Last month, three authors from the Arcadia Valley Romance project got to meet… in person! This is a big deal because:
- Although we know a lot about each other, and share hopes and dreams and prayers and problems, most of that interaction is online.
- Lots of authors are introverts, more comfortable with words on a page than people in a room.
- We all live in different states and are at different stages in life’s journey.
- We’re all busy moms.
Nonetheless, when Danica Favorite told the Arcadia Valley group that she was coming to the DC area, Elizabeth Perry Maddrey and I got excited, because we were both close enough to connect. But, a complicating factor was the people we’d have in tow: two little boys (Elizabeth’s); two teen girls (Danica’s); and one seasoned gentleman friend (mine). How were we going to find a meeting spot and an activity we’d all enjoy?
I knew we were going to get along when we quickly agreed on the right place(s) to meet:
- Turn the Page Bookstore in Boonsboro, MD, owned by none other than the famed romance writer, Nora Roberts; and
- Antietam Battlefield, where we could dig into history, and where the various family members joining us could run, play, and explore while the three of us talked books.
Sure enough, we had a wonderful time! We started talking the moment we met and didn’t stop, even though we’re all normally quiet ladies. That’s what happens when you meet members of your tribe! We got the chance to discuss books, writing challenges, and the details of our shared-world project. Danica (the one who flew in, of course) bought about eight tons of books from the Antietam gift store. Elizabeth’s boys ran from canon to canon and impressed us all with their knowledge of civil war weaponry. As for me, I just carried a copy of Romance Grows in Arcadia Valley, the novella collection that starts our shared-world project, to use for our photo ops! And in fact, I’m giving away an e-copy to two different commenters.
Comment for a chance to win an e-copy of Romance Grows in Arcadia Valley.
Lee Tobin McClain read Gone With The Wind in the third grade and has been an incurable romantic ever since. Lee is the author of the Sacred Bond series of contemporary inspirational romances and also writes the Rescue River books (angsty, but full of fun kids and dogs) for Harlequin Love Inspired. When she not writing emotional Christian romances, she's probably driving around a carload of snarky teen girls, playing with her rescue dog and cat, or teaching aspiring writers in Seton Hill University's MFA program. She is probably not cleaning her house.
I connect with bookish friends at my job, I am a librarian! Plus on Facebook at the Avid Readers of Christion Fiction group!
Turn the Page Bookstore…what a great name! I’m glad you all had a good time, Lee.
Hi Lee, how lovely that you could all get together. I have never really thought about authors being introverts- I guess it makes sense!!
Most of my friends do not read fiction, but the couple who do (one has just taken a position at the museum on Norfolk Island- how awesome!), well, we share books, email and chat as often as possible. This blog is also great- so nice to be with people who do not think inspirational fiction is a waste of time!!
Blessings:)
Thanks for sharing, Lee. What a great adventure! A famous bookstore with a slice of history. This week this retired teacher is looking forward to meeting with the lovely ladies of our area Book Club for Foodies: Tales You Can Taste sponsored by the local library and School of Cooking. This month we are discussing Stealing Buddha’s Dinner (a memoir) by Bich Minh Nguyen. A tasty Vietnamese dinner will be served. But I also enjoy chatting on line with authors from around the world.
Enjoying the Arcadia Valley Romances. Read them all, so no need to be included in the Give Away. Washington DC area is one of my favorite destination spots.
It sounds like you had so much fun. Someday I would like to visit that bookstore. I have heard so much about it and maybe I would meet an author there!
I haven’t been to DC in a long time even though I have driven past it many times on our trips from PA down south via I-95. I am a homebody when I am not working so most of my book discussions are on Facebook. Happy Spring.
What a wonderful opportunity! It sounds like so much fun. And I love the name of the bookstore!
Love it… if I weren’t a writer and teacher, I’d definitely be a librarian.
Yes, Jill–Turn the Page lives up to its name. A great collection of novels including a whole room of Nora’s books. And Wemble… I am so glad you find this blog a good place to connect. I do, too.
What a wonderful idea–Book Club for Foodies: Tales You Can Taste. I’m going to share the concept with my local library… I’m guessing a book club like that would be popular here.
I definitely want to go back and spend more time. However, I’m sure that would mean buying way too many books!
What part of Pennsylvania, Gina?
It was a lot of fun. I liked the name of the bookstore, too, and they have souvenirs on sale–so I drink my coffee out of a Turn the Page mug now.
This sounds like it was great fun! It would be great to meet up with authors I’ve met online. I usually connect with others who like books over a meal. Good food and great books!
From a readers perspective I guess it sounds weird that you don’t meet in person before writing a book like Arcadia Valley. Although it makes sense that your busy and it’s more productive to meet online.
I like how all these stories are connected even accross authors, specifically through bakeries and restaurants, of course.
How fun! I enjoyed reading about your research trip.
That sounds like it was so much fun. I love history. My Father grew up in Waynesboro, PA so we saw a lot of history during the summers we visited. That’s only 20 miles from Gettysburg! I love reading historical fiction, also.
What a fun trip!
I am an avid reader! I connect with other readers through blogs like this, library, and friends who read.
Glad you authors had such fun together!
That sounds like a great plan, especially if you’re reading mouthwatering foodie romances like the Arcadia Valley books.
We wish we could meet in person more often, but we don’t even all live in the same country! (Valerie lives in Canada)
Check out Danica’s books–most of hers are historical outside of the Arcadia Valley series. That’s why she went nuts in the Antietam bookstore!
Kimberly and Merrillee–wouldn’t it be fun to hold an InspyRomance gathering sometime!
Thank you, Jackie–I am a huge fan of libraries.
It sounds like you had a lot of fun together! I guess when you meet people who share the same interests conversation is easy.
Yes…. between books and kids, we have a lot in common.
My bookish friends are my cousins and I connect with them on the phone or when one of us lends the others a book.
I usually just connect with my bookish friends online except I have talked on the phone with my friend Ann .
If my name comes you can gift my copy to someone else because I have one.
That would be terrific, Priscila! But I live in western Canada, Mary Jane lives in Oregon, Danica in Colorado, Annalisa in Arkansas, and Lee and Elizabeth at least live somewhat near each other! I have met Danica and Annalisa in person at a writers’ conference, but otherwise, it’s all email, text messages, a Facebook group, and an occasional Google hangout!
SOOOO wish I could have been there, too! You gals should have done a Facebook Live!!!
That sounds like such a fun trip! I usually connect with my bookish friends on Facebook. I’ve made so many great friends by meeting them in FB groups and blogs. Hopefully, I’ll get to meet some of them in person eventually.
Thanks, Linda and Brenda… you’re both phone people… I am not, and severely dislike talking on the phone. I’d rather chat online. To each her own!
Valerie, we wish you could’ve been there too… we did talk about you.. all good things! And Winnie–that’s how a lot of the Inspy writers are, too–we get to know each other quite well through Facebook and the blog.
Oh what fun! I had a week off but was totally sick with allergies. About all I could do was read and I totally glommed Nora books. The Liar, The Collector, The Search, Three Fates. A great way to spend a sick week!
As for meeting writer friends, the only place it happens is at conferences and since I haven’t done one in a few years, I’m seriously missing the interaction and inspiration it brings. Glad you had such a great visit!
I’d love, love, love to meet my author and reader friends in person! Mostly we connect online. Sounds like it was a great meeting!