GRL Retreat Events

Retreat Registration begins on the morning of Thursday, October 18 and continues all day. After picking up your Retreat nametag and official tote, visit the SWAG Room and fill your bag with cool stuff provided free by GayRomlit's participating authors and publishers.

The first sessions will start Thursday afternoon so you'll want to arrive in Albuquerque either Wednesday or on Thursday morning. Events and activities will continue Friday and Saturday, concluding with the Farewell Brunch on Sunday morning.

MLR Press Opening Reception

Say hello to old friends and meet new ones at this welcome reception hosted by Laura Baumbach and Manlove Romance Press. Nosh on a wide assortment of hors d’oeuvres with your favorite libation from the cash bar. And, hear opening remarks from the Retreat Organizers and the host publisher.

Wild Wild West: The Gentlemen's Juke Joint Party

Fresh off the success of their first event in New Orleans... the boys are back! This year they're gettin' gussied up and ready to kick up their heels to tease and please. Join the gentlemen of m/m fiction for cocktails at the opening night party celebrating tall sexy wranglers and their ten inch--er, ten gallon hats. Pack your own Stetson and lizard-skin boots to wear for the duded-up party room that'll be transformed into a different themed event every night.

Samhain Press Build-A-Burrito Breakfast

Get your first taste of the Southwest with this Friday morning buffet breakfast sponsored by Samhain. It's a hearty way to start your day of attending author and publisher sessions. Breakfast also includes a wide assortment of breakfast favorites including eggs, bacon, and sausage.

Almuerzo Mexicana With Torquere Press

Join Torquere Press for a festive almuerzo (lunch) and feast on a wide assortment of delicious Southwestern specialties prior to spending an afternoon of shopping and touring in historic Old Town.

MLR Press Day Of The Dead Party

It's an annual tradition in the Southwest to honor those who have passed with a festive celebration. Join MLR Press at the historic Casa Esencia hacienda for a sangria cocktail party in Old Town Albuquerque.

Karaoke Like A Rock Star With Resplendence Press

Our evening party room becomes an all-you-can-sing karaoke party. Join Resplendence for tasty munchables and your favorite soft drink. Or use the cash bar to help fire the courage to step up on the big stage. Is the next American Idol among us?

Loose Id French Toast Breakfast

Rise and shine on Saturday morning for a hearty breakfast of french toast and a generous number of accompaniments including bacon and eggs. It'll be a morning feast courtesy of Loose Id.

Silver Publishing Trail Ride Barbecue On The Lawn

Mosey up to the chuck wagon for an authethic Southwestern barbecue and all the fixin's. Join Silver Publishing on the Hard Rock’s Woodstock Lawn for lunch while you enjoy the warm autumn desert sunshine and the spectacular vistas of the Isleta Reservation and nearby mountains.

Total-E-Bound Southwestern Social

Join Total-E-Bound Publishing for a tribute to the rich culture, tradition, and colors of the Southwest. Enjoy cocktails, appetizers, and authentic Native American entertainment in this not-to-be-missed event in the Hard Rock’s amazing indoor-outdoor Spa dome.

Cosmos Cabaret Lounge Presented by Dreamspinner Press

Picture a grand piano, a handsome singer, and a perfectly mixed cosmo martini that is stirred, not shaken. Dreamspinner Press invites you to a good-time sing-along piano bar where the mood is gay and the men are, well, gayer. Join all for the final night of revelry in Albuquerque.

Silver Publishing Farewell Brunch

It's time to say vaya con dios to friends old and new at a farewell breakfast sponsored by Silver Publishing on Sunday morning. Enjoy a generous fare of foods to tide you over for the long trip home. And, find out where the third annual GayRomLit Retreat will take place in 2013.

Action-packed days and nights

Author's Q&A

What happened to Bart and Hank after they rode into the sunset together? This is your chance to ask writers all the things you've been dying to know about your favorite stories and characters. These moderated Q&A's will feature up to four writers in an informal setting where you'll also hear about their new and upcoming efforts. And perhaps they'll even share some of the trade secrets that make them successful.

Book Readings

One of the highlights of last year's Retreat was the sometimes funny, sometimes profound, often risque, and always entertaining Book Readings by our participating authors. We've expanded this popular event by scheduling even more readings by more authors. And to keep the atmosphere light and fun, we'll take over the very hip Fusion 504 Bar located next to the Casino.

Publisher Spotlights

Meet the publishers behind your favorite books and authors. These sessions are as varied and diverse as the books they produce. They may include question and answer sessions, interviews, advice on becoming a published author, book selling, prize giveaways, and simple meet-and-greet opportunities to get acquainted. Each publisher is reponsible for the content of its session.

Surprises, Sprees, and Signings

Author Spotlights

Individual authors (or groups of them) will create customized events and sessions designed to inform, enlighten, and entertain. The subjects and formats will be as varied as the stories written. But one thing you can count on: they'll be original and interesting.

Shopping and Dining in Old Town Albuquerque

We'll load up the wagons (well, buses) and take an afternoon excursion to historic Old Town Albuquerque. It all begins with a fabulous lunch provided by Torquere Press followed by an afternoon of shopping and touring. The day concludes with a Day Of The Dead cocktail party sponsored by MLR Press at a restored 1840's hacienda. This holiday is a long-standing tradition and celebration in the Southwest honoring those who have passed.

The GayRomLit Booksigning Event

One of the Retreat's highlights is the big booksigning event featuring almost all registered authors. It'll be an all-star occurrence not to be missed. Readers are invited to bring their favorite books with them or, in many cases, books can be purchased directly from the author or publisher. Or, if you don't want to pack all that extra weight in your bags, come prepared with book labels that the authors can sign instead.