Pre-Convention Guest Blogger: Mario Acevedo

RT Booklovers Convention 2009. The big kahuna of author fan conventions. Am I excited?

Hell yes!

Full disclosure (but no frontal). I write a vampire series but it's not paranormal romance. In fact, one reviewer said my latest book JAILBAIT ZOMBIE has zero romance. True, but there is sex...not with zombies, fortunately.

If you want to shelf my books, it would be under urban fantasy. Urban as in within three blocks from a coffee house, two blocks from a liquor store, and one block from a bar.

Back to the RT Convention. I've heard a lot about the wild shenanigans. The zany panels. The naughty costumes. The crazy parties. The hangovers. The blemished reputations.

I'll jet into Orlando on the Wednesday red-eye for my first panel, Vampire: A Bite with a Twist, with Caridad Pineiro, Jeanine Frost, Lynda Hilburn, and the demure Jaye Wells. After that I'll hook up with the vanguard elements from Team Seattle. Mostly I hope to fortify myself with Dutch courage as that night I expect to lose my RT virginity at the Ellora's Cave Fantasy Party. You know Ellora's Cave is infamous for publishing erotic romance. How erotic? Hot erotic. How hot? Scorching hot. Should my pants include a fire extinguisher?

Thursday morning, no doubt dragging ass from the previous night, catch me with Team Seattle in Club RT from 10:30 to 11:30. Stop by and you might win a Sony e-book reader, in Blaze Red, no less. After that, I'll be with Commodore Richelle Mead as she moderates the panel, Urban Fantasy: I'll Love You Forever.

I'm positive the Ellora's Cave shin-dig is just a warm-up for the notorious Faery Ball Dinner and Dance on Thursday night. Women slave all year to create elaborate outfits--from the glamorous to the scandalous--and my expectations are high (as high as I'm sure the necklines will be low) because I've seen amazing costumes at science-fiction/fantasy cons. The competition includes Orion slave girls and a comely young woman who wore an impressive rocket bra. (Loved those warheads.) Ladies, don't disappoint me.

To make sure bloodsuckers are properly represented (my vampire appreciates that), Friday night Heather Graham and Helen Rosburg host the Vampire Comic-Cula Party. Another must do and a great way to kick-start the rumor mill about inappropriate behavior.

Yeah, there's going to be a lot of swooning over cover models. A hunk pose-down. A contest for Mr. Romance. Since there's no demand for a Mr. Once Was, you'll find me at the bar with Mark Henry. He and I are collaborating on a screenplay. An Atomic Ranch interpretation of The Departed meets Swingtown. If our story makes it to the big screen, bring waders and Lysol.

Saturday I'll be in the beehive of scribblers at the Book Fair. Come by and stimulate the economy. Every book you buy is a blow against the forces of financial darkness.

Ellora's Cave. Faeries. Vampires. After all that bump-and-grind, I'm looking forward to Saturday night and the Dorchester's Splashing By the Shore Dance Party. But if I know anything about the RT Convention, I don't think I'll be cooling down too much.

Happy Fanging.

Mario Acevedo
www.marioacevedo.com