2017 Barbara Vey Reader Weekend

Hello everyone. Winnie Griggs here. I've just returned from a fabulous weekend in Milwaukee where I attended the 6th annual Barbara Vey Reader Appreciation Weekend. This is one of THE premiere events that allows authors to get together with a large group of readers and really celebrate them and show how very much we appreciate them.

The weekend was jam packed. My travelling buddy and roommate, Amy Liz Talley and I arrived on Thursday afternoon after a smooth, uneventful trip.

Barbara Vey hosted an author supper which gave us a chance to visit, get last minute instructions and take a breath before the main event. It was here that I ran into fellow Love Inspired Historical author Cheryl St.John.

Friday morning there were several sessions of Reader Bingo. One of these was sponsored by me and four other great authors - Liz Talley, Lori Wilde, Sharon Sala and Terri Brisbin.  Here is a shot of us getting ready to kick things off and another of the great group we had in attendance. 

Later that evening was the author Q&A session, a really scary (for me anyway) event where each author in turn goes up on the stage in front of a large crowd of readers to introduce her/himself and then pick a question out of a bowl that they must then answer.  And since we were called up alphabetically by first name I was in the unenviable position of going last. (FYI my question was 'what is the cheesiest pick up line that I ever used or was ever used on me').  I had the pleasure of sitting next to Cindy Dees while I awaited my turn.  And that's Dee Davis and Damon Suede behind me - two authors I've gotten to know better since serving on the RWA national board.

Saturday morning was the main event - the luncheon. Each author (all 60 of us) hosts a table of 7 readers and we each do our best to show them how much readers like them mean to us.  Here is my table after I decorated it, along with a closeup of one set of reader gifts.

After I had my table ready, I walked around looking at the other tables and was really wowed by how fun and inventive some of them were.

Then it was time for the readers to join us and I scored some really great ladies to sit with me.

After the luncheon was a book signing. There was a pizza party that evening and then Eloisa James and Damon Suede capped the day off by hosting a fun game night that included charades of book titles and crazy mad libs of book scenes.

The next morning the event closed out with a breakfast where again the authors hosted tables for readers.  Unfortunately I didn't remember to get pictures.

The trip home did not go nearly as smoothly as the trip up there - we encountered delayed flights, parking shuttle snafus and an unplanned overnight stay at a less than posh roadside motel.  But we made it home eventually and the airline gave us first class upgrades for our trouble so all's well that ends well.

And there you have it, a quick overview of my fantabulous weekend.

Oh, and I brought home an extra souvenir mug from the breakfast that I'd like to give away to one person who stops by today, so leave a comment and you'll be entered in the drawing. Check back in the comments tomorrow to learn the name of the winner.