Organizer's Recap:

After more than a year of planning the Austin Author Affair is officially behind us. We started with a lovely meet and greet Friday night, with ensuing Birthday Cake, laughs, and some lovely giveaways as authors and readers started the event off with a bang. It was a lively gathering with tons of great connections, smiles, and energy.

Saturday started casually with the signing opening at noon to a good count of VIPs and walk-ins (even with the dreadful weather). The Author Bingo was an applauded ice breaker, encouraging tons of first time introductions, many bonding to friendships. Even through some truly dreary and miserable weather (which if you're watching, we're still inundated with), a lot of readers drove in and stayed for the day, joining our VIPs in the festivities and some amazing offerings in baskets. All funds collected for those will be donated to the Jasper Animal Rescue Mission.

I made an attempt to say hi and speak with every author and reader I could during the entire event. I know I missed a few and want to apologize if I did. The one resonating fact that proved the success of this event was the authors, nearly to a book, sold out. Readers left with tons of bags and bags of new reading, and all to a person expressed the amount of fun, no stress, and camaraderie that encapsulated the entire weekend. The one statement that stuck out the most was everyone approached said they appreciated the smoothness of the event's flow. All could talk to any author they wished without the jostle and impatience typically found elsewhere. And to the Authors, I say a heartfelt heart emoticon thank you for your efforts to make every reader feel that specialness, because they truly are.

Saturday night was energetic, slightly wild, and packed with laughter, yummy food, and great music. The Karaoke presented by Torquere Press was an outstanding success. Many of us stayed until the house shut down at midnight, to the last possible minute -- Even through tornado warnings and watches, some spectacular lightning and rain that wouldn't quit, it was a hell of a party.

And with all of that, a special thank you to the Renaissance family for taking such good care of us, staying on top of the weather, and ready to assist in an instant if it had gone downhill.
More thanks to Romance Ink, Stella Price, and the whole ConComm Crew for continued support to make this event happen.

Couldn't have done this without any of you!
‪#‎AAA2015‬

We're getting closer!!

Are you getting excited? I know I am! We've got so much planned. VIP bags, giveaways, swag, and almost 60 Authors for you!  We also have the Texas Association of Authors attending with their bookstore!

There will be surprises at the Friday Meet and Greet, a breakfast Saturday morning with the authors and several more are setting up events for you!

JoLynne Valerie will be available for spiritual readings.

We have a Pure Romance Representative, Brittany Dimes.

The Texas Association of Authors will be there with a full booth

The Houston Writer's Guild will have two star writers in attendance.

Torquere Press will be in the house! Want to pitch some work? See what they can offer? Talk to them! They don't bite....unless you ask nicely!

It's all in fun, and a great way to meet new authors, have some laid back conversation with your favorites, and enjoy an evening of Karaoke!

So come join! 

Information and more!

Are you getting excited about our debut Austin Author Affair? I know after walking through the Renaissance I am! Amazingly stunning hotel. Lots to tell you.

Let's start with the info you need now....

1) Hotel portal for reservations is up and live!:
      https://resweb.passkey.com/Resweb.do?mode=welcome_ei_new&eventID=11665825
 
     All rooms are either double queen, or king.

2) Shuttle from the airport to the hotel:
     http://austinauthoraffair.blogspot.com/p/location.html

3) Parking is free! There are huge parking lots surrounding the hotel and a garage that is
     free over the weekend right next door!

     Valet is available for a daily fee.

4) Our hotel! Let me just say this is a gorgeous hotel with views of the Texas hill country,
     downtown, and more! It is in a lovely area with tons of places to eat and shop, and you're
     only minutes from downtown Austin, 360, Cedar Park, I-35, and 183.

     Also very handicap friendly with large rooms and auxiliary elevators to reach 
     all floors. 

 

5) Located in the lobby:
     ATM
     Airline Kiosk
     Free Wifi in Atrium and Lobby  (Nominal standard charge for in-room service)

6) To eat:
      Banderas (Continental breakfast and restaurant)
      Austin Bytes (Coffee kiosk with breakfast tacos, pastries, and more!)

7)  Schedule of events:
      http://austinauthoraffair.blogspot.com/p/schedule.html

     Hint: you're going to want to be there Friday for the meet and greet! Really!

8) Did I mention our Saturday night karaoke party?
     http://austinauthoraffair.blogspot.com/p/schedule.html

9) And hey! This is AUSTIN, in TEXAS! We do things BIG!! So come play, meet some
     authors, have a great weekend or just a few hours to find some new books and new
     friends!

Public registration is open!

We've made it! An Austin Author Affair is now open to YOU! That's right. It's the reader's turn to kick up their heels and check out what this new event has in store!

Here's the scoop. Below is the link that will take you to the registration page. This is what you need to know:

The signing is FREE! So why do I need a ticket? 

Two reasons. If you're staying at the lovely hotel, that information will be sent to the email you provide for your registration. If you're not staying at the hotel, it helps us better prepare for you!

The evening event, the karaoke party, is not free. Why isn't it free?

The admission cost for this event will cover the entertainment, bar, food and drinks for the evening.

I can register, why can't I reserve my room yet?

The rooms will be made public later in the summer. Thus the need for the email at registration. We won't be able to reach you if we don't have an email.

If you have more questions, please check out the FAQ page, or contact an admin. Can't wait to see you there!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-austin-author-affair-tickets-10371584689

We're making waves and getting noticed!!

An Austin Author Affair has hit the ground running!! Authors are excited! Readers are excited! This is going to be an amazing debut year. I'm thrilled to give you the first list of authors who have already signed on and are ready to meet Austin! We're not done yet either. Planning stages are kicking into high gear.

Want to find out more?

Reader registration opens in May! Come and meet your favorite authors and find new ones. There will be a wide selection of genres and styles to whet your reading appetite. Follow this blog and join the Facebook attendee page for more contests, excerpts, authors and fun!

It's an Affair....

Well, we did it! An Austin Author Affair has been born. What does that mean to you? First, don't panic. There is plenty of time to schedule this one into our already packed appearance rosters. The tentative time frame is May of 2015.

Your AAA production team:
Producer: Diana Castilleja
Co-Producer: Heather Almendarez
PR/Marketing: Kathryn Shumate
Design: Robin Ludwig Design, Inc.

Details to follow soon!