Marilyn Vix's Blog, page 10

Next Week: The 2018 5th Annual Paranormal Blog Tour Begins!

[image error]It’s almost here! The 5th Annual Paranormal Blog Tour will begin next week on Monday, Oct. 22. I’ve got a great line-up of authors sharing their new, hot releases for your romance reading pleasure.

Here are the participating authors:

Parker de Vesci
Lori Moulton
Serena Walken
Lynda Belle

I hope you’ll come back for all the great featured books, discounts, giveaways and author interviews. Bookmark and visit daily for the full experience. Participating authors will also have treats on their blogs as well. I promise, no tricks, unless you ask nicely. *wink*

See you next week!

-Marilyn

The Death of Kboards.Com: My Indie Publishing Home Implodes

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The end is nye for Kboards.com.

I am very upset today. A place I have called my online home since 2009 has been recently bought by a company called VerticalScope, Inc. and all hell has broken loose on the board. This place is known as Kboards.com Writer’s Cafe. And I have learned what I know about self-publishing a lot from this place and the people that visit. I have made many friends over the years, hired editors, formatters and cover designers. It has been a corner stone resource for me in my writing career.

And now because of a new owner grab and their TOS change without informing the users of the board, it is now quickly becoming a wasteland. What was the best resource to find out about the Indie Industry is becoming quickly a billboard for advertising because of years of spidered/crawled post content. The VirtualScope TOS was changed to reflect that all posts and personal information collected now belongs to the new owners, and many of the authors, that used their pen names, book covers, links, and information to do business on the board suddenly are finding themselves with the possibility of this third party laying claim to their copyrighted content.

IT IS A SCARY SITUATION for CREATIVES! I have never seen anything like this. There are many people that have visited the board, including top Indie authors, like Hugh Howey and Jasinda Wilder, that have made Kboards.com home in the past. So, the legal repercussions are astounding. Plus, many EU citizens on the board are already exerting their GDPR rights, but many Canadian, US and Australian citizens are left trying to figure how to sort through this downward spiral of our online home.

I cannot even put into words how I am feeling–almost. Because there is one word coming to mind awfully clearly–betrayed. More comes to mind like trying to say the sale date of the board was in May, but the announcement was made in August this year. The new owners and their scathing disregard for the intelligence and knowledge of the Kboard users, and the utter jumping of ship of many of my good friends I’ve known for years is the reality of what has happened. The shock is disappearing, and the dust is settling. Writers are leaving Kboards and the Writer’s Cafe in troves. And this makes me ultimately sad.

I am documenting all of this so in the future, sometime when people look at the start of the digital age and Indie publishing, they will find WHY many of the posts, articles and information was deleted or destroyed from Kboards due to this implosion started by the management of its new owners. Plus, I’m trying to preserve the links and information so the truth can be known of what happened, because once the main users abandon Kboards, there will be nothing left but crappy pop up ads.

Here is a list of the other blogs, threads, and relating links documenting and commenting on what is happening:

The Thread That Started The End

Dumpster Fire At Kboards (The Passive Voice)

A Thread on a Dead Tech Forum Board Owned by VerticalScope, Inc.

Bards and Sages Blog: Vertical Scope Overreaching TOS

I will add to the list above as more people post about what is going on and the steps that continue to alienate the members from what they have created over the years, one of the biggest Indie self publishing communities on the web.

Now, for my personal opinion, which I have been denied to be able to say on Kboards. I am very sad to see this happen to Kboards. I’m disappointed in the founder/creator’s family for not investigating into this corporation. Harvey Chute was the original creator of Kboards (Formerly Kindleboards), and died a few years ago. I know his family tried to keep it going and the moderators worked hard to manage and keep the community alive. But in August, when it was announce by the family that they had sold, they mentioned that it was just too much for them.

But they had a whole board of writers, many with tech backgrounds, that could have easily managed and kept the board going instead of turning it into a data mine for ads to run. Now it will be a wasteland, and it disappoints me that they sold the community out. Yes. That is how I feel. Because it could have been run by the members VERY easily and I’m sure many willingly would have done it. So, that is my two cents on how I feel on what has happened, and I think the Indie Writing Community has lost a fabulous resource. I AM CRUSHED!

I can’t even put into thoughts how much this board meant to me and running my business. I have posted and run multi-author promotions through it. I have found editors, book cover designers, and formatters. I have given loads of FREE self-publishing advice. Well, not anymore. Luckily, I still have my own brain and can still write down my experiences on my blog. And now, maybe I’ll have to start some “How To” books to at least preserve some of what I know.

I don’t know. The wounds are too fresh and I’m still trying to sort through the ashes right now. But someone posted a link to this video to keep the mood light. It made me cry. Because as this death of a message board is happening, people are still keeping their humor and the very core of the community is still shining through. I am SO going to miss it.

But at least all is not totally lost. People are leaving to other writing homesteads. The sad part is that the community will splinter, and we may never all be the same. But at least, there are refuges to go to now that the end has happened.

One of the members has started a new board for people to join. It is going to be more focused on writers, but readers are welcomed as well.

Writer Sanctum (Formerly Kboards Members Refudge)

Facebook Group for Writer Sanctum

KUForumUK

Absolute Writes Kboards Refugee Forum

Indie Author Haven

This is about where we are now. I’m letting the voices of Les Mis play as I’m typing, because I know the spirit of Kboards will continue somewhere else. But it won’t be the same. An era is ending today. I am hoping when the publishing world looks back 50-100 years later, they’ll see the gold rush of Indie Publishing, and wonder what it was like through our posts.

Long live the memories of my times on Kboards.com! You will always be in my heart. You gave so much to me, and I tried to repay by writing and helping others. To have that all suddenly taken and told that I don’t own and will never be able to use because of new owners, well. Them is fighting words for an author.

SO SCREW YOU VERTICAL SCOPE!-It’s coorporations like you that kill the internet. May your servers and ad revenue plummet from the ex-kboard members efforts to get the word out of what you’ve done to our community and warn others not to sell their heart’s blood to you ever. Stay strong! FIGHTING!

-Marilyn

Upcoming Author Appearance: Marilyn Vix will be on a self-publishing panel at the Career & Business Center in the MLKJr. Library in Downtown San Jose

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Join Marilyn Vix for a FREE self-publishing panel event.

Want to get started in self-publishing? Live in or near the Silicon Valley? Well then, you’re invited to a free self-publishing panel event at the San Jose Library at the Martin Luther King Jr. branch in downtown San Jose.

Marilyn Vix will be on this fabulous panel that will go over the steps to self-publishing your book. Avoid the problems and

pitfalls some people may run into all while following a budget. The panel will include a

panel of authors in genres such as non-fiction, dark fantasy, YA, romance, children’s

books, and a freelance editor.

[image error]Hear from the award winning author, Marilyn Vix, gold medal winner of the 2018 Global Ebook Award for her self-published paranormal romance, Everything For Love: Time Rogues Book 1.

This event will be on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018 at 2 p.m and run for an hour. It will be in the Career & Business Center at the MLKJr. library in downtown San Jose.

Stop by, receive a handout, and ask questions to get you started on the road to self-publishing. It is a FREE event sponsored by the Career & Business Center at the Martin Luther King Jr. Library. Hope to see you there.

 

For more information, here is the link to the event’s website listing. 

 

 

 

Everything For Love Has Won The 2018 Global Ebook Award Gold Medal in the Paranormal Category!

[image error]I am proud to announce that Everything For Love: Time Rogues Book 1 has won the 2018 Global Ebook Award GOLD MEDAL in the PARANORMAL category. I am so excited and overwhelmed with this honor. I’ve been self-publishing and working on books since 2007, starting with children’s fantasy adventure books and moving into paranormal romance.

I am so over the moon with this win! It is a heart felt challenge and love for books to write and publish them. This is the icing on the cake acknowledging the hard work to create sellable products of romantic and paranormal fiction.

I’d like to thank everyone that was involved in making this book including:

[image error]Editor: Shelley Holloway

Cover Designer: James at GoOnWrite.com 

Copy Editor: Robin J. Samuels at Shadowcat Editing

Formatter: Ambersand Book Interior, Inc. (Formerly Write Dream Repeat Book Designs)

Beta Reader: Alain Gomez

Thank you to everyone that worked on this project. I share this award with you all.

And yes, I’m working on the sequel. The title hasn’t come to me yet, and I’ve just got it down as Time Rogues Bk 2 so far. But now, I’ve got to get going on it even more. Just so you know though, I have been working on the last in my children’s series books, The Lost Secret of Time, which has taken up a lot of my time this year. But now that it is finally releasing, I can turn my full attention back to my romance writing projects, and this will be one.

I know now what I do is something important and matters. If you have an idea for a novel and want to get it out there, maybe drop by one of my self-publishing panel appearances. I have a local one coming up at the Martin Luther King Jr. Library, on Saturday, Sept. 8, in Downtown San Jose at the Career and Business Center on the third floor.  Hope to see you there.

Meanwhile, I guess I can officially start calling myself an award winning author.

SPFBO 2018 99 Cent Deals August 1-5 ONLY!

[image error]So, I can’t leave you all out on fabulous deals, here is the latest that have come my way. I’ve entered “Love In One Act” into the Self-Publishing Fantasy Blog Off 2018. Last year, I entered “Everything For Love” and the cover got a runner-up placement. So, it’s great to get the word out about my new releases. It’s hard to win, but great way to spread the word.

Message from Marilyn Vix: Beware of Pirate Sites with MY BOOKS!

[image error]So, it’s come to my attention that there are pirate sites out in cyberspace that have listings for my books. Which is kind of sad. It shows disrespect for the authors and how much work is put into a novel or novella. Loads of hours and sometimes years of work, stolen.

But many of these sites brag to be a PDF download site, or other retailer. Some are blatant pirate sites listing the book far much higher in price than what I sell it for on the legitimate retailer sites. They are hard to stop, since many are in foreign countries without any US jurisdiction. Not to mention the phishing sites that just have my books listed and offer free downloads of a PDF. Just don’t try to download it. Most likely it is a file full of viruses. In fact, most of the listings I’ve found are most likely this type of scam.

There is a third party retailer that is called Kiss Library (on purpose, did not include link) that has many of my books uploaded by a pirate/scammer. I did not put them there, and I’m still investigating if this is a real website. They have a DCMC tab, which means they know they have a pirating problem. But I’m not giving them any of my information. They list all of my information, from publishing name to my website and social media, to look legitimate. IF they make it that easy for people to steal work, than I’m not going to recommend ANYONE use their site. I’ve been burned by third party retailers (IE All Romance Ebooks), and just have stopped selling with them.

So, really, just buy from legitimate retailers. Most Indie authors have their books listed with them. However, I am on listing services to make it easier to find books. But these services have legitimate buy links listed with the books, and will steer you to proper retailers. Examples of these are Indie Book Lounge and Romance IO. There are also places like Thrift Books or PaperBackBookSwap, which sell used books or swap them. I’ve found my books on there, but they are just people selling books they bought. Which is fine. Love people reading my books and sharing them!

The legitimate book sellers with my books are Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com, Kobo.com, Smashwords.com, iTunes and Google Play. You shouldn’t need to go to any other selling platform. I do have giveaways from time to time, but they have been through Instafreebie or through KU giveaways. I let everyone know about these in blog posts and through my newsletter. So, there are MANY ways to get legitimate copies of my work and enjoy them. I even have a full novel on Wattpad right now.

So, really, just stay away from these bogus phishing sites. Maybe a lot of you already do, but I just didn’t want any of my readers getting burned because you were just trying to find my book and get a deal. Just sign up for my newsletter or blog, and I have monthly deals with multiple authors that I send out and other deals on my back catalog too.

Stay safe out there and watch what you visit in Cyberspace. Until next time,

-Marilyn

Great Tech Advice: How To Save Data Before Selling Your Phone (Guest Post)

[image error]How To Save Data Before Selling Your Phone

People always want to keep their data safe and secure. So, it is a very important step to save your data backups, whether you are selling your mobile phone or not, because a mobile phone gives us a lot of  great features for saving our important data and memorable pictures. A mobile phone is also used for storing your important data’s like contact numbers, photos, documents, emails and much more of it. Storing your data before selling your mobile phone is a very important thing, because if your data is copied or used inappropriately by someone then it would be a huge risk for you. So I will guide you how to store your personal data?

For that thing, you just have to go in to your mobile settings menu, tap the system button, and choose reset your device or it may also say backup and reset, in which case, you will have to pick that. Now from there, select Factory Data Reset, then just Reset your phone. When you are getting rid of this phone, you will have to erase everything from it in a proper and mannered way to avoid risks.

This method is for android users only, but if you are an Apple IOS user then you must follow these instructions. If you are paired with an Apple Watch with your iPhone, just unpair your Apple Watch, and then back up your device, after that you have to Sign out of iCloud, then go back to the Settings window again, and tap General then tap Reset and then Erase all the content and Settings. If it ask you for device passcode or restrictions passcode, enter it properly. These  steps are only for IOS users.

So guys, all the details are mentioned above. If you ever are going to sell your mobile phone, just don’t forget to follow these instructions.

      Why do you need to sell your mobile phones? Well if I talk about myself, I am selling my old mobile phone. But why am I doing this? Well, just because a new Android phone has caught my eye, and I want to buy it as soon as possible. But for that I need to sell my old phone first in order to make up some of the money I am spending on that new device, and luckily there are a lot of options available for me.

I am going to walk you guys through some of the best practices out there for preparing your Android phone or tablet before selling it, and I know some places for online sale that would probably help you to sell your devices for a good price.      

      However, if you want to sell my phone and get cash today, or if you are going to sell your mobile phone or tablet or any other device, you can follow my guidelines below. First, you will have to take out the SIM card and SD memory card from your phone, because these are very important pieces of hardware that you don’t want to leave in your phone when you are sending it off to your buyer. Your SIM card is what enables your phone to take calls at your number and it is also linked with your data plans. Also, you will need it for your new phone, some times you will need a paperclip or something similar to open your SIM card tray, but sometimes it will be behind your phone beside the battery. The exact method will depend on your device, because not every phone or tablet will have an SD memory card slot in it, but you will often find them on the side of your SIM card slot. Memory cards will often store your photos and music, although the device itself has its own storage too.

Well before deleting all your device important data, you will have to check to make sure all of your important files and data is saved as a backup. So, you should  be sure to back up your data as well. So how do you backup your personal data on a device?  For that, if you are assuming your data is linked with your Google account, your contacts, photos and email will already be fully backed up in the google store. That means as soon as you start up your new phone, that important information will be there as soon as you log in to your Google account in another device.

           When your mobile phone device is fully backed up and you have deleted all your important data from the device and your phone is totally cleaned and reset, you can send it off to be sold anywhere online. Well, if you are really selling it, then of course your selection of choice will decide how much of a return you will get from it. So, I recommend to sell it online. I always try on some websites to sell my mobile online. And also sell my tablet. I use (sell any mobile) website for this procedure. If ever I am busy or I don’t have time to go to the market and I want to sell my phone online. I try this site for selling and comparing prices.

I still remember once I wanted to sell my Iphone x, I tried this above mentioned site, and you guys might not believe me, it always offers good rates. Maybe you’re worried about selling your phone on-line, where you don’t know anyone personally, and you aren’t sure that you will get your phone a good price or not. So, I personally advice everyone here to go for online selling or buying your gadgets or devices because it is much easier to do and also it is a less time consuming and money saving process.

I hope that this advice helps you in choosing your new phone selling options. Take care!

-Gaurav Chandna

Guest Blogger

Great Tech Advice: How To Save Data Before Selling Your Phone

[image error]How To Save Data Before Selling Your Phone

People always want to keep their data safe and secure. So, it is a very important step to save your data backups, whether you are selling your mobile phone or not, because a mobile phone gives us a lot of  great features for saving our important data and memorable pictures. A mobile phone is also used for storing your important data’s like contact numbers, photos, documents, emails and much more of it. Storing your data before selling your mobile phone is a very important thing, because if your data is copied or used inappropriately by someone then it would be a huge risk for you. So I will guide you how to store your personal data?

For that thing, you just have to go in to your mobile settings menu, tap the system button, and choose reset your device or it may also say backup and reset, in which case, you will have to pick that. Now from there, select Factory Data Reset, then just Reset your phone. When you are getting rid of this phone, you will have to erase everything from it in a proper and mannered way to avoid risks.

This method is for android users only, but if you are an Apple IOS user then you must follow these instructions. If you are paired with an Apple Watch with your iPhone, just unpair your Apple Watch, and then back up your device, after that you have to Sign out of iCloud, then go back to the Settings window again, and tap General then tap Reset and then Erase all the content and Settings. If it ask you for device passcode or restrictions passcode, enter it properly. These  steps are only for IOS users.

So guys, all the details are mentioned above. If you ever are going to sell your mobile phone, just don’t forget to follow these instructions.

      Why do you need to sell your mobile phones? Well if I talk about myself, I am selling my old mobile phone. But why am I doing this? Well, just because a new Android phone has caught my eye, and I want to buy it as soon as possible. But for that I need to sell my old phone first in order to make up some of the money I am spending on that new device, and luckily there are a lot of options available for me.

I am going to walk you guys through some of the best practices out there for preparing your Android phone or tablet before selling it, and I know some places for online sale that would probably help you to sell your devices for a good price.      

      However, if you want to sell my phone and get cash today, or if you are going to sell your mobile phone or tablet or any other device, you can follow my guidelines below. First, you will have to take out the SIM card and SD memory card from your phone, because these are very important pieces of hardware that you don’t want to leave in your phone when you are sending it off to your buyer. Your SIM card is what enables your phone to take calls at your number and it is also linked with your data plans. Also, you will need it for your new phone, some times you will need a paperclip or something similar to open your SIM card tray, but sometimes it will be behind your phone beside the battery. The exact method will depend on your device, because not every phone or tablet will have an SD memory card slot in it, but you will often find them on the side of your SIM card slot. Memory cards will often store your photos and music, although the device itself has its own storage too.

Well before deleting all your device important data, you will have to check to make sure all of your important files and data is saved as a backup. So, you should  be sure to back up your data as well. So how do you backup your personal data on a device?  For that, if you are assuming your data is linked with your Google account, your contacts, photos and email will already be fully backed up in the google store. That means as soon as you start up your new phone, that important information will be there as soon as you log in to your Google account in another device.

           When your mobile phone device is fully backed up and you have deleted all your important data from the device and your phone is totally cleaned and reset, you can send it off to be sold anywhere online. Well, if you are really selling it, then of course your selection of choice will decide how much of a return you will get from it. So, I recommend to sell it online. I always try on some websites to sell my mobile online. And also sell my tablet. I use (sell any mobile) website for this procedure. If ever I am busy or I don’t have time to go to the market and I want to sell my phone online. I try this site for selling and comparing prices.

I still remember once I wanted to sell my Iphone x, I tried this above mentioned site, and you guys might not believe me, it always offers good rates. Maybe you’re worried about selling your phone on-line, where you don’t know anyone personally, and you aren’t sure that you will get your phone a good price or not. So, I personally advice everyone here to go for online selling or buying your gadgets or devices because it is much easier to do and also it is a less time consuming and money saving process.

I hope that this advice helps you in choosing your new phone selling options. Take care!

-Gaurav Chandna

Guest Blogger

All Romance Ebooks (ARe) Bankruptcy and Closure Update July 2018

[image error]So, back when this all happened in December 2016, I was an author that had a minimal amount owed to me by All Romance Ebooks, like around $10. I didn’t want to take a settlement that was emailed to me that would give me 10 cents on the dollar. I have since chosen not to file to get money from her since it was a small amount for me and the whole principal of accepting this ridiculous settlement just made me feel taken advantage of. But some authors did, and have been filing to get some of their money back. It looks like some authors are receiving paperwork to get settlements and funds returned this year. But keep in mind, it has been almost two years since this happened. That is a long time to wait for money owed.

Authors and small publishers that were taken by the owner, Lori James, are still trying to fight in the courts. Plus, Lori James continues on as Samantha Sommersby, her pen name, in the literary world.

Yes, after defrauding and not paying out thousands of dollars of royalties by bankrupting her company, she is currently on the romance/ fantasy talk circuit. She is right now scheduled as a guest speaker at Dragon Con in Atlanta, GA. The con will run August 30- Sept. 3, 2018. Authors that have been defrauded by her have been mailing and emailing the con since April to let them know her background, and what was done to them by All Romance Ebooks. So far, no response, and she continues to be listed as a guest.

There’s still more. Other things have come to light. Morpho Press, LLC is currently her new publishing company. Here is the filing of the company in Sheridan, Wyoming by Cloud Peak Law Group. The books by Samantha Sommersby are being published under this press. So far, it doesn’t seem that any other books except her own are being published. But…

In France, on the FNAC website, 161 books published by OmniLit/All Romance are still available. So, I do not know if this is a mistake, or if royalties are still being received and paid to Lori James in France with books previously published by her now bankrupt publisher. Of course, this is not in the US, so that might be the bottom line.

So, it’s important to keep getting out information and updating about this scandal. Many authors and publishers were deprived of their royalties, and were unfairly scammed by Lori James. But after just two years, she is back out there, selling her romance books and even still has some ARe books available in France. I feel it is my duty to keep the literary and romance community informed so that no one else is duped into losing money or their books by Lori James.

Here are also the addresses and information of the lawyers in charge of the assets of All Romance Ebooks now. I’m sure you can write them if you need to get your book rights back or have to look into a settlement. Questions, most likely, can be directed to them too.

The Interim Trustee is Leonard J. Ackerman,

6977 Navajo Road, Suite 124

San Diego, CA

619-463-0555

Debtor’s attorney is Christopher R. Bush, Doan Law LLP

1930 S. Coast Highway #206

Oceanside, CA 92054

760-450-3333

 

If you have any information or were affected by the closing of ARe, there is a Facebook group that is keeping tabs and supporting the authors that lost out to this corrupt company. P*ssed Off Former ARe Authors. 

I’ll continue to keep tracking and getting information out there as more develops on this story. Thank you for your continued support.

-Marilyn Vix

 

 

 

Romantic Times (RT) Conference 2018 Wrap-Up: Here’s to the Memories!

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Katherine Falk announcing her retirement at the RT Welcome Breakfast Wednesday morning.

Greetings everyone. I’ve had time now to decompress and unpack from RT in Reno. And boy, does it take awhile to do both. But it was an incredible experience to meet fans, hang out with other authors, and enjoy the celebration of what we all love-ROMANCE BOOKS! Turned out it was my first and last RT since Katelyn Falk is retiring. It was a shocking way to start out the con, but it just made everyone, I think, work harder to make fabulous memories of the last RT. So, I’m going to share some of those with you now.

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Set up and ready at the Paranormal Genre Party on Thursday.

I roomed with the fabulous Kate Allure. She took me underwing and showed me the ropes at my first RT. We also helped each other out at our genre parties too. We each took turns being the other’s assistant. We had Wheels of Swag at our genre parties and lots of readers enjoyed the thrill of spinning the wheel and then getting a signed book. I met so many people in an hour and even some of my fans from around the country. That was so cool!

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Hanging out with other authors at the 60s/70s Peace & Love Party on Wednesday night.

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My roommate, Kate Allure and I, at the Steampunk party on Saturday night.

I also had a great time at the RT parties. Apparently, these are legendary. Wednesday night was the 60s/70s Peace & Love Party. Saturday night, I went to the steampunk party and entered the costume contest. I didn’t win, but hey, I gave it a whirl.

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Meeting Mystipul (Mother of Dragons) at the RT Book Fair on Saturday.

On Saturday was the Book Fair in which I got to meet up again with fans and some of my author friends. It was cool to see everyone a last time before RT packed up for good. Sunday, I took my giveaway winner of the “Win A Trip with Marilyn to the Spa” giveaway. It was honestly one of the best prizes to do at the con since I love spas and wanted to share the experience with a lucky fan. Christina won the prize and we even hung out a little in the spa where you could order a meal, hang in the hot tubs or the Himalayan salt room before your treatment.

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Christina, the winner of the “Win a Trip to the Spa with Marilyn Vix”, joins me for a picture in the fabulous pool/hot tub area of the Spa Toscana.

Overall, it was a great way to enjoy my first and last RT. Next year, the conference will reform into The Book Lovers Conference and will be held in New Orleans. One of the big changes is that they are moving the number of authors from 500 to 250 by invitation only. So, I am crossing my fingers that I’ll get an invite. We will have to see.

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Some of the swag that I gave out at RT 2018.

I am thankful that I was able to go to RT in Reno and see the con in its original form before the changes start to take affect. At least I can say, yeh, I remember RT. And I have all those fabulous memories too. If I didn’t get to meet you at RT 2018, I am hoping to see more of you in New Orleans. Just keeping my fingers crossed! Salut!

-Marilyn