Marie Force’s 5^th Annual Reader’s Weekend

June 15-16, 2018

Warwick and Block Island, RI

 

This summer I attended Marie Force’s 5^th Annual Readers Weekend in RI. This was my second time going (2016 was my first one). I met up with some friends I met the first trip and made some new friends. The thing that sticks out from this weekend is that the readers are so happy to be there, to see old friends, ecstatic to make new friends, to share with the new attendees, to discuss the books and characters, and to explore the area and especially Block Island aka Gansett Island. There were so many reunions within the group. It was wonderful to meet in person the friends that have been made via Facebook. Marie, Julie, and the whole team work so hard to put this on for Marie’s fans and are very generous. I didn’t take many pictures from the island this time but here is a link to my post from 2016 weekend which I posted many sites inspired from the books:   https://comfychairbooks.com/2016/07/31/marie-forces-reader-weekend-2016/

There are still many places on the island I want to see and I’m hoping to convince my husband of a weekend trip for our 25^th Anniversary in 2020. I went this year with two friends I met via Facebook & at the 2016 Reader’s Weekend. We all live in Maryland so we travelled and roomed together. We flew out of Baltimore very early Friday morning. We did some relaxing and shopping through the afternoon. Friday evening, the Reader’s event got underway!  Starting with a Tiki Bar Reception with local guitarist Pat Cottrell (aka Owen), followed by welcome from Marie, raffles, and a yummy dinner. After dinner dancing with DJ Chris. Saturday began early, it was BLOCK ISLAND day!  We took a bus ride to the ferry, then the ferry to Block Island. We had 4 ½ hours to explore. Back to the hotel for dinner, book signing and a Q&A.  What a fun weekend!

Below is a photo diary of my weekend. ~ Lisa

All ready for our flight to RI (with Michelle and Cindy)

Catching up with friends (Michelle, Pam, Chris, Cindy, Lisa)

Marie’s welcoming speech and giving out prizes

We had a few raffle winners from our table

Some pictures of our table

I’ve met Marie a few times (4) and I always impressed that she knows who we are. She takes the time to talk with us and take pictures.

Marie with Cindy

Marie with Cindy (who won a purse full of goodies)

I found these lovely ladies on Facebook and they live not too far from me. We all attended a book launch in DC (2013) which I did not meet them then, but I did find them this year. (with Jeanine & Karina)

Pam & David, photographer & videographer, are the best! Marie with her dad, George Sullivan, Marie and her husband, Dan. Dan leading his annual YMCA dance.

Fun night with my friends!

BLOCK ISLAND DAY!

 

Took the bus to Point Judith Ferry Landing

 

Ferry ride to Block Island

 

A gorgeous day to walk from the ferry to the Oar Restaurant -Bar

 

Good conversation, lunch, and drinks

 

After a day exploring Block Island, we returned back to the hotel for dinner, Q&A with Marie, and book signing.

I hope you enjoyed my photos from 2018 Reader’s Weekend with Marie Force. Marie and her team put on an awesome event for her fans. I highly recommend attending at least once.

I posted pictures from my 2016 trip here:

https://comfychairbooks.com/2016/07/31/marie-forces-reader-weekend-2016/

Some sites worth checking out on Block island:

·        Southeast Lighthouse

·        Ballard’s

·        Surf’s Hotel (aka the Lawry’s Sand & Surf)

·        On the road between Old Harbor and New Harbor, there is a grocery store where Marie pictures Grace’s pharmacy to be located on Gansett.

·        Payne’s Dock in New Harbor – inspiration for McCarthy’s Marina

·        Mahogany Shoals, on Payne’s dock, inspiration for Big Mac’s Tiki Bar

·        Narragansett Inn, inspiration for McCarthy’s Gansett Island Inn (right outside the gate for Payne’s)

·        Oar Bar – mentioned in books, thousands of painted oars are all over the bar

 The Gansett Island Series

 Set on a fictional version of Marie’s beloved Block Island, RI, the Gansett Island is Marie’s marquee series with nearly 3 million copies of the books sold since Maid for Love debuted in 2011. Readers come back book after book to catch up with their favorite characters while enjoying a new romance in every book. Get ready to share in the life of the McCarthy family as well as their many island friends in this much-loved sexy romance series.

While the Gansett Island Series books can stand alone, with a complete story in each book, you will enjoy them more if you read them in order. Stories unfold chronologically, and couples show up again in later books, keeping you up-to-date with your favorite characters.

Click on the link for each book to access ebook, print and audio purchase links as well as excerpts and other information about the books.

Gansett Island Boxed Set, Books 1-3
Gansett Island Boxed Set, Books 4-6
Gansett Island Boxed Set, Books 7-9
Book 1: Maid for Love (Maddie & Mac)
Book 2: Fool for Love (Joe & Janey) 
Book 3: Ready for Love (Luke & Sydney)
Book 4: Falling for Love (Grant & Stephanie) 
Book 5: Hoping for Love (Evan & Grace) 
Book 6: Season for Love (Owen & Laura) 
Book 7: Longing for Love (Blaine & Tiffany)
Book 8: Waiting for Love (Adam & Abby)
Book 9: Time for Love (Daisy & David)
Book 10: Meant for Love (Jenny & Alex)
Book 10.5: Chance for Love, A Gansett Island Novella (Jared & Lizzie) 
Book 11: Gansett After Dark (Owen & Laura) 
Book 12: Kisses After Dark (Shane & Katie)
Book 13: Love After Dark (Paul & Hope)
Book 14: Celebration After Dark (Big Mac & Linda)
Book 15: Desire After Dark (Slim & Erin)
Book 16: Light After Dark  (Mallory & Quinn)
Book 17: Victoria & Shannon (Episode 1)
Book 18: Kevin & Chelsea (Episdoe 2)
A Gansett Island Christmas Novella
Book 19: Mine After Dark (Riley & Nikki)

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Marie Force is the New York Times bestselling author of contemporary romance, including the indie-published Gansett Island Series and the Fatal Series from Harlequin Books. In addition, she is the author of the Butler, Vermont Series, the Green Mountain Series and the erotic romance Quantum Series. In 2019, her new historical Gilded series from Kensington Books will debut with Duchess By Deception.

 All together, her books have sold 6.5 million copies worldwide, have been translated into more than a dozen languages and have appeared on the New York Times bestseller list many times. She is also a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestseller, a Speigel bestseller in Germany, a frequent speaker and publishing workshop presenter as well as a publisher through her Jack’s House Publishing romance imprint. She is a two-time nominee for the Romance Writers of America’s RITA® award for romance fiction.

 Her goals in life are simple—to finish raising two happy, healthy, productive young adults, to keep writing books for as long as she possibly can and to never be on a flight that makes the news.

Join Marie’s mailing list for news about new books and upcoming appearances in your area. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter @marieforce and on Instagram. Join one of Marie’s many reader groups. Contact Marie at marie@marieforce.com.

AUTHOR LINKS

 Website:  http://marieforce.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarieForceAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarieForce

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marieforceauthor/

Newsletter: http://marieforce.com/subscribe/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1508588.Marie_Force

Reader Groups: https://marieforce.com/contact/