Authors Dish SaSS26 Richmond With David E Gordon, Elizabeth Suit, Cecelia Mecca/Cissy Mecca/C.L. Mecca, and Lane Martin
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Welcome to Authors Dish featuring authors and industry professionals attending the 10th Anniversary Sexy and SaSSY 2026 Signing in Richmond, Virginia. If you are joining us for all the bookish fun or just traveling over the summer we hope their tips or packing ideas are helpful no matter where your travels take you. If you are heading to #SaSS26 next month please don’t forget to pre-order your books early to guarantee your books are waiting for you (details and links can be found on the facebook group page.) If you are bringing your favorites from home don’t forget to make room for all the extra bookish stuff you’ll find while you are in Richmond. May these posts inspire you to shop early, make your lists, and triple check so you are prepared for just about anything.
Thank you to all who have dished and those yet and soon to featured. Stay tuned for more comments and be sure to follow the blog so you don’t miss these posts.
Grab a cuppa and join Authors David E. Gordon, Elizabeth Suit, Cecelia Mecca, and Lane Martin
Rae: What genre(s) do you write and what are you currently working on?
David: I write suspense/thrillers and right now I am proofing my 5th novel in the Cutter Anthology (available on Amazon in paper and Kindle). Then it will get sent to my editor.
Elizabeth: Contemporary Romance, Working on Book 2 of Stella’s Diner series about a Navy doctor who saves a woman who has been stabbed outside the diner.
Cecelia: I write romance across three connected worlds… medieval and Scottish historical romance as Cecelia Mecca, contemporary romance as Cissy Mecca and paranormal/romantasy as C.L. Mecca.
Right now, I’m working on a new medieval romance series, Black Sails of the Border with more morally gray heroes the kind of hard-won love most. 13th century style. 🙂
Lane: I write contemporary open-door spicy romance. I’m currently working on a small-town romance.
Rae: What is your favorite decade?
David: Honestly… I think I would say this one. Other than some (new, old-man) health issues it has been great. Two grandsons, a new daughter in law and a new son in law, and some other good things.
Elizabeth: The 80’s.
Cecelia: Tough question because my honest answer is usually “whatever decade has the best story.” But if I have to choose, I’d say the 1990s for real life and the 1270s for book life. One is nostalgic for me… I’m still waiting for fluorescent shirts and big hair to come back in style! The other gave me castlesbrooding warrior heroes, so it’s really hard to choose!
Lane: I’ve never really thought about it, but I guess I would say the 80’s. It was a good time! Now I’m showing my age.
Rae: What five things do you have to pack when attending a conference?
David: Extra clothes – you never know, a “dinner/party” outfit, two outfits for the signing (weather), all supplies, protein bars.
Elizabeth: Books, pens, markers, hand sanitizer, Makeup
Cecelia: Comfortable shoes, lip gloss, a portable charger, signing pens and my phone so I can record highlights.
Lane: My books!
FREE Swag for you to get at my table.
My banner for us to take a photo together in front of. (I need to get better at this.)
Pens for signing all the things.
Rae: What is your snack attack must haves in your day bag?
David: Protein bars and cashews.
Elizabeth: Protein bar
Cecelia: Something chocolate, a protein bar and water. Conference days are long book book talk and chocolate get me through.
Lane: At signings, I usually have Biscoff cookies on my table since one of my characters was addicted to them. I’m also a fan of JujyFruits and peanut butter M&M’s.
Rae: What’s the one thing you forget to pack and swear to remember next time?
David: Candidly, the only thing I have almost forgotten is my banner. Have to make sure it with all of my other book supplies. Thankfully I have not really forgotten anything.
Elizabeth: Eyeshadow
Cecelia: Usually something very practical, like the exact charger. I always think I’m becoming a better packer buuut…
Lane: I like playing Romance vs The World with other book lovers, but it doesn’t always make it in the suitcase. I already have it out and ready to come to SASS.
Thank you so much authors! If you are an attending author or industry professional and you want to join in on the fun please e-mail me and we’ll be sure to add you on a future post!
I’ll be keeping a running list and will post a master packing list a week before #SaSS26 Richmond. I’ll see you soon for new authors and more ideas!
I am a husband to my best friend, cheerleader, and rock. I am also a father to two amazing young adults, and Granddad to two boys. I work in corporate finance managing a Business Intelligence team. Live just outside of Philadelphia in New Jersey and when not writing or working I love to travel. England, Scotland, Ireland, Italy, France, and Disney World are among my favorite places to visit. I published my first novel twelve years ago, but it all started when I was in high school. And the Cutter Anthology all started because of a heavy rain storm.
I write suspense/thrillers that follow the life of Robert Cutter. Robert is a self made billionaire running an investment firm with his name on the doors. He started out with nothing more than the shirt on his back and over the course of my novels he will face different challenges and people who are always looking to do bad things. He will go through good times as well – romance, marriage, kids, and good fortune. He’s just a guy but ends up in some really dangerous situations. But he’s also loving, caring, and trying to live a good life.
Elizabeth Suit has been part of the book world since 2013 helping new authors achieve their publishing dreams. In 2022 she released her first novel, Stella’s Diner, as an ode to her faith and family. In the years since, she continues to spark joy and wonder through her contemporary romance novels with a metaphysical twist.
To find out more about Elizabeth and her upcoming events and releases, visit www.elizabethsuit.net.
Cecelia Mecca is a full-time romance author who writes across three connected worlds under the Mecca Romance umbrella which includes medieval and Scottish historical romance as Cecelia Mecca, contemporary romance as Cissy Mecca and paranormal/romantasy as C.L. Mecca. A former teacher and curriculum consultant with a PhD in Language & Literacy, Cecelia writes emotionally charged, flirt-filled love stories where strong women fall hard but never lose themselves. She lives in Pennsylvania with her family and can usually be found writing, planning her next trip, sipping wine or chatting with readers.
Website: https://meccaromance.com
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