• ·

    Numbers game …

    3 Comments

    So, I got my very first royalty statement for Karma Girl this week.

    It was exciting … and confusing. I’d heard horror stories about how dense and incomprehensible some of the statements can be. But since I only have one book out, mine was fairly simple. (Although I will confess that I had to call my agent to get her to explain what some of the terms meant.)

    To me, the most interesting thing about the statement was that I sold around 190 books in Canada and another 100 or so overseas (as of June 30). Perhaps my dream of world domination isn’t so far-fetched after all … :joker:

  • · ·

    Women’s Expo wrap up …

    6 Comments

    dscn0510.JPGSo, I’m finally recovered from the Women’s Expo last weekend, held in Kingsport, Tenn., and thought I’d share some thoughts and photographs. Events included a meet-the-authors dinner Friday night and even more authors signing throughout the day on Saturday.

    I think I sold at least 20 books on Saturday, maybe a few more. It was so crazy, it was hard to keep track. Here I am with Barry Eisler, author of the John Rain assassin series. Barry was one of the big names at the expo, and he was really fun to talk to.

    One of the best parts about doing events like this is getting to meet other authors. I also got to chat with Shirley Damsgaard, who writes witch-themed mysteries for Avon. A very witty and funny lady.

    dscn0507.JPGAnother great thing about these sorts of events is getting to meet other readers. Because authors are always readers first. At least, I am. Krista, left, is a nurse manager who drove in from Nashville for the event. We talked about Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark Hunter series and other books we’d read. 

    I also got to meet Chasity, who comments on my blog sometimes. She came down from the Pound, Va. area for the expo. Both ladies picked up advance copies of Hot Mama, which I hope they will enjoy. Several other local folks also stopped by and said hi to me on Saturday during the actual book signing.

    dscn0506.JPGSpeaking of Hot Mama, here it is, along with Karma Girl at a table during the Friday night dinner. Hot Mama officially comes out on Nov. 6, so get ready to  order, read, and enjoy.

    The expo is a yearly event, held the third weekend in October. The organizers, the wonderful Sharon and Lydia, are already making plans for next year. They’re trying to get romance author Nora Roberts to come for the 2008 event and fantasy writer Jim Butcher in 2009. Fingers crossed!

    What about you? Who would you like to see at an event like the expo? Inquiring minds want to know …

  • ·

    Authors, authors, authors …

    1 Comment

    So, I guess I should mention what I’m doing this weekend — attending the annual Women’s Expo at the Meadowview Conference Center in Kingsport, Tenn. Tons of authors are going to be there, including Lora Leigh, Angela Knight, and Barry Eisler.

    On Friday night, we’re going to be at a Meet the Authors dinner at Bays Mountain Park.

    On Saturday, we’ll be at the conference center signing books. Cost to get into the expo (which features lots of other events) and book signing is $5 at the door. I’ll be signing books from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and again from 3-5 p.m.

    There’s a rumor going around that some advanced copies of Hot Mama will be available for sale … 😉

    Hope to see you there!

  • A sophomore slump …

    2 Comments

    Is it just me, or is Heroes starting off really slowly this year?

    I know every episode can’t be as awesome as the Homecoming show, Company Man starring Mr. Bennett, or the truly stellar episode set five years in the future. But this season has been disappointing so far.

    I think one of the main problems is too many characters. Does anyone care about the Wonder Twins and their plague-like power? And those scenes with Maya and Sylar in the car this week. If I picked up a strange, creepy man on the side of the road, who said he happened to know a guy three thousand miles away that I was going to see, I think I would find that a little suspicious. Just a little bit. But perhaps that’s just my jaded nature peeking through.

    Then, there was the thing with Matt. As soon as he looked at that picture, I knew his dad was going to be the Big Bad this year, aka Nightmare Man. That didn’t bother me. What annoyed me was when Matt said he left his wife because she was pregnant with somebody else’s kid. In the future episode from last year, Matt looks at a picture his son drew. From what I remember, the kid’s mom was his wife — the same wife he had last year. Continuity issue, anyone? (Of course, the writers could come up with some explanation to weasel out of this, but the heroes saving New York shouldn’t have affected the paternity of Matt’s baby in California.)

    But I suppose my main problem is this — most of the drama on the show could be resolved if the characters just sat down and talked to each other. Seriously, most of them know each other now. Would it kill them to have a cup of coffee and share info about The Company and the murders? Romance authors get bashed for this all the time. Character conflict needs to be more than just lack of communication.

    Ah, well. That’s my TV rant for the week. I’ll keep watching — for now. Here’s hoping Kristen Bell is deliciously evil next week. :joker:

    What about you? What TV shows are still rocking your world this season? Or letting you down? Inquiring minds want to know …