What can you get with $40? Lots and lots of fun & #giveaways!

Create Something Magical Conference What if I told you that for $40 you would get at least 7 free books from Avon, Grand Central Publishing and Samhain, samplers from Forever Romance and Penguin Books, a dessert reception at a very special Lady Jane’s Salon, readings and genre panels with bestselling authors, a karaoke party with hot finger foods, water bottle from Secret Cravings Publishing, pad folios from Carina Press, free raffle tickets for an assortment of gift baskets including one with a Kindle, courtesy of Secret Cravings Publishing, a book fair, plus lots of other swag? Also toss in there the ability to spend time with other readers and rub elbows with an assortment of authors at the reception and party?

Whoa, that was a mouthful! I know it’s hard to believe, but all that can be yours for $40 at the Create Something Magical Conference on March 17 in Woodbridge, New Jersey. The conference is being run by my home writing group, the Liberty States Fiction Writers!

If you’re a writer, you get all of the above as well as an assortment of workshops on the craft and business of writing, plus your choice of appointments with over 20 editors and/or agents. Yep, 20 editors and/or agents waiting to hear your pitch in a variety of fiction genres.

March 19, 2010

Fun Friday – Contest Winner!

I want to thank all of you who dropped by on Wednesday to wish Rene Colato good luck with his wonderful children’s book! It was much appreciated.

Also – many many thanks for all the b’day wishes! I had a great day that weekend as well as last weekend when we had our first ever Liberty States Fiction Writers conference. I had a wonderful time and met so many nice people.

As for the b’day wishes, I’d like to announce the winner of my b’day contest!

Sherry is the lucky winner of a $25 Godiva Gift Card, copy of FURY CALLS and a SINS OF THE FLESH lunch bag. Congratulations, Sherry. Please e-mail your postal address to cpsromance at att dot net .

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. Here in the NY/NJ Metro area we are getting a glimpse of our first taste of Spring! Bulbs are coming up, crocuses are in bloom and we’re supposed to have weather in the 60s. I so can’t wait!!

March 16, 2010

Networking – The Day After the Conference Tips

Having just come back from a fabulous conference with the Liberty States Fiction Writers, I wanted to offer up some tips on what to do after the conference!

First, if you enjoyed the conference, take a moment to write to the Conference Chair or President of the organization and let them know that you enjoyed it. If you liked something a lot, let them know so they can consider including it in future conferences and if you have any suggestions for what you would like to see, offer those up as well. It’s tough to run a conference and new ideas are always welcome.

If you’ve had an editor/agent appointment, make sure to make a list of who asked to see what while it’s fresh in your mind. Editors and agents don’t expect to have the material waiting for them the next morning, but they also don’t expect to get it months later. Send in any requested material within a reasonable time (a week or two) and in the format specified. If you’re not sure of the format, check the publisher’s guidelines at their website. Be sure to mention to the editor/agent that the material was requested at XX (conference name) and thank them for taking the time to consider your proposal.

Did you listen to an interesting workshop? Likewise, drop the presenter a quick note.

Finally, ask yourself – What did I do right at the conference? Did I meet at least one new person? Was my pitch solid or did I notice something that needed work? What goal do I have for the next conference I attend?

I hope these quick little tips helped!

March 12, 2010

Fun Friday – Conference this weekend!

I don’t know about you, but I love going to writing conferences (and also my monthly meetings!) There is so much creative energy in the air and whether I’m doing a workshop or listening to one, I always come away re-energized and inspired.

This weekend I’m going to the first ever Liberty States Fiction Writers Create Something Magical Conference. As a founding member, it’s so exciting to see such an amazing response to the conference as well as the group. 150 plus members in our second year and still growing. A diverse, amazingly talented, and totally upbeat collection of individuals!

We’ve got a similarly diverse and talented group of speakers coming to the conference as well 16 editors and agents. Such fun. It’s too late to register, but if you’re in the area, we’ll be having a book fair on Saturday from 5 to 6. Here’s the address for the hotel where the Create Something Magical Conference is being held:

Location and Directions

When: March 13, 2010
Where: Renaissance Woodbridge Hotel
515 Route 1 South & Gill Lane
Iselin, New Jersey 08830
Phone: 732-634-3600 Fax: 732-634-0258
Click here for more info on the hotel.

Click Here to Get More Directions Using Mapquest

I hope you’ve got some fun plans for the weekend! Wish me luck during the conference. I’ll be meeting with some editors and also presenting two workshops.

September 25, 2009

Looking for Weekend Fun?

beach I know I’m going to spend the weekend writing and working on some materials for our new writing group, the Liberty States Fiction Writers. But in between work, I hope to sneak in some relaxation and fun.

So where do I look to find out what’s going? Well, I pick up a local paper, but I also check out the Internet for events. You can too! Here are some of the places where you can find out what’s happening in your area:

Book tours and signings – http://www.booktour.com/
Library of Congress Book Events –
http://www.read.gov/events/

Also, you can visit your local state or city website. It will often have a calendar of events and suggest sites of interest. Here are few for those places close to me:

Jersey Shore – http://www.nj.com/shore/
New Jersey – http://www.visitnj.org/
New York – http://www.iloveny.com/home.aspx
New York City – http://www.nyc.com/events/
Pennsylvania – http://www.visitpa.com/index.aspx
Philadelphia –
http://www.gophila.com/Phila/EventsCalendar/

Hope you can find some fun and relaxation this weekend as well! Have a great one.

July 19, 2009May 9, 2017

Sexy Saturday and Sad Sunday

What a crazy day! Met with with my writing buddies, Kimberly Kaye Terry and Susan Krinard for breakfast and then with my Dangerous Woman buddies for coffee. Here’s Kimberly and Susan with me.

We were lucky to have Candance Poarch and Shirley Hailstock sitting beside us and took a moment to say HI and snap a photo!

Then it was more meetings with editors and publicists and a moment to take a breather. The RITAs were spectacular with lots of women in gorgeous sexy dresses, but the reception afterwards was crazy. Had planned to meet up with my friend Cathy Maxwell, but couldn’t find her so I headed back to a small gathering we were having with some Liberty buddies and other friends. We had a great time sitting around talking shop and also, all about the weird kinds of research we have to do to write a book!

Sunday morning, one last breakfast with friends before we started our road trip home. The plan had been that we would have less to take home than we brought to RWA. LOL! That was the plan anyway. Somehow we ended up with even more! Here’s shots of the back of the car and of my friend and fellow writer Lois Winston who shared the backseat with me.

So how as it overall? Awesome. Got lots of business done and have good things happening. A possible sale and some new opportunities that are falling into place. Excitement as I saw my book at the Grand Central Spotlight. Joy at seeing long distance friends and sadness at saying goodbye for the moment.

Tiredness. I’ve been running on very few hours of sleep and am hoarse from all the talking and the singing along at the Harlequin party.

Happy and looking forward to next year in Tennessee. We’re already talking about the road trip down. Convinced my daughter she had to come with me again. The last time she did was at least 6 years ago and I think she would have a blast!

Anyway, trying for an early night and some rest since it’s back to work tomorrow. Thank you all for dropping by this week and all your comments. Really appreciated hearing from all of you.

July 2, 2009February 17, 2021

Thoughtful Thursday – Let Freedom Ring!

Over twenty years ago, First Lady Nancy Reagan (and God Bless Ronnie who will always be My President), re-opened the crown of the Statue of Liberty on its 100th birthday.

Today is another momentous day in the history of Lady Liberty, New York City and the Nation. After 9/11, the crown was closed due to fear of terrorist actions. Today the crown re-opens.

Let Freedom Ring!

I have to confess that every time I see Lady Liberty, I get choked up. My family didn’t come through Ellis Island, but the Statue is no less a symbol of freedom for me. A light that shines for those who come here for freedoms denied them elsewhere. For opportunities for a better way of life.

When my friends and I decided to start a new writing group (www.libertystatesfictionwriters.com), one where people would have the freedom to write in all fiction genres and in all formats, we all had one common image in mind to represent the group – The Statue of Liberty. It means that much to so many people.

So, let Lady Liberty shine brightly and send her message far and wide. Let Freedom Ring!