLit – Atlanta (2013)

The list. That subject came up from registration in March, all the way through October. The public recognition of its existence did many things to lots of people – it discouraged them from attending, it caused other events to pop up around the genre, and it caused at least some negative spin for an event I loved. For me – it put my ambition into overdrive. In 2013, we launched the new line of Jamie Mayfield novels, JP put out four books of her own for a total of 8 books released before GRL commenced. I took my A-game to the extreme, pulling out all the stops – porn stars, body painting, spotlights, and moderating panels – all so someone would remember my name. And it worked. My social media presence swelled with new followers and friends, my sales increased, and I had made contacts with some of the powerhouse authors in the genre.

I had finally found my place.

  

GayRomLit – Chicago (2014)

I will continue being the best possible JP I can for GayRomLit 2014. With the Working Boys series, Spencer, and

A Heart for Robbie coming in 2014 – it’s going to be a great year for me. I plan to celebrate that with my friends and colleagues at GayRomLit. I’ll be speaking at RT for the first time, and I’m excited about that, but not more so than for the conference which embraces everything about who we are and what we write. I’ll fight as hard as I can every year to be one of those lucky authors who get in. The registration slots for authors sold out in under 3 minutes this year. Is it fair? Maybe not – but if you come up with the perfect registration method for GRL, please shoot an email to the organizers, because I’m sure they’d love to know.

 

Us vs Them

I’ve also heard a fair amount of worry about authors “taking up” reader slots. To that, I’ll first point to the designation of the registration – it’s called General Registration, not reader registration.  Personally, I don’t think GRL has an us vs them mentality. It’s not authors vs readers. It’s people who love to write and people who love to read. I happen to fall into both of those categories. Just because I like to write, doesn’t mean I don’t buy 30 or 40 books in our genre a year. Last year, I was gid dy as a school girl when I got Rhys Ford’s All Access Pass signed on the back by her. I loved getting KA Mitchell to sign Bad Boyfriend for me. And ugh, I LOVE Mary Calmes – both as a person and as an author. I’d never read Jordan Castillo Price’s PsyCop series until after I met her at GRL, and then I was hooked. I read them all.

My point is this – we are all after the same goal. We want to celebrate the books we love, whether from a reader or author perspective. As authors, we want to meet and thank the people responsible for bringing us to wherever we happen to be in our careers. Last year, a woman brought a dozen paperbacks for me to sign and seemed so apologetic about it. I’m like, honey – I could HUG you right now. I’d never felt so special. At RT, someone brought an original self-published version of Enlightened that I don’t even have. To know that my work affects people that much, God you can’t even know what kind of gift that is to me.

And for authors coming under General Registration – remember, it’s not the color of your badge that makes you an author, it’s the voices in your head, and the determination in your heart.

I can’t wait to see you here in Chicago in October.

An Offer

Due to a major shift in the pricing structure of the fun fair, I will not be hosting a body painting event as I did last year. However, I will still be bringing 250 drawstring backpacks. In those packs will be swag from me, swag from my helpers, and swag from ANY published author who was unable to register under author registration and is coming under General Registration. So, if you are a published author in the M/M genre, and will be attending under General Registration – you are very welcome to distribute swag in these bags.

What kind of Swag?

To be honest, paper swag doesn’t have a high retention rate at GRL. So, if you have the choice between 500 bookmarks and 50 pens, opt for the pens. Bookmarks, postcards, and even character cards may sell well with your established readers, but in a digital world, if someone isn’t already invested in your characters, they’re more likely to keep a pen, post-it note pad, or toy — something they’ll use. I gave out all 150 bags I brought last year as well as about 200 wristbands.

How do you make swag?

My #JPStyle campaign last year, and in fact all of my swag, is designed by Jeff Adkins of JP Adkins Designs. http://www.JPAdkinsDesign.com

For the actual physical pieces – I go with whoever gives me the best deal. So, google promotional items and start looking around. There are a million different things you can put your name on from stress balls to thumb drives. Look for places that have minimal or free setup fees and lower minimum number purchases.

How do I sign up?

William Cooper, my wonderful and amazing assistant, has agreed to take on this challenge with me. He’s devised a google form (the data collected will not be shared with anyone for any reason) to get your name, email address, and phone number so we can coordinate on the ground in Chicago for you to come drop whatever you have into the bags. If you only have 50 items, they’ll go into 50 bags and get out. You don’t have to have 250 or 300 items to participate.

Sign up here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1MnY4BpAY34PLDUxPY-n-2LDtxsrS4B4TEV_eNACXu9Y/viewform

What does that mean for readers?

You are going to get a whole bunch of awesome stuff from lots of amazing authors in one bag. Also – the bag has a blank, light colored back, so you can have your favorite authors SIGN the bag and carry your autographs with you!

Until next month –

Xoxo,

JP