Jennifer Wilck's Blog, page 54

We're Almost Done Celebrating

We’re down to the wire. This is the last week of celebrations. Please remember to help me celebrate Skin Deep’s 2ndbirthday and to help me get the word out and donate to a worthy cause.
For every comment I receive on this blog through the end of the month, as well as any other venue in which I celebrate the 2nd birthday of Skin Deep, I will donate $1 to The Rachel Coalition (http://www.rachelcoalition.org).
The Rachel Coalition is a division of Jewish Family Service of MetroWest, and a partnership of nine northern New Jersey organizations working together to provide services and support programs for victims of domestic violence in Essex and Morris County.
Additionally, anyone who comments here before the end of the month will be entered into a drawing. Prizes include: signed copy of Skin Deep, birthday gift pack or a Sephora gift card. For anyone who purchases Skin Deep, either in paperback or as an e-book and can show me proof of purchase (email copy of receipt to wilckjz @ yahoo dot com—no spaces and dot should be .), I will enter you into a special drawing for a massage gift card. Again, my goal is to help out victims of domestic violence while drawing attention to my book!
Good luck to everyone and thanks for celebrating with me! Thanks for your support!

Book Birthday Thanks!

I’m entering the third week of my book birthday celebration and I’m happy you’re joining me! Have you eaten any cake? Because cake is an important part of any celebration. ;) My daughter just finished a cooking class at school and made a delicious cake yesterday. It wasn’t really a birthday cake per se, but it was yummy, none-the-less.
During this birthday celebration, I’ve had the good fortune to visit several other writer’s blogs. I love doing that, because not only do I get to interact with other people, but also I get to read different blogs. It’s one of my favorite part about meeting other writers; well, that, and reading their books!
So to thank them, I’d like to mention their blogs here, as well as some of their books. If you’re so inclined, stop by and check out their work. They have a lot of good things to say.
I’ve known Lila Munro for several years now, and she turned me on to my current publisher, Rebel Ink Press. She’s tremendously supportive of writers and is a great person all around. Her website is: http://www.lilamunro.com, her blog is: http://www.lilamunro.com/realmantic-moments-blog.htmland you can find her books on Amazon here: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=lila+munro. As you can see, there are a lot of them!
Eden Glenn is a new writer friend of mine who also writes for Rebel Ink Press. She was one of the first to welcome me to the publishing family and is always open to guests on her blog. Her website is: http://edenglenn.com, her blog is: http://edenglenn.com/blog/ and her books can be found on Amazon here: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=eden+glenn. Check them out!
Debra St. John is one of my blogger buddies at Heroines With Hearts. I’m the Tuesday writer, she’s the Thursday writer. Over the years, we’ve found we have a lot in common, including a love for country music. We also seem to approach writing the same way. Her website is: http://www.debrastjohnromance.com, her blog is: http://bookbeatbabes.blogspot.comand her books can be found on Amazon here: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?_encoding=UTF8&field-author=Debra%20St.%20John&search-alias=digital-text&sort=relevancerank. I’ve read This Can’t Be Love, and it’s terrific!
So, thank you ladies, for helping me celebrate Skin Deep’s 2ndbirthday and for also helping me get the word out and donate to a worthy cause.
With that in mind, please remember that for every comment I receive on this blog, as well as any other venue in which I celebrate the 2ndbirthday of Skin Deep, I will donate $1 to The Rachel Coalition (http://www.rachelcoalition.org ).
The Rachel Coalition is a division of Jewish Family Service of MetroWest, and a partnership of nine northern New Jersey organizations working together to provide services and support programs for victims of domestic violence in Essex and Morris County.
Additionally, anyone who comments here before the end of the month will be entered into a drawing. Prizes include: signed copy of Skin Deep, birthday gift pack or a Sephora gift card. For anyone who purchases Skin Deep, either in paperback or as an e-book and can show me proof of purchase (email copy of receipt to wilckjz @ yahoo dot com—no spaces and dot should be .), I will enter you into a special drawing for a massage gift card. Again, my goal is to help out victims of domestic violence while drawing attention to my book!
Good luck to everyone and thanks for celebrating with me! Thanks for your support!

You Can Help!

Today marks the second week of celebrating the second birthday of Skin Deep. I’ve never done this before for any of my books, but it’s a fun concept and I’m glad I’m giving it a try.
Last week’s blog post offered a number of statistics about domestic violence. In many of the comments I’ve received—either on Facebook or other blogs where I’ve also been featured as a guest—I’ve been told stories of people who have experienced domestic abuse firsthand. I’d like to thank them for sharing their stories with me and to tell them how much I admire them for getting out of dangerous situations.
Their stories are much more important than my book, but if my book can help to raise awareness and help provide safety to victims, then I’m glad to do my part.
With that in mind, please remember that for every comment I receive on this blog, as well as any other venue in which I celebrate the 2ndbirthday of Skin Deep, I will donate $1 to The Rachel Coalition (http://www.rachelcoalition.org ).
The Rachel Coalition is a division of Jewish Family Service of MetroWest, and a partnership of nine northern New Jersey organizations working together to provide services and support programs for victims of domestic violence in Essex and Morris County.
Thanks for your support!

It's a Book Birthday!

Welcome to my book birthday party! All month long, I’m celebrating the 2nd birthday of Skin Deep, a contemporary romance published by Whiskey Creek Press (http://www.whiskeycreekpress.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=942).
First, here’s a blurb about it:
The last thing Valerie needs, after escaping an abusive marriage to an alcoholic and rebuilding her life, is a broody, secretive, standoffish man. But that’s exactly what she gets when she becomes a makeup artist on the set of a hit sitcom and draws the attention of the series’ star. John Samuels hides a terrible past—a life of abuse and neglect. A successful acting career and the affection and support of cast, crew and friends, does nothing to convince him that he is anything other than an unlovable monster.            Will he learn that the life he’s been living has been built on a lie or will he be doomed to repeat the sins of his father?
Here’s an excerpt:
That night, after all the scenes had been shot, Valerie waited for everyone to leave. She didn’t want to answer questions or receive pity. She arranged and rearranged drawers and tools. The trailer contained three stations, each with its own make-up chair. A long table ran down one wall, with plenty of drawers for storage space. Well-lit mirrors hung above the table. Unable to find anything else to do, and convinced by the silence that everyone had to have left, she took out her keys to lock up. She jumped as a knock sounded at the door, the trailer rattled, and a head peeked in. “Valerie?” “Oh, hi, John.” She expelled a deep breath and willed her heart to slow its frantic beat. “Do you need something?” “No.” He entered and stood by the door. John Samuels played the lead. At almost six-foot three, he dwarfed the trailer and had to tip his head to fit. He folded his muscular arms across his chest and spread his feet apart. “Michelle told me you were not joining us tonight. I thought I would see if I could change your mind.” Valerie rolled her eyes. “She is persistent.” “You noticed.” John’s dark eyes twinkled. His mouth widened with a ghost of a smile. Valerie tried not to gasp. He reminded her of a rugged cowboy—broad-shouldered, with a prominent brow, dark piercing eyes, high cheekbones, and a cleft chin. When he smiled, even a slight trace of one, his eyes looked like liquid velvet and his dimples twinkled like stars in the night sky. A five-o’clock shadow covered his cheeks. Her fingers itched to brush against their rough texture, to tease his mouth into a full-blown grin. “So, what can I say to make you join us?” As he leaned against the wall in well-fitting jeans and a T-shirt that left nothing to the imagination, Valerie’s mind said, “Sleep with me.” Heat crept up her neck, over her cheeks, and continued to the roots of her hair. A thin sheen of sweat dampened the space between her breasts. She felt the sudden urge to fan herself, like a damsel in distress in an old B-movie. Instead, she ignored her traitorous thoughts. Her balled fist pressed into her tight stomach. “Tonight, not even chocolate will change my mind.” She didn’t exactly lie. She had no intention of going to the bar, or of sleeping with him, no matter how her thoughts might try to sabotage her good intentions. She’d been fooled by surface finery before, and it had almost killed her. She wouldn’t let it happen again. “I will remember that,” he promised. “But next time you will not get off so easy.” His eyes bored into hers for a moment, and then he turned on his heel and left. * * * * True to his word, John arrived the following day pre-pared for battle. With a cursory knock on the door, he dangled a bag of M&Ms inside the trailer, but snatched it back be-fore she could grab them. “We are going out for pizza. I will pick you up in ten minutes.” Before she could answer, he walked out. Valerie shrugged as she finished her work. The new Val-eerie never allowed other people to make decisions for her, but she’d practically handed John a permission slip. And, he had M&M’s. How could she refuse? Ten minutes later, he returned, ushered her out the door and down the steps. Although he didn’t touch her, she could imagine the warmth of his hand on the small of her back, and feel the gentle puff of his breath against her hair. The angle of his body steered her toward the others in the parking lot as if he had taken her by the hand and dragged her with him. An invisible electric charge pulled her. Or maybe it was his Dial-soap scent. That scent—soap and man—made her stomach flip flop. Her uncontrollable reaction to him disturbed her, especially since he appeared unaffected. He remained silent, strode toward their meeting place, and studied his surroundings as if he expected someone to pop out of the shadows and yell, “Boo!” Then she saw the brown bag of M&Ms sticking out of his white shirt pocket. Before he could stop her, she reached around and grabbed them, opened the bag and popped three in her mouth. “Hey, those are mine!” He reached for the bag, but not fast enough to retrieve them. “Not anymore.” As she danced away from him, she stuck another handful in her mouth. He brought his hand up to his heart, as if she had wounded him deeply, but the twinkle in his eye gave him away. Valerie had all she could do not to burst out laughing. “You did not have to take them, you know. I was plan-nine to give them to you later.” He pouted and his dark hair fell across his brow, but not before Valerie saw a flash of a smile turn the corners of his mouth up. “Oh really? When?” “After dinner, of course. I would not want to spoil your appetite.” As if that were possible. Valerie laughed again and John grunted, a deep hoarse sound that climbed from the pit of his stomach and thrust its way out his mouth.
Skin Deep was published in November 2011. I want to commemorate its publication, but I’d like the commemoration to mean a little bit more. Of course, I’d love for you to want to buy the book (you can find links at Whiskey Creek Press http://www.whiskeycreekpress.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=942, Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Skin-Deep-Jennifer-Wilck-ebook/dp/B0062FO0XA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1383154979&sr=8-1&keywords=jennifer+wilck,  and Barnes & Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/skin-deep-jennifer-wilck/1108162104?ean=9781611600551) and I’m also offering giveaways (described below), but in addition, I’d like the book birthday to benefit others.
Valerie, the heroine, is a survivor of domestic abuse. Her story has a happy ending. Not everyone, however, is so lucky. A portion of the royalties that I receive from each purchase of this book is donated to the Rachel Coalition, a local organization that helps victims of domestic violence. Here are some statistics that might interest you (from The Domestic Violence Resource Center http://dvrc-or.org/domestic/violence/resources/C61/):
·      One in four women (25%) has experienced domestic violence in her lifetime.
(The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and The National Institute of Justice, Extent, Nature, and Consequences of Intimate Partner Violence, July     2000. The Commonwealth Fund, Health Concerns Across a Woman’s Lifespan: 1998 Survey of Women’s Health, 1999)·      Estimates range from 960,000 incidents of violence against a current or former spouse, boyfriend, or girlfriend to 3 million women who are physically abused by their husband or boyfriend per year. 
(U.S. Department of Justice, Violence by Intimates: Analysis of Data on Crimes by Current or Former Spouses, Boyfriends, and Girlfriends, March 1998. The Commonwealth Fund, Health Concerns Across a Woman’s Lifespan: 1998 Survey of Women’s Health, 1999)·      Women accounted for 85% of the victims of intimate partner violence, men for approximately 15%.
(Bureau of Justice Statistics Crime Data Brief, Intimate Partner Violence, 1993-2001, February 2003)·      Between 600,000 and 6 million women are victims of domestic violence each year, and between 100,000 and 6 million men, depending on the type of survey used to obtain the data.
(Rennison, C. (2003, Feb).  Intimate partner violence.  Us. Dpt. of Justice/Office of Justice Programs.  NXJ 197838. 
Straus, M. & Gelles, R. (1990).  Physical violence in American families.  New Brunswick, N.J.: Transaction Publishers.
Tjaden, P., & Thoennes, N. (2000).  Extent, nature, and consequences of intimate partner violence.  National Institute of Justice, NCJ 181867.)·      Women ages 20-24 are at the greatest risk of nonfatal intimate partner violence.
(Bureau of Justice Statistics, Intimate Partner Violence in the U.S. 1993-2004, 2006.)·      Separated and divorced males and females are at a greater risk of nonfatal intimate partner violence.
(Bureau of Justice Statistics, Intimate Partner Violence in the U.S. 1993-2004, 2006.)·      Intimate partner violence affects people regardless of income. However, people with lower annual income (below $25K) are at a 3-times higher risk of intimate partner violence than people with higher annual income (over $50K).* 
(Bureau of Justice Statistics, Intimate Partner Violence in the U.S. 1993-2004, 2006.)
*Please note that those with less resources are more likely to report incidents of violence·      Studies show that access to shelter services leads to a 60-70% reduction in incidence and severity of re-assault during the 3-12 months’ follow up period compared to women who did not access shelter. Shelter services led to greater reduction in severe re-assault than did seeking court or law enforcement protection, or moving to a new location.
(Campbell, JC, PhD, RN, FAAN. Anna D. Wolf, Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, Protective Action and Re-assault: Findings from the RAVE study.)For every comment I receive on this blog, as well as any other venue in which I celebrate the 2nd birthday of Skin Deep, I will donate $1 to The Rachel Coalition (http://www.rachelcoalition.org).
The Rachel Coalition is a division of Jewish Family Service of MetroWest, and a partnership of nine northern New Jersey organizations working together to provide services and support programs for victims of domestic violence in Essex and Morris County. You can find more about them here.
Additionally, anyone who comments on my blog this month will be entered into a drawing. Prizes include: signed copy of Skin Deep, birthday gift pack or a Sephora gift card. For anyone who purchases Skin Deep, either in paperback or as an e-book and can show me proof of purchase (email copy of receipt to wilckjz @ yahoo dot com—no spaces and dot should be .), I will enter you into a special drawing for a massage gift card. Again, my goal is to help out victims of domestic violence while drawing attention to my book!
Good luck to everyone and thanks for celebrating with me!

You're Invited!

Come Celebrate A Book Birthday!
Time:  All Day
Date:   November 1-30, 2013
Place:  http://www.jenniferwilck.blogspot.comhttp://www.lilamunrol.comhttp://www.edenglenn.comhttp://www.debrastjohnromance.com@JWilckhttps://www.facebook.com/pages/Jennifer-Wilck/201342863240160?ref=hl Prizes/Giveaways

Stop Shaking the Orchid

I feel a bit like Higgins from Magnum, P.I. No, I’m neither portly nor balding; I’m growing orchids. And they haven’t died yet. This is amazing when you think of it, because I’m not good at growing plants. They need water, and I tend to forget that. Or I leave them outside too long and they freeze from cold or burn in the sun. Or I follow the directions exactly and they still die.
But these orchids seem to grow in spite of me. And they’ve rebloomed—twice!
I’m supposed to cut them back once the last blooms fall off. I check the plant every day. I shake it to get the flowers to fall off. And—I think just to spite me—they remain on the stalk. So now what do I do? Do I wait until they fall off on their own? Do I cut the stalk back now? I love the beautiful flowers, but sometimes I’m too busy thinking about the next step, and too afraid of killing it, to really appreciate them.
In that way, growing my orchids is a bit like figuring out the priorities in life. I’m often stretched too thin trying to get my kids from one activity to another to stop and appreciate what they’re actually doing.
The piano lesson has to end on time or we’ll be late for the next activity—except, she’s playing the music so beautifully, I need to stop and listen for a moment.
You need to stop talking so that we can leave—only, you’re actually telling me something important and I need to listen to you.
So I think I’m going to practice not shaking the orchid and try to appreciate the present a bit more. Plenty of other people are late to activities and I haven’t seen anything terrible happen.
The blooms are pretty, so I might as well enjoy them while the plant is still living.

Sexy Firefighters, Jewelry and Books, Oh My!

I spent the past weekend at a writer’s conference, the New Jersey Romance Writer’s Dream Big – Write Now Conference. There were two days worth of speakers, workshops, networking and lots of fun.
Here are some things I learned:
Romance writers are some of the nicest and most supportive writers around. We think, write and talk about love all day long. It’s almost impossible to be mean.When you “know” people on Twitter and Facebook, you’re greeted like a long-lost friend when you finally meet in person.If you squish on an elevator with a large number of people, someone is probably going to make a comment about the elevator getting stuck. If those people are romance writers, that comment will quickly devolve into a group brainstorming session about firefighters. Sexy ones. Without shirts. If this concerns you, you may want to take the stairs.No one warned me that I should have a script ready for when famous romance authors (like, seriously famous ones—Eloisa James, ConnieBrockway) stop at my table during the book fair and ask me about my books. As a result, I sounded like an idiot.However, if you want to meet famous romance authors, find the breakfast table with the coffee. They will carry their cups around the room looking for a place to sit and you’ll end up with awesome tablemates (VirginiaKantra)!Wear statement jewelry. They’re great conversation starters, especially if, like me, you’re a bit shy.Want an autograph from an author but you have their book on your Kindle/Nook/iPad? Have them sign your leather cover.
 It was a great conference—I can’t wait until next year!

Welcome, Michelle Lowhorn!

I'd like to welcome fellow Rebel author, Michelle Lowhorn to my blog today. She's a brand new author and I'm so happy to have her join me here!


 
 I’ve always said that I’ve got the two best jobs in the world, mother and teacher.  Now I can add a third, romance author.  Becoming a published writer is a dream come true.  I’m so grateful that Rebel Ink Press is taking a chance on me and publishing my work.  Schooled Book 1 in The Teacher Series is being released today and I’m feeling both excited and nervous.  I’m thrilled that something I’ve dreamed about for most of my life will finally happen.  And anytime you take a chance, you can’t help but worry.
   When I decided to actually write a book, I decided to write about what I know.  I’ve read hundreds of romance novels in all different genres, so I must be an expert about romance.  Right?  Since I’m a full time elementary teacher, it just seemed natural to write a series about teachers.  Oh and I added suspense and my dry sense of humor into the mix.      My husband, Randy, and I live in Texas with our two teenagers, Jessie & Nate.  Since I’m very familiar with the towns around Fort Worth, I decided to use them for the backdrop of my series.      Voila, The Teacher Series was created!    Then came the difficult part, I sent the first and second book to the publisher.  I prepared myself for rejection and checked my email a hundred times a day.  One week later, Rebel Ink Press sent me the dreaded email.  Before I clicked the button, I told myself that it didn’t matter if they liked the books or not.  It was in the morning when I opened the email.  Once I realized they were offering me a contract, I started yelling as I ran around the house.    Since that morning, I’ve learned so much.  I really had no idea what the process entailed.  I guess I thought that I wrote the book and the publisher did everything else.  Boy was I wrong!  Even though the last couple of months have been stressful, I wouldn’t have changed a thing.      I’m so blessed to see my dream come true.
Here’s the blurb.
Feisty fourth grade teacher Emmelynne Johnson is fiercely independent and has a vocabulary that would make a sailor blush.  While hiking at an area national park, she finds herself lost and alone.  Just when she thinks she’s found her way, she unknowingly witnesses a brutal murder sanctioned by a local crime boss.Colt Christianson, homicide detective for the Fort Worth Police Department, is known for his dedication and willingness to do whatever necessary to solve crimes.  Still grieving for his late partner, Colt is called to investigate a murder that has connections to his partner’s death.When the killers attempt to silence the only witness, the detective switches roles to become her protector.  Together they’ll be forced to fight two battles, one against the killers and one against their burgeoning mutual attraction.
Here’s the excerpt.
“This is my police car, not my personal vehicle.  I spend a lot of time in this car and I end up eating most of my meals sitting in this very seat.  I don’t know the last time it was washed because it isn’t my job to wash the car.  I solve crimes for a living.  I’m not in charge of maintenance.  If it would make you feel better, I can ask my superior for the name of the person who’s responsible for the upkeep on the vehicles.  Maybe you can chew him out.”“I certainly doubt the city would pay for a worker who only washed cars.  That would be a complete waste of public funds.  My guess is the rest of the police force takes pride in their vehicles and cleans them out once in a while.  Based on the condition of your car, I’m not confident you’re competent to solve this crime.”  Crossing her arms in front of her chest, she turned to the front of the car and ignored the detective.Taking a deep breath, he dropped it in gear and backed out of the drive.  “My car may not win any beauty pageants, but it’s comfortable and functional.  That’s all that matters.  Would you please give me the address of where I can drop you?  I hope it’s close by.”Now she’d done it.  For some unknown reason, she always rubbed people the wrong way.  She really didn’t try to piss people off but she just couldn’t control what flew out of her mouth. “They warned me that you were a handful but I had no idea,” the detective commented a short time later.  “And here’s a thought, how on earth can you be a teacher when your vocabulary would make a sailor blush?”

To purchase her book: http://www.amazon.com/Schooled-ebook/dp/B00FYHOHXU/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1382005264&sr=1-1&keywords=michelle+lowhorn
You can find Michelle at http://www.michellelowhorn.com/ and at http://www.michellelowhorn.blogspot.com/

It's Her Turn Now

We’ve entered the Bat Mitzvah Circuit, Round 2. Round 2 because it is now my younger daughter’s turn.
All of her camp friends, Hebrew school friends and some of her school friends are now having Bar and Bat Mitzvahs. Most weekends are taken up with at least one event. If we’re lucky, we’ll have a few weekends off. Having survived it the first time around with my older one, I’m pretty confident I’ll survive this one.
However, I have learned a few things.
      1)   Even though I’m glad she has friends, I’m starting to dread opening the mailbox.However, not opening it is bad for our credit rating, as the bills won’t get paid. The mailman will also start to get annoyed. Better to just grin and bear it.      2)   Don’t bother buying socks, sweatshirts or pajamas this year. She’ll receive a pair of socks—much cooler than any I can buy on sale and in bulk—at every event she attends. She’ll also receive sweatshirts and pajama pants as favors.       3)   Use the opportunity to plan weekend or day trips. If I’m going to have to schlep to DC, I might as well enjoy myself! The same goes for a day in Pennsylvania—the farmland is beautiful this time of year.      4)   Use the time with only one kid to enjoy some mother/daughter, father/daughter bonding time. It doesn’t happen often!      5)   Let her go to as many as she wants (when possible). It’s a rite of passage and it only happens. It’s her chance to enjoy herself. Don’t be “that” mom if you don’t have to be.      6)   Be proud when she stresses the importance of the service. It’s about way more than a cool party, and if she gets it, that’s awesome!      7)   When she understands she can’t attend every single one, let her make the decision about what ones to skip. They’re her friends, let her differentiate—it will make it easier when it comes time to create her invitation list.
Most importantly, realize this is a situation with a definite end in sight. Yes, it will pass. Wine and chocolate will help (don’t they always?). In the meantime, I’m gasing up the car and getting ready for the next road trip.

Judging A Book By Its Cover

Once again, I exhibited at the Collingswood Book Festival this weekend. It was my third year doing this and I had a lot of fun. I met nice readers and writers, and even sold some books.
But by far, the most interesting part of the day was watching people’s reactions to my tent display, which I upgraded from last year. This year, I reproduced the banner on my website (http://www.jenniferwilck.com) as an actual banner that I displayed hanging in front of my table. I made my book covers into large border prints that I displayed so that anyone walking by, from any direction, could see them.




As I sat at my table, I watched the people pass and look at my displays. Some of them sneered, as they could obviously tell I wrote romance and quite clearly, it wasn’t for them. Usually, the ones who sneered were women walking alone. Women with children seemed to sneak a peek and continue walking, as if they were afraid to expose their children to my books. Or maybe they didn’t want their guilty pleasure discovered. Women and men, well, they were interesting. The women often took a cursory glance and continued their conversations. The men, however, looked a lot harder and longer at my displays, turning their heads to see all the differently angled displays. It was as if they were getting a peek into a hidden world.
Don’t get me wrong. There were plenty of friendly people who said hello as they meandered by and plenty more who stopped to look and to chat (also a couple of weird ones, including one man who wanted to know what typeface my book was printed in, and then tried to argue about the race of one of my cover models). We had some great conversations and I really enjoyed getting to meet them.
There was even one woman who came to my table this year and told me she’d read my first book and wanted to read more. She even described the book she’d read with enough detail that I knew she had actually read it. My husband likes coming with me to the book festival because there are a few authors he likes to repeatedly visit, and it was really cool to be “that author” for someone else.
Once again, it was a terrific experience and I’m looking forward to next year. And hey, at least I know my signs made an impact! J