Sunday, February 14, 2010

CFl - Blogger Meet Up



Yesterday was the first ever Central Florida (CFl) blogger meet up. It was just me an Kris from The Reading Spot. We had a lot of responses from other local bloggers and authors wanting to participate, but they just couldn't make it to this one. We plan on doing it again and hopefully more will be able to join us because Kris and I had a great time.

We met at the resturant Panera Bread for lunch. It was crazy crowded, but Kris and I squeezed into a little table and happily chatted about books for an hour. Then we went outside to our cars to exchange books. We both each brought a tote bag full of books to trade. It was funny because Kris and I are both hunting through two big bags which we had put on the hood of her car. Ocassionally, customers would pass us. You would have thought a drug deal or some other shady business was going down with some of the strange looks we were getting. At any rate these are the books that I picked out.


Next we headed just down the road to stop at an absolute gem of a store, B and L Books. What is so fabulous about this store is it caters to romance readers. They sell both new and used books and they have a really great selection. I wish I would have remembered to bring my camera to take pictures. I could have spent days in this store and you should have seen their section on trade-size paperbacks. Wow. Just Wow.

I spent $35.00 and here is what I walked away with
New:

Used:

I seriously could have picked out more books, but I was trying to be conservative, LOL! However, when I came home from the trip, my husband was aware how how full my bag was when I left for the meet up. He was also aware that when I came home, I somehow magically seemed to have retained the same number of books. Go figure. (At least it wasn't more).

12 comments:

Hilcia said...

That sounds like fun, Jill!

I really want to read Slow Heat and Hot Mail... have those two on my list of books to read this year. :) Great haul!

Carolyn Crane said...

Oh, fun! So, only two of you out of the tons of bloggers in Florida?? I love the books you got. I really want to get Skin Game and Slow Heat, too!!

Lori said...

So glad you guys had a good time!! I adore the book swap, because it always brings on talk of what we liked and hated about certain books.

I bet each time, you'll have more and more people there.

Wendy said...

The book swap is always the most fun - and while I love hitting Borders with the So. Cal. Bloggers, the best discussions seem to take place at any used bookstore we find ourselves in.

More people will show up next time. I know with our group not everyone can make it every single time. The size of the group varies. This last time out we were MASSIVE - largely because some newbies joined us and Lisabea was in town :)

Jill D. said...

Hilcia - I have been hearing such good things about Slow Heat. I can't wait to read that one!

CC - I know right, where was everybody??! But actually, it was really just the date. Lot's of people already had plans. I am sure next time there will be more. One other person was supposed to come but she didn't make it for some reason. Cold feet maybe.

Lori - I was really looking forward to the book swap, not only just because I could get my hands on more books, but because I had several ARCs that I just don't know what to do with.

It was funny because as Kris was going through the books, I am like - "oh that one's not so good and oooh yeah, take that one you'll like it," etc.

Wendy - Congrats on joining Readers Gab! It's so nice to have you.

Yeah, I have been following your SoCal blogger meets and you blew me away with your last one. With my new job I will be traveling more. I might just make it over to your neck of the woods now. Be on the lookout :)

Leslie said...

Nice haul Jill! Even with only two of you I'll bet there was lots to talk about. Talking to someone else who gets "it" is such a great feeling. :)

Jill D. said...

Leslie - Talking to someone else who gets "it" is such a great feeling. Oh yes, this was what made the day so great. Then going to a store that caters to your passion was the icing on the cake. Even the lady working at the book store new Kris by name and we were talking with her about different books. It was a very special experience.

nath said...

I'm so glad you two had a great time!! I was so excited for you and so happy it went well :D

Lucky, book swap!! I'm never able to bring much books when I go to a meet ^_^;

And you got some good books, Jill :D

nath said...

Oh, and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE shopping with a fellow romance reader :D It's really the best thing ever :D

Christine said...

Sounds like a great time!

I love book swapping. I mostly swap with Katiebabs and I'm terrible at it. I give her like ONE book ... and she gives me a box of like 30. LOL!

I keep seeing Slow Heat everywhere these days. I can't wait to hear YOUR thoughts on it.

Jill D. said...

Nath - Yep, it was a great haul and Kris was an excellent shopping partner. Although, she has much better control than I do.

Christine - Yeah, I took more than I gave Kris. I felt a little bad about that, but she told me not to worry, LOL.

~ames~ said...

Hey good stuff!! You'll get more people next time. And then that will be another blog meet up I'll get jealous of! LOL

Great haul too.