On Writing

  • RT approacheth …

    4 Comments

    Not sure if I’ve mentioned this or not, but I’m going to attend the Romantic Times Booklovers Convention on April 16-20 in Pittsburgh, Pa.

    I’m giving a workshop titled How to be a Shameless Hussy — Working the Media Like a Pro from 10:30-11:30 a.m. April 17. The workshop is about how authors can gain media coverage for their books — how to contact and pitch articles to journalists, commonly asked interview questions, etc. I’ll also be sharing tips and ideas for fun features authors can put on their Web sites for readers.

    I’ll also be signing books at the big book fair on April 19 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. And my inner fangirl will be squealing at all the cool authors who are attending this year. 😎

    This will be my first RT convention, and I’m really looking forward to it. My significant other, who’s a Steelers fan, is looking forward to visiting the city that Cowher power built 😉

    Anybody else out there going to RT?

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    The end is near …

    3 Comments

    So, I’m working on a second draft of the second book in my Spy series — You Only Spy Twice. I’m up to 70,000 words now, and I can see the end (of this draft at least).

    I’ve got to finish the chapter I’m working on. Write my final big action sequence, then tie everything together at the end. Sounds like a lot (and it is), but it’s a lot closer to being done than I was this time last week. I might meet my March 1 deadline after all. :bubbles:

    What about you guys? Anybody do any writing this weekend?

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    A nice surprise …

    11 Comments

    I got an interesting letter in the mail this week from the Salt Lake County Library System — Karma Girl has been nominated for the system’s semi-annual Reader’s Choice Award! Yeah!

    According to the letter, every year the Reader’s Choice Committee selects twenty or more recently published books that have been recommended by other staff or customers. Books that have previously won the award include The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd; Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder; and His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik.

    Some folks put Karma Girl on their year-end best lists (thanks Tia, Susan, and Jody), but this is the first award I’ve been nominated for. I doubt I’ll win, but it really is an honor just to be nominated. And if I do win, how cool would it be to put award-winning author in my bio? 😎

    I also received a lovely e-mail this morning from Michele R. She writes:

    “Oh – my – gosh! You are an amazing writer! I just finished reading HOT MAMA and the book is fantastic! … I don’t know how you came up with such a good plot but I think your writing is right up there with J.K. Rowling!”

    Thanks so much Michele! This reminds me of another lady who came to one of my book signings and told me she thought Karma Girl was “better than a Nora Roberts book.” I will never forget being compared to Nora — and now J.K. Those kind of compliments are things writers never, ever forget — and what keeps us going in this crazy, often heartbreaking business.

    Let’s recap. I’ve been nominated for an award, Karma Girl is better than a Nora Roberts novel, and my writing is right up there with J.K. Rowling’s. Can world domination be far behind? :ww: