Book Signing Fun

I spend February 14th at a book signing with many author friends from central Pennsylvania. It was the 2nd year for the event at a local greenhouse and nursery. Due to ominous weather conditions, the customer turnout left something to be desired and no one sold a lot of books. I wasn't overly disappointed and think I sold more than my share. But the best part was spending time with my fellow writers. We had lots of time to talk and just visit.

Megan Hart

When I went to my very first writing conference, I met a young writer in the elevator and we struck up a conversation. We were both starting out and decided we would read each other's manuscripts and be critique partners. Megan Hart was miles ahead of me in mastery of craft, but she also spun stories that were brilliant. To no one's surprise, she's now a bestselling author of romance and of mainstream fiction. Sitting beside her at the book signing gave us a chance to catch up as we're no longer critique partners but will forever be friends. Isn't her outfit lovely? I always remind Megan about when my daughter first met her. Kelley was only about twelve years old and declared with great authority that Megan looked like a writer as compared to me who just looked like a mom.




I know I've mentioned my friend, Natalie Damschroder on my blog before and linked to her blog. She is the major organizer behind this author event and makes it so easy for the rest of us. All we have to do is walk in and set up our books. She's multi-published

Natalie

in romance and I like to call her my 'go to' girl when I have a question about the writing business. She keeps on top of things.

Cate

Cate Masters is well known to many of you. I've done numerous book signings with Cate and she is one of the kindest, most gracious people I've met. We also have worked with the same publishers in the past and I often email Cate with questions about this or that. Cate is also one of the fastest writers I know even though her personal life is very busy.

I'll share more pictures on Friday. But a lesson from this event is to look for venues other than bookstores to hold signings. Many places love to host authors and if you draw customers they'll want to have you back.

Don't forget that tomorrow is the #AZchat or #atozchallenge on Twitter from 1-2 EST and then again from 8-9 EST. Bring your questions. March is almost here and your A to Z hosts will be rocking with advise to improve your experience in the challenge.

Tomorrow I'll be guest posting on Patricia Stoltey's blog where I'll be explaining why I've elected to seek out publishers for books I've regained my rights to rather than choosing to self-publish them. I'd love it if you stop by and offer your opinion.

Are you familiar with any of the writers I shared a table with? What does a real writer look like? Where is the oddest place you ever held or attended a book signing? Will you join us on Twitter?

Looking Ahead

I need a little vacation. One more week until Thanksgiving Break from School. I'll be spending some of my time off picking children up from college, hours of driving, and lots of hours of cooking, but that's all more fun than the old day job. But between now and next Thursday, I have some things I'm looking forward to.

This Saturday, two author friends of mine with be having a booksigning at the Camp Hill Barnes and Noble near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Megan Hart is a multi published author in numerous genres of fiction. Like romance, she writes it and does it very well. Like suspense, she does that too. Like erotic romance, she pens some very hot, hot novels. Check out her website and very entertaining blog. Megan was my very first critique partner and I owe her tons. She'll always have a special place in my heart.

Natalie Damschroder is also a writer who has been integral in helping my career along. I call her my 'go to' girl. If I need to know something about the writing business, Natalie knows. Her career writing romance is spiraling every upward. Check out her blog and see what I mean. Check out all the books she has had published over the course of the last two years or so.

I expect at big crowd at this booksigning for these two terrific writers.

Don't forget this Friday, Alex Cavanaugh's latest blogfest, I Miss You Blogfest, is happening. You can still join and give some due to a blogger you've missed seeing around the sphere. A great way to find renew some links to old friends.

What are you looking forward the rest of the week? Are you joining the blogfest? Do you know Natalie or Megan?

Hart Me

Thank you for visiting me at Jon Sprunk's blog yesterday.  I'm traveling still today and you can find me at Megan Hart's very active blog.
I've know Megan since before either of us were published.  Since then she's sold nearly a library's worth of books.  She also has a new release this January, Precious and Fragile Things, available in all fine book stores.
If you haven't met Megan before you'll learn something about her from the interview questions she asks me about my new release, Beyond the Gate.  The characters in her books reflect her interesting personality.  I'd love to hear from you today and I know you'll enjoy meeting Megan.

An Author of the 'Hart'

Please welcome, Megan Hart, multi-published author and a good friend of mine.  Her writing is as entertaining as her interview. Enjoy.

After reading so many of your books I must start this visit with a question. Is it true your degree is not in journalism or any other major related to writing but in abnormal psychology?

Ha! You could imagine that’s true...if you want. With a minor in Unreasonable Phenomenon.

How many balls or writing projects can you juggle at a time?


I can’t juggle at all. I tried, oh how I’ve tried. I just can’t. I can, however, multitask. I prefer to work on one project at a time, but I’m usually flipping back and forth pretty frequently.

How about a blurb for Precious and Fragile Things.

He’s not about to let her leave.
And she cannot stay.
Gilly Soloman has been reduced to a mothering machine, taking care of everyone and everything
except herself. But the machine has broken down. Burnt out by the endless days of crying children and menial tasks, and exhausted from always putting herself last, Gilly doesn’t immediately consider the consequences when she’s carjacked. With a knife to her throat, her first thought is that she’ll finally get some rest. Someone can save her for a change.
But salvation isn’t so forthcoming. Stranded in a remote, snowbound cabin with this stranger, hours turn to days, days into weeks. As time forges a fragile bond between them, she learns her captor is not the lunatic she first believed, but a human being whose wasted life has been shaped by secrets and tragedy. Yet even as their connection begins to foster trust, Gilly knows she must never forget he’s still a man teetering on the edge. One who just might take her with him.
Learn more and read an excerpt at: http://www.meganhart.com/precious-and-fragile-things/

Will we see more books in this genre from you? Please tell us you won’t be giving up romance.

I write more non-romance than romance -- I don’t consider my Spice books romances (most of them) but erotic fiction. So no, I won’t be giving up romance, but I’ll just keep writing lots of stuff that isn’t quite romance. I do have another book to write for MIRA that will be out in 2012, so yes, I’ll be writing at least one more “definitely not a romance, not erotic” book.

When they make Precious and Fragile into a blockbuster movie, who will play the lead characters?

Gilly -- Jennifer Connelly
Todd -- Keanu Reeves  (I guessed that one)

Lots of lucky people received eReaders as Christmas gifts. Can you please give us a number of links so they can buy some of your books right now and perhaps pre-order Precious and Fragile Things?


Sure. Readers interested in looking at some of my older, previously published but re-published works can find them at: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/MeganHart

As well as BN.com and Amazon.com, the Apple iBookstore, Kobo, Diesel ebooks.com, Fictionwise.com and...I’m sure a bunch of other places I don’t even know about. My current books are also available from all those places! Basically wherever ebooks are sold. ;)

Megan's books stay with you when you're done reading them so prepare yourself.  You always long for more and the best way to get it is to buy another of her books.  Precious and Fragile Things will be on my shelf the first day it is out. 
Have you read any Hart books? Which is your favorite?

Best Gifts for Readers

New Word:  Palmary-outstanding, great, best

As in I'm going to be interviewing some of my friends during the week between Christmas and New Year's day and they're all palmary writers.  Everyone of them have published books that would fit perfectly onto anyone's new eReader.  Perhaps you'll receive one of those coveted gift cards to a bookstore.  What better place to spend it than on authors who make sure you get your money's worth on books you'll want to read over and over again.

Cate Masters will visit on December 27th and share news on her latest romance releases.

Natalie Damschroder will pop in at December 28th and fill us in on her newest release and give a hint of what else she had in the pipeline.

Megan Hart, well known for her hot romances, has a new suspense novel coming out in the new year and will tease us with some details on December 29th.

Fellow fantasy author Jon Sprunk graces us with a short interview on December 30th and tell us about his fantasy novel and the sequel coming next year.
I hope you have some time to relax and read over the holidays.  I wish it for all of you.
Will you be getting or giving books, bookstore gift cards or eReaders as gifts this year?

What's a Writer to do on a Weekend?

I have lots of pals who write and many of them work other jobs. I don't have to wonder what most of them are doing on a weekend. No, they're not catching up on housework or finding the time to prepare that extra special family meal. They're trying to get their word count up for the week on their current WIP. Or they're working on edits, trying to find a bigger slice of time to concentrate on it rather than the minutes here and minutes there they find during the week.
I know one of them was at a booksigning near her home this weekend. (Sorry I couldn't be there, hope it was fabulous).
A mini vacation for a writer is a weekend conference where they can network, smooze with other professionals, have some fun interrupted by moments of terror when they pitch to an editor, an agent or finds one seated next to them at the bar. Good stress, but still a working weekend, not a real vacation.
Some writers use this weekend to update their blogs, their websites and other little time consuming things they've put off for the week.
Often a writer with a busy family packs her alpha smart or laptop in the Rodeo and heads off to a tournament, field hockey at Kutztown University this weekend, and sits on the sidelines huddled over the keyboard while chaos breaks all around her. Those little alpha smarts operate at all temperature extremes including 98 degree baseball games and 22 degree football games.
Tomorrow is the Super Bowl and lots of people have parties and social activities planned. This writer is thinking she'll order pizzas so she doesn't have to cook. Will I watch it? Professional sports don't hold much appeal for me after watching my sons play in college. Those college guys play for nothing and they bleed and sweat as much as those millionaires and seem to try a lot harder. They cry when they lose and are really excited when they win. Nah, I won't watch much of it. But the game is important to me because it will keep everyone else busy so I can write in peace.
So enjoy you weekend, all you writers out there. I hope you had the chance to go out on this Saturday night. Me, I'm uploading this week's toil from my alpha smart to the desk top. That's what this writer calls a great weekend.