This past weekend, I was honored to participate in a romance readers & writers event in Charlotte, NC called When the Heart Dreams. Games, activities, workshops, and books abounded. It was a great time. I actually shared headline space with New York Times Bestselling author Sabrina Jeffries! How cool is that? Most of the dozen or so authors in attendance write general market romance, so I did my best to shine my Inspirational light while I was there. It might have helped that I bribed people with chocolate. Ha!
Our Romantic Suspense table hard at work plotting how to save the world with true love.
I hosted an afternoon workshop about plotting with M&M’s. We talked a little about where authors get their ideas for their stories, then we randomly generated plots based on what M&M color came out of each person’s bag. We had about 5 groups working together with chocolate generated genres, tropes, conflicts, heroes, heroines, and random items. The results were pretty hilarious and very creative. Paranormal Romance with a werewolf soccer coach and a marine biologist mermaid. Romantic Suspense with an anonymous letter secreted away in an antique armoire. Big city contemporary with a ukulele-playing street musician wearing Ben Franklin spectacles courting a grad student who happens to work at the Starbucks on his performance corner. Western romance on the roof of a saloon during a flood with love budding between a female fugitive and the sheriff sworn to justice. Oh, and down forget the small town romance with the prize-winning pig who brings two people together over trampled flowers.
Next time I get stuck with writer’s block, I might have to try this very sophisticated brainstorming method.
Here are some photos from the weekend:
My driver picked me up from the airport in this fabulous Tesla. It’s 100% electric and has self-driving capabilities. And the winged doors made me feel like I was riding in a Delorean going forward (not back) to the future. I quizzed him about the features and was thoroughly impressed. Had to snap a photo.
My room, equipped with fainting couch in case all the romance of the weekend brought on a swoon.
Gorgeous sunset view from my window. Too bad my hero was at home instead of riding off into this with me.
My favorite photo of the day! The awesome ladies at my western romance table. Decked out in our bandit bandanas and finger guns, we rode to victory in the mad-libs competition, winning the prize for the best table’s story!
Got to meet two fabulous readers and new friends, Rachel and Lee Anna. They made the time extra special.
- If you were designing your ideal reader weekend, what would it look like?
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It looks like you had a lot of fun, Karen. I love to visit book clubs when they’re discussing my books and meet my readers.
Interacting with readers is always such a treat. Book-lovers are just great people. 🙂
What a great peek into a weekend spent with readers and writers!
Sabrina Jeffries was writing for Avon back when I was. I remember her fondly! She was funny, authentic, and very encouraging to me when I was a debut author.
Yes, she’s still the same genuine, kind-hearted person. I enjoyed getting to meet her. We had dinner with several authors on Friday evening, and her husband was with her. Very down-to-earth people. Did you know that she grew up as the daughter of missionaries in Thailand? I found that very cool.
What absolute fun, Karen! Thanks for sharing!
It was a great time, Beth. Even the introvert in me had a great time. (Though I did sneak out early from the evening party. Shh…don’t tell anyone.)
Enjoyed this so much. Until two years ago I taught writing to 5th graders for 23 years. I will have to share your brainstorming technique with my colleagues who are still teaching.
I had the privilege of meeting and hearing Sabrina Jeffries speak twice at our VA Festival of the Reader in Charlottesville. She is so funny and remembered my sister and me the second year we saw her. Would love to hear you speak!
Funny you should mention teachers, Betty. I gave away several prizes during my workshop, one of which was a package of M&Ms. The lady who won was a teacher who said she was going to use them with her class to do a creative writing activity. 🙂 Inspiring young minds with chocolate. What could be better?
This post has made my day! I am the blessed one who had the privilege of meeting and talking to Karen at this event! The chocolate was great, of course, but the company was outstanding! It would be awesome if there was an event like this with a focus on inspirational authors/readers. Karen, you made this event extra special for me too! Thank you!
It was such a joy to meet you, Lee Anna! I always feel a little awkward at event like this where I don’t know many people, but finding you in the atrium area that morning immediately put me at ease. Thanks for blessing my day.
Oh, and there is an event like this for Christian fiction. The Christian Fiction Readers Retreat. This is the second year they have done it, and our own Becky Wade is one of the featured speakers. I’m not able to attend this year because of other commitments, but it looks like a great event. This year it is in Cincinnati, OH. Here’s a link to their site: http://christianfictionreadersretreat.blogspot.com/
Check it out. 🙂
Lee Anna, your wish has come true! This will be the second year for a day-long Christian Fiction Readers Retreat. Get all the information here: http://christianfictionreadersretreat.blogspot.com/
It was fun meeting you, Karen! The chocolate plotting was a stroke of genius and everyone had a blast. 🙂 Thank you so much!
It’s imvptariee that more people make this exact point.