DIVERSITY VS SEGREGATION

I had an interesting conversation with a fellow author about segregation and diversity.

An an African American author; I would hope that I am being diverse in my writing. I have "black" characters but I also have characters that I have not 'colorized' and hope that people read into it what they want. 

One of my favorite authors, writes an action thriller novel and I always thought his character was black. When I asked him about it, he says. "His character is whomever you want him to be. People have told me that they thought he was white. Others have said they thought he was black. But I purposefully didn't give him a distinct ethnic background. I want my readers to be diverse and telling them the color would not make me diverse."

I found that very interesting.

Talking to other African American authors, they don't seem to know the difference. They want to "write for the black readers." 

That's the difference with me. 

I want to write for ALL readers. I want my audience to be diverse and not segregated. Take for instance a group on FB that is called Mystery Writers of Color. They welcome all people of color. Black, Hispanic, Italian, Indian, etc. 

Imagine what kind of backlash this group would get if it was called the Mystery Writers of White People. They would only welcome white authors. 

Would we (people of color) be offended? Would we demand that they "include" us? Would we ban together and demand that FB delete that account? Would we begin posting that people shouldn't buy their novels because they are segregating other authors from their group?

Is this segregation or diversity? Is it diversity when we create groups for ONLY people of color. What about being called Mystery Writers of FB. How about that? 

Another interesting comment was made to me. Some think that people of color should be given discounted rates for attending conferences because we are "people of color" and might not be able to afford to attend. This same person said that Thrillerfest is mostly white and I pointed out that although it is mostly attended by white authors. They pay their money just like me to attend. Well what about the white authors that attend the same conference and have to pay full price for attending. Should they get a discount as well? 

I asked E. Jerome Dickey why he never attended Thrillerfest. A conference for thriller writers. His words, "they need to reach out to me to attend." 

In what world! I wanted to scream. No one there is big enough to have Thrillerfest reach out to them. Mostly everyone pays for attending that conference. Only NY Times best sellers have publicists that tell them to attend this conference. They push their author out there. Even NY Times best sellers have to pay for a hotel; just like me. Unless their have a mega contract and their publisher decides to pay for their hotel. 

You would be surprised in the amount of times that actually happens. Most of the time, they have to pay for their food. Just like me. Why is he different? Because he's black? Get out of here! If he paid for that conference and the people that run it, do their homework like they always do, then they would reach out to him. 

He is a big name in the African American community but no where else. Why is that? I am not sure why. 

I'm confused. We (people of color) want to be noticed for our writing yet some of us only write to a black audience. 

The very first speaking engagement I had was to a room full of white women for the Chamber of Commerce where I was residing at the time. They were welcoming and very entertained by my novel. Although my novel had main characters that were black, the problems that they encountered were problems that everyone has. Money issues, cheating in a marriage, business issues and wayward teenagers. They didn't see the characters as just black, they saw them as people and that is what I wanted.

My next novel doesn't describe the characters as either black or white. They are simply twins, living their lives and trying to find love. 

What do you think? Are authors of color trying to be diverse or are they segregating themselves by only writing and attending "people of color" events?

IT'S BEEN A WHILE

I have been absent for almost three weeks. Did you miss me? What? You didn't even notice that I was gone. Gasp! The horror! Look just pretend you knew I was gone because I have been very busy.

Not only did I start my radio show on +WLVSRadio but I traveled to New York City for my annual trek to Thrillerfest.

Oh the fun we had, the shoes I bought and the friends I made!

If you watched my show...what you don't watch my show! Gasp! Clutch the pearls! We will discuss that later, but last week on my show I told you about investing in yourself. See this is one of the ways that I invest in myself. I make sure surround myself with people that I can learn from, people I can network with and people that have struggled and also had successes. Who better than to tell me what to do when I run into a road block? Who better to tell me when I am being a jackass because I don't actually know it all. Yes even I don't know it all; who would have thought that, right?

But this past weekend showed me that what I am doing, I'm doing very well. What I am doing is making a difference and what I am doing is getting noticed. Noticed in a good way, not the bad way. What's the bad way?

Ask yourself these questions.
Do I always think I know everything?
Am I contrary when it comes to giving a clear answer?
Am I being a pain in the ass to others because I think I know it all?
Am I being pushy at events when others would rather walk away from me?

Yes, those are all ways that NY times authors gave as being a jackass! So luckily I didn't answer yet to any of those questions. However, I know a few people who are and to them; you better stop or you will find yourself on the wrong end of someone's list.

See, if I didn't go to this conference, I would have never known what not to do but I also learned what to do to get noticed. Like wearing the right shoes...aren't they the cutest?

  So to all of you that don't attend conferences, thank you. It just means that I get to talk to Jeffrey Deaver, John Gilstrap, R.L. Stein, Anne Rice, Chris Rice, James Rollins, Heather Graham, MJ Rose, Thomas Young and many others without you interrupting me.

Interview with Austin S. Camacho

What have you learned about yourself as a writer from your first book to your latest novel?

I've learned that no story is ever quite as good as I want it to be... and that the next story will be better because of what I learned wrestling with the last story.  Also, I have learned that creating great fiction requires more than talent - you need to study your craft and never stop learning how to do it better.

Why did you make Felicity Irish in the Stark and O`Brien series?

I wanted to play with the concept of opposites attracting.  I started with the most familiar character for me - an inner city African American man with military experience.  When I reached in the other direction I ended up with a white woman from another country who had been an outlaw.  She needed to speak English of course, and aside from Scandanavians the Irish have the lightest skin of anybody so that's where I landed.
 
 In the Hannibal Jones mysteries, are the characters that help Hannibal anyone that you patterned them after?

Hannibal's posse all started out as stereotypes but I expanded them from there.  So none of them was based on any individual... except Virgil, who is loosely based on one of my uncles, who came back from WWII Army service hooked on heroine.
 
Your latest novel deals with a very sensitive issue that a woman would face. How were you able to capture the emotion of her feelings towards what happened to her?

That is the essence of writing fiction.  I have to be able to put myself in the emotion shoes of each character.  Emotionally women are different from men, so we men have to observe them very closely during moments of extreme duress and capture those emotions for later use.  Once you've seen a woman go through being really hurt, you can portray it in words.
 
In the age of e books how are you making your novel stand out from the rest?

I believe good writing will stand out regardless of the format.  I hope my novels stand out because of their well-developed characters - people you are happy to get to know and keep up with.

Do you listen to music, watch television or need total quiet when you write?

Definitely music!  It blots out distracting noises and amplifies emotion, making it easier to put the right emotional content into my writing. 
 
Since this blog is about shoes, books and writing...tell me what book you like the most, whose writing style you mimic and who is your favorite show designer.

I don't have a favorite book but I do have favorite authors: Raymond Chandler, Ellmore Leonard, and Walter Mosely of course.  I dream of writing Chandler's poetic prose and Leonard's real, troubled characters, with Mosely's perfect sense of social setting.  But I can't even name a shoe designer...LOL...
 
Tell my audience where you will be next.  I will be reading at the Art and Lit event at Watermark Gallery at the Baltimore harbor on April 7th.  You can read all about it at https://www.facebook.com/#!/events/513941071981686/ 

Inspirational and Funny

Sometimes when I surf around Facebook, I find things that are inspirational and funny.
The things that are inspirational always prompt me to smile and to put a fire in my soul.

The things that are funny, well they stick a little longer.

One such thing is the small 'postcard' funnies that my son or some other person will send me. My funniest one to date was, "Oh look, its F*** this o'clock again". I still find that funny as ever. Now, either I'm getting old or just slow but it took me about ten minutes to get what it was actually saying and haven't we all said that at some point in our lives.

I know I have. One days where I can't take one more thing or do one more page of edits or send one more promotional email. I look at the clock and say, "F...this! I'm done for the day" and it was so funny that my son sent this to me because in his words, "mom, you look like you had this kind of day".

Wow. When your child thinks you need a laugh than you really have taken things much to seriously.

So, although I enjoy the inspirational moments found online, I find that the funny moments mean a lot more because they truly do, lift my spirit and will you look at the time....

Until next time America...(hey; isn't that a line from a television show)

What a weekend I had

This weekend I was at +Bay to Ocean Writers Conference for a writers conference.

As I mentioned before, well I mention it all the time; I'm always at conferences. Especially one that is right in my backyard. Ok, well technically it is not in my backyard but you know what I mean, right?

I went, knowing full well, I would see some of my new/old friends and learn a lot. What I didn't know was that I would get so much more out of it than just sitting and taking notes. I learned that I actually have a following.

I was shocked when a woman, who I didn't even know came up to me and told me that she watches my facebook moments. I call them soapbox moments.

Who knew? Well, now that I know, you can be certain that those moments will appear here! Yep, right here. And if you ever miss one, just log into facebook and find me. I'm easy to find. I'm one of the only Swangin's there that is an author. Ok, well I'm the ONLY Swangin on there that is an author, so it shouldn't be hard.

What are you waiting for? Join my blog and let the good times roll!

New Year, New Goals

As the New Year came rushing in, I sat down and wrote out my goals for the year.

How many of us have done this? I'm not talking about goals in general; I'm talking about goals for my writing.

Not resolutions like; I'm going to write for an hour a day, more like; I'm going to write for at least five (5) hours every week.

Goals like, I'm going to spend $500 on attending conferences this year.

Goals like, I'm going to self-publish my next novel but I'm going to PAY for an editor and not give it to grandma or my friend to read.

Those are goals that every author should be making.

Realistic goals; goals that will make you succeed as an author.

My goals; well they are simple. I want to write for 5 hours each week. I want to stop work at 6pm every night and enjoy my family. I want to attend 6 conferences this year. (I'm already signed up for 4) I want to have my novel ready by November 1. (I'm almost finished)I want to be interviewed on radio. (Yep; already crossed off)

See those goals are what I will cross off, when they are completed and replace with a new one.

So tell me; What are your goals for this new year?

Looking good means writing well.

You look good, you feel good….

That was my son’s motto while he played football. He had to be one of the best dressed athletes on the field but it showed in his level of play.

I take that to heart every day. I dress the way I want to feel.

You may be asking: well what does that have to do with writing. Well, I showed you, a couple of months ago, a picture of my writing room and that is where “I feel good.”  So if I feel good, I write well.

Some authors have shared their office space photos with me and some of shared their writing space photos with me and sometimes I look and then I totally understand why ‘they aren’t inspired.”

Maybe it has to do with the hundreds of pieces of paper cluttering your desk. Or the post-it notes that are stuck on everything. Maybe it has to do with the dim light over your computer or maybe it’s because your space is cluttered and the more you sit at your desk; the more your mind wanders to “I should straighten my desk”, or “I need to throw those papers away that are on the floor.” Either way, you mind is too cluttered with cleaning and can’t focus on writing.

Is this to say that I’m always neat and tidy? Heck no! To the contrary, but what I do is; every time I sit down to write; it’s with a clean desk and everything is neat and orderly. By the time I get up; yes, I have post-it notes and paper thrown everywhere BUT I don’t leave it like that. I finish up; then I clean up. So that when I come back, my space is neat and clean and I can get right to writing.

So, the saying; you look good; you feel good; you feel good; you play good.

Holds true for me.

My desk looks good, so I write well.

Simple, right? Now, to clean up this mess before I get my lunch.

Conferences...Should I go or stay home?

That is the question I used to ask myself and I used to say, I'm not going. What would I have to gain by going anyway? Besides, I could keep that money in my pocket.

Well, let me tell you. Going to conferences should be on your list of things to do. Why? Well I'm glad you asked. What, you didn't ask? Well, I'm going to tell you anyway.

Conferences not only prepare you for what you will deal with when trying to promote yourself and they also make for great networking opportunities. Yes, you need to be able to tell someone about your book in less than 15 minutes and at a conference you are asked that question hundreds of times. Great practice.

Austin Camacho plans his schedule a year in advance. He then checks the schedule of the conference he wants to attend and the panels he wants to see. It also gives him a way to get his personal copy of the novel signed by the author. "I used to go to learn about the business and to improve my writing. Now I go for the networking and the charge I get from being around great writers."

See that is what I'm talking about! He has a plan and he sticks to it. Now quiz time. How many of you have a plan to attend conferences? (hearing the birds and crickets) Well, do you see my hand waving around in the air like a flag? I plan on going to as many conferences as my purse can handle. Like, the C3 conference in Baltimore in September 2013 and Love is Murder in February and Thrillerfest in July.

So I already have three on my schedule and now I need one or two more. Hmm, should I go to Romfest in June or maybe it will be Bouchercon in October. These are just a few that I can choose from.

Which one will I see you at? Drop me a line and let me know so that I can meet up with you. I'd love to see you.

Introducing...part 2

B. Swangin: Do you think there is a difference between being an author and being a writer?



 DB Corey: I think the difference between a writer and an author is the publishing part, of course. Being published allows you to claim the title of, author. But if you ask me what I am, I’ll tell you I’m a writer, unless I’m feeling especially full of myself. Then I’ll tell you I’m a novelist.



DB Corey
and his lovely wife Maggie



B. Swangin: Can you finish telling us about your ritual while writing.

DB Corey:  I get my best ideas at night, when my mind is free from the daily drudgery. Eventually I have to tie all these scenes together.  That’ when I fire up the laptop, checks emails, browse MSN, and just goof off trying to “loosen up” so to speak. Then, when I’m ready, I like to re-read the last scene or two that I’ve written, and start writing by re-writing to get to the next creative (and I use the term loosely) phase. It’s like picking up a book you’ve been reading,  but have laid aside for a day or so. You open to the bookmark, back up a few paragraphs, and refresh your memory. My writing process is much like that. Then it just kind of flows until I get tired, or my muse goes to bed.

B.Swangin: I can empathize. When your muse goes to bed that the time you should rest. Because once your muse is up...man, things can get hectic.
Can you tell us what does it mean to you that you have a book about to be in print?

DB Corey:  More than I can convey. It was never about the money (don’t tell my publisher that). It’s about accomplishment. I’m in my 60s. I’m a middle-class worker bee. I’ve done some cool things in my life, but never really achieved what I thought I could—what I thought I should—until now. I don’t expect to become  a household word because of one book, but it’s something to be proud of, a small mark I can leave behind that proves I was here,  and I just wish my mom were still alive to see it.

B. Swangin: Well, of course it isn't about the money...well, we will keep that between us...lol....and I must say for 60, you look very good. I thought you were in your 40's. Maggie is a very lucky woman.
Well folks, I have to let DB Corey get back to work on his edits for his novel, Chain of Evidence and last question, when can we look for this hot new thriller?

DB Corey: Well if everything goes as planned, it will be released in June, just in time for Thrillerfest 2013

B. Swangin: Good luck and thank you for sitting down with me. Much success.

Mystery Writers make great friends

Today I have a guest blogger by the name of Lauren Carr. We met recently due in part to a posting on LinkedIn about an upcoming event next year on Sept. 13-15, 2013; C3 Conference.

She regularly posts for Buried Under Books blogs and today she decided to drop by.

Ten Advantages to Having a Mystery Author for a Friend (in person or on Facebook).

1.       If you’re ever locked out of your home, your mystery author friend will know best how to break in.

2.       Who better to show you where best to conceal a weapon?

3.       At Pampered Chef’s parties, they are very handy in detailing what kitchen utensils make the best weapons for use in self-defense … just in case your family launches a coup after serving them your world infamous tuna casserole once too often.

4.       Mystery authors are less sappy at conferences than Romance authors. We don’t hug as much. That isn’t because we’re standoffish. It’s because we don’t want you to detect our concealed weapons. Since we don’t hug as much, this means we don’t spread as many germs and you’re less likely to catch a cold when you get home.

5.       Mystery authors are more exciting. They are the only friends able to plot out your murder and list your friends and family as suspects in order of interest when you’re fifteen minutes late for lunch. (If your friend reveals that the babysitter did it, you may want to take a closer look at the sitter’s text messages.)

6.       During those paranoid moments when you think your next door neighbor is a mob assassin because he has been acting suspicious, your mystery writing buddy is the one friend you can count on to not only support your belief, but break into his house to illegally search it for proof. Of course, you can depend on your friend to bring the lock pick kit and know how to use it. (Don’t ask her how she knows how to use it.)

7.       If your spouse leaves you for another woman, your mystery author friend can advise you on how to fake your death and make it look like he killed you so that he will spend the rest of his life in jail for what he did.

8.       Your mystery author friend is more than happy to run a background check on that new mate you met online.

9.       On that first date, you can count on your mystery writing friend to tail you and your date all evening to make sure you don’t end up in a plot for their latest book … whether you want her to or not.

10.   We know what countries don’t have extradition.

So make a Mystery Writing friend today!

I’d love to make your acquaintances at any of my sites:

Website:  http://mysterylady.net/
                    http://acornbookservices.com/

Blog: Literary Wealth: http://literarywealth.wordpress.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lauren.carr.984991

Gnarly’s Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/GnarlyofMacFaradayMysteries

I'm Off....

No...it is not what you think.

I'm off...to St. Davids Writer's Conference. I'm excited and a little scared. There, I said it.

I've never been to this kind of conference before and let's face it, what I write is not something I would read in church. However, this isn't about my writing. It's about how to make my writing better.

Isn't that what it is about. I will never NOT go to something because it wasn't in my genre. That would be like me never walking in a mall because they don't have a shoe store. A mall with no shoe store...(I had a moment where I felt faint) I think I'm OK now.

Back to my post; so I will always go to where other writer's are. I will make new friends and possibly meet up with old friends. How many of you have been to a conference this year? Did you raise your hand because I didn't see it and I will say it; shame on you. I've been to four conferences already and some of you have been to zero. Shame, shame. Writers; just like doctor's, need to keep their skills up. They need to rejuvenate and get better at what they do. They need to become master's of writing. This is why I attend conferences. I was shocked last week when someone wrote: "I don't go to conferences because I'm to busy writing and don't have time to attend a glad handing, back slapping event." I felt shocked and saddened by this statement.
Obviously this person has had a bad experience and thinks all conferences are like this. I wanted to scream, "This is about networking and making us better writers." but I didn't because he would not hear that. His mind is made up but I would challenge him to find a conferences, geared to his genre,then come back and tell me what he learned because that is what it is about. It's about LEARNING how to be better.
I want to hear from more of you. What do you get out of conferences? but I also want to hear from those of you that don't go to conferences. Why don't you go?
I am eagerly awaiting your comments.

Summer is here....

Well not quite, but oh my goodness! I am as happy as a pig in slop, or maybe as happy as a dog with a bone, or maybe I'm as happy as a kid with candy. No, I got it! I'm as happy as a woman with NEW SHOES!

Oh heck yeah! You have got to love summer! Right, well you don't have to love it, but you have to admit that it is really nice to throw those sweaters in the closet, put those boots away and let your toes breath in a nice pair of stiletto heels!

Imagine my giddiness, and I am sure you can feel it in this post; as I opened up a shoe box with the most incredible shoes ever! My best friend, Denise; ok, maybe I shouldn't use her name, but she has to get her proper due. She gave me the most beautiful pair of tan, strappy heeled shoes, and when I tell you that my feet look INCREDIBLE in them, I aint lying! (you will see, just wait for it)

These shoes came as a surprise gift on my birthday and I can barely stop looking at my own feet! I tell you, I think I am in love. Yes, I know I am in love with these shoes! They are so me! They are 5 inches of sexiness! They are sleek, and they have just the right amount of silver accents to be sexy and not trashy! Snaps! Did I mention that they have snaps! Yep. Instead of buckles or ties, they snap around the ankle! Oh My Gosh! If I could walk down the aisle and marry these shoes, I'd be saying, I do.

I had gotten a deluxe pedicure that day, so to come home and see my new 5 inch stilettos made me a little teary-eyed. (yes, a new pair of shoes makes tears spring to my eyes like a summer shower) #dontjudgeme.
As I slipped my newly polished purple toes into them, I couldn't wait to show them off at work! Trust me when I tell you, the men at my office, went crazy over my new shoes.

Yes, summer is here and boy am I ready! I have my new tan strappy sandels and I bought myself a black pair with a zipper on the back and a bow on the side. Ok, I won't show you that picture until next time. I want you to drink in all of the sexiness of the Strappy Shelly's that I have on. (now you do know I name my shoes, right?)

Now see for yourself. If you don't think these shoes are sexy....well keep that to yourself.


Until next time.

Who do you hang out with?

That is the question you should always ask yourself if you are not surrounded by authors at least 3-5 hours a week or 1-3 days out of the month. Who do I hang out with? Well, I hang out with Author Brad Parks.
I was introduced to Brad (yes, I'm calling him by his first name)about a year ago by another very well known author, Austin S. Camacho. (more about him in a later blog)
I have always thought of myself as a 'go-getter', a social butterfly and yes, even an author 'groupie' (#don't judge me)
However, as an 'author groupie' I have put myself in places to meet the Brad Parks, John Gilstraps, Jeffery Deavers and Austin S. Camacho's in the literary world. Where else would I be sitting in the same room as J.A. Jance and Jeffrey Deavers, listening to them tell jokes and talk about their writing process. (Never heard of J.A. Jance...well shame on you and now you have a homework assignment.
So imagine when I walked up to Brad and said, "hey handsome, can a lowly girl like myself get a picture with someone of your caliber?" and then just for good measure I threw in a sad puppy face and he said, "sure". SCORE!
Now a little about Brad, since I am now one of his most favorite author's. Well, I'm one of his favorite people, OK, well I surely have to be his most favorite author in stilettos.
Brad Parks' debut, Faces of the Gone, won the Nero Award for Best American Mystery and the Shamus Award for Best First Mystery. In doing so, Parks became the first author in the combined 60-year history of the Nero and the Shamus to win both awards for the same book.
Now that should tell you something. Not only am I hanging out with celebrities, but I am hanging out with people that have won awards. (secretly I'm plotting to get that Shamus award but I heard that he has in under lock and key and with a 24 hour guard, and we won't even talk about his interns, but I think I can take Zach...shh, don't tell him I said that...but hey; they have got to sleep sometimes, right?

So, I'll ask you the question again...who do you hang out with? and just in case you don't believe me, check out my picture with Mr. Brad Parks yourself, and notice my belt...I told you, I'm a social butterfly.

Getting the Adventures Started in the life of Marge McGugan

Rule # 20 – Draw inspiration from anything and everything.

<Scene Summary>

I met B. at the Bay to Ocean Writer’s Conference in late February. We sat next to each other in one of the many fantastic sessions. We got to talking about our work and exchanged blog information. She asked me to guest on her blog and discuss some of my Adventures of an Author writings and how I work.

<Present time>

Inspiration is having a hard time settling in my brain. There’s a lot going on around the house – recent trip to Jersey, great spring weather giving me the fever, 18 year old hound going downhill at a more rapid rate. Focus is not one of my current virtues. A big problem that I share with my hubby is that we are both hopelessly addicted to NCIS -the original, not the Los Angeles version (although some LL Cool drooling is always good). Hmmmm…..

<Bolts to computer and starts typing furiously… faster than in high school typing class on those old Royal typewriters>

I start my own Leroy Jethro Gibbs rules. These are rules for writing right. The blog can focus on a different rule where appropriate. GENIUS!!! Ok, stolen idea but still genius!

<Applies Gibbs-style head slap to self> <not too hard!>

You see, when I started writing about 2 years ago, it was because I needed something other than retirement in my life. I quit my job as a middle school Family and Consumer Sciences. It’s a job I did for almost 20 years and, yes, there was a true burnout element to the job change. I started writing by taking some online writing courses and found out something really surprising about myself – I was always a writer. In my job, I wrote lesson plans and curriculum guides. I’ve also done curriculum work for the Archdiocese of Baltimore. I’ve done the content and layout editing for my church newsletter. So this writing gig is nothing new.

So here sits a budding children’s book writer at her trusty Cyclops (computer) pounding the keys like a jazz pianist in love with his instrument. And it’s fun!! I can be other people through my characters when I write (Rule #30 – all behavior has a purpose). I can get into a child’s mind when I search for a 3-year old’s way of talking about dogs and the way to behave around them. I can pretend to be a Philadelphia rabbit chef at a soul food restaurant who is moving to Canada to be with family. At this point, many of you would recommend the name of a good psychiatrist to me right about now. It’s cool – writers can unleash their inner crazy (Rule # 25). WHOOO HOOOO! I am no longer bound by Maryland State Assessment instructional criteria!!! I’m free! (ok, sort of… the language does have rules I need to follow).

<Insert solitary hand clap and whoopee index finger twirl>

I can write about my travels… what will I see? How can I make the places I go into children’s books? How can I follow my passions (Rule #1) and make the stories readable for little kids?

<Insert deep worry music here>

It’s all a learning process. Just like life. And it’s all a fantastic journey. Check it out at Adventures of an Author, brought to you by Blogspot.com.

<You knew there had to be a commercial somewhere>

And as for this crazy format???  I used Rule #24 – Practice all types of writing. So much for the screenplay….

<Smiling while typing> <wrap scene><pour another glass of wine and celebrate>

LOVE IS MURDER--or is it?

This week I will travel to the Love is Murder conference in Chicago. This conference is held every year and I have known about it for at least a couple of years. It is held on Feb. 2-5 this year and yes the super bowl is being played, but there are televisions there.
This year I finally decided, you know; I'm going and boy am I glad that I decided that. As soon as my registration was paid for I received a phone call from one of the organizers, Hanley (and yes,her name is as unique as mine)and she was so bubbly. Imagine my shock when she asked me to be on a panel and possibly a moderator. Now here is the sad part. Hanley said, "you know we are not that well attended by the African American writers". What? Are you serious? I know there are THOUSANDS of us out here and yet this conference, has literally a handful, yes her words, of African American authors attending.
Well, I will do my best to change that. I know there are some great mystery writers, romance writers and thriller writers that are African American; why aren't you attending. Is it because you think because you can't, or do you limit yourself to genre specific events. Let me tell you, she will always see my face from now on. During the first week in February, you can believe I will be in Chicago, rubbing elbows with publicists, NY best selling authors and the best that the publishing industry has to offer. How many of you will be there next year?

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!