Connie Johnson Hambley's Blog, page 25

Author Event: Noir at the Bar in Boston

Noir at the Bar 2The Pour House, Boston, MassachusettsSunday, February 8, 6:00 - 9:00 pm
Boston has a new literary tradition. Back by popular demand, Noir at the Bar features some of Boston's best noir authors. From hard boiled crime, mystery and thriller, to the edges of horror, readers will be entertained with original works crafted especially for the evening. Each author will read for about ten minutes.
I'm very pleased to have been invited to be a part of this night. As time gets closer to the launch of The Troubles, The Charity's sequel, I'll be reading something to whet reader's appetites for more of the main character's story.
If you're not from around Boston, make sure you don't peg yourself as an out-of-towner. Locals love their "Noo-WAH at da Bah in BAH-stin." And be careful where you pahk ya cah.
I'll be joining Mike Miner, Angel Colon, Chris Irvin, Alex Segura, Nik Korpon, Patrick Shawn Bagley,Bracken MacLeod, Steve Ulfelder, and Dale Phillips.

A2R Marketing: The Mentor/Mentee Dynamic

We've all been the new kid at some point in our lives or careers. Being guided through the cafeteria line by an expert who then sat next to us was either a reality or a deep wish. Either way, experiencing the need for guidance made us both humble and sensitive. Humble because not having the answers made us insecure, and sensitive because we became aware that others may need our help.

Most writers have someone they can turn to for advice on their writing content, but when it comes to promoting their work, they have no one to turn to. The lack of guidance can leave a new writer feeling like they're holding their lunch tray all alone in a room filled with communities of engaged and purposeful people. They see other writers with active social media or in person events, and wonder what the secret was to getting there.

I can't speak for everyone, but I'll speak for many. The folks who have a presence in the digital world, or have fans in the physical one, had a mentor. 


men·tor  (ˈmenˌtôr,ˈmenˌtər)someone who teaches or gives help and advice to a less experienced and often younger person.

A mentor who knows you and knows your work can help make sense of a dizzying array of choices. I emphasize the knows you part. A simple Google search on book promotion brought up 346,000,000 hits. There is no shortage of advice or services to help promote. They key is finding what works for you. A mentor who understands your strengths, personal comfort zones, and goals can guide you to the right strategy for effective promotion.

Several years ago, I was lucky enough to have been asked by a member of the Healthcare Businesswomen's Association in Boston to be a mentor for young women in science. The women I mentored were mostly young PhD's working in research and development. I may have known little about their scientific questions, but I knew a lot about office politics and positioning for promotion. My twenty-plus years of experience in male dominated fields of law and finance helped to shape and inform my advice to them, but the key to helping was knowing them. We met at least once per month and traded phone calls and emails frequently. By learning who was comfortable with confrontation, or who ran for the hills at the slightest furrowed brow, helped me tailor my advice. Each month, a very specific task was given. A task may have been having lunch with someone who has the job you want next. Small steps helped build success and having a mentor made the mentee accountable.

I became a good mentor because I knew the need. I never had a mentor early in my career and I really could have used one!

A mentor can be anyone you trust who has enjoyed a level of success in an area you aspire to. But don't think you have to be either a mentor or a mentee. When it comes to author to reader marketing, one size does not fit all. I'm constantly being exposed to best practices and learning tricks of the promotional arts. What may not have worked last year, might be perfect now.

To find a mentor:

Look within your writer's group for someone who has done something you'd like to do. Ask how they did it and would they guide you through the process.Organizations, like HBA mentioned above, have formal mentoring programs. If not yet writing full time, find out if your "day job" industry has such a program. The insights gleaned from working closely with someone who gets to know your strengths can be applied to your writing promotion.Reach out on social media and begin a relationship with someone you admire. Most authors are approachable and will be happy to provide guidance even if not in a 'formal' mentoring relationship.

It's the dynamic of always allowing yourself to learn and adapt that makes for the most effective marketing for you.

A2R Marketing: REWARD! Jessica Wyeth and the Travel Bug

The best stories leave readers feeling like they have lived inside the pages of a book. When the setting is realistic, readers of fiction are taken deeper into the characters' lives and suspend their beliefs long enough for the writers to weave their tales. Readers of The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown, are rewarded with many blogs on locations featured in the book and film locales. Lovers of the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer flock to Forks and La Push, Washington and visit towns of the Quileute tribe. Readers love being surrounded by the physical world their beloved characters inhabited. It extends their enjoyment of the stories and writers love active and engaged fans.

I've heard from readers who feel as if they have walked in my main character's shoes. I've decided to take things one step more...pun somewhat intended. Now I'm offering a reward to do exactly that.

For you muggles out there, listen up. Geocaching combines hiking with treasure hunts. Geocachers hide boxes in different locations accessible by the public. Over two million people worldwide enjoy searching for caches that can be as big as an ammunition box or as small as a pill vile. Once a cache is found, a log is signed and a small item may traded. A twist on the typical seek and find is a travel bug. These 'bugs' are trackable objects that geocachers move from cache to cache. The best bugs have a purpose, like trying to get to China or finding the best dog parks in the U.S.

On New Year's day 2015, I placed a travel bug named "Jessica Wyeth's Travels" somewhere in Jessica's hometown of Hamilton, Massachusetts. If you go onto the Geocache site, you'll read these details:

=========
You'll have to find the bug to read the tracker numbers!
Mission: This travel bug is dedicated to Jessica Wyeth of Hamilton, Massachusetts. Help Jessica travel and find the best places horse lovers can go to fuel their passion.
Jessica is an expert equestrian and is passionate about all things horse related. Help this bug travel to equestrian themed locations: Bridle trails? Race tracks? Farms? Homes of famous horse lovers? Places of real or fictional horses or their owners? A statue featuring a horse? Birthday party pony rides?
Or even better, if you've read her books, bring this bug to places from her story around Massachusetts, Kentucky, Wyoming, Utah, Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Description: Jessica Wyeth was born with traits she couldn't hide: beauty, cunning, an innate ability to survive and the desire to travel.
Jessica is the main character in "The Charity" and (upcoming in 2015) "The Troubles." She's had more than a bit of trouble hiding as an accused murderer. Now she's tangled up with terrorists.
There's a reward for helping her travel bug roam the world in search of all things horse. Post a name in your geocache comment, and you might see that name used in a story. Jessica needs friends and your suggested name might become the person who helps her! That name could also be transformed into a character in a short story.


So, let this bug travel the world in search of an equine experience, and have fun! ======
You read that right! I'm offering a reward. I'll be watching the travels of this bug and the comments very carefully. (I'll also be watching the comments on this blog post, too!) If you find the bug, post your discovery and a name you'd like to see in a story. It can be your name or one you make up, but be warned - the character may have some unsavory traits you might not like associated with your real name. I'm busy developing the third book in Jessica's series, and she really, really needs a friend or two. I write short stories as well, so your suggested name could end up in one of those as well. Through the power of social media, I promise to notify you if I use your suggested name.
If you've read this blog before, I had great ambitions to make a puzzle geocache. This travel bug is one step closer to making that happen!
So, exercise your sense of adventure, creativity and body all at the same time! Don't sit on your tush reading! Get outside and enjoy the day! Have some fun!

A2R Marketing: The Gift of Words from Readers

If you're like me, the holidays make time pass in a blur. If we're not careful, the moments that make the holidays special will be forgotten in a swirl of tissue paper, twinkly lights and finger foods. As a wife, mother, friend, (etc!), I get busy doing for others and end up at the bottom of my list. Pausing long enough to absorb and savor can feel like a luxury. So, when I received some emails from readers who loved my book, I sat, stunned and humbled, and remembered to take a breath and appreciate their gift of words.

For my readers who have taken the time to email, tweet, post, like, and review, THANK YOU! Below are a few messages I've received recently (with identifiers taken out).

"Absolutely fantastic, Connie! If I am not ready for Christmas, it is your fault.
I love the book. I detect a horse-loving childhood for you.?? Good Luck and many congrats. What an accomplishment."-New Hampshire
"I have wanted to email you since I finished your wonderful, amazing book – and this is the first chance I have had! ... I just wanted to let you know that I LOVED your book. And I am a bibliophile. I read ALL of the time that I’m not working with horses and Reiki! Which is a lot. You were so sweet offering to skype with us and all. And while I don’t need to take your time with that – I did want you to know how very much I enjoyed your book. And how much I am looking forward to the next one! I’ll try to find you on facebook so I can be notified when it’s out! Can’t wait."-Canada
"I just wanted you to know that I just finished "The Charity"! I bought it at the Equine Affaire last fall and it had been sitting on my bedside tale staring at me. Working full time and raising three teenagers keeps me very busy so to commit to reading a book is a daunting task for me. I finally started it last week and couldn't put it down until I finished it. ironically I finished the last few chapters at my daughter's horse show. all of the parents kept asking me what was keeping my attention and I told them about the book. I highly recommended it to everyone."-Rhode Island"I rarely have time to read but when I do, I like books like "the girl with the dragon tattoo" trilogy, the "hunger games" trilogy, as well as Gillian Flynn books .The Charity was as suspenseful and riveting as those, if not more! Being a horse-lover made me connect with your book even more. I just wanted you to know how much I enjoyed your book, and await your next one!
Regards and thanks for such a great read!"-New York
"A copy of your book came my way from a friend. It was on my stack of books to tackle and once I finally got to it, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. ... My daughter also has a copy and I am encouraging her to pick this up. I notice that the ending left a lot of opportunity for a sequel? Looking forward to that if you are planning on it!
Best of luck to you with your writing. You are very good at it!!"-Kentucky
"OMG! I loved the Charity... I can't wait to start the next book. Is it at the bookstores yet? I usually read books on the best sellers list, and you are right up there with the best."-Massachusetts
"I wanted to touch base with you Connie and tell you that I just finished The Charity. It has kept me glued to the chair, tense and turning pages until the end. It is quite the book and full of suspense and a true thriller! I enjoyed every page until the last....I am so glad to see there is a sequel coming out because I was left sitting there going, 'but what happens to them now?' So thank you for writing more of the story....why this has not been picked up for a movie I have no idea! I can imagine certain people in the roles and see the horses and countryside, etc. The story would make a great movie! ... I have been an avid horsewoman for many, many years. So I have enjoyed your book immensely and look forward to The Troubles....I think I'll take a breather for a few weeks and read some Nicholas Sparks to settle down tho'. Blessings to you and yours and may 2015 find you all in good health and spirits!"-Wyoming

A2R Marketing: The Care and Feeding of Your Favorite Author

Come on, 'fess up. You have a crush on an author and are happy with the one-sided affair.

You read his or her work with books you own, got from a library, or borrowed from a friend. You fell in love with a story or a character because something touched you in a way you never thought possible. Somehow, the author reached into your heart and expressed something you knew was there, but didn't know how to articulate. Then, you read the quick bio in the back of the book and were even more intrigued with the person behind the words. Shyly, with no one looking, you googled her and found blogs or recent interviews. You liked what you read, or viewed, or heard. You were hooked.

We authors are a complicated sort. We spend hours alone, crafting sentences we hope will do exactly that - to beguile and hook you. You've bitten our sweet apple and thought you were safe in your curlers and fuzzy slippers, with a mug of tea in one hand and a thick tome in the other. You thought you were safe from need.

You were wrong. For each sated moment you enjoyed, a hunger grew. Maybe you talked about your new love with anyone who would listen (thank you!). Perhaps you suggested our book to your book club (wonderful!). The more adventurous of you "liked" a Facebook page (yes!), followed us on Twitter (yippee!), or left a comment on a blog (way to go!). Maybe you've even been so bold as to attend a reading (incredible!). Thank you for carrying us in the crook of your arm as you commute (cover out, please, so all can see), or got sand in our pages at the beach (aahhh!). Lip prints on your e-reader are perfectly acceptable. If you've done one or all of these things, you may have smiled to yourself thinking you've cared for your beloved author.

Everything mentioned above is fantastic and greatly appreciated, but there's more you can do. Remember, we authors are lovers of words. Not just our own words, but yours, dear Reader. Yes. Your words. Post a review. Gulp! We ask you to declare your love of us publicly. We ask you to stand on the rooftop of the great House of Barnes and Noble, or atop Mount Amazon, or on the shores of Goodreads, and shout, loudly and proudly, that you've read our words and want more.

Because, in those digital wilds, more of you lurk. We authors know this to be true. There are readers out there who want to know what you've read and what you thought. In the process of caring for us, you get to care for your own. How perfect can that be?

So, as you care for us, feed us with your words and reap the reward knowing you're providing sustenance for others, just like you.

Here is a check list for ensuring proper care:

Tell your friends and suggest it to your book club. Many authors are happy to join your group for an evening and others can do appearances via Skype.Ask your local library to buy a copy. Better yet, but one and donate it after you've read it!If the author has a Facebook page, please "like" it;Ditto for Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, etc.;If you see them on a blog, comment.On Amazon, post a review AND add the author as a 'favorite' by visiting their author page and clicking the "Add Favorite" star button below their image;Add the book to your Goodreads list and review it there.Authors are happy to hear from you. Reach out. 

New England Mobile Book Fair Mystery Night - December 4, 2014

New England Mobile Book Fair, 82-84 Needham Street, Newton Highlands, MAThursday, December 4, 2014 6:00 pm
Okay folks, listen up. This is the THIRD ANNUAL mystery night featuring authors from in and around New England. Tom Lyons (pictured above in his native habitat) continued the mystery night tradition started by the iconic (but now closed) Kate's Mystery Books in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Over forty authors will be there (that is in number, not of a certain age) from best selling authors, to local faves, to hot indies. (Go ahead, think what you want!) Many members from Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime will be there, too.  It's a terrific night and not one to miss.
A SIGNED BOOK MAKES A GREAT GIFT FOR YOUR FAVORITE READER!!!
Please join me for another fun author meet and greet. I'll be signing copies of The Charity and will talk about its upcoming sequel, The Troubles.

If you've never been to New England Mobile Book Fair, you need to get off your arse and go! For over 52 years, NEMBF has provided New Englanders with the best book selection and prices. They hold frequent events for readers to meet authors and are sure to have your sought after book in stock or will get it for you ASAP.

See you there!

November Events

True confession. When it comes to keeping up with my blog posts, I'm not the best. When I sit down to write, my brain focuses immediately on my book. Other writing, like keeping up to date with my blog, takes a lower priority.



I just attended the Sister's in Crime New England Crimebake. Amazing. Wonderful. Insightful. Fun. Put it on your MUST GO list. If you are a writer, there is no excuse not to go. If you are a reader, you will completely enjoy yourself and meet your favorite authors. This year's guest of honor was Craig Johnson, author of the books the Longmire TV series is based on. This set the theme for the gathering. Denim and cowboy boots were everywhere. I have inside knowledge that Craig and I (pictured above) were the only people there wearing cowboy boots that had actually been on a horse. I had a blast at Crimebake and fear I may get a reputation for liking men in fringe, but that's another story.

Supporting my local indie bookstores and libraries is something I believe deeply in. I'll be at the Topsfield Public Library on Thursday, November 13 at 7:00 pm on a panel of other local authors. Stop by!


Next up is the Equine Affaire. This is one of the nation's largest horse conferences and expositions. Multiple equestrian disciplines will be featured and all conceivable horse-related items will be sold there. I attended last year and planned to stay for three days. I sold out of books in two days and met some wonderful and passionate horse-loving readers. Just my kind of people! I've already been in contact with a few via Twitter, so I know I'll be seeing some familiar faces. Find me on Twitter: @conniehambley. I'll be tweeting during the Expo, so connect!

October Events - Boston Book Festival and More

Writing can be a solitary adventure, so when the opportunity comes to get out and meet folks, I always jump at the chance.
On Saturday, October 25, you will find me at the Sisters in Crime booth at the Boston Book Festival from 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. I'm excited about this event for a couple of reasons. First, Sisters in Crime is an incredible organization that supports mystery, crime, thriller and suspense writers. Contrary to what the name suggests, men are included as long as they are fully in touch with their inner woman. Just kidding about the inner woman part. Writers like Ray Daniel, Dale T. Phillips and Craig Johnson are very involved with SinC. I belong to both the national SinC and Sisters in Crime, New England chapter and am a member of their speakers bureau. I strongly encourage you to check them out. Secondly, Boston Book Festival is a FREE event promoting and celebrating a culture of reading. What better way to spend a Saturday than to meet authors, listen to fascinating speakers and check out the new releases!
Ah, yes, and if you're a Jungle Red Writers blog reader, I know you'll be happy with this inside information.




But, I've gotten ahead of myself. Before then, I'll be at the New England Library Association Conference in Boxborough, Massachusetts. Again, you'll find me with the Sisters in Crime folks on Monday, October 20 from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. I'm excited to be with Deborah Doucette, author of acclaimed The Forgotten Roses and Kate Flora, author of Finding Amy, an Edgar award nominee, and the just released Death Dealer. Kate and I share the "former-lawyer-but-still-a-nice-person-turned-writer" turf, so our conversation should be pretty lively. Hope you join us!


By the way, if you think librarians are a stodgy bunch, think again. NELA's programs bring librarians together to brain storm and share best practices of community support and outreach. Local libraries are more than just a place to check out books. Many offer children and after school programs, internet access and classes for seniors, speaker series, yoga classes and much more. They 'talk the talk' and 'walk the walk' of ways to enrich our lives and should be something you're very familiar with. My husband was a library trustee in our little town and I encourage your involvement! 

Signing at Barrister's Book Shop, Vermont

Hey all! I just wanted to give a quick heads-up that I'll be at Barrister's Book Shop in South Royalton, Vermont for a signing/meet and greet  on September 26 from 4:00 to 5:00 pm. I hope to see you there! I will confess to be looking forward to walking the hallways of my alma mater, Vermont Law School. I'm sure the dean and my classmates didn't think I'd be returning as a writer of thrillers instead of a distinguished attorney. Ah, well, surprise!

This week has been a fun and frantic one. Lots of fans popping up and introducing themselves via a guest post on Jungle Red Writers blog. My interview with award winning, best selling and all around wonderful person and author Hallie Ephron is here.

Next Up! Jungle Red Writers Blog Guest September 24!

Mark your calendars! I'm super excited to be a guest of Hallie Ephron's this week on her Jungle Red Writers Blog. Hallie is one of seven women mystery and thriller writers who have joined together to share writing tips, dish on life adventures and insights, profile other authors and even a give recipe or two. The other writers are Hank Phillippi Ryan, Rhys Bowen, Julia Spencer Flemming, Lucy Burdette, Deborah Crombie and Susan Elia MacNeal and each is incredible in her own right.

I met Hallie at Ray Daniel's launch of Terminated at the New England Mobile Book Fair. To be right up front about it, I was a little bit tongue-tied. Earlier this year, I had been invited to be a guest on a Boston book interview show, The Literati Scene. To prepare, I researched past guests and Hallie's name stood out. Nothing like trying to follow a three time Mary Higgins Clark award finalist, best selling author and a collector of rave reviews. Gulp.

So, I extended my hand and blubbered something about needing to up my game to follow in her footsteps. I hoped I didn't blush crimson and sound like a complete fawning idiot. Even if I did, Hallie was warm, gracious and funny. She mentioned her trip to Ireland and the conversation was off and running. Then she asked if I'd be interested in being a guest on her blog. Would I!?! Oh, yeah!

So, Hallie, I hope I do you proud. On Wednesday, September 24, I will be sitting at my computer, fingers poised over the keys, waiting to write some pithy and insightful responses to any comments I receive. Fingers crossed I get some.

(By the way, if you haven't read Hank's intro to Ray on the JRW blog, you should. Hank interviewed Ray as part of his launch, and it was one of the best interviews I have ever heard. She did her homework and asked the right questions to let Ray shine on his big night. Really incredible. The post gives a hint at how good the evening's conversation was.)