Road To RomCon with Gabi Stevens + Giveaway

We actually met Gabi last year at RomCon but with so many authors and activities, we weren't able to hang much with her. Our first memory of Gabi is at the Thursday night dinner and she was giving away sweet RTCs for As You Wish. Fun fact: Gabi mentions Black's Beach in her book Wishful Thinking. *giggle* Black's Beach is a nudie beach below the Glider Port near where Kati lives.

WELCOME TO THE BLOG GABI!!!

Meet Gabi:

Gabi Stevens was born in SoCal to Hungarian parents. After spending time in boarding school, college, and studying abroad, she spent seven years in the classroom trying to teach eighth graders the joys of literature. An award winning author, Gabi writes in New Mexico where she lives with her robotics engineer husband, three daughters, and two dogs. She loves to play games, has a wicked addiction to reading, avoids housework and cooking, and doesn’t travel nearly as much as she would like to. Discover the magic in Gabi’s books: THE WISH LIST; AS YOU WISH; and WISHFUL THINKING.

Connect with Gabi: Author Site | Blog | Facebook | Twitter

The Magic of RomCon

by Gabi Stevens

Two years ago, I heard about a romance conference being held in Denver. That was right in my backyard (as much as anything can be in my backyard from Albuquerque. Seriously. Look at a map if you don’t believe me. No city is close to us except, well, us.). With very little delay I signed up. And never regretted a moment.

Where else could an author, newly published in paranormal, meet so many wonderful readers, bloggers, reviewers, and other authors? I’m as much a fan as an author and I had dinner with Jo Beverly one night, and Julia Quinn another. Totally wonderful.

But the best part was meeting the readers. So many women (mostly) who loved romance. For once not having to wait for THAT reaction when you tell someone you write romance (you know what I’m talking about). Finding readers eager to try a new author. Laughing at the bad jokes and artistic attempts of the authors. And finding other common interests, like “Settlers of Catan” and movies and food. I didn’t hesitate to sign up for the second year and now this third year.

But the best magic is the friendships that form. Since that first year I have maintained regular contact with several women whom I’m excited to see again. And each year I add more friends. In my Time of Transition series, I write about fairy godmothers and magic, but a big part of the novels is about the friendship between women, especially between the three old godmothers:

“...Being a fairy godmother fulfilled me in ways I didn’t know I wanted and brought me fame too. I met so many amazing people, and that’s not even counting Rose and Lily.
Don’t you dare tell them I said that.” Hyacinth’s eyes sparkled.
Stormy laughed. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
“Can you imagine the grief they’d give me if they knew I love them?”
Stormy guessed that the other two godmothers knew, but she refrained from saying that. “The two others are waiting for me too, aren’t they?”
“Kristin and Reggie are good kids. You’ll like them.”
“I expect I will.”

Wishful Thinking is the third book and final book in the series, and I’m looking forward to bringing something special to promote it this year. The first year I brought little bottles of fairy dust, last year I had trading cards, and this year I’ll have cards and little wands. I’ll be sure to give some to Jamie and Kati to send out to you guys reading here.

So here’s to RomCon, a place where magic can happen and does. THE WISH LIST, book one in the series, was a Reader’s Crown finalist last year. I haven’t heard back yet about AS YOU WISH, and the contest hasn’t even been announced for this year, but you can bet I’ll be at the con next year too. It’s in my backyard.

And while I know you’re all clamoring to meet me now, here’s my question for you: besides me, which author would you like to meet and what question would you ask them? But feel free to ask me anything here too. One lucky commenter will win their choice of one of my books.

 Excerpt from Wishful Thinking ©2012 by Gabi Stevens

GABI'S BOOKS:

When Kristin Montgomery discovers her three aunts are fairy godmothers and she's next in line for the job, her uncomplicated life disappears like magic. No, not like magic; it is magic. Kristin not only has to deal with burgeoning magical powers, but also a reluctant arbiter, a selfish sprite, and a suave French sorcerer. It’s bad enough there are no books or classes she can take to learn magic, but someone is out to take over the Arcani world. Kristin has to trust her heart and her instincts to keep herself and the ones she loves out of danger.

Get Your Own Copy: Amazon(pb) | Kindle | B&N(pb) | Nook 

Book Extras: Read an Excerpt

Regina Scott, known as Reggie, has made a successful life for herself despite her lack of magical powers. She is content to live out her life as a Groundling until the outgoing fairy godmothers tell her she’s the second new replacement. In the space of a few days, she faces a curse, a plot to overthrow the Arcani world, and an entirely too enthusiastic mother. And she doesn’t know which will be the most difficult to deal with. Can Reggie balance trust, magic, and danger and still find the happiness she deserves?

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Free-spirit Stormy Jones-Smythe lives in a loving community of artists, but when she is chosen as the third fairy godmother, the Arcani world forces its boundaries and expectations on her. Luckily even a rigid and strict bodyguard can’t contain her exuberance.
Stormy is the final facet of the Power of Three. Together with the first two godmothers, Stormy has to face the biggest threat the Arcani have seen since the time of Merlin. Maybe she can rescue a bit of happiness for herself too. If she survives.

Get Your Own Copy: Amazon(pb) | Kindle | B&N(pb) | Nook

Book Extras: Read an Excerpt

Okay ladies, now to the giveaway portion. Gabi is giving away a copy of one(1) of her Time of Transition books to one(1) lucky reader. Reader's choice. Here's how to enter:

• Leave a comment for Gabi answering her question: besides me, which author would you like to meet and what question would you ask them? But feel free to ask me anything here too. One lucky commenter will win their choice of one of my books.
• Fill out the rafflecopter form below. You must leave a comment. All other entries are optional.

Don't forget to check out the other giveaways in our event and enter for the grand prize box here.

A huge thank you to Gabi for celebrating with us as well as donating the giveaway books.

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