GayRomLit FAQs

• When and where will GRL 2013 take place?

  GayRomLit 2013 will take place October 17th-20th in Atlanta at the Meliá Hotel. The Retreat weekend will be packed with activities, starting on Thursday morning, so consider arriving early. And if you're interested in professional development, this year we are also offering a one-day Writers Workshop for new and experienced authors of LGBT romance on October 16th, the day before the retreat kicks off.

• When will registration for GRL 2013 begin?

  Preregistration of publishers began in January. Author registration and General registration will open on March 9th at Noon Eastern Standard Time.

• How much does registration for GRL cost?

  General registration is $125 which includes all the GayRomLit events from October 17-20. This price does not include hotel charges or all meals, so please bear those expenses in mind. Registration for the optional GRL Writers Workshop will be $75 ($65 for members of the Rainbow Romance Writers).

  For professional registrations, our pricing and policies have changed to encourage a better reader-to-author ratio and more relaxed event for all. You'll find explanation of those revisions and additional details at the following pages:

  • Author Registration
  • Publisher Registration

• How much are the hotel rooms at the Meliá?

  We have a special GRL rate of $119 at at the Meliá Hotel. To receive the discount, you'll need to make your reservation through the link provided on your profile page after registration.

  Up to four guests can use each room with no extra charge. Please note, the rooms with double beds have "full" size beds. They are NOT queen size beds.

• What kind of people attend GRL each year?

  Passionate fans of LGBT romance and the people who write it! Each year has seen a mix of wacky extroverts and dark horses and everything in between. The one thing we'll guarantee is that if you love this genre, you will meet and make friends while you're at GRL.

• What can first-timers expect at GRL?

  We call it a retreat for a reason: the focus is on fun and friendly interaction. The GayRomLit Retreat is an annual gathering of the LGBT romance tribe which loves the books you do. The single most common reaction at GRL each year is that it's the best genre convention people have attended. To make sure everyone feels welcome for their maiden voyage, we also host a big meet-n-greet for GRL virgins first thing Thursday morning to help folks connect before things get underway.

• How does GRL benefit authors of LGBT romance?

  GayRomLit has become the one must-attend event for professional writers in our community by offering:

  • A high reader-to-author ratio with hundreds of passionate fans of the books you write
  • Fabulous events that put your books front and center
  • Unequaled opportunities for networking with colleagues in the genre
  • A one-day Writers Workshop for professional development the day prior to GRL.

  If you write LGBT romance, the GRL retreat offers a unique chance to relax, connect, and inspire yourself.

• How do publishers benefit from registering for GRL?

  GayRomLit has become a must-attend event for readers and writers of LGBT romance. Publishers that register for GRL:

  • Access the most enthusiastic fans (and consumers) of LGBT romance in a friendly, relaxed setting.
  • Dazzle authors and their audiences with nonstop promotional and vending opportunities.
  • Invest outreach dollars with economy and efficiency, at one of the most affordable events in romance.

  Though our numbers are capped at 400, our attendees are the genre's most vocal and committed advocates generating word-of-mouth that pays back a hundredfold.

• I’m registered as a general attendee, but I’m an author too. Can I promote myself during GRL in some way?

  We limited author registration to take the pressure off the general attendees. If you are not registered as an author you should not be actively promoting your work at GayRomLit. Unless an event's host gives you permission, you may not promote during any GRL event.
  

  While we understand that some authors will attend the retreat as General Registrants, please keep promo to a minimum unless readers approach you. There's absolutely nothing wrong with passing someone a pen after talking to them at the bar or in the lobby, but please respect the GRL boundaries as well as reader boundaries.  

  Remember: the best promo is always a smile and friendly attitude when dealing with others at the retreat.

  By the same token, anyone registered for GRL may purchase a program add. For further information check out our 2013GRLAdvertisingSpecifications.pdf.