So I've been frantically trying to meet a deadline (Bondage Play, Play Series 2), and now that I have, I can write about the awesomeness that was GRNW (Gay Romance Northwest) last week! First off, one of the things that was discussed at the conference is how GRNW has grown into so much more than gay romance, so searching for a new name is definitely on the table for next year. What I love about this meet-up is the emphasis on community and the fact that the focus is on the entire LGBTQIA spectrum in both attendees and authors. I always discover new authors at the meet.

The conference this year was free because it was supported by Old Growth Northwest, the Seattle Public Library and Gay City Health Project. The actual conference took place in the Bill Gates auditorium and other rooms of the Seattle Public Library. An emotional and heartfelt keynote address was delivered by Tracy Timmons-Grey, who has been responsible from the beginning for organizing this wonderful event. She discussed how far LGBT literature has risen in the past year, and touched on some of the challenges to the community as well, most notably, the Orlando Pulse shooting.

Several wonderful panels followed, including the Bi-erasure No More one that I was a part of with my fellow authors Charley Descoteaux, CJane Elliot, EJ Russell, Dev Bentham and editor Amanda Jean. You can hear our entire panel HERE. We had strong attendance, and I was touched by the diversity in the audience. The highlight panel for me was the one on Trans fiction. There are some seriously amazing trans and gender queer authors out there including Ben Brock, Austin Chant, E.E. Ottoman, Christopher Hawthorne Moss, Tobi Hill-Meyer and others. You must check out their work.

The event kicked off Friday night (I know, I'm not a very chronological person!) with readings at the Hugo House which gave me my first glimpse into some incredible trans and lesbian fiction and romance that I can't wait to read. On Saturday, once the panels were done, attending authors did a signing which became more of a social event for me, but gave me a great opportunity to hand out 50 free copies of the first book in the Play series, Role Play, and to meet many new people.

Afterwards, we adjourned to the Rendezvous Bar where we socialized in the Grotto below (a genuine speakeasy from the Prohibition era) with food and drink and shared more, er, explicit readings. Austin Chant congratulated me on joining him in the reading of some filth. Many authors picked up the mantle, though, so we were not alone in our quest. We ended the evening playing a game similar to Cards Against Humanity, but we answered the prompts with lines from books instead of cards. In conclusion, a good time was had by all.

In between all this, I managed to get some writing done as well as touristing it up at Mama's Mexican Cantina (note the Elvis table shrine in the photo) and a visit to Pike Place where we enjoyed the fish market sellers throwing the fish (yeah, I was confused too, but when someone purchases a fish, they yell out then hurl it to one another. I'm easily amused). I also loved the street entertainers (plot bunny anyone?), the Victorian lady, living statue being my fave.

My next journey is to GRL in a couple of weeks. I'm driving over two thousand miles to get there, so I will most definitely be writing on the road, and I also plan to vlog about it with the Thelma to my Louise (we won't be going to the Grand Canyon, however), author LE Franks. Hope to see you there!

If you're interested discovering more on what GRNW is all about, you can find them online HERE