#MFRWauthor HOW TO: Get The Most Out of Conferences @AliceOrrBooks

A Whole Lot of Being Nice
Question: What does it take to get the most out of a writers’ conference?
Answer: "What it takes is a whole lot of being nice."

I put that response in quotation marks because I heard those words from another author. Sabrina Jeffries giving an uplifting talk at – you guessed it – a writers’ conference.

Summer is conference time. Small retreats and huge gatherings punctuate June through August for many writers. Civilians – as in non-writers – are off to the shore or the mountains or the campsite. But we pack up our notebooks and our hopes and head for a convocation of scribes.

What most of us are hoping is that we’ll find the key to getting our work published or better published. I say that isn’t the most important thing we find at these gatherings whether they take place in a grand hotel or a modest cabin or anywhere in between.

The most important thing we find is each other. We make the most of a writers’ conference by maximizing that discovery. We writers are our own most natural allies. Why is that so true? It’s true because we understand one another from the inside.

We understand what it’s like to labor in the formidable publishing marketplace. We understand what it’s like to struggle toward getting our work published and keeping it published. We know how it feels to suffer rejection and disappointment. We also know how it feels to experience the joy of our accomplishments whether they’re large or small.

We also understand we need support in these hard struggles we’ve chosen. We understand that because we need the same support ourselves. With this understanding comes an obligation. Our obligation is to reach out and give what is needed – a little bit of niceness to our writer friends.

All it takes is a few words in a few sentences of encouragement and kindness. Over the several days or even the single weekend of a conference these few words at a time will add up to what Sabrina inspires us toward – a whole lot of being nice.

Our need to succeed tells us to be nice to the max to the agents and editors and instructors we line up for to pitch our projects or sit in front of taking notes. We long to recruit them to become our allies on the inside of the publishing world. In the meantime let’s not forget the allies we already have on the inside of the writing world.

Give what you can. A word of advice or a commiserating ear or a shared laugh – and definitely a hug. As you scurry from class to class or from appointment to appointment take a moment to touch another writer ally with your own whole lot of being nice. I guarantee you will experience a whole lot of feeling good in return.

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Contributed by Alice Orr
Alice Orr loves to write. Especially Romantic Suspense novels of danger and romance. She's well known as a workshop leader, book editor and former literary agent. Now she lives her dream of writing full-time, especially romantic suspense. Alice has published thirteen novels, two novellas and a memoir so far. About her novels, Amazon says, "Alice Orr turns up the heat."

Alice has two grown children and two perfect grandchildren and lives with her husband Jonathan in New York City.                                                              website  |  blog  |  facebook

A YEAR OF SUMMER SHADOWS

Riverton Romantic Suspense Series Book 2
Mainstream Romantic Suspense
Alice Orr Books

Hailey Lambert loves the North Country though she doesn't love some of her North Country memories. Now her estranged friend Julia is accused of murder and Hailey has no choice. She's got to help.

Mark Kalli has wanted Kalli in his bed forever but she won't give him the time of day. Now she's mixed up in a killing and Mark has no choice but to get involved - whether Hailey wants him around or not.

BUY LINK

"This book is the perfect combination of suspense, mystery and romance and will have you turning the pages unable to put the book down." 5 Stars, Amazon Reviewer

The Business of Writing: Finding the Perfect Publisher

So now that we’ve talked about formatting for a publisher let’s talk a little about how to find one. The first thing you need to look at is what you are writing. Not every publisher takes all styles. If you are writing YA you sure don’t want to send your ms into an Erotic publisher.

Talk to other authors. Find out who they publish with, especially if they write the same genre as you. If you can, go to conferences or join a local group and meet other authors as well as publishers. Join loops like MFRW. Network with the people who have done the self-publishing, published with electronic houses and the brick and mortar. Find the one that works best for you.

Writing Tip:

Do your research. All publishers have their guidelines on their websites. Some will want your full ms, some will only want a partial and some might only want a cover letter. Make sure all three of these things plus your synopsis is as polished as possible.

Bio:

Barbara Donlon Bradley wears many hats. She’s a mother, wife, care-giver, author, and editor. She’s a senior editor for Melange Books, and writes for Phaze and Melange books/Satin Romances with over twenty titles under her belt.

Barb's Links: 

Website: http://www.barbaradonlonbradley.com/

Publisher: http://www.phaze.com/author.php?author=21

Blog: http://barbaradonlonbradley.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Barbara-Donlon-Bradley/118673448173249

Twitter: https://twitter.com/barbbradley

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/barbaradbradley/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/7773192-barbara-bradley

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0072OTZJE

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Barbara-donlon-bradley

ARe:http://www.allromanceebooks.com/storeSearch.html?searchBy=author&qString=Barbara+Donlon+Bradley

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/Search?Query=Barbara%20Donlon%20Bradley

Shelfari: http://www.shelfari.com/search/books?Keywords=barbara%20donlon%20bradley

Author Conferences: A Recap of Hot Mojave Knights by @Emerald_theGLD #MFRWauthor #HMK2014

For this month’s post, I'm embarking on a timely deviation from my discussions about moderating the MFRW Facebook group to talk a little bit about a reader and author convention I attended last weekend. HMK (Hot Mojave Knights) is a romance reader event designed to bring authors and readers of romance together for a weekend of learning, interaction, fun, and ogling hot men (a.k.a. the knights). This year was its second iteration, and I attended the inaugural conference last year as well.

HMK is held in Las Vegas (which for me serves as a reason to go in and of itself!), and both the reader and author attendees tend to collectively represent virtually all genres of romance. For authors, the convention offers the chance to promote one's work and meet readers both familiar and unfamiliar with it.

But the real reason for HMK is the readers. The founders and organizers of HMK, Shannan Albright, R. M. Sotera, Johanna Riley, and Siobhan Muir (who did not organize or attend this year but was one of the founding organizers last year) developed the event to bring readers into direct and personal contact with the authors whose work they so enjoy. The convention is kept deliberately small, with attendance capped at 200 people if I remember correctly, to allow the kind of intimate interaction the founders envisioned to set HMK apart from the many other romance-oriented conferences that take place each year.

As an author, I consider my attendance at HMK an investment—as well as, I must admit, a blast. I have enjoyed it immensely both years I have attended, and I am already looking forward to attending next year. As an author, I get to promote my books and brand, have swag included in the swag bags handed out to all registered attendees, hear directly from readers (and meet many potential new ones), and display and sell books at the author signing.

The weekend includes craft-related panels for authors on topics such as how to write historical novels, understanding Kindle Direct Publishing, and tips for writing or researching kink-related topics. Evenings are filled with organized social events to give readers and authors alike the chance to enjoy each other’s company in an informal setting. The event is small enough that you’re almost sure to get the chance to meet or interact with any attendee you’d like to.

The author signing is one of the signature events of HMK and offers the opportunity for all the featured and spotlight authors to set up books and swag and aim to dazzle all the visitors that come through. :) Authors keep all the proceeds from any books they sell. This year, the signing took place on the Saturday afternoon of the weekend and was open and free to the public.

HMK 2015 is already scheduled for October 1-4. While the organizers are (I hope!) taking a well-deserved break before they delve head-first into the planning and organizing of next year’s event, there will be opportunities to sign up to be a featured author at it over the next few weeks (registration for featured authors will be open until February 28). If you would like to be kept up to date on that, I encourage you to follow HMK on Facebook and Twitter, and you may also check the HMK website in the coming months for more information. (And if you’re interested in checking out the action that occurred last weekend in Vegas, look up the hashtag #HMK2014 to get a taste.) I have already signed up to be a spotlight author and am looking forward to attending again.

As an author, do you like to attend events or conferences? If so, which ones? Does the idea of a smaller event like this interest you?

Thanks for reading, and see you next month!


Emerald
Emerald is an erotic fiction author whose short stories have been featured in anthologies published by Cleis Press, Mischief, and Logical-Lust. She serves as an assistant newsletter editor and Facebook group moderator for Marketing for Romance Writers (MFRW), and she selects and posts the monthly inspirational quote on the MFRW Marketing Blog. Her first solo book, If... Then: a collection of erotic romance stories, is out now from 1001 Nights Press. Find her online at her website, The Green Light District.

When Opportunity Strikes, Attend EPICon2014 @EPICorg

When Opportunity Strikes

Sometimes writers become conditioned to writing just one genre—one area—it’s safe because they know what to do—how to go about it. However, sometimes being safe is not always the best course of action.

Workshop Presenter, John Foxjohn, is a perfect example of a writer leaving the “safe” mode, and it paying off. Killer nurse fell in John’s lap. John Foxjohn's true crime book, Killer Nurse, was the result of seizing an opportunity. What will you do if something falls into yours?

EPIC, the Electronic Publishing Industry Coalition™ (www.epicorg.com) was established in 1998 and is a global organization of published authors and industry-related professionals who actively advocate continuing education and further enlightenment of electronic publications.

EPIC’s annual conference, EPICon™, invites industry professionals to share the latest eIndustry information, hone writing and editing skills, and explore new markets and promotional ideas. Keynote luncheon speakers range from world-renowned authors to established publishing houses to eBook and print agents. For more information, please visit http://www.epicorg.com.

Register today at EPIC.org!

Presenter Biography
JOHN FOXJOHN
The Pineywoods of East Texas have produced many things, including international best-selling author John Foxjohn. A country boy at heart, Foxjohn often says, “I was born and raised so far back in the woods they had to pump sunshine to us.” With little to do but hunt and fish, Foxjohn’s environment created an atmosphere that fostered imagination and dreams, something Foxjohn would excel at.

At the tender age of seventeen, he quit high school and joined the army. Foxjohn’s six years would see him graduate from jump school, ranger school, and become the youngest sergeant in the peacetime army. A tour in Viet Nam and Germany highlighted an extremely successful stint for Foxjohn. After an honorable discharge, Foxjohn followed that with ten years in law enforcement, including a long tour as a homicide detective. Fulfilling a promise to his dying mother, Foxjohn graduated from college and began a new adventure of teaching and coaching football.

Foxjohn had one of his childhood dreams left to accomplish. When he was twelve, he’d read a book about Crazy Horse. He said then that one day he would write a book about the fabled Lakota war chief. After retiring, Foxjohn became a writer, and the first book he wrote was a historical fiction titled, The People’s Warrior: a book about Crazy Horse.

Now considered one of the rising stars in publishing, Foxjohn has published in six different genres, and readers worldwide clamor for his books. And yes, Foxjohn says he’s still dreaming.

EPICon Teaches The Art of Discoverability @EPICorg

Amazon bestselling author Elle Lothlorien leads three presentations at this year's EPICon... she explains how understanding algorithms is critical in developing a discoverability plan for your book (or finding a date), responding to reviews and offering free books.

Dating Your Book: Understanding the Amazon Algorithm Through Online Dating
Ever done online dating? Scrolled through dozens of photos, skimmed the profiles, waiting for that tingle of interest? I've got news for you: the same algorithm that helps you find an online date also matches a reader to a book. Learn how “click-throughs” and reviews affect your book’s ranking, how “designing for the thumbnail” can drive click-throughs to your product page, and how an excellent book description can lead to that critical “first date.”

When You Wish Upon a (Review) Star…
If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything, right? Good advice, but when it comes to websites where your book is available for purchase (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, etc.), responding to negative reader reviews encourages repeat readers and is, quite simply, excellent customer service.

Elle Lothlorien, whose 2012 Digital Book World blog on this subject released a firestorm of controversy (the blog was named one of the “Top 10 Digital Publishing Stories of 2012”), will explain why keeping your cool and following “Dos and Don’ts” when engaging unhappy readers will only help your career. Case studies discussed.

To Free or Not to Free? That is the (Discoverability) Question…
Can a free book promotion help your novel rise above the 'white noise' of over 10k new ebooks being published daily? According to Amazon self-published author Elle Lothlorien, who took early, full advantage of Amazon's KDP Select and its free promo days to “force” her second novel, Sleeping Beauty onto the Amazon bestseller list in February 2012, the answer is yes, yes, and yes!

Let Elle guide you through the complex algorithms that determine how to make giveaways work for you. If time permits, Elle will touch on other social media strategies that can help coax your e-book into the public eye--and keep it there.

EPIC, the Electronic Publishing Industry Coalition™ (www.epicorg.com) was established in 1998 and is a global organization of published authors and industry-related professionals who actively advocate continuing education and further enlightenment of electronic publications.

EPIC’s annual conference, EPICon™, invites industry professionals to share the latest eIndustry information, hone writing and editing skills, and explore new markets and promotional ideas. Keynote luncheon speakers range from world-renowned authors to established publishing houses to eBook and print agents. For more information, please visit http://www.epicorg.com.

Register today at EPIC.org!

PRESENTER BIO

ElleLothlorien’s first self-published romantic comedy The Frog Prince became an Amazon bestseller in December 2010—a distinction it kept through the summer of 2012 when it peaked at #2 on Amazon's Top 100 List for Humor. On Valentine’s Day 2012 her second novel, Sleeping Beauty, catapulted to Amazon’s Top 100 List for Romantic Suspense. In March of 2012, she published an alternate ending version of her rom-com Sleeping Beauty in response to fan feedback. In December 2012, both versions were named to Kindles & Wine “Best Reads of 2012.” In October of 2012, she wrote Alice in Wonderland in 35 days and e-published it seven days later.

Elle’s appearance on Digital Book World’s (DBW) “Successful Self-Published Authors” panel in January Publisher’s Weekly. In February 2012, she was named to Expert Messaging Group’s “25 Self-Published Authors to Watch." She is considered a “reluctant expert” on the topic of self-publishing and is well-known for taking advantage of her full creative control by pushing the envelope—and advising other self-published authors to do the same.

2012 was noted in

Elle has contributed to articles on self-publishing for both TIME Magazine and Writers Digest. She’s been interviewed for USAToday.com’s “Happy Ever After” with Joyce Lamb, GoodEReader.com with Mercy Pilkington, and Your Book Is Your Hook with Jennifer Wilkov.

In April 2012, Elle was invited to be a regular contributor to DBWs Expert Publishing Blog, an industry blog with 20,000 subscribers. She almost immediately created a firestorm of controversy by blogging that authors should respond to negative reader reviews—a blog that was later named one of the “Top 10 Digital Publishing Stories of 2012” for its “importance.” She was one of 93 authors—including over 50 New York Times bestsellers—invited to blog for “National Read-a-Romance Month” in August 2013.

In January, 2014, Elle and co-host Isobel Irons launched a self-publishing consulting company, The Book Escorts as well as “The S&M (Self-Publishing and Marketing) Podcast with Maven and Minx” on the Authors on the Air Global Radio Network. In 2014, this dynamic duo will be presenting workshops on self-publishing at conferences such as EPICon, RWA Chicago’s Spring Fling, Romantic Times and RomCon. Isobel and Elle will also be attending Thrillerfest in July 2014 in a press capacity, interviewing authors and covering the conference workshops and festivities. 

Pitch Perfect @EPICorg *Writer's Conference*: EPICon2014

Larry K. and Lorna Collins will present PITCH PERFECT at EPICon 2014.
What is a pitch? It’s the opportunity to present your work to an industry professional. These are sometimes called ‘elevator pitches’ because the only chance an aspiring author may have to get the attention of a publisher, editor, or agent may be during the minute between floors on an elevator. Fortunately, EPICon will provide more opportunities to meet and get to know lots of industry professionals, but we intend to help prepare everyone by teaching them how to create the perfect pitch—in 25 words or less.

You’ll create your own pitch and have it reviewed during the workshop. Then you’ll have the opportunity to try it out during Speed Dating for Editors, when you can try your pitch on real publishers and editors, who may invite you to submit to them.

EPIC, the Electronic Publishing Industry Coalition™ (www.epicorg.com) was established in 1998 and is a global organization of published authors and industry-related professionals who actively advocate continuing education and further enlightenment of electronic publications.

EPIC’s annual conference, EPICon™, invites industry professionals to share the latest eIndustry information, hone writing and editing skills, and explore new markets and promotional ideas. Keynote luncheon speakers range from world-renowned authors to established publishing houses to eBook and print agents. For more information, please visit http://www.epicorg.com.

Register today at EPIC.org!

ABOUT THE Pitch Perfect PRESENTERS
Lorna Lund and Larry Collins were raised in Alhambra, California and have been married for nearly fifty years. Larry worked as an engineer on projects throughout the United States and around the world. Lorna was employed in Document Control, Data Management, IT Change Management, and Technical Writing.

Their memoir of working in Osaka on the Universal Studios Japan theme park, 31 Months in Japan: The Building of a Theme Park was a 2006 EPPIE finalist and named as one of Rebeccas Reads Best Nonfiction books of 2005. They co-wrote two mysteries, Murder…They Wrote and Murder in Paradise (a 2011 EPIC eBook Award finalist) They plan several more in this series.

Lorna has also co-written anthologies set in the mythical town of Aspen Grove, Colorado, with Sherry Derr-Wille, Christie Shary, Luanna Rugh and Cheryl Gardarian. Their first, Snowflake Secrets, was a finalist for the Dream Realm and Eric Hoffner awards. Seasons of Love was published on Valentine’s Day 2009. Directions of Love won the 2011 EPIC eBook Award for best romance anthology. An Aspen Grove Christmas was published in 2010, and The Art of Love in September of 2013. The group is currently writing several more in the series.

Lorna’s fantasy/mystery/romance called Ghost Writer was published in 2012. Another ghost story is on her to-do list. Larry’ collection of short stories entitled Lakeview Park was published in December 2012. All their books are available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, their website (www.lornalarry.com) and other online book outlets.

Gain Perspective on Promotion at EPICon 2014 *Writing Conference* @EPICorg

EPIC, the Electronic Publishing Industry Coalition™ (www.epicorg.com) was established in 1998 and is a global organization of published authors and industry-related professionals who actively advocate continuing education and further enlightenment of electronic publications.

EPIC’s annual conference, EPICon™, invites industry professionals to share the latest eIndustry information, hone writing and editing skills, and explore new markets and promotional ideas. Keynote luncheon speakers range from world-renowned authors to established publishing houses to eBook and print agents. For more information, please visit http://www.epicorg.com.

Now, why should you attend EPICon 2014? 

For the fabulous workshops?

For the entertainment factor?

For the exciting networking opportunities?

For the delightful Texas charm in San Antonio?

Yes! Yes! Yes! & Yes!

All of this while networking with industry professionals, seeing old friends and making new ones at the eFiesta and Gala eBook Awards Banquet. Delight your senses on a San Antonio River Cruise and gear up for a Ghost tour of the historic--and haunted--Menger Hotel

Register today at EPIC.org!

MEET PRESENTER Jo-Ann Power

Jo-Ann Power knows the publishing industry. In 33 years, she has been published with newspapers,

magazines, 3 traditional publishers, 6 digital and small presses under her own name AND a pseudonym—and now self-publishes some of her work in digital and print. That equals 62 novels under her own name and a pseudonym. Sharing her knowledge of the industry, she ran her own Public Relations corporation for more than 20 years, with an expertise in book and author promotion. She is no stranger to the ups and downs and sideways flow of the biz!

Jo-Ann's workshop will show how PR and PROMO has dramatically changed in the past few years. She'll teach how to assess what you need, why and how to create a PR Plan that works for you!

Attendees will get PERSPECTIVE. Vital to any PR or PROMOTIONAL plan, perspective is one aspect any harried author needs…yesterday. Best of all, Jo-Ann will offer concepts on how to tailor a PR/PROMO plan to an author's personal writing habits, needs and budget.

CONNECT with Jo-Ann on her blog: http://theyalsofought.blogspot.com.