When will I see you?

Last night I had the opportunity to attend a meet and greet held at Howard University book store, THE HUB.

Tamika Newhouse, CEO of Delphine Publications and two of her authors were in attendance and we learned about how she splits her time being an author and also being the owner of a publishing company.

Sadly, there were only six other people there. Most authors think that they do not need to go out to meet and greets. But I ask you this, if you don't get out there and meet new people, how do you think you are going to find fans?
The one thing I can say is that for me, meet and greets are the perfect opportunity to network with other authors and to share ideas.
Where do you think I get some of the ideas that I have?
Why do you think I started going to conferences?
Why do you think I spend as much time as I do on Facebook and LinkedIn and Twitter; well it's becaues I am going to meet and greets and learning from the best.
Tamika is the owner of a small press. However I have also gone to meet and greets with agents from New York, California and Florida. Again, why do I go? Because I know to be good at what I do, I need to learn from the best. So tell me again, why you don't go to meet and greets. Hopefully the next time one is in DC, Maryland or Virginia; I'll see you there.

Conferences, my new best friend

When Chocolate and flowers aren't enough...



February 1-3, 2013. That is one of the best weekends I have had this month. Oh, did you think I was going to say this year? See, every year I travel with another author, Austin S. Camacho to Rosemont, IL to the LOVE IS MURDER conference. Every year I look forward to seeing Hanley Kanar and Luisa Buehler and the rest of the gang that put on the conference. When chocolate and flowers aren't enough...that is the slogan. Pretty cool, don't you think?

Although the conference is always on the Super Bowl weekend, it is always over by noon and I am back at our friend Cyndi's home in Ohio by 5pm, plenty of time to get those Super Bowl snacks ready to watch the commericals. You didn't think I really cared about the game, espeically since Dallas wasn't in it, now did you?

This year was no different. Well in a way it was. I convinced another author, Deliah Lawrence to travel to Rosemont, IL to the conference and she did and she and I and Austin had a wonderful time. We had the time of our lives! We met Lee Goldberg, sat and had lunch with Shane Gericke.

We sat on panels and discussed everything from having the perfect pitch for an agent to writing in the post 50 Shades aftermath. How did you miss all of that? Well if you don't attend conferences, that is how you miss it.

Now next year, we plan to be there again, are we going to see you there? If not, I will sit and have dinner with Heather Graham and Shane Gericke...while you sit at home and get ready for the Super Bowl.

Royalty should have it's perks, right?

Today I turn my blog over to royalty. I was approched by this young lady after she had endured a horrific ordeal. Her family was moving into a brand new castle and she had to leave the only castle she has known She has lots to say about it. Please leave a comment to show her your support. Either way, let her know that you read her post.

It all started in October when they decided that they needed a bigger castle. Now, the previous castle was just fine by me. I had the run of the place and I had the best hiding places ever. I had toys, although I found more fun in tormenting them, than actually playing with those stupid things that they unsuccessfully bought time and time again in an attempt to placate me. I didn't want for anything and I was the Princess in my castle. Of course my mother was the Queen and sometimes she would turn over her reign to me when she invited people over. Slowly, I started seeing things leave the castle and never come back. Then came the day when the castle was over-run by those fur-less beings. Two days later, it happened. The Queen cornered me in the room with the water in the bowl and the massive cold bed. I thought she wanted to keep me company as I prepared for my nap and then it started. She tried putting me, ME, in a box! What was happening! Why was she doing this. I fought a valant fight but alas, she won; she wore me down, but not before she bore some severe battle scars. (yes, she had to find some of the stuff and rub it on her arms.) I digress. She puts me in the box and then we are going outside! OUTSIDE! I am not an outsider, I need the comfort of that cool air that blows from the ceiling and I need the comfort of my space with those two big boxes that swish water but I can never see it. She puts me in the bigger box with black things that make it move (momma said to stay away from those things, they are dangerous)and then we start to move. I see my castle fading away and then it's gone. GONE I tell ya!. Where are we going...what is she going to do with me! Now, I've heard stories. Nothing prepared me for what happened next.

We arrive at a smaller castle, one with a fluffy in the common area; where I don't have any privacy, for you know....my own needs. Well if she expects me to get out of this box, she has another thing coming. That night, I finally come out and wander around for a bit but this place is not my kind of place, so I retreat, to the dark space under the fluffy. I refuse to eat until I am put back in the place fit for a princess and the queen better recognize this! I...I..I'm sorry but the inhumanity of it all....

Sorry folks, the princess is having a moment and after she composes herself, she will continue...check back tomorrow for the rest of the story.

Are you like the Marines?

Do you wonder what I mean by that? I mean, are you being all you can be...as an author? Are you preparing yourself for marketing, book appearances, book signings, conferences. Are you on Twitter and Facebook. Yes, you need to be on both. Are you blogging, or at least guest blogging. Again, I ask you: Are you being all you can be?

If you answered NO to one of those questions, than you are doing yourself a dis-service.

In the past month I have attended 3 conferences and will head to another this weekend. How many have you attended this year. Your goal should be to do something once a month, that is book related.

Are you on Kindle? Are you marketing your books whenever you are out doing your errands? Don't stand to close to me in line and I see you pick up one of those 'magazines'. I will quickly tell you that I'm an author and if you want to read some GOOD fiction than you should pick up one of my novels, or one of my many friends novels.

Oh, friends. I have made great friends with Jeffrey Deavers, John Gilstrap, and Brad Parks. Did I mention that they are best selling authors. At least two of them are on NY Times Best Selling list. Imagine that! I met them at one of the many conferences I attend. Again, Imagine that! Oh, you don't believe me...well I have pictures to prove it and you will read and see all about it next week; along with the pictures from the upcoming Raven Con conference that I am attending this weekend in Richmond.

Again, I ask you; Are you like the Marines? Are you being all you can be?

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!