Just a quick note to say that I’m off to New York City for five days. I’m attending the PASIC Conference. This is the Published Authors Special Interest Chapter of the Romance Writers of America. I went two years ago — the conference is every other year — and immediately started saving for this year’s trip. We’ll meet with editors, agents, and booksellers; have some meetings and workshops; and attend at least one Broadway show. A large group are going to THE PIRATE QUEEN on Friday. Can’t wait! I love the energy of NYC and the ability to visit with others intimately involved with the writing process.
I’m going to be a guest blogger at eHarlequin for April. I’m sending off my first blog to be up on April 1, which is the day I fly home from NYC. I’m excited about the opportunity to talk writing with readers and other writers. A fun month.
More when I’m back from NYC!!
Wow! My book has arrived, I now have cover flats. . . and I just scheduled my second booksigning!! This one will be in town the Saturday before Mother’s Day. The manager told me they usually order 25 books to see how things go. I’m hoping, hoping, hoping, I do much better than that! We’ll see. I’ll do some publicity on my own and I have a possible newspaper story idea that I hope will generate some interest.
Second signing is in June, the night before our writers’ workshop. This one will be with two other writers and that will be nice. My first one will be on my own and if no one shows up. . . well, let’s just say, I’m going to rope in some friends to come by. Maybe give them schedules like we did when friends were in the hospital having a new baby. Staggered shifts so they weren’t lonely.
This is fun. . . and I’m also working on the next ideas. This writing life is very fun!!
Baseball season has started around our house. No games yet but hours and hours of practice. We’re into spring break but that just means two-a-day practices for our son. At least a couple hours in the morning and then either an afternoon or evening of batting or catching practice.
So, how does baseball fit into writing? It’s the way my son and his team get ready for the season. They’re out there working together, putting plays into action, throwing the ball, running the bases, hitting pitches. They aren’t talking about baseball or reading about baseball. They’re working at baseball. I sometimes get tired just watching all of them on the field.
This is what I need to do for my writing. I can’t just think about the game of writing or read about the game of writing. I have to put the words onto paper if the book is going to be finished. I have to run a lot of bases to see if I can make it to the home plate. Over and over and over. And when one game finishes, it’s time for another. I have to keep sending out my manuscripts, trying new ideas, developing characters.
>Babe Ruth is one of the Home Run kings. He also has one of the highest number of strikeouts. “Never let the fear of striking out get in your way,” he said. He didn’t just stand there waiting for the right one to come over the plate. He took chances and now his name is remembered for the many times he hit the ball out of the park.
I’ll be sitting at a lot of games this season, my Alphasmart in my lap. I’ll cheer and holler when my son is up to bat, take deep breaths when he’s pitching, and keep my focus on the number of runs scored by our team. I’ll also take advantage of the lulls that occur between innings to add to my stories. When all is said and done, I want to be remembered for hitting the ball out of the park and into publication!
Wednesday evening, I walked onto the porch to see if an order I’d placed had arrived while we were gone. Tucked against the door, with protective plastic over the top, was a square box. Not the size I was expecting so I thought it was a parcel for my husband, a part he’d ordered a while ago.
Imagine my surprise and excitement when I opened the box and found copies of my book, Family Stories!! Today I discovered the outside of the box is plastered with my name and the title of my book but last night. . . I had to open the box to see the contents.
I read through the book today, first jumping to a couple key scenes to see how they looked on the page. Then I ended up reading the entire thing, skimming over the scenes I’d read earlier. Just knowing that I had written those words, that they had been put into the book because I sent them to the editor. . . well, the whole thing is very exciting. I shared a copy with a close friend when I visited her during her lunch time. I also showed off copies when I went to exercise and I have to admit, I’m now carrying a copy around in my purse — just in case I need to show someone.
The books are available on line right now for preorderand should be available in May at most bookstores. I’m going to step up my promotions now and see about some booksignings in the area. Maybe I’ll see you there!
