Home Place: Leeza Gibbons

Sunday, February 3, 2013

The Big Book Club Getaway at Mohegan Sun

The first annual Big Book Club Getaway was held this weekend at the Mohegan Sun Conference Center in Connecticut.

Source: Big Book Club Getaway

This is a must event for book lovers!

Whether you are a book worm, aspiring author, or a book club member, if you are an admirer of the written word, this book extravaganza is for you!

I was honored beyond belief to be a part of the pilot conference, and I can only say that if this first conference is indicative of the ones that I hope will follow, it will soon be a premiere event for publishers, writers, and readers, near and far!

Love history? Cookbooks? Magazines? Fiction? Non-fiction? The humanities? There was something for everyone at the Big Book Club Getaway!

Susan McCann of Essex and Colleen LaFrancois of Old Saybrook, organizers of the event, also brought a charity close to my heart on board, as a portion of the Big Book Club Getaway's profits will be donated to the Alzheimer's Association.

Kristen Cusato, Southwest Director of the CT Alzheimer's Association, emceed the event.
In addition, one of Friday night's featured speakers, included Dr. Gary Small, author of The Alzheimer's Prevention Program.

L-R Top to bottom
Gift bags from the Alzheimer's Association, Colleen and Susan
Kristen Cusato, Dr.Gary Small

Also included in Friday night's lineup, was Chicken Soup for the Soul's publisher, Amy Newmark, who was introduced by one of my favorite independent book store owner's, Roxanne Coady, of Madison's R.J. Julia's Bookstore.

Roxanne Coady

Amy explained the submission and publishing process for Chicken Soup for the Soul. Did you know that authors retain the copyright to their work? And that no matter how many words or pages your manuscript contains, Amy promises you can 'cut and paste' it into the tiny little submission box!

Amy Newmark was also honored Friday evening with an official Connecticut State Proclamation!

Some of Saturday's highlights included

UCONN professor, humorist, and author, Gina Barreca
a panel discussion with prominent sex therapists on the Fifty Shades of Grey phenomenon.
and Brad Meltzer, host of The History Channel's show Decoded

L, Gina Barreca, Top R Fifty Shades of Grey Panel, Bottom R Brad Meltzer

Brad Meltzer's talk was truly heart-warming, and included a portion on living your life to its fullest. To loosely paraphrase, "You don't write your obituary, others do that for you. Instead you must go out and live the life you were meant to live"

And Gina Barreca. Oh. My. Goodness. RUN. Don't walk! RUN! And buy her book It's Not That I'm Bitter. This woman is hysterical! I was laughing so hard I was crying...and so was my husband!

We also attended a panel discussion on books about Connecticut sponsored by The History Press, who feature regional history books written by local authors.

Below, authors Wilson Faude, Wick Griswald, and Eric Lehman share a laugh.

Wilson reminds everyone that history should be fun!

Wick Griswald's A History of The Connecticut River

Another great panel discussion was the Sportswriter's Panel. This was a wonderful group of 'baseball guys' that gave a glimpse of the "behind the scenes" stories of America's favorite game. Phrases like "pus-ball hitter" and "he was out on a bang-bang play at home" brought smiles of nostalgia to everyone.

Roger LaFrancois, Mark DeJohn, Todd Civen, Dr. Jeff Brown, Marty Appel, Rick Wolfe
Sports Writers Panel

The Mystery and Suspense Writer's Panel was also a wonderful highlight and it was a thrill to see up close and personal some of my favorite writers!

L-R, Tess Gerritsen, Hallie Ephron, J.A. Jance, and Hank Phillippi Ryan.

I took so many notes from these great women...and I could kick myself because I lost my notebook full of the best quotes and quips. These ladies are not only great suspense writers, but they also have an amazing sense of humor! I was pleased to learn that these women all whetted their appetite for the mystery novel, on my beloved Nancy Drew detective series.

Have a place to visit on your bucket list? Well, Patricia Schulz did! In fact she had a thousand of them that she details in her book 1000 Places to Visit Before You Die: A Traveler's Life List.

Last, but most definitely not least, was the closing author, talk show host and television icon, Leeza Gibbons.

Leeza's book Take 2: Your Guide to Creating Happy Endings and New Beginnings is for anyone who "wants a do-over or needs to re-boot their life" and her inspiring story of starting over at any age is a must read!

Photo Source: Wendy @ ConnecticutBloggers.com
L-R Me, Leeza Gibbons, Wendy from CT Bloggers

All in all it was a great weekend, and this will definitely be an annual attend for us!

Note: I received tickets to this event as a prize offered by one of the sponsoring publishers, however, all opinions expressed herein are my own.

PSST: If you are at Mohegan Sun and find my notebook please return it to me! It has Warner Pacific College on the cover. I think I left it on the fabulous Ms. Gibbons' table! **UPDATE** My notebook has been found! Read all about it HERE !

Saturday, January 19, 2013

The Big Book Club Getaway is coming to CT

On Friday, February 1, 2013, and Saturday, February 2nd, 2013, the Big Book Club Getaway is coming to the Mohegan Sun Conference Center in Connecticut.

Source: Big Book Club Getaway

Kristen Cusato, former WTNH co-anchor, and current regional director of the Southwest CT Alzheimer Association is the emcee for the opening night events.