Writers Groups / Meetups IRL

[Belegon]

I have read on AH that there was in fact an in-person get together of LitE authors... something like 15 years ago. Our late TxRad... of course... was at least a participant if not an instigator. I think there is at least one active AH'er who was part of that meet, but memory draws a blank on whom.

There have been a few at least. There was a small strong core that first met based around a joint booksigning in Milwaukee... Let me count in my head... there were, I believe 8 of us at that first meet up in Milwaukee. We came from as far west as San Diego and from as far east as the U.K. That group formed the core of a group that then met at the Love Shack (as we called it) in Texas at least twice. TxRad attended both of the Texas Meetups and took lots of us on mototrcycle rides. I believe I'm the only one from that group currently active on Lit. The Love Shack was the residence of two dear friends who had met on Lit and became a couple through their correspondance here. There were at least three such couples in attendance, including our hosts. There were also Mac and Min, who are still married and live in the Uk ; and myself and Impressive. Imp and I were together approx. 6 years. I moved from San Diego to W.V. to be with her, and I am still in West Virginia and indeed, went to dinner with her on Sunday night. We are no longer a romantic couple but remain dear friends. Lucky and Vella_La, who owned the house, split up after a few years. I am not sure how long they were together, but it was at least several years.

Following those, there were at least two Lit-togethers held in a hotel in Chicago that were much larger events. I met several Litizens there that I did not know previously. Some of whom I remain in contact with.

We had a pretty tight-knit community here at the time. There were members of the community who did not have an interest in real-world interactions, but were still embraced as members of that "inner circle".

 

[Duleigh]

I've had two meetups IRL - One was with Gelfet which became a glorious weekend that I shall never forget, nor shall I ever reveal the details. The other was with Campus77, we spent the day on Amelia Island talking books and writing and characters. We had a wonderful dinner at Sliders (best Shrimp & Grits in the south) and parted good friends. Three weeks later I got word that he had died... meeting me was on his bucket list.

Damnit.

 

[Tio_Narratore]

I've met and had lunch and/or dinner with eight other Litsters. Would be delighted to meet more in the Northeastern US/Canada region. I'd like to meet some in England again, but retirement has lost me my conference funding. Would liked to have met SamScribble before he passed, but the closest I got to New Zealand was Tahiti, and he couldn't make the trip.