Hey everyone!
I have a SUPER special guest blogging for me today. My good friend, and incredible woman, Laurie Damron. For years now, Laurie has been helping me with... well, just about everything. She'll read for me to check for errors, do contests, blog, and best of all, she's the official coordinator for the "Troop Project." Laurie can explain that below.
Please give her a gigantic Quill welcome!

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It’s that time again!

Lori Foster and Dianne Castell are having their 5th annual Reader and Author Get Together in the Cincinnati area, the weekend of June 5th to 7th.

If you’re not able to attend, I’m so sorry. If you are attending, please be sure to say hello! I’ve never heard Lori or Dianne actually make promises or guarantees of a good time, but they very well could. I look forward to this weekend all year and while I go to Cincinnati a handful of times throughout the year, my favorite drive home is on the Sunday after the get together. I lose myself in thoughts of tearful hellos and goodbyes, conversations with old and new friends, laughs ranging from silly giggles to ones that come from deep in the belly, and of course, endless talk about books. I probably have a goofy grin on my face all the way up I-71 North!

There will be a used book trade at the get together (tickets in exchange for turned in books which are then used to shop for the traded books of others), a book fair and signing, and a reader favorite - dozens of raffle baskets. Several worthwhile charities (listed at the link above) will benefit from the raffles and a portion of the book fair proceeds.

There are over 100 authors signed up, and while I’ll admit that I’m not familiar with all of them, there will be several well-known and much-loved authors in attendance as well as several industry professionals. (This photo shows some of the "regulars" having lunch at Panera. That's Barb, Judy, me, Kaleen, and Lori.)

The atmosphere is relaxed and comfortable and there is an abundance of time to meet and visit with authors and to catch up with your friends. Trust me, with over 295 attendees registered, you’re going to find someone to hang out with! Some of my favorite people ever are women that I only see once at year at this event; I can’t wait to see them again!

I will once again be taking tangible and monetary (for shopping and shipping) collections for the troops and there will be a raffle for great prize baskets for two lucky troop donors. There’s no such thing as a donation that’s too small. Donations can be tangible or monetary (cash, check, gift card).

Stores that I have access to for utilization of gift cards are: Target, WalMart, Meijer, Kroger and Giant Eagle. Feel free to email me at ljodamron@gmail.com if you aren’t attending but would like to make a donation, or if you have specific questions.

All troop donors will be entered in a raffle for one of two prizes. I don't know at this point in time the exact content of both prizes, but can tell you that there will be a $50.00 gift card to Barnes & Noble, two incredible book bundles (winner's choice, one dozen books each) generously donated by Michelle Buonfiglio of Romance: B(u)y the Book/Barnes & Noble.com, and other author and reader donated books and goodies. If you're an author and interested in donating books and/or other goodies or promo items, please let me know.

This project has been a huge success in the past and I'm thrilled to report that we have shipped over 900 pounds to servicemen and women in Iraq and Afghanistan, thanks to the never ending generosity of those in the romance community.

I would like to ask that if you have a child, friend, or other family member or acquaintance serving overseas (it doesn't have to be Iraq or Afghanistan, ok?) that you would like us to send a package to, please bring their name and mailing info with you, and feel free to include any specific wants or needs they may have. I always have attendees mention a child or loved one who is serving, but they never get back to me with their information - so please bring it with you!

If you would like to write a note to tuck into a shipment or have children who want to draw a picture or write a poem or letter, please do! If you’re not attending but have someone you would like to have remembered, please don’t hesitate to contact me with their mailing information.

While I enjoy putting the shipments together, the greatest reward is when I hear back from these young men and women - I have received emails, cards, notes and letters. It means so much to them to know that fellow Americans back home care about and are thinking of them. Two of these soldiers found a special place in my heart and I think of them often. I corresponded with one young woman for close to two years, and one young man and I became the most unlikely of pen pals for close to a year. Sadly, I lost touch with both once they came home, but that’s okay because now they’re with family and friends who love them.

As we go into this Memorial Day weekend, let’s remember those who gave their lives, those who proudly served, as well as those who are bravely defending us today.
I will be out of town the better part of today, but will pop in this evening to say hello.

Thank you, Lori, for asking me to be here today!

Laurie Damron
Laurie's Laudanum