Thursday, October 27, 2011

Upcoming conferences-Are you going?

Today I will talk to you about conferences you should attend; even if you don't write in that particular genre. Why would you want to attend a conference that doesn't pertain to your particular writing style?
Simple answer: The more you get to know about other writing styles, the more you can incorporate them into your writing style.
Love is Murder is a conference held in Chicago every year and it is geared towards the mystery writers. I have never gone, but in February of 2012, I will attend. I am so excited to be a part of that it is well worth the cost.
Thrillerfest will be held in New York in July of 2012 and although I went this year, I am doubly excited to attend again next year. This conference is geared towards mystery and thriller writers. Although I am neither of the two; I will proudly network with all of the authors there.
After all, networking as an author is THE main reason to go to such conferences. You not only get to learn about other authors but you also get to 'hang' out with NY best selling authors. Where else would you get to be in the same room as R.L. Stine and Karen Slaughter?
I hope to see you at one of the many upcoming conferences in the new year. If you see me, come up and say hello; after all; I love to talk about writing.
Happy Writing!

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Speaking in public

Have you ever been asked to speak in public about your writing or about your novels? What is your first thought when this happens?

Do you ask yourself, why are they asking me, I"m not famous, yet. Or do you say..well I don't have anything to say.

Well if you said yes to one of those questions; shame on you. You might not be famous;(yet), but you are famous in your own right. After all, you are a published or about to be published, author.

You should welcome all opportunities to talk about yourself to other, and if it happens to be a crowd of people, than that is GREAT!

Look at it as a way to brand yourself to others. Make them WANT to buy your book or listen to your story. You never know what might happen. Let's see, for me; it happened at the Black Family Reunion held down on the National Mall in Washington DC. I spoke to a crowd of about 50 people and afterwards, my book sales soared. Now, I didn't do it for the sales, although that was a plus. I did it because I want everyone to follow that dream that they thought was impossible to acheive. I want every man/woman and child to reach their highest potential and never say to themselves in 20 years, "I wish I would have done..." That is the hardest part. If you have a dream, never and I repeat NEVER, let anyone stop you from achieving it.

So with that said, today my message to you is a simple one: Go after what you want in life. Don't sit back and wait for someone's approval. If it makes you happy and doesn't hurt anyone; then you should do it. Now, pull out that pencil/pen and notebook or laptop and get to writing, because that is what I am about to do.

Happy Writing!

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Just an Observation

      So, the weather is turning colder and are sexy sandals that we wore during the summer and spring months are now being pushed to the back of the closet.
      So who told grown women that wearing those colorful rain boots was OK? I mean really.
      Do I want to see a woman in her 30's crossing the street in front of me with a pair of sesame street colored boots on with her nice business suit. Really people? Let's be serious here. There are plenty, let me repeat, PLENTY, of sexy boots that can be worn in the rain and they don't involve primary colors. Leave those color boots to the people under 20 that need a little help finding something to wear with that yellow rain slicker. And speaking of rain slickers, can we PLEASE put away the basic yellow overcoat? There are a bevy of grey/blue/black rain coats that would be far more stylish than the policemen yellow. Don't you agree.
      So pull out those fall catalogs and let's find some sexy boots to go with that nice rain coat.
      You just may be surprised on how many men will stop you in the rain to comment on how pulled together you look.
Happy shopping!