RT Booklovers Con 2014: The Love Zone and Lutefisk

Posted at May 11, 2014 6:11 am

Last week I scoured Seattle for appropriate Viking-themed goodies for the FIRST TO BURN: ESCAPE WITH AN IMMORTAL VIKING raffle basket I’ll be giving away in New Orleans at RT Booklovers Convention 2014. The obvious starting points were Elysian Brewery Immortal IPA and Freya’s Gold, in the big bottles, and Anna’s Swedish cookies.

Then I headed to the Scandinavian Specialty store in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood, an area historically settled by Swedish and Norwegian fishermen.

I found chocolate marzipan bars by Anthon Berg, by Appointment to the Royal Danish Court. Perfect for a couple on the run in Copenhagen. My immortals need a lot of energy to heal, and in FIRST TO BURN they drink copious amounts of beer and eat chocolate to recover from wounds. I wish life was that easy for the rest of us!

I also bought two wildly inaccurate Viking helmets, a furry one for my own costume and one with braids to give away. I skipped the lutefisk, although the store sells it in bulk, because somehow I suspect stinky fish and airplanes don’t mix.

One more stop on my raffle basket shopping. The Love Zone, a few blocks north of the Scandinavian Specialty Store. One of my favorite scenes from FIRST TO BURN (and one quoted by several reviewers) is:

“You got naked so fast!” In theory she had the advantage over him, with her responses covered by clothing and his fully visible, but she knew her control was illusive. If he chose, her warrior could take charge in a second. That certainty made her chest rise and fall faster.

“In the future, around you I intend to wear nothing but pelts. And handcuffs.”

His complete comfort exposing his arousal sent her reeling for the safety and predictability of details as she fastened the fabric tabs of the fur-lined cuffs around his wrists. “Technically, these are called restraints, not handcuffs.”

“Technically, these are called Santa’s-making-up-for-my-crappy-Christmas. And now I also believe in the Easter Bunny, since he’s in the other box.”

The Love Zone is the type of store you think it is, and sells what you think it sells. Refreshingly, the clerk was a really nice lady who guided me through all the types of restraints while we chatted about the raffle basket and the New Orleans conference. I ended up giving her one of my book cards featuring Shirtless Cover Dude.

The equally nice woman coming on for the next shift was at the register as I checked out, and we all started talking. Here’s what happened next:

Clerk #1: She’s an author. This is her book. (Hands over card with Shirtless Cover Dude).
Clerk #2: No way! I know him!
Me: You do not!
Clerk #2: I do! I’ve seen him before!
Me: But he’s a stock photo, just a …
Clerk #2: Not the real guy, the book. I know the book!
Me: (Long pause while brain tries to get mouth to close). You do not! It’s an ebook, it’s not out in print yet. (Brain saying: I haven’t sold that many copies and the story’s pretty hot but not hot enough to be famous in a place like this, so WHAT THE HECK?)
Clerk #2: It’s a paranormal with like Vikings, right?
Me: How did you know that? No way! How? (We’re all howling with laughter by this point, three women passing around one Shirtless Cover Dude in The Love Zone. Nobody else there, thank goodness.)
Clerk #2: My best friend works at Barnes and Noble and she sends me emails with books she thinks I should read, and I remember this cover because it was so good. I promise, I’ve seen this guy!

Shirtless Cover Dude was recognized in The Love Zone while I was purchasing fuzzy restraints.

You bet I’m taking him to New Orleans … Maybe he’ll get me a table at Galatoire’s too.

And everyone who meets me at the conference – make sure to ask for a Seattle Author Search drink coaster! Four Seattle romance writers – yours truly, Anna Alexander, Dani Monsch and Crista McHugh – have united to give away a $100 gift card. Find each of us, collect ONLY FOUR drink names and recipes, and then email our drink names to seattleauthorsearch at gmail by Saturday, May 24 (I know it says Friday May 24th on the card, but since that date only exists in an alternate world, we’re going with Saturday, May 24). We’ll pick a random winner for $100! Clearly, no purchase is necessary – just find us in New Orleans.

2 Comments

2 responses to “RT Booklovers Con 2014: The Love Zone and Lutefisk”

1. Krissy Daniels says:

   May 11, 2014 at 5:32 pm

   Lovely story, Anna! Love it. Have fun in New Orleans!

   Reply
   • Anna Richland says:

     May 11, 2014 at 7:12 pm

     Thanks! (When I reflect, I realize that a really good sales person could have scoped all that info from the book cover – but I like to think she really had seen it before!)

     And my mother and aunt are joining me for RT in New Orleans, so it’s going to be extra-crazy. It’s my first time – have you ever been to New Orleans?

     Reply