Christian Fiction Readers Retreat 2016

DISCLAIMER: This blog may or may not contain some fangirling.

If you have not already signed up to go, DO IT NOW!!!

When I was invited, at first I thought it was one of those online facebook parties that you can attend in your PJ’s while sitting in front of your computer. You know, all comfortable and well…alone. My first reaction when I found out that it was in fact a REAL, LIVE, EVENT, was, “I can’t go, I live in Canada!”

And then….

I got to thinking. I stopped myself from just saying, “No” and allowed myself to actually think about it first. Maybe, just maybe I could go, maybe I was MEANT to be there. Perhaps the nudge to go is beyond my Pj-virtual-FB-party comfort zone? When I looked up the price of flights, I was pleasantly shocked to find that it was cheaper for me to fly from Toronto to Nashville in August, than it was for me to fly to British Columbia. (The west coast of Canada)

From that moment on, I just watched everything fall into place (still pinching myself!) and the next thing I knew flights were booked, accommodation booked and this little girl from Toronto is going to get to sing in Nashville! (HOW WILD IS THAT?)

I am really excited to attend this event as an author, yes it is true!

Clearly I am overusing the “!” on this post, but you know, I really am that excited about this and I’ll tell you why:

Have you seen the list of authors attending? That right there is a great reason to go (yes, even if you don’t live in Nashville.) The speakers are Julie Lessman, Laura Franz, Mary Connealy and Ruth Logan Hearne.  And then, there are 26 more authors participating in the event. I am particularly excited to give Julie a big ol’ hug, and let me tell you why. Back when our  devotional, As the Ink Flows: Devotions to Inspire Christian Writers & Speakers, was still in the developing stages, before we sent the first edited draft off to Judson Press, our publisher, Julie was there encouraging us to forge ahead and she endorsed our book, way back then. She has been a cheerleader ever since, bless her heart. I have been wanting to meet her in person ever since then, and it is going to happen! Among the list of authors are a few special ones I have met online and there are some who are new-to-me, but I am so excited to meet them and talk books.

I can’t tell you how awesome it is going to be to meet authors whom I have had on my website, right here, where I have not only reviewed their books, but interviewed them too and most have been generous enough to include a giveaway. We all love giveaways, right? (Or is that just me?) I have interviewed or reviewed, Carrie Turansky, Kristi Ann Hunter,  Kate Breslin, Shelley Shepherd Gray, and Susan Ann Mason right here on my blog and am looking forward to fangirl…I mean connecting in person. Carrie Turansky is another important cheer leader in my writing journey, and she has read and endorsed our devotional too. Thank you ladies! Yep, just a little (okay, A LOT) excited about telling you in person how much you have been a blessing to me.

Bloggers Unite. Somebody warn Nashville because the cra… urm, the serious (and crazy) book reviewers and bloggers are uniting! On August 24th, 2016 bloggers and book reviewers will be fangirling along with me (strength in numbers everyone!) and I will get to meet my fabulous bloggers and book reviewers in person! These ladies, no doubt have discovered what I have discovered, that the friendships made in the book reading and reviewing world are beyond priceless. No I am not exaggerating, it really is true. We stick together, we pray for one another and we really do comment on each other’s blogs, share each other’s links and it is just like we understand each other.

I have my foot in both worlds here, as a reviewer/blogger AND an author and I can say first hand that having book reviewers and bloggers backing you up and cheering you on as an author is the most amazing thing. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate my girls. I am also looking forward to meeting a few more at the CFRR whom I have not met or come across on the web as yet.

Readers Retreat. That says it all! I absolutely love that the organizers have chosen the theme: Honouring Him Through Christian Fiction. There is nothing more powerful than coming together with one faith, one love, one heart and one vision. Wowza! There is going to be a time for reflection, time for prayer and there will be music and song. Can’t get any better than that, and all that with books! I’m dusting off my guitar to participate in the music part of things and I just think Bonnie, Carrie and Annie are awesome for following their hearts and putting themselves out there to organize and promote this event. I am going to meet some of my precious readers and I am beyond excited to give them all a hug. (Be warned, I am a hugger!)

My apologies for the overloading of exclamation marks, but I can’t help it.

If you are going to be there, please come over and say “Hi,” don’t be shy.

I look forward to sharing a time of devotion and prayer with you at the end of the day of the retreat. On the meantime you can connect with me on Facebook and Twitter.

Sign up to attend

Find out more about the CFRR

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Thank you MELONY TEAGUE for having us on your blog today!

Come join us at the Christian Fiction Readers Retreat One Day Event (CFRR) in Nashville, TN this summer! Our event theme is “Honoring God through Christian Fiction.”  Enjoy speaker sessions, author panels, breakout sessions, prayer & worship and author signings with your favorite Christian fiction authors! With 30+ authors, food, swag (including free books), games and TONS of giveaways, you don’t want to miss this event!

When is it, you ask?

For more information, including schedule, authors list, registration info and other logistical questions, check out our website HERE, or click on the image above.  Registration is now open! Late registration begins on June 16th. Once capacity is reached, registration will close. So hurry up and register!

To go ahead and register, just go right HERE.

AND for the first giveaway at the event, all those registered can enter for the chance to win a BOX of Christian Fiction from the stewards of the event.  Just click on the image below to enter. (Link also available on our website).

We hope to see you there!