M.J. Fredrick's Blog, page 12

RWA Recap Day #4

I realize I left you hanging on the RWA recaps. I’ve been crazy busy trying to implement all I’ve learned, and to try to finish my book before summer ends on Wednesday. I’ve hired a web designer and have asked for the rights back on some of my books and have been looking for covers….anyway.

Thursday at RWA.

I went to the Carina Press breakfast and it was…a press. I was about 10 minutes late and there was NO place to sit. Some nice people made space for me at one of those tall tables where you stand, but can you believe I don’t remember their names? They’re teachers, though, so we quickly found common ground! At one point Angela James stood at our table and I used the line I’d been using to start up conversations all summer. “How are you enjoying San Antonio?” Turns out, she wasn’t a fan, lol. But she talked about her daughter, who I feel I knew, since I’ve been reading Angela’s blog since it was called “Brianna’s Mommy.” So anyway, the crowd started thinning and I headed down the hall to Tanya Michaels’s workshop. Well, it turned out to be a crush, and I had a meeting about halfway through, so I gave my seat to someone and headed over to the Grand Hyatt for a meeting with iBooks.

Liliana Hart had arranged for the iBooks people to meet with the Club Indie people who were going to National. I was nervous, because I wasn’t sure what to say, but I’m SO GLAD I went. When I sat down, I told him, “I’m not sure what to say,” and he said, “That’s okay, I’ll do the talking.” I learned so MUCH in that half hour!! I know how to do banners and buttons now, and I have the ability to have a preorder without having any content.

After the meeting, I danced back to the Marriott, where I met Trish and we went into the luncheon together. She was awarded the Emma Merritt Service Award, which is a BIG DEAL. We got to sit up front with the other award winners, and it was super nice.

Afterwards, we went to our first workshop, on ACX and Audible. Yeah, I totally want to do another audiobook once I have some money in the bank! We got a code for a free audiobook, but I haven’t decided whether to get the next Sookie Stackhouse or the second Outlander book. I’ve read Dragonfly, but not the next Sookie, but Dragonfly is $41 and Sookie is $24 regularly. I have a few more days to decide.

Then I went to the Nook mixer, which was packed, and I met someone from one of the indie loops. I thanked her for all her helpful posts. I thought it was odd, though, that no actual people from Nook were at the mixer, and since I was by myself, I left and went to the other hotel for the Nook Press Focus workshop.

I learned that they’re very interested to know if you’re going to have a BookBub ad, a new release, any kind of sale. They want you to list all books in the series in the product description (need to do that!) They’re not ready to have books set to free, though they’re considering that, and preorders.

Afterwards, I was going to go to the AGM to meet up with Trish, but I saw Linda Carroll-Bradd and she invited me to dinner. I hadn’t seen her in AGES so yes, I went with her and some of the other San Antonio Romance Authors. I kinda felt bad because Linda and I talked a blue streak and the other ladies barely got in a word edgewise!

After that, I met up with Trish to go to the Amazon party. We were supposed to RSVP and I did, but Trish got put on the waiting list, but she was a VIP at this conference, so we got in. It was a CRUSH. I had a drink, she got a soda, then we decided to forget it and went over to the food court so she could eat.

Who did we run into there but Brenda Chin? She was eating alone (and I hate to see that, though it doesn’t bother ME to do it) so we invited her to sit with us. She is super cool. She told us about her adventure vacations and her husband and her pets. She’s changed so many lives in the writing world, it was neat to end my day getting to know her!

Goals for the Last Full Week of Summer :::SOB:::

Yes, it’s true. Just 8 more days off and so much to do! This weekend MAY be free, which would be the first free weekend in months. I am not holding my breath.

Work on Boomtown book
Start revisions
Big grocery trip–haven’t been in weeks
A million little things that I learned at RWA but need to apply, like newsletter buttons and affiliate links and new covers…I thought about hiring someone but I may be too much of a control freak!
Celebrate stepdad’s birthday
Shopping with Mom
Make something fun, which I have NOT done since I spray painted my chairs in early June. Never got out the sewing machine ONCE.
Clean/declutter
Cook/exercise

RWA Recap Part 2

Last Wednesday night was the RWA Literacy Signing, which is a book signing with about 500 authors. I’ve been to 5 of them, starting in 2001 when I met Nora Roberts for the first time. This year was the first time I got to sign.

I was CRAZY nervous. CRAZY. I packed and repacked and STILL forgot the basket of candy. I had to bring my own books in, and I wasn’t sure where to go, and I was hauling my books in one of those rolling carts. Oy. But I got into the room about 4:30, found my spot, set up my books. Angela James had written me a note to wish me luck and I burst into tears. Then she came by and I met her for the first time. I looked around the room for friends to see where everyone would be, then settled in next to Caroline Fyffe. She was so sweet and we commiserated about me forgetting the candy because we were STARVING.

Fred came down for moral support and had to get in the giant line to get in.

I sold 5 books, 2 to people I didn’t know, and had 5 people sign up for my newsletter. I was a little disappointed that no one I knew from town came, but I know it’s a pain to park downtown.

After the signing, Fred saved us a table down at the Italian place, and Trish, Tanya Michaels and three of their friends from North Carolina joined us. We were there a LONG time because the waiter didn’t bring our checks, but we talked a lot. I was wiped out when I got home, and I had my three longest days ahead of me!

RWA Recap Part I

 

I said I’d recap RWA later this week, and here it is Friday and I’m KINDA caught up! I learned so much, and between that and recovering from not enough sleep and working on the Boom Town book…well, I’ve MOSTLY recovered.

Trish came in the Saturday before RWA and we just hung out for the weekend. Monday morning we went down to the board meeting. Trish had been on the board in the past, and we were both interested in the decisions the board was having about redefining PAN and PRO. When we got to the hotel where the meeting was being held, we saw the board was in executive session, which meant we couldn’t go in. So we sat in the very nice lobby and talked, because you know, we’re good at that! Then we were invited in, the only general members there. Trish of course knew everyone, so we were welcomed. I was surprised at how many board members, and was super-impressed by how hard they worked, going around and around, looking at the problem from every possible angle. I was reminded of a circle, you know, with the 360 degree angles, with the fractions in between. Like 90.345 or something. Every. Possible. Angle.

We went to lunch with Terry McLaughlin, the president of RWA, who is one of the Wet Noodle Posse. We had a nice lunch in the hotel, then went back up for more PAN-PRO discussion. Did I mention, VERY thorough discussion?

I zoned out around 5, when they started discussing changes to the contest, and we left around 6:30, to meet my brother and Will for dinner. We had planned to have a party the Sunday after RWA, but Mike and Will were going out of town, and Trish wanted to see Mike. So we went out for Mexican food (the first of many many times) at Tito’s Restaurant, then to Liberty Bar for drinks and dessert.

Tuesday Trish wanted to go to the hotel early. Her roommate Tanya was there already, visiting with her college friend. When we got to the hotel, though, they were still asleep! Lol! We visited with them for a couple of hours, then went to the mall next door for lunch. The first RWA person I ran into was Delores Fossen, who had been a SARA when I joined RWA. I remember her first sale to Intrigue, and now she has over 50 books! It was nice to visit with her. Then Trish and I headed back to the hotel where we ran into Beth Patillo and Kim Law. We went to the bar and had a drink. Beth’s book Heavens to Betsy will be a a TV movie in October! We didn’t stay too long since Trish had to work the registration desk. I ran into Lorelle Marinello and Debra Holland and sat with them while they ate lunch, then Lorelle and I took a walk on the Riverwalk, then had a drink at the bar (this was not a good start, lol!) I registered somewhere in there…then we joined up with the other members of the Wet Noodle Posse and headed down to Rio Rio Cantina. (More Mexican food) I had a prickly pear margarita and a lot of fun visiting and catching up. Then Karen Potter, Priscilla Kissinger and I walked down to San Fernando Cathedral to watch the light display. It was just as stunning the second time. Mike and Will met us and walked us back to the hotel, and I drove them back to their car.

I was already tired on Wednesday, so I stayed home most of the day, until it was time to get ready for my FIRST LITERACY SIGNING. More on that tomorrow!

Cover Reveal: That Wild Texas Swing

Oh my goodness, y’all, that conference wiped me out! I’m just now feeling human! More about that later this week, but for now…here’s the gorgeous new cover for my second Boom Town book.

Liz Salazar has a reputation for being wild, and it’s well-earned. But the women of Evansville, Texas, choose to overlook it since she’s an excellent stylist, with her own shop on the square. But when the handsome young mayor shows interest in Liz, that’s a different story. Suddenly everyone has an opinion, and none of them are positive.

Killian Dawson has always toed the line. He continued his father’s legacy by running for mayor, and is leading the town of Evansville through the changes brought about by the oil boom. His one rebellion is his interest in Liz Salazar. He’s had a crush on her for years, and he’s ready to make his move despite the town’s disapproval.

The reaction of the town is predictable, but the more time he spends with her, the more he knows she’s the one for him. And she is ready to change her ways, but not until after taking him on a wild Texas swing.

Goals for the Week of RWA Recovery

Josh was supposed to move home this week, but he’s staying two more weeks. You have no idea how relieved I am! I’ll post about RWA later, but my brain is mush!

Breakfast with Trish and her editor at Guenther House
Recover from RWA. I foresee at least one day of doing nothing but watching TV.
Work on Boomtown book (because you KNOW I was too tired to work on it during RWA!)
Put into place some of the things I learned at RWA
Party for Trish before she leaves
Shopping with Mom
Make something fun
Clean/declutter
Cook/exercise

Goals for the Week of #RWA14

I haven’t been to a conference since 2007. I forgot how crazy-making it is! I’m not staying in the hotel, I’ll be driving in every day, and let me tell you, that’s stressful. I’m not sure where to park, because most nights I’ll be leaving after dark by myself. I’m not saying San Antonio isn’t safe, but walking into a parking garage on my own is a little daunting. I have nightmares about the book signing (my first)–getting the books there, leaving.  Thinking about asking for a ride down, and having Fred come to the signing, then take me home. Honestly, these are the things that keep me up at night.

DON’T PANIC, especially about driving downtown
Work on Boomtown book (2 pages a day. I think I can manage that!)
Go to board meeting
Enjoy book signing
Carina Press breakfast
iBooks party
Meet with a representative from iBooks
Nook meet and greet
Enjoy Harlequin party
Enjoy workshops
Absorb the energy and inspiration
Meet new people
Enjoy time with friends I’ve not seen in years!

Goals the Week of Fred’s OTHER Vacation

 

This summer has been rough for me. I can’t get traction, and I realized I was using the wrong approach to the book I started around Father’s Day. So I STARTED OVER. I have about 10,000 words, but damn, that hurts. And it means I won’t finish a project this summer. I’d planned to finish THREE! Yup. Hurts.

Wish me luck making progress!

This week:

Work on Boom Town book
get eyebrows done
get car detailed
Color hair, maybe add some more pink
Make new reservations for the Wet Noodle Posse dinner
Go someplace with Fred
Clean in earnest, since Trish will be here Saturday
Make something fun
Cook/exercise

Summer Nostalgia

Yesterday my mom, stepdad and I went on an adventure. I wanted to take my mom to some antique stores in Lockhart, and also eat barbecue, so my stepdad took us.

We started out stopping for doughnuts in Seguin. Now, when I was a little girl, we spent most of our summers at my grandparents’ place halfway between Seguin and San Marcos. We spent a lot of days going into Seguin to the public pool (no longer there), so Seguin has a lot of happy memories for me. The road leading into town from I-10 hasn’t changed much–the same Victorian houses, limestone church, pool supply store, the ice house where we used to stop and get the Sunday paper on the way home from church.

After we got the doughnuts, we stopped at an antique store in town and they had a TON of Nancy Drew books. Now, Nancy wasn’t my girl, Trixie Belden was, but I’d read Nancy now and then, and the sight of those yellow-spined books made me so happy.

We drove through Luling to get to Lockhart, and they had a public pool just like the one we used to go to in Seguin.

Back in those days, we’d go swimming and then go to the grocery store (and FREEZE) while my grandmother picked up a few things for dinner, and always a treat, like double-stuffed Oreos.

Then we’d go home and read (or I would, anyway) and relax.

Books are such a huge part of my summer memories. Every week the librarian at my elementary school would open the library, once a week, in the morning, so kids could come check out books. I looked forward to those trips so much! The school would be cool and dark, and I would wander around what felt like a huge library, and collect an armful of books, many of which I’d read over and over. Then I’d come home, pile them up on my desk, and sit on my bed and read.

I’ve gotten to read a lot the past few days and it takes me back to those good, relaxing summer days.

Goals the Week of Josh’s 23rd Birthday

 

23rd birthday. HOW do I have a kid that old? It’s one of the few normal weeks I have left, the halfway point of my summer. The year Josh was born, I went back to work when he was 5 weeks old. This year I’ll have 4 1/2 weeks after his birthday. This summer needs a do-over.

Work on Boom Town book
Throw Josh a birthday party. Wait until you see the cake.
Shopping with Mom
Lunch with teacher friends
Get a haircut
Make something fun
Continue cleaning/decluttering
clean/cook/exercise