Our very own secret blogger undercover Katiebabs infiltrated the infamous and dangerous booky bash known as BEA and brought back news from the combat zone.
First up IT’S SAMANTHA KANE! In full combat mode. Look at her signing style. She is laying them out at the Ellora’s Cave booth bringing menage to the masses.
Look it’s Laura Baumbach in a full on Man Love assault mode. She is a force to be reckoned with.
What is this I hear that they will not allow Gay Romance authors who are published by both approved and unapproved publishers to sign at the RWA charity event??? Huh? What is up with that shit? It’s for charity right and they have books on at least one approved publisher on your list?
Thank you Katiebabs for covering BEA you rock.
Tags: eBook Commentary
LBea wrote,
She does rock.
=)
Link | June 1st, 2009 at 6:49 am
Angela James wrote,
I asked around about this yesterday. It’s not that they won’t allow gay authors to sign at RWA (which I already knew, thus why I was asking) but MLR authors specifically, because of some issue with the MLR contract that leads them to believe that MLR is a subsidy press and thus not on the RWA “approved” list. That’s the extent of what I know, but I am disappointed for the MLR authors. I hope MLR can get that worked out for next year.
Link | June 1st, 2009 at 8:34 am
TeddyPig wrote,
Well, I get that MLR Press is not approved.
It’s that quite a few of those authors have books on other publishers that are on the approved list. So what is the problem with those authors signing? I am not against rules just arbitrary conditions that suddenly become an issue.
Link | June 1st, 2009 at 8:41 am
Angela James wrote,
They can sign. They just can’t sign MLR books.
Link | June 1st, 2009 at 8:51 am
Treva Harte wrote,
Something in the contract they aren’t sure of? Great. Good luck with that. Been there, no T-shirt handed out at the end.
Link | June 1st, 2009 at 8:59 am
TeddyPig wrote,
Right so you don’t just qualify by having books that meet those requirements. No, now all the books you sign have to meet those requirements.
Frankly, I would be fine with that if it had been stated clearly from the beginning but what I read went on and on to become “we don’t have enough room” “must only be books currently published on a specific year” etc etc etc.
Link | June 1st, 2009 at 9:03 am
Angela James wrote,
I think it’s always been understood by publishers that any publisher that isn’t approved by RWA doesn’t get space at the convention, including the literacy signing, so I don’t think this is a new rule. But my brain is not as sharp as it used to be so I might be wrong.
Link | June 1st, 2009 at 9:24 am
TeddyPig wrote,
I was looking at this from the writers perspective not the publishers. It seems important especially if a M/M writer has books out on several different publishers how this is handled.
Link | June 1st, 2009 at 9:39 am
Ally Blue wrote,
It was disappointing to me that I wouldn’t be allowed to sign my MLR book. I still get to sign my Samhain books, though. I think labeling MLR as subsidy is ridiculous, frankly, but nobody asked me :-/
Link | June 1st, 2009 at 9:50 am
Angela James wrote,
I’m sorry, I didn’t word that well and probably could and should have substituted “authors” for “publishers”. I understand where you’re coming from, but the reason I said it like that is because the publishers are usually the ones to donate the books for the authors to sign so I was thinking of it in that way. And to be honest, I know that the RWA is an easy target, but I do understand their reasoning for this policy. Which is totally separate from whether or not MLR is a subsidy publisher because I don’t know a darned thing about that, other than hearing a few authors, like Ally, say it’s not.
Link | June 1st, 2009 at 9:58 am
TeddyPig wrote,
Oh, nah I was OK with what you said Angela.
You know me, I get irate when I think writers are getting the run around.
Link | June 1st, 2009 at 10:06 am
katiebabs wrote,
Thanks TP!
BEA was a great time. I was so glad to hang out at the Ellora’s Cave booth and see the excellent Sam Kane. Also Laura was incredible. She was the last booth I saw that day and was so glad to find her. Her dedication and love for Gay publishing is amazing. The way she talked about how she started MLR and what she hopes to accomplish is incredible.
She had some lovely Josh Lanyon books I wanted to grab. I am so happy she and Josh will be writing a sequel to Mexican Heat!
Link | June 1st, 2009 at 5:53 pm
Samantha Kane wrote,
Is my full combat mode signing style good or bad? lol I loved meeting so many people at BEA and Katiebabs was a big highlight for me. I don’t get out much to conferences and such, so I haven’t met many of my internet friends.
I stopped by the MLR booth to say hi to Laura, and lo and behold I had one of my other BEA highlights – I got to meet Victor Banis!! I think I may have scared him with my fangirlishness. What a nice gentleman he is.
I had a great time at BEA this year, and was very happy to hear from RWA board members that the hot, hot, hot books were flying off their shelves faster than anything else except paranormal. I sent some books for them to give away and apparently they were gone immediately. This was my experience signing at the EC booth, as well, but it’s good to hear that it wasn’t an anomaly. I had several librarians tell me that hot romance is the new thing for them, they’ve got more requests than they can fill. So me=happy camper.
Link | June 3rd, 2009 at 9:25 am