AAD NOLA Author Spotlight: Carolyn Crane

Ten things I’ll be discreetly (and not discreetly) doing at AAD
by Carolyn Crane


Hey Tori! Thanks so much for inviting me to your blog!

So, AAD! There are so many things I love about this conference: the excitement of meeting people I know from online and the book world, and being with a group of hundreds of writer/reader types who are just like a tribe with instant and fierce things in common. And also discussing things about publishing that weigh on my mind with other authors. But there are some specific things I shal do at this conference. I have identified ten of them!

Get the hotel layout in my mind right away
The last time at AAD, you can’t believe how much time I wasted being lost in that hotel! It was like a funhouse, with the floors vaguely resembling each other, so you sort of never knew where you were, which is a huge impediment to getting where you’re going, believe me. This time, I am going to memorize the freaking hotel map. If you are lost, see Carolyn Crane, biotches!

Get that panel schedule app on my smart phone
I would highly suggest this for you. Last year, there was an app that had the schedule and the people who had it really knew what was up. I am of the pathetic generation that sort of sucks using a smartphone. I have one, but I am not fluent in the whole apps thing. and so I was always bugging people to tell me not only where I was, but where I was supposed to be. This year, that all changes! I will be working that app!

Secretly look at the other authors’ outfits
There are authors that I admire that somehow manage to look authorly, an ineffable combo of polished, yet cool. Relaxed, just dignified. Authorly. Certain bloggers and readers have this going, too. A kind of smartypants chic. How do you do it?? I don’t know how they do it but when I go to conventions, I try to get ideas and often record outfits in my memory for copying. I will be wearing shoes that are the identical ones that Jessica from ReadReactReview.com wore to Romcon one year. I am a very outfits-challenged individual. I wore the same outfit at my 10 and 20 year high school reunions. My sister helped me choose it. In fact, I will likely wear it at the convention. It seems to have worked so far. I’m a clothes dork.

Gush about heroes out loud
There is something massively different between typing the words “I love Aiden the Fierce!” onto a keyboard and saying them to a live human being who totally understands, and can be all squeeeee! Back. Don’t you think? I will be taking advantage of this in NOLA. In normal life, I think most of us don’t have outlets through which to say such things aloud. Or, maybe you do. Maybe you have local galpals you talk books with. I don’t have a whole lot of that here.

Pig out
In my normal life, I eat really healthy. However, get me around a lot of regular food, and I tend to go a little crazy. Chocolate, cheese, breads, fried things. OMG is it August yet? And we’ll be in New Orleans!! Who wants to go out for pastries?? I’m so there!

Look at nametags soooo discreetly
There’s this weird thing at conventions where, as soon as you run into a person, you look down at their nametag to see if you know them. I always feel sort of weird doing it, like, Who are YOU? But, if you don’t do it, you often don’t know who the person is. I’m also horribly challenged at remembering faces, so even if I have met a person, I often won’t remember them. I live such a solitary life, I get overwhelmed when meeting many people at once. Sometimes my brain just turns off.

Work really hard and probably fail at connecting twitter avis with names
I sort of wish people had their twitter avatars on their nametags. That is so how I remember people. If you’re on twitter and haven’t been to a convention, you’ll totally see what I mean. Unless you twitter avi is your face. Then it would be a bit overkill. LOL.

Covet your books
Let’s face it, you readers and bloggers get the good book swag! We authors get some books, sure, but I tend to feel that it’s a bit unseemly for authors to go around snapping up too many of the freebie books, especially when they’re given out by other authors. There isn’t any specific rule about it, but it seems like they’re not really for us. So, you readers and bloggers, if my eyes drop below your face, it might not be your nametag I’m looking at…it might be your books haul!

Pick up after myself and be a better roommate for Nicole
I roomed with Nicole Peeler last year, and will again this year. However, Nicole, if you are reading this, you will discover I have turned over a new leaf! I will not be the slob I was at AAD 2011! I will pick up my things! I will not dump swag all over the chairs and floor!

Have fun!
I so can’t wait.

So, do you have any under-the-radar plans for AAD in New Orleans? Do tell!



I’m a writer living in Minneapolis with my husband and two daring cats.


I work a day job as a freelance advertising writer, and have for years. I’ve also waited tables at a surprising number of Minneapolis restaurants and bars (though not as many, incidentally, as my writer husband has). I’ve also been a shop clerk and a plastics factory worker, which I was dismal at (think I Love Lucy).


Also, I can relate almost any life experience to one or another Star Trek episodes, and if you invite me to your party, your cheese plate will be in grave danger.


During rare moments when I’m not at my computer, I can be found reading in bed, running, helping animals, or eating Mexican food.


Connect with Carolyn:  Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads



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