The Amazing Barbara Vey and her Reader Appreciation Luncheon 2015!

The Amazing Barbara Vey
and Debby Giusti

Debby Giusti here! 

I had the pleasure and privilege to attend this year's Reader Appreciation Luncheon--my fourth in a row--hosted by the wonderful Barbara Vey. Barbara loves to bring readers and writers together, and in 2012, she organized the very first luncheon so that folks in her beloved hometown of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, could meet some of their favorite authors. 

At that first event, 250 readers attended, and they've been coming back ever since...and bringing their friends. This year's reader turnout was 500 strong with 61 authors who hosted tables and did their best to ensure all who attended had the time of their lives!

Barbara wants everyone to leave happy and laden down with books. Each luncheon guest received a goody bag stuffed with books...I counted 21 books in my bag. Donated gift baskets--numbering in the hundreds--were raffled off and drawings for the 60-plus author baskets, totes, Kindle Fires and treasure chests filled with even more books made the day a reader’s delight.

A mega book signing followed the luncheon--with a $5 off coupons for every attendee. If that wasn’t enough, the evening included a Pizza Party and movie that kept the fun going until the wee hours. Many of the readers arrived on Friday for the Author Q&A and get together that provided a fun and relaxing way for readers and writers to mix and mingle.

Knowing Seekerville would like to learn more about Barbara and the wonderful  luncheon she hosts each year, I’ve asked her to answer some questions that I thought might be of interest. 

Love Inspired Authors (L to R) Katy Lee, Winnie Griggs
and Debby Giusti wait for the doors to open at the luncheon.

The Barbara Vey Reader Appreciation Luncheons keep getting bigger and better. Did you have any idea of how successful they would be when you planned the first event?

Barbara: No, I had no expectations.  The idea was just to get readers and authors together in Milwaukee where we don't have a lot of personal interaction with authors.

The wonderful ladies at my table!

Readers always want to know where writers get their ideas, and I’m sure many folks would like to know where you got the idea to host the first luncheon? Was this a long-time dream or an idea that just sprang to life one day? What was your vision for that first luncheon four years ago?

Barbara: After traveling around the world to reader/author conventions, I was sad that there was nothing in my area.  After my mom passed away, I  started to think, "Why not?"  So I contacted a few authors I knew and told them my vision and was surprised by how many were willing to travel here to make my dream come true.  I really only wanted a small luncheon that first year.  We had it at a community center, brought a caterer in and my sister baked 300 cupcakes.

Barbara with 2015 Keynote Speaker, NYT Bestselling Author
Tess Gerritsen

 NYT Bestselling Author Tess Gerritsen, of television's Rizzoli and Isles fame, was the keynote this year. Would you share the story about Tess and your mother that you told at the luncheon?

Barbara: I had interviewed Tess a few times and we met again in Chicago.  We were talking books and readers and I mentioned that my mom was a huge fan, but she could only read large print books and there weren't many in the library.  The next week a box arrived for my mom filled with every Tess Gerritsen book in large print.  It made me cry because it was kindness times 10.  My mom was over the moon and I'll be forever grateful to Tess for taking the time to give my mom such a special day.

Look at the crowd...500 readers and 61 authors!

 I’ve heard lots of fantastic comments from the readers and writers. Can you share some of the feedback you received from those who attended this year’s event?

Reader: I appreciate that you put on such a great event that is geared towards the readers! I have never been disappointed (except that this is the first year I didn't win anything...lol) and think that each year something that seemed to not work well the year before is changed for the better. You and your committee work hard for a year or more to put on this event and I appreciate the time and energy that is put in to make this fun for everyone!!

Just a few of the author giveaways!

Reader: Thank you again for hosting such an amazing event with amazing authors and giving me the opportunity not only to meet my favorite authors, but to make so many new and lasting friendships!!

Reader: It was an amazing success and I can't stop talking about the weekend or how great it was!! fun, laughter, friends, food, and books!!!

Reader: I just wanted to say THANK YOU so much for the wonderful luncheon. I am so happy I was able to attend. It was the most fun I've had in a long time.

Reader: I had an absolute blast!!!  I already have tix sales listed on my calendar for next year!!!

Such a beautiful table. Check out the
pink rain boots!

 You always select a charity that benefits from the luncheon, and this year was the American Cancer Society. I know a number of folks attending, both authors and readers alike, were cancer survivors. I’m sure they were enthusiastic with their donations for such a great cause. Could you share how much was raised? Will you choose a new charity next year?

Barbara: We raised over $10,000 for the American Cancer Society from the sale of raffle tickets and direct donations.  We will have a new charity next year.  There are so many needy groups out there.

Author Cindy Dees chose a Southwest theme for her table.

  I know you’re taking a break after all the work you put into the fabulous April 25th event, but could you give the Seeker Villagers some idea of what you have planned for 2016? When will the tickets go on sale, and where should folks go to find out more information?

Barbara: The tickets will go on sale August 1, 2015 at midnight.  Readers are already planning late night parties to keep them occupied until the ticket sales start.  We are looking into adding a special event, but we are just in the planning stages right now.  Readers can keep in touch by following the barbaraveyreaders.com website or the barbaravey.com website.  I will be putting out a newsletter with details as we firm them up.

Elizabeth Zoellner won the business tote I
gave away, loaded with goodies.

This year included a special dinner for authors on Friday night and the traditional Q&A following, along with a get-together with readers and a signing by WisRWA authors. Saturday night included a Pizza Party that evening and movie hosted by two authors following. So the luncheon has grown to a weekend event with many of the readers staying at the hotel to take part in all the activities. Will you continue with that format next year?

Barbara: We will keep the parts that worked and try to add in new ideas to try out.  It's always a work in progress.  The idea is to give the reader the ultimate author experience and for the authors to come in contact with as many readers as possible.

Cherry Adair's table had a jungle theme complete
with monkey!

Any chance you'll host additional luncheons in other areas of the country?

Barbara: Probably not, but I've learned never to say never.  I'd love to do it, but it's a lot of work that relies on dedicated volunteers.  My dream though is to bring this Reader Appreciation experience to  other parts of the country.

It's always fun to see Linda Howard!

What has blessed you the most about hosting the luncheons?

Barbara: The biggest blessing has been the closeness I've gained with my family.  They were never sure of what my job was or what exactly I did.  My passion for books was beyond their scope of understanding.  While they may not have become avid readers, they now enjoy books more and have a better appreciation for authors and what they do.

A picture with Kristan Higgins before the doors open.

Any surprises you hadn't expected?

Barbara: My son has just decided to join the team and I'm thrilled.  He'll bring a lot of fresh ideas.  And the other surprise wasn't for me but for the authors that attend.  They always seem amazed at the enthusiasm of the readers and just the scope of the event.  I love to talk to them afterward because they seem kind of dazed...in a good way.

  

If you could sum up your feelings about the Reader Appreciation Luncheons in one sentence, what would it be?

Barbara: Good people getting together to share their love of books.

Barbara always serves cupcakes for dessert that
feature the author's latest book!

Barbara, thank you for being with us today. I'm sure some of the Villager will have questions of their own, and I know you'll stop in frequently to chat with all the folks who leave a comment. We'll be serving virtual cupcakes throughout the day, in honor of your luncheon!

Share a comment or a question for Barbara to be entered in the drawing for some SWAG gifts from the luncheon as well as a copy of my latest Love Inspired Suspense, STRANDED.

Leave a comment to win one of my totes!

The coffee's hot and so is the tea, assorted flavors available. Help yourself to the breakfast buffet: eggs, ham, sausage, biscuits and gravy, fresh fruit and grits! Enjoy!

Now help me welcome Barbara Vey to Seekerville!
Happy writing! Happy reading!

Wishing you abundant blessings,

Debby Giusti

www.DebbyGiusti.com

www.crossmyheartprayerteam.blogspot.com

Friend me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/debby.giusti.9

 STRANDED

BY DEBBY GIUSTI

AMISH COUNTRY REFUGE

Colleen Brennan has one goal—take down her sister’s killer.  But chasing after evidence leaves her in the path of a tornado and stranded in an Amish community. With the killer nearby, Colleen must depend on the kindness of Special Agent Frank Gallagher. Although the army officer is recuperating from a battlefield injury, he wants to help the beautiful woman he rescued from the tornado’s fury. He can tell she’s hiding something important. But getting her to reveal her secrets may be his most dangerous mission ever.

Order your copy in digital or print format: Amazon.

Seekerville Welcomes Barbara Vey Home From Oxford!

Debby Giusti here!
Whenever I think of mega birthday celebrations, I always think of Publishers Weekly Contributing Editor Barbara Vey’s cyber party held each March to mark the anniversary of her Beyond Her Book blog. Barbara’s a dear friend and a huge Seekerville supporter, and our own party wouldn’t be complete without a visit from this amazing woman whose name is a buzz word in the publishing industry.

Over the last six years, Barbara has become well known not only within the US, but her fame has spread internationally as well! She was invited to speak at Oxford and just returned from what had to be a trip of a lifetime. Barbara wanted to share the details of her travels with us today. Her success is proof that, with hard work and perseverance, dreams do come true. Please join me in welcoming Barbara back to Seekerville!

Happy 6th Birthday Seekerville! We both were born the same year. Mine is in March, so I am a little older. I know there have been a lot of changes here at Seekerville with the blog and the authors. Much success with over 1 million views. Congratulations! And I’ve had my share of changes.

My Publishers Weekly blog, Beyond Her Book, has humble beginnings. I was a reader they literally plucked from the sea when I met the Deputy Editor on a cruise. Since I was such an avid reader, I was asked to write a blog featuring women’s fiction. I wasn’t sure what women’s fiction was, so I just wrote about books I read, authors I met and conferences I went to. The blog was even called Beyond The Book when I started, but we soon found out that was a copyrighted name.

Barbara makes every event a party!

My first anniversary I celebrated with a virtual party that was pretty much unheard of over 6 years ago. I had over 700 comments that day and was in shock. Over the years, the parties have gotten bigger and last year ended up with over 28,000 comments over 6 days.

Everyone loves Barbara, including NYT best-selling author
Tess Gerritsen!

Going to writers conferences was brand new for me too. I went to my first RT and

RWA conferences that year and discovered how different they were. I thought of RT like high school and RWA like college. Since then I have attended Sleuthfest, Thrillerfest, Comic Con, Horrorfest, Heather Graham’s New Orleans Conference, Crimebake, numerous local RWA conferences and even the American Christian Fiction Writer’s Conference. And just this past week I’ve gone international. 

Barbara's lodging in Oxford!

I was asked to speak at Oxford, in England, to the writers there. I had to get my very first passport and was so excited when I received my first stamp in the book. The writers were wonderful and so interested in everything I had to say. They are way behind us in social media. Twitter and Facebook scare most of them and only 2 even had Facebook pages.

Barbara always WOWS her audience!

Then I headed to London to tour Mills and Boon. They actually celebrated “Barbara Vey Day” when I was there with signs welcoming me, roses, desserts and champagne. Now that’s the kind of welcome I really appreciate. I met all the editors and saw the processes a book has to go through. A few authors even showed up so I did some video interviews that you’ll be seeing this week on my blog.

Mills and Boon welcomes Barbara with champagne and roses!

Next up was a quick trip to Scotland. How could I be so close to my Highlanders and not stop by to say hi? Author Margarite Kaye took the ferry over to Edinburgh, and we took the double decker bus tour, heard the bagpipes and saw many kilts. One day just wasn’t long enough there.

Don't we all love guys in uniforms! Here Barbara poses
with the bobbies!

I even managed to catch up with a Facebook friend, reader Wendy. She took a 2 ½ hour bus ride to see me in Oxford and then came back a few days later with her sister, Marcia, who wanted to meet me. Readers are incredible the world over and it’s great to talk books with all of them.

Barbara with reader friends Marcia and Wendy.

Next year I’ll be speaking at the International Women’s Fiction Festival in Matera, Italy. I have to pinch myself. Otherwise, I’m not sure what the future holds, but if it involves books, I’m fine with it.

Congrats, Barbara! We're so proud of you and honored that you could join us in Seekerville today. I'm looking forward to your next Reader Appreciation Luncheon and want to ensure all the Villagers know about that special event.

In 2012, Barbara hosted her first Reader Appreciation Luncheon in Milwaukee, WI, which was a huge success. Last year attracted more readers, and Barbara expects close to 500 to attend the April 26, 2014 luncheon. Keynote speaker Debbie Macomber joins 50 other authors who will host tables and provide baskets and goodies and lots of books to all those who attend the festive event. Today, Seeker host Debby Giusti is giving away a luncheon ticket—a $45 prize--to one lucky winner. If you want to be included in the drawing, mention Barbara’s Reader Appreciation Luncheon in your comment. (The prize is for the luncheon registration. All other expenses, including travel and hotel accommodations, are the winner’s responsibility.) Proceeds from this event will benefit Sojourner Family Peace Center of Milwaukee, an organization that offers a safe environment for women and children affected by domestic violence. Many folks arrive on Friday for a special night with the authors. For more details about the event, click here.

Additional drawings today include a book giveaway from Barbara and a journal and 2014 planner/calendar from Debby, along with her latest release, THE SOLDIER’S SISTER.

Every comment enters you in this week's overall prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card and also in the BIG BIRTHDAY BASH GRAND PRIZE for the month--an iPAD MINI!!!! Good luck, everyone!

The breakfast bar is open. Today’s menu includes egg and sausage casserole, baked ham, fresh fruit, an assortment of breads and muffins, and grits! Enjoy! The coffee’s hot; so is the tea. Colas are available as well.

Grab some food, fill your cup and let's spend the day with Barbara Vey!

As Contributing Editor for Publishers Weekly, Barbara Vey brings readers and writers together with her popular Beyond Her Book blog. Recipient of the 2012 RWA Vivian Stephens Industry Award and 2013 RT Melinda Helfer Fairy Godmother Award. From her entertaining “Drive By Videos” to reader feedback on books with WW Ladies Book Club, Tuesday Releases and Author Recommends...BHB continues to grow into a must read daily adventure. An avid reader, Barbara consumed a book a day before taking on the glamorous life of a roving reporter. Traveling all over the world to conferences from Romance to Thrillers, Mysteries to Horror, Historicals to Comic Con, her love of Romance and the Happily Ever After keeps her grounded while she offers readers a place to step away from life’s daily trials to take a positive journey through the world of books.

Barbara Vey's Reader Appreciation Luncheon 2013

Barbara Vey (L) and Debby Giusti (R) at
Barbara's Reader Appreciation Luncheon,
April 2013

Debby Giusti here!

I love Reader Luncheons! Some of you may recall my February 15, 2012 Seekerville blog that detailed how to organize and coordinate such an event. I pulled from my own experiences after hosting tables at a number of luncheons and included hands-on advice from some very savvy folks who have been in charge of writer and reader events, all of which have been extremely successful.

Love Inspired authors Debbie Kauffman and Debby Giusti wait
for the hotel shuttle at the Milwaukee Airport

My hope last year, as well as today, is that some of you may be interested in hosting a similar event in your own hometown. Just as I mentioned in 2012, a reader luncheon is a wonderful way to promote books and bring writers and readers together. It can serve also as a fund raiser for a special charity or a money maker for your local library or women’s church group.

Friday night Barbara hosted a Q&A with authors and readers.
Waiting to get started in the front row (LtoR) are
 Eileen Dreyer, Sharon Sala, and Sabrina Jeffries.

Doesn’t everyone like to go out to lunch? Add door prizes and swag bags filled with books and promotional items and the day becomes even more exciting. There are lots of opportunities to mix and mingle with established bestsellers or meet new authors who may turn into tomorrow’s favorites. The conversation always centers on writing and reading, and everyone goes home with new books to enjoy.

Following the Q&A, I had dinner with Lyndee Henderson
and her daughter Ellyn. Later that night, I got my tote and
table gifts ready for the next day. 

Publishers Weekly contributing editor, Barbara Vey is a dear friend who frequently guest blogs on Seekerville. You’ve probably visited her Beyond Her Book blog, perhaps during her huge birthday bash and mega giveaway each March. If you know Barbara, you know everything she does is a big success. In 2012, she hosted the first annual Barbara Vey Reader Appreciation Luncheon, which I had the honor and privilege of attending. As enjoyable as that first gathering was, this year’s luncheon was even better.

I headed to the ballroom early Saturday
morning to set up my table. Everyone was busy getting ready.

Barbara makes everything look so easy. Of course, it takes months of planning and coordination as well as lots of folks—her friends, family and volunteers—working together to make the day so special. I knew you’d want to see photos.

(L to R) Heidi and Joysann review on Barbara's blog and
often visit Seekerville. Here they're helping Victoria with the
250 name tags and swag bags. Everyone's waiting
for the doors to open!

Tracey Devlyn (L) and Andrienne Giordana (R) show off
the cute totes they gave to their table mates. Loved
learning about the Lady Jane nights they host at a nearby coffee
shop where authors read excerpts from their latest releases.
The money raised benefits a local women's shelter.
Way to give back, ladies!

It's always nice to visit with former Georgian CL Wilson.
We flew back to Atlanta on the same plane,
along with Debbie Kauffman and Susan Carlisle, and talked non-stop
about how much we enjoyed the weekend.

Best-selling authors Sabrina Jeffries (L) and
Karen Hawkins (R) chat before the festivities begin.

Dianna Love and Debby in front of the author giveaway baskets.
Di and I live in the same town and joke about having to travel
to see each other. 

Being with Lyndee Henderson (R) and her daughter Ellyn (L)
made the weekend so very special.
Thanks, ladies, for joining me!

Another special treat was getting to know Jennifer Tipton's mother,
Alicia Stevernson (L), and sister Virginia Hardesty (R). Hope
you can join us next year, Jennifer.

Doris Greenberg (L) and Pandre Shandley (R) are former dance
instructors who now write YA stories
about the dance studio they used to own. 

(L to R) Alicia, Pandre, Virginia, Sally Lemke, Deb, Ellyn,
Doris and Lyndee. Thanks, ladies, for sitting at my table!

Dessert cupcakes featured my book cover!
What a special treat, Barbara!

At the podium to give away my tote.
And the winner is...

Lynne Wall won! A librarian from Aurora, Illinois, Lynne
loves inspy books and orders them for her library.

Best-selling author James Rollins entertained us
following lunch.

A book signing ended the day!

At the conclusion of the luncheon, Barbara asked us to save the date for next year. The Third Annual Barbara Vey Reader Appreciation Luncheon will be held on Saturday, April 26, 2014, at the beautiful Crowne Plaza Hotel in Milwaukee.

Guess who the luncheon speaker will be? Debbie Macomber. I've already made plans to attend. Think about joining me there.

What's the best reader or writer event you've ever attended? Have you considered hosting an event in your local area? Any suggestions for easy ways to get readers and writers together? Share your ideas and leave a comment to be included in a drawing for one of my books, winner's choice.

Happy writing! Happy reading!

Wishing you abundant blessings,
Debby Giusti
Faith with an edge...cross my heart!
www.DebbyGiusti.com
www.crossmyheartprayerteam.blogspot.com

THE GENERAL'S SECRETARY

By Debby Giusti

Trusting the Wrong Person Can Be Deadly...

Lillie Beaumont's dark past has just turned up on her porch--fatally wounded. The dying words of the man imprisoned for killing Lillie's mother suggest hidden secrets. Criminal Investigations Division special agent Dawson Timmons agrees. He has his own motive for seeking the truth, and it gives Lillie every reason to doubt him. But even as they reluctantly begin to face painful secrets together, Dawson fears that a murderer is waiting to strike again. And this time, Lillie is right in the line of fire...

Watch for THE SOLDIER'S SISTER, available Sept 2013.

Seekerville Welcomes Publishers Weekly's Barbara Vey!

Seekerville welcomes Barbara Vey,

contributing Editor of the Publishers Weekly 

Beyond Her Book blog and recipient of the 

2012 RWA Vivian Stephens Industry Award.

Debby Giusti here!  I'm thrilled to welcome Barbara Vey, contributing editor of Publishers Weekly Beyond Her Book blog, to Seekerville today. Many of you had the pleasure of meeting Barbara at this year's American Christian Fiction Writers Conference and, no doubt, agree with me that to know Barbara is to love her.  A friend to both readers and writers alike, Barbara features reviews and industry news on her Beyond Her Book blog. Visit her site to see what she's reading or which conference she's attending or where she's headed to next. In addition, Barbara shares information on publishing, marketing, social communities and a host of other topics that involve spreading the news about the books we love to read and write.
Now, please help me welcome Barbara Vey....

Barbara Vey chats with Love Inspired Senior Editors
Tina James (L) and Melissa Endlich (R) at ACFW 2012.

Barbara, your Beyond Her Book blog celebrated its FIFTH birthday in March. Congratulations! Can you tell us how you first got involved with Publishers Weekly and how your blog came to be?

Actually, I started with PW completely by accident. I was on an
Authors At Sea cruise and met Karen Holt, who was the deputy
editor at Publishers Weekly. I didn’t know that was a magazine. I
thought it was a publisher, so I proceeded to tell her everything I
thought was wrong with publishing from a reader’s point of view.
She wrote the article and then called me a few months later to offer
me a position of contributing editor and write a blog on women’s
fiction. That’s how Beyond Her Book was born.

Such an amazing story! I’m sure there were hurdles you had to jump in the beginning. What was the most difficult aspect of drawing people to your blog?
What was the easiest part about getting started?

When I first started, I didn’t think anyone would read my blog. No
one had ever heard of me and why should they care what I think?
So I begged my family, friends and people at the library to read it
so it looked like someone was visiting the site. After I started
going to conferences and meeting authors, editors, publishers,
readers and agents, they all got to know me and started reading
what I had to say.

Barbara joins the Love Inspired authors for
dinner in Grapevine during ACFW 2012.

It was great seeing you at the American Fiction Writers Conference
in Dallas last month where so many inspirational authors got to
know you—of course, they think you’re wonderful. Everyone in
Seekerville agrees, and we all hope you’ll join us at ACFW again
next year. What was your overall impression of the conference?
Anything you could suggest to make ACFW even better? Did
anything surprise you concerning the conference?

I really enjoyed myself at the ACFW Conference. I wasn’t sure
what to expect and I didn’t know a lot of the authors, so I wanted
to keep an open mind. Everyone was extremely friendly and
helpful. It was a full program and I could tell that the writers who
attended were passionate about their work.

Overall, it was a very well run conference. I wish they would have
spaced out the publisher’s spotlights, so I could have visited
several instead of just one. The other big missed opportunity was
not having a book signing. There were over 700 attendees with
many successful authors that I’m sure readers would have been
over the moon to meet and buy their books.

No big surprises. I’ve found that most writer conferences have one
thing in common and that’s to get the author’s book published.
Everything else is just whatever is unique to that genre.

The Awards Banquet, ACFW 2012
(L to R) Barbara Vey, Janet Dean, Pepper Basham,
Myra Johnson and Laurie Kingery

Your schedule is always so busy. How do you find time to attend
all the writer and reader events, review books and keep up with
your wonderful blog? Any time management tips you’d like to
pass on to the rest of us?

If I didn’t travel and meet so many interesting people, I wouldn’t
have much to write about. I found that interacting with different
groups gives me a variety of experiences to draw from. It’s always
great to learn new things and I get excited when someone turns me
on to a new author or even one who’s been around a while that I
haven’t had a chance to read yet.

As for time management, I have to admit that I’m not very good at
it. I’m easily distracted and it kills me to put down a good book to
have to get other things done. I actually get up about 4 a.m. to
write my blog because I think best early in the morning. Things
just seem clearer to me. Everyone has to find the times that work
best in their busy life.

Other than not having enough hours in the day, what's the biggest challenge facing writers today? You talk to readers around the country. What are they telling you that writers need to hear?

I think the biggest challenge for writers is something they’ve heard
for years...write a good book. One of the biggest complaints I’m
hearing is that there is so much garbage out in e-books because
authors are self publishing without having their books
professionally edited.

Slapping a book together and putting it out there for 99¢ can hurt a
writer’s career in the long run. Readers will tell everyone they
meet about the best and worst books they’ve read and you don’t
want yours to be the worst.

Self publishing can be a good thing, but do your homework. Have
people read it, get it professionally edited and treat yourself to a
professional cover. But first, write a good story. The readers will
advertise it for you.

Last year, you hosted a fantastic Readers’ Appreciation Luncheon,
which I had the pleasure of attending. You made sure everyone
had a dream-come-true type of day with lots of book giveaways, a
yummy lunch and great raffle baskets and other prizes. This year’s
event sounds even bigger and better. Would you tell us the when,
where and how and share some of what you have planned?

The Second Annual Barbara Vey Reader Appreciation Luncheon
will be held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on April 27, 2013 at the
Crowne Plaza Hotel. We sold out last year with 250 readers and
moved to a bigger venue. James Rollins will be the keynote
speaker and 40 other authors will be attending.
There will be a meet and greet, door prizes, raffles (with all
proceeds to the local library), lunch and a book signing.
As a special treat, on Friday night we will be having a Q&A
session with authors and readers in the hotel auditorium. This is a
free event. Afterwards, we will be having a social hour to chat
with the authors.

The luncheon sounds wonderful! Thanks for sharing the details.  To learn more  click HERE.

A lot of folks visiting Seekerville today would like information about your blog, Barbara. How can authors submit books to you for review? Do you accept
e-books as well as print? Are you looking for avid readers who
would like to review books?

Authors can send books to: PO Box 438, South Milwaukee, WI
53172. There is no guarantee your book will be picked to be in the blog.
Readers choose the books they want to read and write about.
While we have done e-books, at this time I don’t have many
readers who own e-readers. Feel free to email me at
barbaravey@gmail.com and I will pass on your e-book request to
the readers.

I can always use readers and they don’t have to write full reviews.
We mostly spotlight books and the readers just write a paragraph to
explain what the book is about and then a couple of sentences on
why they liked it.

Debby and Janet with Barbara, RWA 2011

Great information. Thanks. Now two more questions. What are the best marketing tools writers should be using? What's an easy way for readers to connect with writers?

I see readers connecting with writers online at Goodreads,
Facebook and Twitter. In real life, Readers Luncheons are
becoming more accessible and booksignings. Readers should go to
their favorite author’s web sites to see where they will be in
attendance.

(L to R) Tina Radcliffe, Debby Giusti, Morgan Doremus from
Romantic Times Book Reviews, Barbara Vey and
Janet Dean. Thanks, Barbara and Morgan, for holding
a great mini-workshop at ACFW 2012.  

If you could look five years into the future, where do you see
yourself? Any changes to your blog or new opportunities for
writers and readers that you hope to have in place by then?

I will soon be launching my own website that will be a meeting
place for readers and authors. My goal has always been to bring
the two together. I plan to do blogs, videos, podcasts, have guests
visit and give lots of stuff away. Mostly we’ll be talking about
books. What we love and why.

Let us know when your website goes live, Barbara. What about your travel plans? You’ll be at the Southern Magic Readers Luncheon in
Birmingham, Alabama, on November 3. What other events are on
your schedule for the upcoming months?

I will be in New Orleans December 12-14th attending Heather
Graham’s Writers for New Orleans Conference.

I'm sure you'll be blogging about Heather's conference and the fun you'll have in the Big Easy.  Thanks, Barbara, for answering my questions. Seekervillagers will have more to talk about so grab a cup of coffee and let's chat.

Everyone who leaves a comment will be entered in today's drawings.  Lots of great prizes... 

In honor of Barbara's visit, Tina Radcliffe is giving away four $5 Starbucks giftcards so the winners can buy Barbara's favorite beverage, a Hazelnut Latte, or the beverage of their choice. Thanks, Tina.

Mary Connealy is giving away her soon-to-be-released e-book, Candlelight Christmas, featuring Mary's novella, The Christmas Candle and The Outlaw's Gift by Linda Goodnight. Can't wait to read both stories! Thanks, Mary.

Janet Dean is giving two of her books, winner's choice. Nice, Janet. Thanks!

Missy Tippens is donating A House Full of Hope. Thanks, Missy!

Glynna Kaye’s giving a copy of Second Chance Courtship and At Home In His Heart.  Great. Thanks, Glynna.

Ruth Logan Herne will give away a copy of Yuletide Hearts and His Mistletoe Family. Waving to Ruthy in Upstate. Thanks and hugs.

Pam Hillman is giving away two e-books of Stealing Jake. Love that story. Thanks, Pam!

Myra Johnson's donation is a Kindle version of One Imperfect Christmas. Love it! Thanks, Myra.

Julie Lessman is donating an e-copy of A Light in the Window! Thank you, Julie!

Audra Harders is adding five bags of chocolate candy to the mix! Yummy! I bet everyone wants to win the chocolate. Thanks, Audra!

More Starbucks! Debby Giusti is giving away five $5 Starbucks' giftcards. Each winner will also receive the choice of one of her books.

All those who comment will be entered in this week's big giveaway for a Kindle Paperwhite.  In addition, you'll be entered in the BIG MONTH-LONG DRAWING for a LAPTOP.

The breakfast bar is open: sausage and egg casserole, bacon, biscuits, fresh fruit and grits. Enjoy!