Home at Last!

After a twelve day sojourn that took me from Oklahoma to Los Angeles to Houston to Austin to Houston and finally back to Oklahoma, I am finally home in Poketown (aka Stillwater, OK). This is just my temporary home, of course, because I am working on getting to Seattle this summer, but my bed and my puppy were waiting for me, so home it is.

One of the things I love most about conferences and conventions (besides meeting fabulous fans and readers and bloggers and librarians) is getting to hang out with other writers. This always energizes me, recharges my writerly batteries and I come home eager to write-write-write.

This is an especially good thing right now because I have a book due, like, yesterday. (Okay, June 1st, but it feels really really close.) And, while I won't admit my current page count (it's pretty small) or how much I plan to write in the next two weeks (it's a lot) I will say that I'm going to be nose-to-the-grindstone to get Sweet Venom 2 done early enough to revise it before sending it off to my editor by deadline.

Before I left on my big trip I ordered a new Alphasmart. My old one had been my dear companion for many years, but the keys started getting sticky (even after I took them all off and cleaned off the sub-key gunk) and it hurt my wrists to type on it for very long. So my shiny new, non-sticky-keyed Alphie is charged and ready to go. I'm charged and ready to go. Operation: Write That Book is about to begin. (Sophie Jordan and I are going to do daily #deadlinedash check-ins on Twitter, if you want to follow our progress.)

With all the book inspiration I've accumulated in the last two weeks, I'm ready. Wish me luck!

Hugs,
TLC

Why I Still Go To Conferences

This weekend I attended the terrific Emerald City Writer's Conference in Bellevue, Washington. Technically, this is a joint trip to speak at the conference and to hunt for potential apartments for my upcoming move. But even if I hadn't been apartment hunting I'd still attend this and other writing conferences.

Now, since I'm a multi-published author with an agent, an editor, and various deadlines, you might think that I don't need to spend the time and money to go to conferences anymore. And, in one regard, you'd be right. I don't need to attend for the same reasons as when I was first writing. I don't need to pitch my book to agents and editors, desperate for someone to love the story as much as I did. I don't need to learn the basics of publishing, craft, promotion, market, and all those other things that are so important to a writer's education.

Conferences have other things to offer, though, beyond the networking and educational opportunities. Things that you couldn't buy with all the money of a New York Times bestseller.

1. Inspiration -- Keynote speeches never fail to make me cry, even the funny ones. As I sit there and listen to how writing or reading has affected the speaker's life (Barbara Vey) or what obstacles the speaker has overcome to reach this point (Alyssa Day) or even research and anecdotes about the power of belief and courage and creativity (Brenda Novak), I can't help feeling that the work I do is important. That I'm very lucky to be on this path in the career I love so much. That I'm proud of the work I do, of the people who help me do it, and of the readers who help me keep doing it.
2. Motivation -- Maybe it's because I'm an extrovert, but something about being around dozens (hundreds) of other writers just fills me with writing energy. When I attend a workshop with new tips on time management or a clever new way to plot or first-hand insights on writing forty-seven books a year, I walk away super motivated to put that new knowledge into practice. Right now I'm chomping at the bit to start on Secret Project IW--but I have to wait until my revision is done, darn it!
3. Shared experience -- Since the very first writing conference I attended, when I heard one of my favorite, ultra-bestselling authors stand up and say that at the end of each writing day she thought she'd produced the worst pile of poo ever written and that soon the world would realize this and take away all her contracts and bestseller titles and she'd never write again. Then, the next day, she reads it over and thinks that it's not so bad, but the next pages... To know that every writer at every stage and at every level of success suffers the exact same fears and doubts that I do just makes me feel... better.

I guess my point is that there are some quantifiable benefits to writing conferences (like meeting agents and learning craft) and others are unquantifiable. Others aren't as tangible, but just as important. So no matter what level I reach or how many books I write or how busy I get, I'll always make time for conferences.

Hugs,

TLC

teralynnchilds.com

@teralynnchilds

And Just When Life Got Back to Normal...

Whew! I finally made it back to Oklahoma City from a summer in Las Vegas and Orlando. I got a lot of my emails answered and the rest organized to answer soon. I even started to thin out my closet and pack away my bookshelves in preparation for my upcoming (hopefully before the new year) move.

And then...

My editor scheduled a phone call about revising the first Medusa girls book (which actually has a tentative working title, but I'm waiting to see a cover comp before I give a final opinion). A phone call is, um, rarely good. Not at the revision stage, anyway. At the buy-the-book stage it's awesome.

Anyway, an editorial phone call is usually a way to soften the blow of a less-than-minor revision. And also to talk through ideas and confirm that author and editor are on the same page, but mostly the former. In this case, I was already expecting a somewhat massive revision for three reasons:

1. This book is very different from the others I've written. Instead of one main character, there are three. All in first person. Instead of writing it one book at a time, it's a predetermined trilogy (not that there can't be more, but there are at least three) which means a three book story arc. Very complicated.
2. When I wrote the first draft, I stuck very close to my outline. Which is great, direction-wise, but not-so-great depth-wise. Before I turned it in I did a lot of fleshing out for myself, but I knew there was going to have to be more.
3. I (we) want this book to be extra special. It's darker. It's triplets. It's mythology. It's monster-hunting. It's longer. It's more complex. It's a book that I hope will appeal to an even wider audience than my first two series. That all means that I have to work even harder to make it the best book it can be.

All of the above add up to a pretty significant revision, no matter how you look at it. And, since my revision packet arrived yesterday, you can guess what I'll be doing for the next couple-to-few weeks.

On top of the revision, there's also the fact that my dad has accepted a one year teaching position at OSU in Stillwater, Oklahoma. That's a bit over an hour from where their house is in Oklahoma City. After his second day of commute he announced that the round trip drive cost $25 in gas. Gasp!

Guess what this mean? Even before I get my act together to move to Seattle, I'm going to pack up and move (very temporarily) to Stillwater. Thankfully I've got a few weeks to pull that off, and I can combine it with packing for the move to Seattle, only keeping out what I absolutely need. Still!

Add to all that the fact that I think I broke my baby toe yesterday on a shopping cart, and, well...

Even though my life is "back to normal" at the moment, you can see that there really is no such thing for a writer and daughter of theatre parents.

At least it's never dull.

Hugs,
TLC

teralynnchilds.com
@teralynnchilds

Revision Girl, Strikes Again!

Still under crazy deadlines (now with a last minute revision of FINS ARE FOREVER--aka FINS2--due ASAP), hence the late posting. Here are a couple of funnies from my favorite writing cartoonist, InkyGirl.

Comic #1: Timely because I am doing revisions RIGHT NOW.




Comic #2: Timely because my darling editor just got engaged.




Comic #3: Timely because I still need a title for my Medusa girls series and the first book.




Comic #4: Timely because I have a book coming out in TWELVE DAYS!




Hugs,
TLC

Oh. My. Gods. and Goddess Boot Camp (Greek gods are more than myth.)
FORGIVE MY FINS (What happens when a mermaid kisses a human?)

Fins Frenzy in the House

I'm a little (a lot) late posting my blog this week because life is a little hectic right now. Besides the fact that I have a book due June 1st (and a first draft that needs a little (a lot) of work), I have a release on the same day! Forgive My Fins comes out in just three weeks. THREE WEEKS!!! Eeeeeek!

(Yes, that was the sound of me screaming, both in glee and terror.)

The month before a release is a totally crazy time. There are signings to coordinate, ARCs to mail, contests to hold, bookmarks and temporary tattoos to order, teaser excerpts to post on Twitter and Facebook, Splash Teams to coordinate, guest blogs to write, interviews to answer, Amazon and Barnes & Noble numbers to obsess over, self-Googling to do... Oh my gosh, the list goes on and on and on.

Add to that the facts that I'm doing my book signings out of town (in Houston) and that from there I'll be flying out to Las Vegas for the summer, which means I need to pack up everything I could possibly need and load it into the car while I'm trying to get ready for my signings.

And, in the middle of all that madness, I'm trying to finish a book. Is it any wonder that I'm a little (a lot) behind?

Are you feeling the time crunch at the moment? Do you have any brilliant tips or coping mechanisms? (No, chocolate doesn't count.)

Hugs,
TLC

Oh. My. Gods. and Goddess Boot Camp (Greek gods are more than myth.)
FORGIVE MY FINS (What happens when a mermaid kisses a human?)

Time for a little Q & A...

Happy Wednesday! One of the best days of the week because I get new episodes of America's Next Top Model, Ghost Hunters, and Project Runway. I know...quite the eclectic combination, eh?

I'm so happy to report that last night at 11:11 p.m., I finished GHOST HUNTRESS: THE GUIDANCE! Whoooohooooooo!!! The crowd goes wild! LOL! Of course, that just means I have to go back the beginning and start reading and making sure it all makes sense before I give it to my critique partners and then my editor on Monday. I'm really excited about the story and the direction that the series is going in. It's so much fun!

Because I've been lurking deep into the writing cave these past few weeks, I've been remiss in answering some e-mails folks have sent me. Since we have so many writers who follow our blog, I thought it would be good to share some of the Q & A here and to see if you have any additional questions for me or any of the other fabulous Buzz Girls.

Here we go...

What is your writing process?

I get the first question a lot. The first part of my answer is that my process is what works for me. It's not the only way to do it and it won't work for everyone else. The key is to find what works for you. I am a plotter. A very detailed plotter. I'm also a very visual person. I have to see my entire novel in my head from opening title to closing credits and everything in between, sort of like a movie. I play this movie over and over in my head, letting it cook and change and morph until I'm ready to write the synopsis. Then, I create a framework for my book with the chapters and page breaks. I cut and paste the synopsis into the layout, breaking it where I think it'll be interesting enough for the reader to keep turning the page. Then, I just start writing. At this point, I know the story and I've seen it in my head enough to know what's going on...I just feel like I'm transcribing a movie I've watched a hundred times. Again...this is what works for ME. This would never work for a lot of people, but it's what I've found to be the most productive for me in my seven years of writing.



How do you know where your story is going?

In all honesty, this question stumps me whenever I get it. Does this mean the questioner doesn't know where their story is going? Since I've been in marketing and events for almost twenty-two (gasp!) years, I always have to know where an ad is going...where a campaign is going...what the point of a meeting, event, or tradeshow is. I've always had to plot and plan out for the future and not rely on things just happening. I guess I bring that same mentality to my writing. I think if a writer doesn't know where the story is going, then it's only going to lead to confusion for the reader. There are questions you need to ask yourself: Why are you writing this story? What are you trying to convey? What is the overall arc or theme of the story? Do you want people to learn a lesson? Do you want them to fall in love and live happily ever after? What are the themes, metaphors, etc. that you hope to portray? There's more to writing a book than just putting words on a page. You need to nurture the art of storytelling, crafting deep, rich, realistic characters with a point to their actions, thoughts, and deeds in the attempt to entertain, enlighten, or enrich your reader.



How do you find time to write if you work full-time?

I just do. It's that simple. You can come up with a million excuses not to write or to keep you from writing, but the bottom line is you're not a writer unless you are putting words on the page. There's an old saying that you make time for the things you want to do. Well, I want to write, so I make the time. I'll write over my lunch break at work. I'll plot out ideas in the shower or on the commute. I write when I get home. It only takes an hour or two here and there to really pound out the words. Again...I don't find time. I make the time.



Have you seen any ghosts?

I love getting this question. Before March of 2006, before I came up with the idea of the GHOST HUNTRESS series, I would have scoffed at this inquiry. Of course, a year and a half later with multiple ghost investigations under my belt, I light up when I get asked this. No. I haven't *seen* a ghost with my eyes yet. It's not for lack of trying. LOL!! I have experienced a LOT of things. I have been touched. I have felt cold spots down into the low 50s on an August night. I have images (not orbs) in photographs that I can't explain. I have hear disembodied voices on my digital recorder. I have seen shadow people. I have heard voices that weren't there. I have had my hair pulled. And I played ball with what we believe to be the spirit of a child for over forty minutes. But have I seen a full-bodied apparition? Not yet...



I hope these help answer any questions. If you have anything you'd like to as me or any of the Buzz Girls, give us a shout out here in the comment section! We love to hear from our readers.

Have a great day!

Hugs,
Marley = )

GHOST HUNTRESS: The Awakening (Coming May 2009, Houghton Mifflin)
GHOST HUNTRESS: The Guidance (Coming October 2009, Houghton Mifflin)
SORORITY 101: Zeta or Omega? (Available Now! Puffin Books)
SORORITY 101: The New Sisters (Available Now! Puffin Books)

A Day In My Writing Life

You know those people who diligently adhere to an implacable schedule? Who get up at the same time every day, do their jobs or others tasks in an efficient order of events, eat at regular times, and go to bed in time to do the same thing the next day? I am so not like that.

Oh, I fantasize about being like that. I make plans and lists and detailed schedules. But then something invariably throws me off--staying up until 2:00am searching for cheap flights to Buenos Aires, an email that takes forty minutes to compose, a blog post I forgot to write ahead of time....

In my writing schedule, there is only one consistent and constant thing:

I MUST WRITE AT STARBUCKS.

(Okay, not necessarily at Starbucks, it can be a Panera or an independent coffee shop or anywhere with caffeinated beverages and comfy chairs. But it's usually a Starbucks, because there's one next door.)


Here's how a day in my writing life goes:

1. Walk inside. Scope out my comfy chair. (I'm very picky about this, and of the four comfy chairs at my Starbucks, only two are suitable.) If someone is in my comfy chair when I arrive, then I set my stuff at a nearby seat so I can pounce as soon as it's available.

2. Order my first drink of the day. What I get depends on my mood and the day. If I'm feeling blah, I'll get a frappuccino. If I'm feeling budget- and calorie-conscious, I'll get an iced coffee with toffee nut flavor. If it's cold, I'll get a soy chai latte.

3. Sit down (hopefully in comfy chair) and pull out all my stuff. When I'm writing something new, this includes any or all of the following: alphasmart (indestructible word processor), sprial-bound, pencil case, post-its, index cards, iPod shuffle, academic year planner/calendar. When I'm revising, my kit is the same except I bring my laptop instead of my alphasmart.

4. Put on headphones. This is a necessity whether I'm listening to music or not--it discourages people from talking to me (interrupting my work) and, if they're brazen enough to talk anyway, I can pretend like I don't hear them. (I know, I'm awful, but my concentration is very fragile. I protect it vehemently.)

5. Spend far too long looking at my calendar, making notes and lists of what I need to do when. (This is pure procrastination!) If I got stuck in a scene last time or if I'm not sure how to begin today, I'll spend a little time with my spiral-bound, brainstorming and trying to figure out what's working. (This is only slightly procrastination.)

6. Finally put aside the calendar and the spiral-bound and get to work. I'll spend anywhere from two to six hours writing--any longer and my brain begins to melt. This usually involves at least one more beverage, at least one trip to the ladies (leaving everything but my purse and alphasmart/laptop to stake my claim on the comfy chair). This also usually involves a lot of day-dreaming, staring out the front window, and making notes about interesting people.

(The staff at my Starbucks is convinced that I'm writing about them, but they're fairly normal. Nothing compared to some of the customers!)

7. When my brain/bladder/sleeping backside has finally had enough, I pack it up and head home.

So there you have it. My typical writing day. And, if nothing sets my schedule into a tailspin, I'll start over with the same thing the next.

Hugs,
TLC
OH. MY. GODS. -- Dutton, available May 1st!
teralynnchilds.com

Romance Writer Fired for Writing on the Job!

A few weeks ago, the press ran a story about a woman in Des Moines who was fired for writing a romance novel on the job. This story grabbed my attention because believe me...it could have been me. At just about any point over an eight year period.

Years ago, to support myself “until the writing took off,” I took a job as a technical manuscript typist at a university. I was upfront about my career goals, and pleased to find the professors admired my ambition, even going as far as telling me I could use the word processor “after hours” for my writing.

Well, the “after hours” thing got a little blurry--whenever possible, I would steal a few minutes there at work. In fact, at one point, some graduate students admitted to going through my trash to read my drafts!

Here’s a picture of me from the early years. Check out what’s on my desk: novels from the university library.


In my seventh year, at which point I was a Staff Services Officer with my own office, the departmental head appeared in my doorway to tell me I’d been nominated for a Special Performance Award. I had to stand in front of the computer screen so he didn’t see the YA novel I was writing. Two months later, he appeared again to award me with a certificate and a check, and yep, caught me working on my book! I felt guilty, of course, but concluded I must be a pretty good multi-tasker to win that award while writing so many short stories and books on the job, so believe me, I cashed the check.

Anyway, it’s too bad that the Des Moines woman didn’t have the kind of look-the-other-way support that I did.

So now I am turning to you: have you ever attempted writing or homework or personal ventures at work? And how did that go?

What I'm Reading: Plum Lucky, Janet Evanovich

Tina

Tina Ferraro
How to Hook a Hottie
Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress
The ABC’s of Kissing Boys, Spring, 2009
www.tinaferraro.com

Who am I and what am I doing here?

No, I'm not Admiral James Stockdale who's running for Vice President with Ross Perot (is that too old of a reference?) I'm Marley Gibson and I'm a young adult author.

Here's the "famed" picture everyone saw at RWA in Dallas this year...(sorry, I don't have an official author photo yet.)



I love saying that. "I'm an author." And, come May 2008, I'll be a published authors. A dream come true. Here I am with my first contract/advance.



People ask me when I first started writing and I answer with "I don't remember a time when I wasn't writing." I used to pen stories for my family and would then have an auction after dinner where my mother, brother, father and sister would "bid" on the stories. It was stuff like: "My teddy bear is Donny. He has a green body. His head is brown. The end." As I grew up, I wrote all sorts of stories. When I was fifteen, I started writing my first young adult story. It was about a cheerleader and a basketball player who fell in love. I still have it and it's not half bad.

In college, I took a lot of writing classes and majored in advertising where I did a lot of creative copywriting. All through my career as a marketing events planner, I've written newsletters, client sheets, white papers, advertisements, press releases, direct mail, you name it.

In January 2001, I decided I could no longer prevail in the dot.com/dot.bomb world that demanded twelve hour days from me and massive travel. I wanted to downsize my career, but I wanted to do something with my writing. And I did. From January to August, I wrote my first completed novel. All 863 pages of! OMG! But it got me writing and I haven't stopped yet. I've written fourteen manuscripts and five partial manuscripts. And I have two books coming out next year!

Here's the first book: SORORITY 101: ZETA OR OMEGA?, writing as Kate Harmon.



In the first book, three heroines from very different backgrounds become friends during Sorority Rush at Latimer University. There's Veronica Van Gelderen (please call her Roni), a Boston Brahman who has rebelled against her parents' money and wishes for a Harvard education to strike out on her own at Latimer. Jenna Driscoll seeks to find a close-knit family, just like the one she left in Atlanta, while trying to hide her diabetes from her new friends. Lora-Leigh Sorenstein is a local gal who dreams of going to design school in New York City. However, her father, Latimer's Dean of Students, insists she stay close to home and her mother insists she Rush. Each girl must decide which sorority house is right for her...and why. The excitement of Sorority Rush is seen through each girl's perspective, ending with their emotional decision and ultimate excitement on Bid Day.

SORORITY 101: THE NEW SISTERS, writing as Kate Harmon



The second book, which comes out at the same time as the first, picks up right after Bid Day, when Roni, Jenna and Lora-Leigh are getting used to the college scene and their life as new sorority members. Roni struggles long-distance with her relationship with her hand's off parents, Lora-Leigh tries to win back her mother's trust after disappointing her, and Jenna is reluctant to share her diabetes with her new sisters until she's struck with a seizure and has her sisters to thank for getting her to the hospital. The story follows each girl as they settle into their academic life, attend fraternity swaps, meet cute guys, and bond with their new sorority sisters. The story ends with the girls being initiated into their chosen sorority.

I'm really excited about the books and I hope you will be too when they come out. I had a great time writing them and feel like there's a little piece of me in Roni, Jenna and Lora-Leigh.

As we get closer to the release date, look for advance copy giveaways here on Books, Boys, Buzz!

Hugs,
Marley = )

What I'm currently reading: Simone's LEAVING PARADISE...and you'll have to excuse me because I have got to get back to it!!!! It's phenomenal!

FutureSex/Love...PastWritings/Creativity

You'll have to forgive my late post...I went to see Justin Timberlake's FutureSex/Love in concert last night and wow...what a show! He has definitely brought sexy back!



So...

My very, very, very first book that I wrote was when I was fifteen years old and my best friend had her first official boyfriend. Since I didn't have a boyfriend of my own, I lived vicariously through her. He was two years older than us (a senior) and a basketball player. We were cheerleaders and it was the heart of baseball season. Their first kiss was shared when they were standing by the basketball bus after an away game and he "bet" her that she couldn't see inside the bus like he could, flat of his feet. Of course, she couldn't, so he lifted her up so she could see in. As he slid her back to the ground, he kissed her.



Wow. That was just something that belonged in a novel, eh?

At the time, I was obsessed with the First Love by Silhouette books that came out four a month. So, I thought I would write my own First Love book starring my friend and her boyfriend, totally taking from their bus viewing kiss. I wrote about 100 pages of the story. Mostly dialogue. But there are hints of greatness, I must say. Well, at least hints that I'd someday be able to write something more substantial.

My mother kept the story in my "things" at their house and I found it in a box not too long ago. My format is really professional, it's free of typos, and the kiss is very heartwarming. I was really impressed at how on target I was as fifteen.

Which brings me to the innocence of writing. Back then, I didn't know the "rules" or things like goal, motivation, conflict, or head-hopping or things like that. I just wrote. Wrote for the fun of it. Because I had a story to tell. For those of you who want to write, I encourage you to write with naivete and joy and innocence.

Hugs,
Marley = )

SORORITY 101...
Coming in May 2008

What I'm reading right now: Baby Proof by Emily Giffin

Conference Tips: Meals

First things first, here's a list of the meals that the RWA conference fee is taking care of:

• Thursday, luncheon with keynote speaker Lisa Kleypas (bring your willpower, as you will likely be staring at the dessert long before your entree arrives)
• Friday & Saturday, continental breakfast (I'm not certain whether these are included, but they are listed on the conference schedule)
• Saturday, luncheon with speaker Lisa Jackson
• Saturday, dessert reception after the awards ceremony

For the other meals when you're on your own, here are some restaurants in the area that will probably not be as crowded as the ones in the hotel (except for the sushi place, they are all within 1/2 mile of the Hyatt):

• Daily News Cafe & Grill at 306 S. Houston
• Founders Grill at 302 S. Houston (Italian)
• Hoffbrau Steakhouse at 311 N. Market (um... Steakhouse)
• Landry's Seafood House at 306 N. Market (seriously?)
• RJ Mexican Cuisine at 1701 N. Market (Mexican, I think...)
• Gator's Croc & Roc at 1714 N. Market (Southwestern)
• The Palm at 701 Ross Ave. ($$$$ Traditional American, self-proclaimed celeb hangout)
• Cadillac Bar at 1800 N. Market
• (Sushi is in short supply and although there is a restaurant less than 1/2 mile from the hotel, the reviews were so-so and their website is down. The best close sushi place I found is Kenichi at 2400 Victory Park Lane, just over a mile from the hotel.)

Tips for meal time:

• If you are planning on eating with a big group, make sure at least a couple of people are in line early and have their cell phones on. I am inevitably the person guarding seats for my friends and frantically trying to explain to them exactly where in the massive room we're sitting.
• That being said (and as others have said before me) never pass up an opportunity to welcome a stranger or two to your table. Chances are they won't be strangers by the time the meal is over.
• Don't skimp on the salad, because the entree may not be as appealing as you'd hope.
• Along the same line, you might want to keep a snack in your purse/tote in case you get sidetracked out of a meal. I've often found myself chatting with someone through mealtime and then scrambling to make it to the next workshop. With a snack on hand you won't suffer for the skipped meal.
  
• If all else fails, there's a Starbucks in the hotel! Hopefully they understand that a couple thousand romance writers luv them sum S*bucks. My personal addiction involves a caramel frappuccino, a cinnamon chip scone, and a fruit and cheese plate.
  

Extra tips from Heather:

• It's great to save seats for friends for one special meal or something -- but if you share your table with new people, you could be sitting next to a powerhouse!
• Bring some granola bars or peanuts in your purse. If you hate what's served, at least you'll have a snack later. Don't let yourself get too hungry or you might be shoveling in food when the surprise editor at your elbow asks you the plot of your book.
• If you're shy -- introduce everyone at the table. They're probably more bashful than you are! I ususally say, "Hi, I'm Heather from Seattle, have you met my friend Dona here? She writes Young Adult." And then they introduce and so on...
• Be polite -- pass things around the table -- use good table manners. Duh!
• Be extra polite to the SERVERS! They're doing a hard, underpaid job. And not only that, but the people around you will notice if you're a jerk to the servers and think less of you. No one likes a diva at dinner!
• Be sure to tell people discreetly if they have something on their face, on their blouse, or in their teeth. They could be going to their pitch appointment right after the meal and feel like a total loser if no one lets them know.
• Have business cards to exchange with folks at the table. You never know what connection you could make. :)

Extra tips from Tina:

• make a point of sitting with new people at each of the group meals...it's a great networking opportunity!
• cereal bars and fruit in your room is a cheap and easy breakfast
• try not to overeat at lunch if you plan to stay awake in the afternoon sessions

Hugs,
TLC
OH. MY. GODS, Summer 2008 Dutton Children's Books

what I'm reading ... THE SECRET DIARIES OF MISS MIRANDA CHEEVER by Julia Quinn (because it just came out yesterday and I couldn't not buy it and I've already finished it and it's wonderful as always)

Conference Tips: Etiquette & Other Tips

From Gabrielle Luthy
--there are a whole ton of articles on Gabrielle Luthy's site on conference

From Houston Bay Area RWA
--a great article by member and phenomenal writer Sandra K. Moore

From RWA
--get some conference tips straight from the RWA website

From Simone
--don’t stalk editors or agents

From Stephanie Bond
--she has two terrific articles on conference in her vault of resources for writers

From Tina
--if you know you're going to slip out of a session early, sit in the back
--keep your cell phone silenced during sessions
--(and this is a personal favorite) take pity and buy the book of the authors who no one is approaching at the Lit Signing, especially YA authors with pink prom dresses on their books :-D

From TLC
--never interrupt a private conversation
--don't dismiss unpublished authors as unimportant, they could be next year's bestsellers (and we were all unpublished once)
--if a workshop you are attending is full, don't use a chair for your belongings and let others know if there is an available seat near you
--if you take notes on your AlphaSmart, please take a seat near the back of the room so the clicking doesn't drown out the speaker for other attendees

Okay, what have we missed?
TLC
[honorary Tina for the day]

Conference Tips: Networking (and Contest!)

As most of the Buzz Girls prepare to head to Dallas, Texas for the Romance Writers of America's National Conference, we thought it would be great to pass along some advice and tips for attending writers' conference that might be useful to our readers. I'll start with Networking.

The word "networking" sometimes freaks people out. They think it means not being yourself or acting in a way that gets you notices or doing things you wouldn't normally do while interacting with people. No. No. And, no. Networking, by definition, is very simple:

Networking (noun) is a supportive system of sharing information and services among individuals and groups having a common interest.

See, that's not scary at all...is it?

In any business, it's important to get your name and face out there so that people know you're a serious player in your industry. This includes shaking hands, eye contact, active listening, being positive, having confidence, but most of all...being yourself.

When meeting people and networking...

• Everyone is not born an extrovert...and that’s okay, but you can learn to talk to strangers.
• Recognize the person within yourself...and bring your personality out when you meet people.
• Have the courage and self-confidence to go up to people, insert yourself into a conversation (but never rudely interrupt) and introduce yourself.
• When we start writing about characters, we think of their goals, motivations, conflicts wants and desires. Get to know yourself the same way. What makes you tick? Who are you? What makes you unique?
• Listen when introduced to someone. Be attentive and participate in the conversation.
  Find common ground and similar interests.
• A smile and a laugh will go a long way to make a new friend.
• Be confident and offer a firm handshake. You’ll be remembered more for a weak one.
• Have one liners or topics you can easily toss out that will help include you in a conversation. Movies, books, TV shows, pop culture, food, wine, your kids, your family, your job, anything...all of these things that interest us that help craft our own soul and what makes us who we are.
• Non-verbal communication is almost more important that what we verbalize. Pay special attention to the way people say things with their eyes, facial expressions, hands and the way they stand.
• Don’t cross your legs away from people as you’ll appear closed off.
• Try not to slouch or hide behind people as it shows you’re hesitant to get into a conversation and transmits an “unapproachable” signal.
• As wonderful as it is to see old friends, try to make new ones. The best way to do this is to sit with people you don't know at meals. Ask them questions about themselves. You already know you have a common interest in writing.

When networking with agents and editors...

• Remember, agents and editrs are people, too, and you shouldn't be afraid to approach them in a professional manner.
• Always have good eye contact and speak confidently.
• Have an "elevator pitch" prepared for your manuscript to drop in at the appropriate moment. "My book is 300 meets Evan Almighty." (Just kidding, but you get the point.)
• Be sure to thank an editor or agent for their time and try not to monopolize them for too long. Leave them with a lasting positive impression.
• Watch for signs of disinterest: looking around, leaning back, arms folded in front. This means you don't have their attention or what you're pitching isn't right for them. Smile, thank them and move on.
• On the flip-side, watch for signs of interest: leaning forward, head bobbing, smiling, legs crossed toward you.

And, with any good networking opportunity, always remember the follow-up. E-mail new friends, send thank you notes to editors or agents you pitched to, send pictures to people you met. You never know who you'll meet, what new friends you'll make or what contacts might pan out for you down the road. Above all...be yourself. Let your true personality shine through and that will make for the best impression.

~*~*~CONTEST~*~*~

Did someone say contest? A contest? Why yes! I'm giving away a copy of THE BOYS NEXT DOOR, by the fabulous Jennifer Echols. The book just came out and it's A. Dor. A. Ble! If you'd like to win the copy of the book, just post a comment here in this thread, offering your best networking tip. The winner will be chosen at random and announced on Monday, July 9th.

Thanks!
Marley = )

Sorority Rush Begins - May 2008!
Rush - A Sisterhood Novel
Pledge Class - A Sisterhood Novel
Puffin Books

What I'm reading... Still reading TWILIGHT

A Book I'll Never Forget...

Has anyone heard of this book? It was originally published in 1968, and at some point, Scholastic Books offered it in their school book orders. (Which, considering it’s about a teen pregnancy, in hindsight, I find rather racy!)

I bought it in 6th grade, read it, and filed it away with my growing book collection. Pretty much end of story, except that I pulled it out again in 10th grade, and with a more mature comprehension, fell head-first into the story.

It follows middle class kids, 16 year-old July and 17 year-old Bo Jo, who “lost control” one night, and found themselves “in the family way”. They elope, and, with the support of their parents, drop out of school and basically become grown-ups. He goes to work at a bank and she becomes a housewife, while they wait for the next stage of their lives for which they are totally unprepared: parenthood.

This book intrigued me on a number of levels. I thought the whole playing-house-with-a-popular-football-player was cool, loved the idea that teens my age didn’t have parents breathing down their necks, could do whatever they wanted. But I also felt their desperation at being forced into dull-as-dirt adult lives, all from the consequences of a reckless act. I wanted them to run from each other, to give the baby up for adoption, and have fun again--yet I also wanted them to live happily-ever-after together, too.

The book has a very satisfying ending--believe me, I know, because I read it at least five times. If you’re interested, you can read it, too. The publisher released a new version that I found listed on Amazon:


But you can also find used copies of the old version, which I did, and plan to read again soon. From what I’ve heard, the book not only holds up well, but adults like it as much as teens. We’ll see!

I’d love to hear your thoughts on Mr. and Mrs. Bo Jo Jones, or about any teen books that affected you!

What I’m Reading: Pride & Prejudice, Jane Austen (yes, still--my life's pretty crazy right now)

Tina Ferraro
www.tinaferraro.com
Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress
How to Hook a Hottie, January 2008
The ABC’s of Kissing Boys, Spring, 2009

Bookshelf Meme with tagging involved...

Some people go to dinner parties and look in the medicine chest and bathroom drawers to see what kind of interesting medications people have. Not me. I sneak peeks at people's books and bookshelves.

People who come to my place would see the following:



This is our second bedroom which is known as "The Writing Room." It overlooks the harbor and is painted in a lovely three-version shade of the same blue. Very calming. This particular bookshelf sits under the window and, as you can see, houses a lot of crap. The books here are mostly annuals from high school, my husband's non-fiction books, our Anne Rice collection, and a lot of his political books.



Back in the corner, behind my writing desk, is another bookshelf that's kind of funky in its build. We got it eons ago at Crate and Barrel and it houses a lot of our Hollywood books. Things like how to write screenplays, entertainment guides, autobigraphies of Gable, Grant, and Chaplin, to name a few. My husband's two prized book collections (Maupin's Tales of the City and The Tao of Pooh and The Te of Piglet) are here.



To the left (...to the left...every book I own is to the left, to the left...) is my bookshelf. It's sectioned off into the top section with most all of my cooking books, the next shelf with all of the travel books, maps, and guides, and then the rest is dedicated to my romance novels. You can't really tell, but where Mr. Bigglesworth and Austin Powers sit, the books are stacked three deep. I have every Sandra Brown and Barbara Delinsky book ever written. (Including the ones Sandra wrote as Laura Jordan, Rachel Ryan, and Erin St. Claire.)



This is my Young Adult bookshelf. As you see, it's a little sparse, but there's a reason why. I only started reading YA two years ago, whereas I've been reading romance and women's fiction for 28 years. (I know!) So, it was only fitting that I get the YA shelf ready to hold even more books. As you see, one shelf features my critique partner's, Diana Peterfreund, books with a picture of us. That section will only expand when the rest of her Secret Society Girl books and her new killer unicorn YA urban fantasy series hit bookstores.



One shelf has my First Love by Silhouette books. It's a complete series of all the books they put out starting in like 1981. These books were amazing and my best reading friends. As you can see by how beat up they are, they got read a lot. My niece "inherited" the books and read them to death, as well, showing that the stories stood up for generations to come. You can bet I'm keeping these forever!



The top shelf is for me. See those Greek temples? Well, those are antique bookends that my husband bought for me for my last birthday. They are to hold...my sorority books when they come out. Get it? Sorority...Greek... Awww... Also on that shelf are fellow Puffin authors, like my friend, Linda Gerber and her Students Across the Seven Seas books.



More books. No order. Mix of mine and hubby's with some "household" stuff in there, as well. I think that's the binder with all of our mortgage information in it.



Here in the living room, in the secretary I inherited from my grandparents, is my collection of "vintage" books. The red ones up top are all classics with copyright dates going back to the 1930s. I have one book of "Plays for Little Actors" with an 1896 copyright date! (Also, note the pic of dear old Dad when he was in the Navy in WWII and the dried flowers in the middle are what's left of my wedding bouquet.)



I should be embarrassed to show this, but what they heck. This is the kingdom of books that lives next to my side of the bed (note photographic placement of five-fingered slippers from The Carlton Hotel in Cannes, France. LOL!) These are the "must read soon" books that line my bedroom. These are the books that constantly get rearranged into preference order and the stacks move according to my reading mood. If a book is really luck, it gets moved up here...



...to the bedside table. (I took these pics a while ago, so both of these books have been read and stored back in The Writing Room.)

So, that's a look at my condo full of books. This doesn't include the myriad cookbooks in my kitchen, or the boxes full of books in the closet at my sister's house in Florida that I sent to her to read.

Now, I tag, Alexgirl, Elizabeth Mahon, and Mel Francis.

Where is the strangest place you store your books?

Marley = )
Sorority Rush Begins - May 2008
Rush - A Sisterhood Novel
Pledge Class - A Sisterhood Novel
Puffin Books

What I'm reading right now: TWILIGHT by Stephanie Meyer

Bookshelf Meme (& Ocean's 13)

Today’s the day I go to Grauman’s Chinese Theater in hopes of sneaking a peak at The Ocean’s 13 hunks. I’m bringing a camera, but I guarantee the best pictures will be taken by the media, so please don’t count on me. Honestly, I think the best I’ll come back with is something like, “I managed to see the top of Brad Pitt’s head. His hair is blond.” Anyway, I’m hoping it’s fun!

Now, onto my Bookshelf Meme!

I had always planned on having a proper, British library with floor-to-ceiling shelves and a rolling ladder (inside my proper British mansion). Alas...I live in a tract home in Southern California. Some years ago I realized that my growing book collection was starting to compete for space with my growing family, so I decided to start giving some away. (Books, that is. ;=) So that said, I only have about 20 shelves of books now, just the special ones!

The most important thing to know about my system is that there’s a strong division between TO BE READ:


And READ AND DECIDED TO KEEP:


As far as delving any further into my keeper organization, I don’t think I could begin to do my chaos justice. It's just sort of where things fit. But occasionally I’ll rearrange the order of my shelves when I’m stressed or bored. That's the one kind of housekeeping I enjoy. Does anyone else do that?

What I’m Reading Now: Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen!

Tina
www.tinaferraro.com
Top Ten Uses for An Unworn Prom Dress
How to Hook a Hottie, January, 2008
The ABC’s of Kissing Boys, Spring 2009

Bookcase Meme (Tag, You're It)

We have another fun new theme for our BuzzReaders this week--and I actually get to kick it off!!! (So if this all goes awry it's not my fault, I'm flying blind here.) This week you get a sneak peek inside the lives of writers... well, at our organizational habits when it comes to books, anyway. Without further ado (and babbling) I present: MY BOOK STORAGE.

1. The Main Bookshelf. (see photo below) This one is in my closet behind my desk and holds most of my writing life. On the top shelf I have a few reference books, some books on writing and on marketing, and a whole bunch of calendars and spiral notebooks. The second shelf holds more reference books (like Edith Hamilton's Mythology and the Eyewitness Guide to the Greek Islands) and my writing binders. One of the binders holds all my business papers (like contest certificates, contracts, and--my fave--rejection letters). The rest of the binders are my book binders, where I keep my notes, research, and character collages for each book. I'm also a bit of a graphics geek, so I make cover mock-ups, too. Finally, the bottom shelf holds my travel guides (also research) and the handout books from the past four RWA conferences.
2. The Keeper Baskets. (I know, technically not "shelves") On the top shelf in my closet I have three fabulous baskets from Ikea that are the perfect size for books--this is where I keep all my keepers. (At the front of the class right now are TOP TEN USES FOR AN UNWORN PROM DRESS by BuzzGirl Tina Ferraro, HOW TO RUIN A SUMMER VACATION by BuzzGirl Simone Elkeles, my fave Jenny Crusie GETTING RID OF BRADLEY, and new fave SPYING IN HIGH HEELS by Gemma Halliday)


3. The Nightstand. Right next to my bed, the dozen or so books I'm supposed to be reading right now. Like the copy of Stephenie Meyer's NEW MOON Steph sent me, the uber-cool-sounding JACK'S WIDOW by Eve Pollard, and THE WEDDING by Coleen Murtagh Paratore (that Marley recommended).

4. The To-Be-Read Crates. (not shown) I also have a stack of three milk cartons in the corner. Two of them are full of books I have yet to read. They're really, really full. The third is full of books I've read and have decided won't make it into my keeper baskets--they're ready to go to Goodwill.

That's pretty much my book organization strategy. I can't wait to see what the rest of the BuzzGirls (and BuzzReader) do with their books! We BuzzGirls got tagged with this meme via Diana Peterfreund (and BuzzGirl Marley) so check out her post on the matter. Now it's your turn.

Hugs,
TLC
GROWING UP GODLY [soon to be retitled], Summer 2008 Dutton Children's Books

what I'm reading ... Nothing (I'm busy trying to hunt down a freakin' edited version of The Stand for my deal with Tina)