Tag Archives: ETO Awards

Four Brit Babes Nominated for ETO Best Erotic Author of 2016

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It’s that time of year again! The nominations are in, and I’m very happy, and extremely honoured, to be nominated again for ETO’s Best Erotic Author. I’ve been nominated four years running and was lucky enough to win in 2014 against some extremely fabulous writers in 2014. In 2015 my dear friend, sister Brit Babe, and fabulous writer, Kay ETO_AWARDS_2016_NOMINEEJaybee won that lovely trophy and here it is 2016! In proper Brit Babe Tradition, four — count ’em FOUR Brit Babes are nominated for that fabulous award — Along with myself and the lovely Kay Jaybee, this year’s nominees include the delicious Victoria Blisse and the Lovely Tabitha Rayne, who is also nominated for her wonderful invention, the amazing Ruby Glow sit-down sex toy.

Brit Babe world domination is well in hand, or as Janine Ashbless refers to us, The Muffia. I seriously like that.

In addition to the excitement of being nominated, wandering the halls of the ETO conference, seeing all the sexy displays and chatting with all the wonderful people who attend every year is well worth the trip to Birmingham. Then there’s the awards banquet with everyone dressed to the nines and ready to party. The excitement in the air is electric as the winners are announced, and the celebration and dancing follow. I’m very much looking forward to celebrating with old friends and new this year, and certainly I’m looking forward to a Brit Babe quorum. I thought I’d share with you a few memories from ETO Banquets past.

 

ETO 2013 celebrating with the fabulous Kay

ETO 2013 celebrating with the fabulous Kay

 

Sweets for the sweets

Sweets for the sweets

 

 

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In 2014 The Brit Babes invaded the ETO Conference, and what a party we all had. Kay Jaybee, Tabitha RayneVictoria Blisse, and Lexie Bay joined Mr. Grace and me to celebrate my win. Not much sleep had that night, and all the better for sharing it with so many of the Babes!

 

In for the Win!

In for the Win!

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Brit Babes taking it with me in 2014

 

 

 

And in for the sugar!

And in for the sugar!

 

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Lexie Bay Tabitha Rayne, Lily Halem and moi ready to party in 2015

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Kay Jaybee winning in 2015

 

 

 

 

Thank you for your lovely nominations. We’re feeling the love <3 Your votes are always appreciated by all of us, and here is the link:  http://www.erotictradeonly.com/eto-awards-voting-2016-05/

 

KD xxx

 

The 2015 ETO A Writer’s History

I’d like to begin this post by offering huge, gigantic congratulations to my dear friend and author extraordinaire, Kay Jaybee, who won the ETO 2015 Best Erotic Author Award. In spite of insurmountable obstacles and a way less than pleasant day Kay Jaybee rocked it!

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I’m just home from my third ETO show and awards banquet. Kay Jaybee’s much-deserved win of ETO’s Best Erotic Author Award for 2015 has got me reflecting on the past three years of coming together for the awards banquet and the celebration of all things erotic. It was three years ago that ETO added a Best Erotic Author category to its annual awards banquet. Kay Jaybee and I were lucky enough to have been nominated for that first ETO Best Erotic Author Award back in 2013. It was a beginning in so many ways. The Brit Babes had just been conceived. The eight of us were becoming fast friends and steadfast supporters of each other’s efforts to get our stories out to a wider audience, and to remind readers that there are WAY more than fifty shades of erotica.

I remember that first show being such a whirlwind event. It all happened so fast. Raymond and I drove down from S6304891Scarborough that Sunday morning after having participated in and thoroughly enjoyed the first ever Smut By the Sea event organized by Brit Babe, Victoria Blisse and her totally amazing husband, Kev. Once in Birmingham, we met Kay Jaybee and Mr. Jaybee in the lounge of the Crown Plaza Hotel with just enough time for a quick drink before we put on our glad rags and made our way to the Champaign reception – me teetering on shiny killer heels that were a danger to myself and everyone around me. (This is a chick who lives in walking shoes and trainers when I’m not barefoot.)

IMG_1051Though the ETO Show had been going on for awhile, this was the first year the award for Best Erotic Author was offered. I remember, Kay Jaybee and I were round-eyed with excitement and over the moon to even be considered, as we headed downstairs to the reception and the banquet room of the Crown Plaza. We cheered for Sh! Women’s Store, who took away the Best Innovative Shop Award. We cheered Xcite Books for Best Erotic Publisher, We cheered for Cara Sutra, who took away the Best Erotic Journalist Award. We cheered for Love Honey and Sex Toys UK and for so many of the lovely folks our writing had brought us in contact with, and then the moment came … And went … It was the middle of the 50SoG craze, first wave, so we were up against some lady named E L James – don’t know if you’re familiar with her ??? She won the award to no one’s surprise. Kay and I looked around to see if we could catch a glimpse of her, but she was nowhere to be found. So, we shrugged, went upstairs to the bar at the Crown Plaza and partied with all our friends – old and new. The way we both figured it, we were winners anyway to have been considered at all, and to have been in such grand company for the evening.
ETO-NEC-e1403600582477-225x3002014’s ETO was a totally different animal. There were three, count ‘em THREE Brit Babes nominated for Best Erotic Author 2014. Lucy Felthouse joined Kay Jaybee and me among the nominees, and we Babes were well-supported by Lexie Bay, Tabitha Rayne and Victoria Blisse, all there to party and celebrate with us. We had a wander around the ETO exhibition hall eating ice cream with flavoured lube, fondling leather floggers and nipple clamps, and admiring outrageous lingerie but mostly just chatting and catching up with all the gossip, and of course working on our ever-expanding plan for world domination.

In 2014 the banquet was moved into the main exhibition hall with more room to
breathe and most importantly, more room to dance. We hopped on a bus at the Crown
Plaza and headed off to the banquet, taking time for a photo op in front of the hotel.

I don’t remember the food. I do remember the conversation was good. I remember P1020066cheering on Cara Sutra on to another Best Erotic Journalist Award. I remember cheering on Renee Denyer from Sh! who won the best shop manager award. And then I remember walking onto the stage dazed and in shock when my name was called. I didn’t expect it, which made it all the sweeter. I remember that long after the band stopped playing and we stopped dancing, long after we’d taken the bus back to the Crown Plaza, we sat in the lobby talking writing and dreaming and scheming, me periodically fondling the award just to make sure it was real.

Vic-and-TAb-e1403601521826-225x300Then 2015 rolled around and the day donned with an ominous portent. Both Kay Jaybee and I were nominated again, and just as Hubby and I were leaving the house for Birmingham, I got a text from Kay saying that she was in the A&E in Worcester with serious leg pain. All through the trip down, we texted back and forth, with her finally on pain killers and on her way to the Crown Plaza, which was closer than home for her, since she and Mr. Jaybee had been having a weekend away for his birthday.

Raymond and I arrived and checked in at our hotel then were off to the exhibition hall where we had a little, but not nearly enough, time with Victoria and Kev Blisse at the Blog Spot booth with Melissa McFarlane. The Blisses were there for ETO, but sadly couldn’t’ stay for the banquet. It’s always a pleasure to see them no matter how brief. Then we were joined by this year’s Brit Babe contingent, Tabitha Rayne and Lexie Bay, who brought along a wonderful surprise. Lily Harlem had been able to join the fun at the last minute.P1020093

After meeting up with Ruby Kiddell, watching the lingerie and fetish fashion show, admiring the f@ck machine and talking to a woman who made nipple jewelry among our general explorations, we discovered the free bar, where we ended up drinking wine, talking writing and making more plans for world domination, all the while checking in with Kay via text. Unfortunately, while Kay had arrived at the hotel, she was in no condition to attend the banquet, so we all returned to get ready for the evening saddened that she wouldn’t be there with us. So close, but so far away.

2015-06-28 14.41.28All through the evening, we texted Kay and sent her updates an piccies of what was happening at the banquet. When the meal was over, Dale Bradford, editor of ETO magazine and Lee Schofield, publisher, took the stage to mc the awards. The People Awards, which include Best Erotic Author, are always toward the end of what Lee and Dale have honed and polished to a very tight very pacey event. We all cheered as Sh! won Best Innovative Shop, and we cheered even louder as our wonderful Renee Denyer won Best Shop Manager.

And then it happened, always faster than I’m ready for. It seems I always almost miss 2015-06-28 14.50.37it, and have to do a really quick, really subtle instant replay in my mind before I get it. They made the announcement and this year, the winner of the ETO Best Erotic Author Award is the Brit Babes own and totally fabulous Kay Jaybee!

We had already decided if our Kay won, we Brit Babes would collect her award together with loud cheers and cat whistles, which we did, all of us running to the stage, all of us mobbing poor Lee to within an inch of his life, and then our brave Lily Harlem stepped up to the microphone to thank everyone on Kay’s behalf. A quick photo op and we were back to the table, sending photos and texting Kay the great news with trembling fingers.

2015-06-28 19.12.30Sadly, I couldn’t dance this year because the knees are still recovering, but that meant that Raymond and I got the totally pleasurable job of taking Kay’s award and bottle of fizz back to our winner, who met us down in the lobby looking bleary-eyed but happy and leaning very heavily on Mr Jaybee for support.

We had to leave early this morning so Raymond could get back for meetings, 2015-06-28 23.48.48texting our good-byes and good wishes to the lovely winner and the rest of the Brit Babes en route on the M40. Since then I’ve been thinking how much it feels like we’ve come full circle in the past three years. We were both winners even when E.L. James won that first year. We were both winners when I won, and we were both winners this year. In fact, we were all winners, celebrating with Kay the accomplishments of all the Brit Babes, and the support and camaraderie we get from each other and from our lovely Street Team. We’re writers, that’s our calling, our passion, and that we can do it and share in the journey with others who do, is definitely a win-win.

 

Congratulations to all the 2015 ETO Award Winners, and a special round of sloppy hugs and kisses to our own Kay Jaybee, 2015 ETO Best Erotic Writer!

Lookie Who’s Been Nominated for ETO Best Erotic Author 2015!

my award collageIt’s that time of year again! The nominations are in, and I’m very happy, and extremely honoured, to be nominated again for ETO’s Best Erotic Author. I’ve been nominated three years running and was lucky enough to win last year against some extremely fabulous writers. Again, I felt very, very priveledged. Almost a year later every time I look at the lovely trophy I smile at the experience. I was privileged enough to be able to celebrate with four lovely Brit Babes, two of whom were nominated with me for the award. And what a celebration it was! In 2013, I celebrated being nominated with my dear friend and Brit Babe, Kay Jaybee and the lovely Mr. Jaybee along with my delicious better half, Mr. Grace.

In addition to the excitement of being nominated, wandering the halls of the ETO conference, seeing all the sexy displays and chatting with all the wonderful people who attend every year is well worth the trip to Birmingham. Then there’s the awards banquet with everyone dressed to the nines and ready to party. The excitement in the air is electric as the winners are announced, and the celebration and dancing follow. I’m very much looking forward to celebrating with old friends and new this year, and I thought I’d share with you a few memories from ETO Banquets past.

 

ETO 2013 celebrating with the fabulous Kay
ETO 2013 celebrating with the fabulous Kay

 

ETO 2013 Watching Sh! win for Best Innovative Shop!
ETO 2013 Watching Sh! win for Best Innovative Shop

 

Sweets for the sweets
Sweets for the sweets

 

 

etoshow2014banner

 

 

In 2014 The Brit Babes invaded the ETO Conference, and what a party we all had. Kay Jaybee, Tabitha Rayne, Victoria Blisse, and Lexie Bay joined Mr. Grace and me to celebrate my win. Not much sleep had that night, and all the better for sharing it with so many of the Babes!

 

The Babes all ready to party!
The Babes all ready to party!

 

In for the Win!
In for the Win!

 

And in for the sugar!
And in for the sugar!

 

Let the celebration begin!
Let the celebration begin!

 

Me and Ms Jaybee celebrating for Xcite Books' win.
Me and Ms Jaybee celebrating for Xcite Books’ win.

 

 

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So it’s that time again! ETO is always a great adventure and a great place for writers to be inspired. I’m very excited to be nominated for such an honour from such a wonderful organisation. This year’s nominations for Best Erotic Author are: Kay Jaybee, Emily Dubberly, Tiffany Reisz and E. L. James and of course, moi.

The lovely Cara Sutra is nominated again for Best Erotic Journalist, along with Emily Dubberly. And one of my very favourite people in the world, Renee Denyer, is nominated for best store manager for Sh! Women’s Emporium. I hope that you’ll take the time to check out the ETO site and cast your votes for some truly extraordinary people and some truly extraordinary products. The party’s on again! And I’m already shopping for dancing shoes!

Vote here!

 

 

 

 

An ETO Award … And it Has My Name on It!

I’m begging a bit of indulgence from readers on this post, since it was written on my BlackBerry in the wee hours in bed in the dark in the Crown Plaza Hotel after the 2014 ETO Awards. Hopefully there’ll be a more coherent post a little later on. 

My award 2It’s three in the morning. I’m lying in bed next my sleeping husband, knowing I should try to get some rest. But I’m too keyed up to sleep. How can I possibly when I keep glancing over at the desk and seeing the lovely ETO Award glinting in the moonlight streaming in the window. That award has my name on it! Yes! My name — KD Grace, it says! Best erotic author, it says in bold letters as big as you please.

Lee Schoefield called my name. As the winner. After Dale Bradford had read off all our names, the nominees. And they are all amazing writers, people I admire, people I look up to — And the fact that half of that esteemed company are Brit Babes made the event even sweeter! In addition to Sylvia Day and the fabulous Violet Blue, Brit Babes – amazing writers and dear friends – Kay Jaybee and Lucy Felthouse were nominated too! At first it didn’t register. How could he be calling my name? I sort of remember walking to the stage. After kissing my husband. Shell shocked. Hoping I wouldn’t trip over my own feet, wondering if I could remember how to speak. Me, speechless! Can you imagine such a thing?

P1020080The ETO and ETO Magazine have been so supportive of erotic writers. We’ve always been able to count on them to promote us and what we do and to give us a chance to promote ourselves. It isn’t just that, it’s knowing that people voted, people who like what I write, and that what I write, what all of us erotic authors write is appreciated. yup! Pretty much speechless.

I remember seeing the slide of my image in walking togs, gigantic and huge for all the world to see with Best Erotic Author in huge letters. I remember thinking how much more comfortable I would have been in those walking togs, and probably how much more surer on my feet I would have been. Strange P1020093the things you think about. And then I was on stage receiving that gorgeous shiny award with my name on it. I could see the Brit Babes cheering. It was their award too. It was our award. They hold me up. We hold each other up and challenge each other to write better, to be more creative. I was so glad to be celebrating with them. I said something to that effect, or at least I think I did. I’m much better with written words than impromptu speaking in front of a roomful of people. I remember there were pictures then and I went back to my the table, Ruby Kiddell and Velvet Books had so generously shared with the Brit Babes, gripping the award and the bottle of fizz and smiling like a crazy person. I barely got sat down before Cara Sutra won the best journalist award and I was cheering at the top of my lungs and the totally P1020088awesome Renee Denyer, manager at  Sh! Women’s Erotic Emporium and one of my true heroes, won best shop manager for Sh! And, icing on the cake, Xcite Books once again won the award for Best Erotic Books Brand. Kay Jaybee and I had the honour of accepting the Xcite award for Hazel Cushion, who couldn’t be there. That gave us the lovely opportunity to fondle two ETO Awards! 

So many reasons to celebrate.!

Then we danced like wild women, we Brit Babes. And I danced with my long suffering husband who’s always been by my side on this crazy writing journey — really loving the pride I saw in his eyes.

Later, when the dancing was over and the bus had taken us back to the hotel, I sat in the lobby with my award collageVictoria Blisse,  Kay Jaybee & Lexie Bay and we talked and planned and schemed and laughed. Sadly we had to leave Tabitha Rayne who was in a different hotel. As the subject turned to the challenges of writing a story and living the writers’ life, I couldn’t help myself. I kept touching that shiny award, reading the name on it again and again. Just to be sure.

And now, outside my hotel room window, the first Blackbird is just starting to sing because I’m up at such an hour. I still can’t believe it, and I think I’ll go check out the name on the award one more time before I try to sleep. Just to be sure. And hasn’t this just turned into a total navel-gaze. But what do you expect at this hour? 

Later when I’ve had time to rest and reflect, when I’ve had time to think a little more coherently, I’ll do another ETO post about the show, about the people, about the fun. But surely just tonight I can be allowed a little navel-gaze.

Thanks for a fabulous evening, ETO! You rock!

Nominations are Out for ETO Awards 2014! Be Sure to Vote!

ETO Awards 2014 Lucy Kay and meI’ve just been nominated for Best Erotic Author in the 2014 ETO Awards! And I can tell you it’s very hard to keep my fingers on the keyboard when I’m happy dancing the can-can.

I’m especially excited this year because I’m in THE most amazing company I could imagine for that honour. And the fact that half of that esteemed company are Brit Babes is just one more reason to happy dance! In addition to Sylvia Day and the fabulous Violet Blue, Brit Babes – and totally sizzling writers and amazing friends – Kay Jaybee and Lucy Felthouse are nominated too! Excited much?!?!

The ETO Awards are held every year in Birmingham at the banquet after the big trade show. Kay Jaybee and I were lucky enough to have been nominated last year and attend the glitz and glam of the awards banquet. I’m happy to say there’ll be even more sexy glitz and glam this year with a good representation of Brit Babes there to join the celebration. The place will be rammed with many of my other very favourite people. The ETO Awards are a bit like a big family reunion for all us naughty folks.

britbabes_badge_1Also nominated this year for Most Innovative Retailer is my favourite London hang-out, Sh! Women’s
Erotic Emporium
. And the very yummy icing on top of the Sh! Cake – one of my true heroes, Sh!’s manager Renee Denyer, is nominated as Best Store Manager. I couldn’t be more pleased.

And as far as Best Erotic Journalist goes – wow! Look at this list – Emily Dubberley, Mia Moore and the fab Cara Sutra, to name some of the loveliness.

Xcite Books is once again nominated for Best Erotic Books Brand, along with Cleis Press, Sweetmeats Press and House of Erotica.

Of course the fabulous folks at Lovehoney and Sextoys.co.uk are up for multiples (heh heh). It promises to be a great time.

The Brit Babes will be celebrating at the awards banquet in the company of the lovely folks at Velvet Books.

I said it before and I’ll say it again, I’m already a winner many times over just to be included in such a stellar celebration of excellence. Thanks ETO. You’re the best!

ETO picNEWS_AWARDS2014_SPONSORVOTE!

Aaaaannd … now it’s all up to you! Be sure to show some love and vote for your favourites. The polls are open and the best thing about the ETO Awards is that it’s the opportunity for all of YOU to give your favourites two thumbs-up. And speaking as a writer, I can tell you we authors love nothing more than to know that we’ve pleased our readers. So please cast your vote!