Romance Novel Convention in Las Vegas (August 2013) & the RONE!

I love conferences, conventions, workshops, and expos. I especially appreciate the organization that goes into planning and pulling off an event with so much creativity and attention it looks as if it fell together flawlessly. 

As a librarian I loved library conferences: books, new technology, books, lectures and meeting new and old friends. Did I mention books? As a library consultant I loved setting up booths, standing for 3-5 days (well, not that so much), demoing the new technology, meeting new and old friends and clients, competitors’ parties, entertaining, and swag. Library sway was always great (did you know?).

I also exhibited at law library conferences, whose parties and swag were really over the top. The books - not as much fun.

When I was involved in the world of dogs I loved the organization of dog shows that allowed over a thousand dogs to enter a myriad of classes and on the show day, all show up at the right time and place, judging takes place and like a fantastical elimination contest, and the day ends with one dog judged Best in Show. (It’s not that simple, but it still is amazing.)

Since I started writing, I’ve never attended a big romance writers’ conference. I’d heard about the Romance Novel Convention in Las Vegas for authors and readers of romance (August 7-11, 2013) and considered it was close enough for me to drive, but dithered. When Released finalled in the RONE (Reward Of Novel Excellence) contest hosted by  the classy InD'tale Magazine, I was told winners would be announced at the RNC. I checked the RNC website and was impressed with the organization and raw creativity Jimmy Thomas put into this first ever event.

It seems to have all the elements of a romance writers’ conference. Nationally knows speakers, parties for networking, book fair, raffle, prizes, swag bags and swag tables. (The RONE contest itself was masterfully planned and executed and deserves a post to itself.)

But some aspects were not so common. Reasonable prices for the conference and lodging in the convention hotel. A very creative food package. Practical programs for writers and reader. Nationally respected speakers (Bob Mayer, Jennifer Ashley, etc.). A costume ball (with opportunity to rent costumes) A professional photographer for headshots. Romance novelist Virginia Nelson’s wedding (how romantic is that!). And movies for when you’ve talked yourself hoarse.

And oh yes, male cover models will compete for a “Mr. Casanova Competition” (how appropriate – Casanova was a librarian.) Yes Jimmy Thomas, the organizer and host is a cover model, a great businessman, a smart and generous man, and not bad-looking. And he does grace over 5,000 romance novel covers.

Brilliant promo idea - Authors may rent the cover models to have them learn and perform a scene from their book. 

And  - the awards ceremony!!!!!!!

And for you dog lovers:

I’d love to interview Mike O’Hearn (7-time Fitness Male Model of the Year and a Mr. Casanova judge) about his rescue dogs. After they were used on a photo shoot, he took them home rather than hove them returned to the pound. Awwwe….

How to Have a Successful Blog Tour - Part 1

 

I've asked Colette, my favorite blog tour operator, from ABG Reads Book Tours to offer authors some tips on book tours. Whether you contract with a tour company or DIY, here's her great suggestions:

Having a successful blog tour is a lot like matchmaking - it takes a lot of misses to get it right, but when the spark happens, magic ignites! Here are some tips to take the mystery out of finding readers for your tour. 

•  Timing - The most important part of having a successful blog tour is giving bloggers enough time to put you in their schedule! If you contact bloggers at the last minute, don’t be surprised to get a lot of nos. However, the more time you have to schedule the tour the more bloggers you will be able to find. Most work 2 to 3 months ahead of time, with the bigger blogs sometimes working 4 months ahead for reviews.
•  Approachability - When contacting bloggers be sure to include their name if it’s on their blogs or the name of their blogs in the email. Be sure to have a synopsis of the book and the cover in the email. First impressions are key: I have found putting a one line description after the initial request to join the blog tour works wonder. You want to capture readers attention from the very beginning. Don’t send out mass emails if you can avoid it. Bloggers can tell that they are mass emails and are less likely to respond to them.
•  Genre specific blogs - You want build an audience, and to do that the best way is to find blogs that read the genre that you write in. A lot blogs (like mine, ABuckeye Girl Reads) read cross genres, but there are a lot that only read certain genres like Young Adult, Erotica or mysteries. If you find blogs that read your genre, they will have readers that read that genre as well. If you write Urban Fantasy, you don’t want to go to a blog that focuses mainly on Young Adult. Almost all bloggers have a review policy - all you have to do is read it to see what genres they read. Here is mine: http://lovesromances.blogspot.com/p/my-review-policy.html

Here are some blogger databases to help you find readers:

http://indiebookreviewer.wordpress.com/

http://bookbloggerdirectory.wordpress.com/

http://hampton-networks.com/

http://yabookblogdirectory.blogspot.com/p/ya-book-blogger-list.html

• Originality - Don’t be afraid to be creative!! Instead of doing a typical guest post that just answers one question, think about doing a playlist that goes along with your book or a top ten list that is fun but also tells readers about your book. Think about doing themed guest posts throughout the tour. Take the readers on a tour of the world you created.
  
• Giveaways - A great way to drive traffic to the posts that you do on blogs is by having a giveaway. The giveaway doesn’t have to be about your book. It can be a giveaway that has themes from your book, chocolate, a book bag, bookmarks, a gift card, or a past title. 

Colette’s Bio: 

 
I have a passion for books in all genres, but have a weakness for romances. I started the blog A Buckeye Girl Reads 3 years ago, and through that blog have worked with many authors. I discovered much to my surprise, that I loved helping them get their book noticed by as many people as possible and started ABG Reads Book Tours.  Hobbies outside of reading are sparse, but include: cooking, baking, traveling and writing.  

Find Colette and her Tours
ABG Reads Book Tours
Twitter | Facebook| A Buckeye Girl Reads

Thanks, Colette, for visiting. Please come back and tell us what to do during the tour.

2013 Library Author Forum Video

To celebrate the 2013 Author's Forum at the Cottonwood Arizona Public Library, the library invited 27 local authors to meet library readers and tell them about their books. Library patrons were thrilled to meet "real" authors and authors had fun meeting a wide variety of local writers.

As a surprise treat, Richard Corey, dog fiction author, interviewed authors for his Art World of Sedona TV series.

This YouTube clip features sci-fi author Val Chanda first and then an interview with me, and my not-so-real dog, talking about The Shapeshifters' Library series.

Take Your Dog to Work

Plan to Celebrate the 15th Annual

 Take Your Dog to Work Day

 TYDTWDay 

 Friday, June 21st

Chris Favorite, owner of Favorite Clothing Company in Sedona,

brings Jackson to her store filled with designer clothes for women.

We all know being around your pets makes you happy, but now there's scientific evidence, pets can make you happier and healthier. 

A Virginia Commonwealth University study showed employees who brought their dogs to work experienced lower stress levels, reported higher levels of job satisfaction, and had a more positive perception of their employer. 

Dog owners who brought their dogs to work had the lowest stress levels. The most stressed turned to be dog owners that left their pets at home. With non-pet owners scoring in the middle.

Pet owners have been found to have lower blood pressure and fewer stress hormones circulating in their blood.   

  

Nadia Caillou, co-owner of Golden Bone Pet Products   

and co-founder of Golden Bone Rescue and Rehab

Karen Allen, Ph.D. (State University of New York at Buffalo) discovered the presence of a pet was more effective than a spouse or a friend in easing the effects of stress. 

Allen McConnell Ph.D. Professor of psychology Miami University in Ohio, coauthored a study published in 2011 showing that pets foster self-esteem, calmness, and a soothing feeling of acceptance. (I assume the study only included well behaved pets.)

  

Donna, my dental hygienist, brings Cowboy to work on cool days. He

 stays in her truck, just outside her window, while she works and sometimes sings to her.

Thinking of getting a dog or cat? 

Check out local humane societies and rescue organizations.