Godly Professionalism

Sandra here welcoming you to Seekerville today to talk about being a godly professional in this crazy business.


You are thinking of your writing as a career, aren’t you?  Writing a novel is a lot of work and I’m assuming you are doing so because you want to get it published and make money as a published author.  And many of you are already published authors.

If this is the case, then you are aspiring or already are a professional writer.  Congratulations!

With that title comes a degree of responsibility to present yourself as a professional writer. As a Christian, you want to present yourself as a godly professional writer.

So what does that look like?  Let’s grab a cup of tea since its National Hot Tea month. I have a delicious assortment of Teavana Teas, so please help yourself.  (We are cyber dreaming of course because I can’t really afford those exorbitant prices ha ha) And if you really need coffee (raising my hand) then I also have a pot of Chocolate Velvet. Since it is chilly most evenings and mornings, we also have hot chocolate with whipped cream.

bigstock photo

Now back to the topic at hand. And readers, we need your input also. After all, you are the people we need to impress. Smile

What are the activities and/or things we want to do to be professional in our business?

A. Develop Your Craft
B. Network and share knowledge with other writers.
C. Meet and engage with your readers
D. Encourage and motivate your fellow authors
E. Celebrate publication and success
F. Join and stay active in professional organizations.

This sounds like a tall order, but it can be accomplished by joining Romance Writers of America. Within its parameters, you find all the elements listed above.

Most professionals belong to associations that act to keep track of the interests of their members. Romance Writers of America has been doing that for the romance genre since 1979. You can read about how it came about on their webpage here.


The added benefit included in the philosophy of Romance Writers of America is their stated goal to help others. This quote is from their webpage:

RWA's founders instilled in the organization the value of sharing of knowledge and openness and encouragement that romance writers are hard-pressed to find elsewhere.

This is so true. I have belonged to other writing organizations in other genres and there is not the camaraderie and focus on helping other writers. They act more in competition with each other. I remember it being said at a conference years ago that the precepts of RWA to help writers, raises the bar of their craft. By raising the bar, they write better novels and by doing that, the romance genre becomes more in demand so publishers need more writers to supply the demand.

The American Christian Fiction Writers accomplished this very same phenomenon when they started their organization. Most of the founding members belonged to RWA and they followed their example to educate and inform their upcoming authors.  When they started, there were very few publishers publishing Christian fiction. By raising the bar and growing up all these authors, the market has boomed. There are hundreds of Christian fiction options out there now and really great Christian fiction to read.

Before the Internet, these organizations were the only means of communication and information sharing open to writers. The Internet has broadened the knowledge base and accessibility so you might be wondering why do you need to pay for an organization when you can get so much information for free.

RWA  has been a strong advocate for the rights of authors. They are watchdogs that keep their eye out for legal issues, contract issues, and keep you informed as to what is happening in the business end of the publishing market.  They provide fabulous workshops, articles and promote local chapters. The national conference is a venue where authors can meet other professionals in the writing business. Editors, Publishers, agents, librarians and many other important people in the industry come together to network and fellowship.

There are over 10,000 members worldwide and over 145 chapters. This means that in most major metropolitan areas there are local chapters of RWA. These chapters usually have monthly meetings that provide fellowship with other writers. Many conduct workshops at each meeting and/or have speakers talking about different aspects of being an author. Most chapters allow two non-member visits per year. So you can go to a couple meetings to see if you think the group will benefit you as a writer.

Local chapters often put on local conferences and at these they invite editors, agents and speakers from out of the area. My local chapter, Desert Rose RWA is having their bi-annual Desert Dreams Conference this April 7-10th.

From Desert Rose Website

You’ve heard Debby and Missy talk about the Moonlight and Magnolia  Conference.

From Georgia Romance Writers website

If you look at the conference offered by your local RWA, you will see how all the editors and agents attend and it is a marvelous opportunity to meet these people face to face.

Local chapters also sponsor contests.  And we all know the importance of these contests. Most editors and agents know the power of RWA and they respect the professionalism offered by these groups. Because of this, we have accessibility to editors and agents through conferences and contests.

There are also special interest groups within RWA.  Because these cut across the general membership, they are mostly online communities.  Faith, Hope and Love is the Christian Inspirational chapter.  (I am treasurer this year. Our Missy has been the president in the past) Faith Hope and Love sponsor the Inspirational Readers Choice Award for published authors.  And they sponsor the Touched By Love contest for unpublished authors.
Both of those contests are accepting submissions at this time so check it out.

Besides local and special interest conferences, RWA holds a national conference in a different city each year. This year’s national conference is in San Diego, July 13-16th.  Anyone else besides me, heading for the California coast? What a fabulous place to be. I hope some of you are coming and will let me know. I grew up in Southern California so know it well. I’d be happy to show you around town.  (The beaches are the best part-smile) Come in time for the FHL meeting on Wednesday and we can arrange some sightseeing before the conference begins.

From Marriott San Diego Hotel Photo Gallery

Most publishers want to know their members belong to RWA. It shows them that you are a professional, are interested in developing craft and knowledgeable about professional guidelines. If you are with a traditional publisher, your name is associated with their house. They want to know that they are contracting with a person who is knowledgeable about the business and pursues his/her craft.

As Christian authors, we need to also represent our Christian values in the marketplace. There are many elements that conflict with our values and we don’t want them to predominate in our profession. If we drop out because of those elements, we are taking Christ out of the organization.

I am delighted to see that the inspirational category remained in the contests. I love that we have a wonderful Christian chapter in Faith, Hope and Love. It pleases me to know that we can impact the romance genre by the professionalism we show.

To show how important I think it is to belong to a professional organization like RWA, I am offering a commenter reimbursement for membership. It costs $99 for dues. It costs an additional $25 for a new member set up fee so I will pay that also. If the winner is already a member and simply renewing, I will put the $25.00 toward FHL membership which is $24.00 per year. Just to clarify, reimbursement means you will have to show proof of RWA and /or FHL membership. So be certain you want to join before stating you want in the drawing.

Readers, we welcome your comments also so I will draw a name of a reader for a surprise treat from See's Candy to enjoy while you are reading a book.  (A Seeker book of course- smile)

Deep Dark Chocolate Truffle from See's Candy website

Be sure and mention in the comment if you are interested in being in the drawing and specify which drawing you want to be in.  Writer prize or reader prize.  The photos with writer friends were taken at the RWA National Conference in Anaheim in 2012 (the last time they were on the west coast). Do you recognize anyone?  smile


Our orange trees are loaded so I filled a bowl of sliced navels. For a festive flair, I added chopped pecans and coconut. You will love this combo.  Its my way of sharing a bit of Arizona sunshine with all of you.

Sandra Leesmith writes sweet romances to warm the heart. Sandra loves to play pickleball, hike, read, bicycle and write. She is based in Arizona, but she and her husband travel throughout the United States in their motorhome and enjoy the outdoors. You can find Sandra's books here on Amazon. Three of Sandra's most popular books are also audio books at Audible. You can read more of Sandra's posts here.

Top Ten Things I Took Away from RWA15

with guest Cate Nolan.

It's been over a week since RWA15 ended. I've caught up on sleep and family time, unpacked and finished the laundry. My conference brain is recovered, I've read lots of recaps, and I've had time to mull over the takeaways.

I think the one absolute about any writing conference is that people will experience it differently. A large part of our conference experience is a result of who we are and what we bring to it. So, with that caveat, and based on my conference experiences this year, I give you my personal, 

Top 10 Things I took away from RWA15:


10. If you attend RWA National during an anniversary year, you get cool gifts. This was RWA's 35th National Conference. Each attendee at the Rita/GH Gala received this lovely pen/business card case set and their very own golden chocolate RITA.

9.  Newsletters - I heard this in both traditional and Indie workshops. The best PR you can do for your book is write the next one, but beyond that you need to build a base and keep in touch with your readers. A newsletter helps you do that more than any other forum. Bella Andre talked about how her built-in audience awaits the release of each book because her newsletter tells them it's coming and gives them a reason to look forward to it. You can start out small and build, but do a newsletter. 

8. Literacy signing - a reader’s dreams come true. Imagine a room full of hundreds of your favorite authors waiting to chat with you and sign your books. It’s crowded, loud, crazy fun, and it’s all for a good cause. 

From the RWA website:
In 2015, Romance Writers of America raised more than $48,000 to benefit literacy programs — bringing our total donations since 1990 to more than $900,000. This year's beneficiaries are ProLiteracy Worldwide, Literacy Partners, and Literacy Assistance Center.

7. Books - lots and lots of books - everywhere. If there weren’t enough for you at the literacy signing, there were books everywhere for the next three days. I came home with 30 free books, but I could easily have had double or triple that many. I was trying to be good and only taking books I knew I'd read. But basically, I could have had as many books as I could carry. Almost covers the cost of the conference right there. Of course there is shipping if you're not local (and pain meds if you are and try to schlep them all home on the subway). My mother is delighted with all the Love Inspired books I got for her!

6.  Public Service Message - Not too many people ever attend the AGM, but you should! That's how you learn what's going on and get a chance to have your voice heard. Much gratitude goes out to the board members and the office staff who dedicate so much time to running this organization. They are unfailingly polite, helpful and cheerful. Not to mention amazingly organized and efficient! 


5. Harlequin gives THE best parties. They really know how to show their appreciation of their authors.

Photo credit - Harlequin

4.  Don't believe that there's no place for you at RWA if you write Inspirational. Want proof? Just look at this photo from the Love Inspired Meet and Greet. 

And because conference was in New York this year - ALL of the LI editors were present. What an amazing opportunity to hear from the editors themselves, learn what they are looking for, pitch your stories.

There's also the FH&L Chapter (Faith, Hope & Love). FHL always opens the conference with a Prayer Service and this year they had a wonderful panel of Inspirational agents and editors to offer information specific to the genre. 


  4 1/2  - Conferences in New York are expensive, but if you can swing it, they are the one venue to attend because like I said above - ALL the editors attend. There were plenty of empty editor/agent appointment slots.

3. You WILL learn something new. No matter how long you've been writing or how advanced you are in your career, there's always someone who knows something more than you do. I attended an amazing workshop with a forensic anthropologist that made me lose all track of time (and miss a book signing I'd planned to attend!). I also attended a workshop on writing romantic suspense given by Brenda Novak and Laura Griffin. Lots to soak in there!  

Tina’s fangirl moment came from that workshop.

Want info about writing for traditional? Indie? Or maybe going hybrid? There's a workshop (or 5) for that. Just a sampling - Barbara Freethy and Bella Andre did a 90 minute Q&A so that people could pick their brains for everything they know about going from Trad midlist to Indie Mega Success. There were workshops like:  Breaking into the Lucrative UK market, Don’t Drink the Kool Aid, The Boxed Set: Beyond Basics.  (When the conference flash drive becomes available, definitely consider buying it. Watch this site for more information. ) 

If you're serious about Indie publishing, you could also have attended a trade show of vendors or met with representatives from Amazon, Nook, Kobo, and iBooks who were available to answer questions and give advice.


2. The reminder over and over again - write. Write your best book. And then do it again. Keep doing that, regardless of changes in the market, regardless of highs and lows in your own career. Barbara Freethy's Keynote was an inspirational tale of how she reinvented herself over and over again. 

To go with that - in the Q&A, Barbara said she spends 15 minutes a day on Facebook. Think about that - 15 minutes on FB, 5 million books in print. Draw your own conclusions.  :)

and … DRUMROLL

My #1 takeaway from RWA15 is

1. It IS all about who you know - your friends. Old friends, new friends, your chapter friends, your Facebook friends, your Seekerville buddies, friends from your publishing house. 

Alison Stone described RWA15 as her Facebook feed come to life. That's a pretty perfect description.  If you ask me, the best part of RWA is the people. From the Board to the hundreds of authors and fans at the literacy signing, to the members who volunteered to help in a variety of capacities - it is all about the people you know and come to know. 

So let’s talk. If you went to RWA, what would make your top 10 list? If you didn’t go, what do you wish you’d been there to experience? Or tell us about other conferences you have attended. What have you learned?

And here are the future sites for the RWA Conferences.

Cate Nolan lives in New York City, but she escapes to the ocean any chance she gets. A devoted mom, wife and teacher, Cate loves to leave her real life behind and play with the characters in her imagination. She’s got that suspense writer gene that sees danger and a story in everyday occurrences. Cate particularly loves to write stories of faith enabling ordinary people to overcome extraordinary danger. 

You can find Cate on 

Her website - http://www.catenolanauthor.com/
Twitter  https://twitter.com/AuthorCateNolan
Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/authorcatenolan/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010179603545




And just in time for this Seekerville appearance, Cate’s debut release, Christmas in Hiding, arrived last Friday. One lucky reader will get an advance copy. Just tell us in the comments if you’re interested. Winner announced in the Weekend Edition.

Reflections on RWA 2014!

Debby Giusti here!

As promised, I’m blogging today about my experience at this year’s Romance Writers of America National Conference, held at the beautiful Marriott Marquis on the River Walk in San Antonio, Texas. My daughter, Mary accompanied me, and we arrived on Monday to experience San Antonio’s Southwest hospitality before the start of the conference, which gave us time for leisurely strolls and stops at shops and restaurants that  bordered the waterway.

Remember the Alamo!

Tuesday morning, we joined Janet Dean and her husband for a full-day tour that started at the Alamo. Established as a mission in 1718 and later used as a military outpost, the Alamo has been preserved as a shrine to the 186 heroic men who stood with Colonel William Travis, Jim Bowie and Davy Crockett against General Santa Anna and his army. Outnumber and under siege for 13 days, the men fought for Texas independence and their valor and heroism live on as an inspiration to all.

Mission Concepcion

From the Alamo, we headed to the outskirts of town to visit Mission Concepción. The church was dedicated in 1755 and is the oldest unrestored stone church in the US today. Mission San José, with its expansive grounds and Rose Window, provided a glimpse into the life of the missionaries who spread the Word of God and the Indians who lived and worked within the safety of the mission walls.

Janet Dean finds a friendly cowboy at the Buckhorn Saloon.

We ate lunch at the Buckhorn Saloon. Built in 1881, it stands as the oldest salon in Texas. While there, we toured the accompanying museum that included Bonnie and Clyde’s bullet-riddled car, Texas Ranger memorabilia and other Wild West artifacts, including a mockup re-creation of old San Antonio.

In the afternoon, we took a riverboat ride on the San Antonio River. A flood in 1921 claimed 51 lives and devastated the downtown. Bypass channels were built for flood control, and some years later, architect Robert Hugman proposed a commercial development plan which turned the much needed waterways into the fun and festive River Walk that’s a favorite destination today for all who visit the city.

Mariachis play at La Tierra under the twinkling lights.

Our tour included time to shop at El Mercado, and we returned later that night with Missy Tippens and her husband and daughter for dinner at La Tierra. The expansive restaurant, decorated with murals of the famous and not-so-famous, is known as the best place for San Antonians—and eager tourists—to enjoy Mexican food, Mariachi bands and lots of local color.

(L to R) Mary Connealy, Mindy Obenhaus, Lindi Peterson, Myra Johnson
and DiAnn Mills chat after the FHL meeting.

The Faith, Hope and Love Chapter meeting Wednesday afternoon is the perfect way to start the RWA conference. Joining together in prayer for the success of the conference and for all those who attend sets the tone for the next four days.

Debby Giusti gets ready for the Literacy Autographing.
Notice the balloons Harlequin gave their authors.

Excitement built as readers lined up, waiting for the doors to open, for the “Readers for Life” Literacy Autographing that evening. More than 500 authors participated this year, and $53,800 was earned and donated to organizations that foster and encourage literacy. The Literacy Autographing is one of my favorite events. I love meeting first timers and reconnecting with old friends. Thanks to everyone who stopped by my table to say hello and pick up copies of my Writer’s Prayer and other giveaways.

Debby and Tina Radcliffe pose for a picture.

Piper Hugely stops by Missy Tippens' table.

Last week, Myra Johnson recapped a few of the workshops she attended. If you missed her blog, "A Random Recap: RWA 2014," you can find it here. 

Like Myra, I attended Marie Force’s workshop, “So Your Books Have Taken Off… Now What?” I came away thinking of my writing as a business. I’m not in Marie’s league, but I do need to have long-term goals and find ways to work smarter instead of harder.

(L to R) Mary Curry, Tina Radcliffe and Carol Post

Here are a few notes I took from Marie's workshop:

Think like a business person.

Get an email address with your author name so each email you send builds your brand.

Start a mailing list. When a reader emails, ask him/her to subscribe to your newsletter.

Gather snail mail addresses and consider special send outs, such as Christmas card.

Your website is open for business 24/7, 365 days a year. Keep it updated. List your series books in order and include buy links.

Marie went from making $2500 in 2010, to over $3M in 2013 and 2014. She didn’t expect her business to grow so quickly, and she encourages all authors to be prepared for success.

(BTW, Marie Force will be the Keynote Speaker at the Moonlight and Magnolias Conference, held in Atlanta, Georgia, October 10-12. Consider attending.)

Waiting for a workshop to begin.

Myra also mentioned Cindi Meyers’ workshop, “Writing Faster, Writing Better.” Here's what I took away from Cindi's program:

Find free time to write by eliminating wasted activities.

The average person watches 4 hours of TV a day. Cindi’s advice. Turn off the tube.

Grab short bits of time to write.

Record writing time on your calendar to track your progress.

Use ritual to help you “go into” your writing world. Get used to writing at the same time, same place, perhaps get into the “zone” with candles or music.

Really fast writers plot so they have a road map.

When you stop at the end of the day, make notes in ALL CAPS about what you’ll write the next day.

If you get stuck, write your scenes out of order.

Limit negative self-talk.

The Internet can be a bad habit.

Perfectionism gets in the way of productivity.

Embrace your rough draft. (Cindi writes straight through until she has a completed rough draft and then polishes.)

Resist the temptation to show your draft to critique partners.

Use writing sprints to increase productivity. Set a timer for 10 to 15 minutes and just write. Don’t stop until the timer dings!

According to the Pomodoro Technique, the most efficient work is done in 20 minute time periods, followed by a 5 min break.

Go on writing retreats two or three times a year.

Accountability Partners are good.

Cindi writes 4 hours a day, 5 days a week, with a yield of 3,000 words per day. She spends 3 to 4 days in prep prior to beginning a new story, and does one big revision and one fine-tuning review when her draft is completed. She writes a HQ Intrigue in 5 to 6 weeks and spends three months on a 90,000 single title. Although she writes for different lines, she works on one book at a time. 

Harlequin even decorated the furniture with their logo
for their big party!

 I moderated Love Inspired Editor Emily Rodmell and Harlequin Editor Susan Litman’s “Tips for the Perfect Pitch from the Editor’s Side of the Table” Workshop.

Susan started off the hour by saying:

Consider every pitch as a moment of opportunity.

Do your homework and know what the editor is acquiring.

Does your project hit her sweet spot?

Check to ensure your manuscript fits that particular publisher’s needs.

Remember you’re selling your story and yourself.

Index cards are fine, but don’t rely solely on them.

Practice your pitch, and include word count, hooks, blurb and plot.

On the dance floor at the Harlequin party.

Emily offered the following advice:

Consider the pitch a conversation rather than a monologue.

Introduce yourself.

Exchange pleasantries.

A short blurb is good.

Focus on the plot, conflict and hooks.

Hooks can include a special location, Amish or secret baby, and/or a particular occupation, such as cowboys or firemen.      

Include both internal and external conflict.

You’re the architect of your story. Tell the editor why your story is memorable, along with the obstacle that will keep your hero and heroine from falling in love?

Mention if you’re published.

The manuscript should be completed.

Share your marketing strategies, such as your followers on social media, and explain why you want to write for their particular house.

Dress professionally

Submit as soon as possible. Include a short email and mention something to refresh the editor’s memory about your project.

Turn off your cell phone

Make eye contact and smile.

Leave on time.

Don’t be nervous.

Don’t bring your manuscript.

Tanya Aglar and Julie Hilton Steele are so pretty!

This year, I choose workshops that focused heavily on business, hybrid writing, and ways to juggle traditionally published stories and independent releases to build readership.

A number of workshops talked about writing fast and releasing stories—full-length, novella or short stories—every ninety days to keep readers remembering your name and buying your work.

In the past, the publishing house or agent was orchestrating a writer’s career. Now the writer is the CEO of her writing business.

Not yet published? You’re learning your craft. Pubbed or not, we all need to increase our productivity and keep our eye on any changes in the industry.

Indie author Hugh Howey and his agent, Kristin Nelson, in a PAN workshop, “The Down and Dirty: What It Means to be an Outlier,” talked about earning a living by writing. Hugh went from earning $200/month to $3,000/month by releasing work every three months. He writes short stories and releases them independently to generate more interest in his full-length books and claims good content and regularity are the keys to his successful career. Kristin said we’ll see more changes in the next three to five years, and those changes will happen first in the romance genre.

This year, the Keynote luncheon was held on Thursday. In lieu of a second luncheon, the conference attendees received breakfast on Friday and Saturday, followed by General Session speakers Cindy Ratzlaff and Karen Rose. Each person attending got a free copy of their books, and following their talks, the ladies autographed in the lobby. I like the new format and found the talks inspirational and a great way to start each day.

Our lunch break was shortened, which made room for more workshops. President-elect Cindy Kirk, the RWA board and staff were always available to answer questions or help with any problems. Cindy is an outstanding leader, and I’m looking forward to her tenure as president.

The Awards Ceremony Saturday night.

I often hear Christian writers question whether to attend RWA. Everything I know, I learned from my GA RWA chapter. This year’s National Conference was warm and welcoming. I always felt surrounded by good friends, perhaps because I was usually with Seekers and Villagers and other Love Inspired authors. Joking aside, RWA offers something for everyone, and I encourage you to consider attending next year when it will be held in New York City. You’ll mix and mingle with industry professions and editors and agents and have lots of opportunities to pitch, to network, to improve your craft and sell your story.

After the Awards Ceremony. Tomorrow we head home.

Share your RWA experiences from this year or from past conferences. Leave a comment to be entered in the first-ever drawing for my October Love Inspired Suspense. I’ll be giving away five copies of HOLIDAY DEFENDERS, featuring my novella, “Mission: Christmas Rescue.”

In honor of San Antonio and RWA, I’m serving Southwestern Breakfast Burritos, Scrambled Eggs with Cheese and Peppers, Quesadillas, an assortment of pastries, ham and…you guessed right…GRITS! Enjoy! The coffee and tea are hot. Pour a cup of your favorite beverage, and let’s talk about books and writing and what we learned at RWA!

Wishing you abundant blessings,

Debby Giusti

www.DebbyGiusti.com

MISSION: CHRISTMAS RESCUE

by Debby Giusti

On the run from a killer, Elizabeth Tate must accept U.S. Army captain Nick Fontaine’s protection for the sake of her young niece and nephew. Now her life is in the hands of the very man who broke her heart years ago.

What I Learned at RWA 2012!

Debby Giusti and Sandra Leesmith headed to Dana Point
for lunch after they checked in our hotel.

By Debby Giusti

There has been a lot of chatter on the Net about the Romance Writers of American Conference, held in Anaheim a few weeks ago, so if you’re in RWA overload, grab a cup of coffee and meet me at the end of the blog.  Leave a comment to be entered into the drawing for one of my books, winner’s choice. Otherwise, read on. I’m giving a quick overview of some of the information I picked up in hopes it might be of interest to all of you.

This year’s conference was a bit different since Sandra and I were the only Seekers who attended. No late night chats to catch up on Seeker news. No saving seats at lunch to ensure we all sat together. No ducking out of the formal events to sightsee or grab a coffee at Starbucks.  (Not that I ever skip out of important events, mind you, but Ruthy does encourage all of us to play hooky from time to time. J) Even though the Seekers weren’t in Anaheim, a number of the Seekervillagers were, and they made the conference even more fun!



L to R: Debby, Anne Barton, Sandra, Anita Mae Draper
and Susie Dietz

Sandra and I hooked up with Anita Mae Draper at the Faith, Hope and Love Chapter meeting Wednesday afternoon where we also saw Suzie Johnson, Lyndee Henderson and Susie Dietze. Of course, we did a lot of hugging and snapped scads of photos.  After a short meeting, the Touched By Love and Inspirational Readers’ Choice Awards were announced. (Congrats to all the finalists and winners.) We ended the afternoon with a thoughtful and interactive devotional by Rebecca Lynn, who writes as R.L. Syme, coupled with a reading from Philippians 2:12-18 that put us in the right mindset for the days ahead.

 At 5 PM, everyone headed to the huge Anaheim Convention Center to attend the “Readers for Life” Literacy autographing. The publishers donate books, and this year, more than 400 authors took part in the three-hour event that raised $50,000 for literacy.



Debby and Lyndee Henderson at the "Readers for Life"
book signing

Tips for those attending future literacy signings:

 ~ Check the RWA conference website ahead of time. This year the authors were not arranged alphabetically. The smart folks who had printed off the seating chart had less difficulty finding their favorite authors. 

~ The bestselling authors often have lots of fans. Visit their tables first before their lines get backed up.

~ Never feel you have to buy an author’s book, but do stop by to say hello.  

~ Take your camera or Smart Phone and have your picture taken with the authors you like to read.  The photos make great uploads to Facebook, your website or future blog posts. 



Tips for authors:



My new friend Lee Lopez. Her grandson, David, is
serving in Afghanistan. Can you believe Lee is a retired cop?

  ~ Remember to take promotional items to the signing.  I’ll often offer a copy of my Writer’s Prayer or a small notebook to folks passing my table, which act as ice breakers to start the conversation rolling.  This year I met a lovely lady whose grandson is serving in Afghanistan.  We prayed for his safety, and she ended up buying a book because of the military connection. Thursday night, I saw her at the Death by Chocolate Party, hosted by the Mystery and Suspense Chapter. We sat together, and when we exchanged emails, I learned she was a retired police officer so not only did I make a new friend but also a person who can help me with law enforcement questions for my books. 

Everyone knows Margie Lawson.

~ Welcome the newcomers. If I see someone wearing a First Timer ribbon, I like to say hello and be that welcoming face in the crowd.  Invariably, we continue to greet each another when we pass in the hallways, and by the end of the conference we’ve formed a strong connection.

~ At the conclusion of the signing, authors are invited to buy their remaining books at a substantially reduced rate.  Bring a calculator (unless you’re a math whiz) to work out the cost with tax and your checkbook. RWA staff man the doors and accept the checks as the authors leave the venue. (Using a credit card requires waiting in line for a cashier and takes more time.) 

~ I use my briefcase on wheels to haul my books back to my room. Because of the reduced cost, they make great giveaways for the Goody Room.  Often I’ll autograph copies as I meet people in line or in the various workshops—a nice way to make new friends and perhaps a reader or two.

L to R: Dream, who monitors eHarlequin.com for Love Inspired, Debby and
Seekervillager Carol Post, who recently got "The Call"  from LI.

Workshops start bright and early Thursday morning.  Study your program schedule the night before, and learn the layout of the hotel so you won’t get lost.  The Anaheim Marriott was easy-peasy to navigate with breakout rooms arranged around two large ballrooms. In my opinion, the hotel and the friendly and helpful staff deserved a 5-star rating!

The Goody Room was large with lots of tables for authors to arrange their giveaways. (Be sure to check the room each day as new items continue to appear throughout the conference.) This year, a section of the Goody Room doubled as a wi-fi haven set up with tables and chairs and free Internet access for those attending the conference.                                       

Bananas Flamé at the Harlequin Party.

           

Lunch on Thursday and Friday is included in the conference fee.  Sitting with folks you don’t know is a way to make new friends.  Take extra business cards and pass them around as you introduce yourself to your tablemates. I usually take notes during the luncheon speeches--a habit developed when I freelanced for magazines—and include the information in a future piece on writing or in blog posts, such as this one.

Thursday’s Keynote speaker, best-selling author Stephanie Laurens, talked about “Weathering the Transition…Keeping the Faith,” as she walked us through the changes in the industry, specifically with e-books. Publishers, editors, agents and even Amazon.com will always rely on authors to produce the work no matter the format, she insisted. The changes aren’t to be feared because the authors will always end up on top.  

At the Awards Luncheon on Friday, New York Times best-selling author Robyn Carr encouraged writers to “go with the flow.” The journey is more important than the destination, and success should be measured in moments of satisfaction. “Take your work seriously, but yourself not so much,” she suggested. “Have fun or do something else if you’re not. Write the book you most want to read. Reinvent yourself, and create the next trend, but don’t try to catch one.”

Sandra chats with Pamela Tracy at the Awards Ceremony.

       

Harlequin’s Spotlight session featured a number of new opportunities for writers. They’re re-launching some of their lines with new covers and increased length. 

Supers will go to 85,000 words. (Did you know Supers can be sweet romances?)

Romantic Suspense will grow to 70-75,000 words.

Nocturne is now 80-85,000 words, and Blaze logs in at 55-60,000

KISS is a new “fun and flirty line,” that runs 50,000 words, with increased sexual tension. Bryony Green, from the UK Office, will be the editor.

Heartsong Presents launches in March 2013, with contemporary and historical romances that run from 45-50,000 words. Kathy Davis is accepting new submissions for digit and direct distribution.

Heartwarming books are wholesome reads women can share with their daughters.  They run 70-75,000 words with no explicit sex or religion. Victoria Curran from the Toronto office is the acquiring editor.  Four books will be released each month, in direct—meaning book club—and digit format. 

HQ Series Digital First will include new genres of varying word length, even as few as 10,000 words. Carina Press is the place to submit single title digital stories while Digital First is for series in a wide-range of genres: Mystery, Sci-Fi/Fantasy with or without romance, Teen Romance, Contemporary Romance and Erotic Romance. Submissions can be made to HDigital@harlequin.ca or to one of the editors.  For more information: http://www.harlequin.com/articlepage.html?articleId=538&chapter=0

Harlequin and Mills & Boon also announced their new global writing contest, So You Think You Can Write.

~ First prize: series publishing contract

~ Open to published and unpublished writers

~ 5 day online conference begins Sept 17, 2012

~ Meet 50+ editors who want to buy your book

~ Check out podcasts, blogs, live chats, tweets, videos and more

~ First chapter and 100 word pitch due by Sept 30

~ Eligible full manuscripts due by Oct 18

~ Winner announced Nov 29

Information at: http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/contest/

Debby and Michael Hauge

Each time I hear screen consultant Michael Hauge speak, I come away with a new idea for my own work.  During his workshop, “Using Inner Conflict to Create Powerful Love Stories,” I zeroed in on using an outward symbol to represent the character’s internal change from identify to essence. 

The heroine in my second book, SCARED TO DEATH, grew up thinking she needed to earn her earthly father’s love as well as the love of her Heavenly Father. The hero helps her realize true love is freely given. Eventually, she finds a missing gold cross her grandfather gave her and slips it around her neck. From then on whenever she struggles with her own self-worth, she touches the cross and finds the strength to go on. After listening to Michael Hauge, I plan to incorporate more symbols in my future stories.

Best-selling authors Jayne Ann Krentz  and Stella Cameron talked about “360 Degrees of Promotion,” along with marketing professionals from Writerspace  and Purple Papaya. Ann Maxwell, who writes as Elizabeth Lowell moderated the workshop and started off saying, “Each moment on promotion means not having that time to write.”

Jayne said that marketing is now “ninety percent the author’s responsibility.” She sends out a monthly newsletter with a contest to build up her mailing list. Newsletters need an opt in/opt out feature, and the mailing list belongs to the author and should never be shared, not even with the publishing house.

Debby Giusti and Debbie Kaufman with...
Oh my gosh! It's Nora!

Karate instructor and author Debra Holland, PhD, showed hands-on attacks and defensive moves in her workshop, “Creating Fighting or Self-Defense Scenes.” The information was valuable, even for non-writers. She talked about vulnerable spots to hit first: the eyes, throat, ears, solar plexus, kidneys and arm pits.  A nose can be broken with only 12 lbs of pressure. Knees are another weak spot, and never underestimate the pain a stiletto heel can cause when jammed into an attacker’s foot.

           

Another interesting workshop was “Writing at Peak Productivity,” presented by Sylvie Kurtz.  She shared the steps she used to overcome her own writers block that lasted four years and stressed whole body health, eating wisely and getting enough sleep.

Look at your accomplishments to gauge success rather than looking at what still needs to be done, she mentioned.  The horizon always changes when we look to the future. Our initial goal might be to publish. Once our debut novel comes out, our goal changes to writing two books in a year or to winning an award.  When we focus on what we have yet to accomplish, we never feel satisfied. Instead we should look at where we’ve been to see our success—we’re completed a manuscript, we’ve finaled in a contest, we’ve made our first or second or third sale.

Sylvie has a part-time job and an active family so she allots only 2 ½ hours a day for writing and uses an “entrepreneur’s model” of working for four days, doing marketing and promotional projects on the fifth day and then taking the weekend off to spend with her family. 

The brain has cycles of productivity so we need to step away from the computer every 90 to 120 minutes. Stretch or take a short walk to rejuvenate the gray matter. Computer work can be dehydrating. Drink plenty of water, which also helps creativity. 

Saturday night was the gala awards ceremony when everyone looked elegant as we cheered for the finalists and winners of the Golden Heart and RITA. By Sunday morning, I’m always ready to go home and get back to work. 

The RWA Conference in 2013 will be held at the lovely Marriott Marquis in Atlanta, Georgia, not far from where I live, so plan now to attend.  The American Christian Fiction Writers Conference is only five weeks away, and lots of Seekers and Seekervillagers will be going. Can’t wait to see you there!

Leave a comment to be included in the drawing for one of my books, winner’s choice.

I’m signing my August release, THE COLONEL’S DAUGHTER, at Omega Book Center, in Peachtree City, GA, tomorrow—Thursday, AUG 16. Proceeds will benefit Embracing Military Families that provides school supplies and Christmas and Easter gifts for needy children of deployed military servicemen and women as well as children of Wounded Warriors. Karen Duncan, the independent bookseller who owns Omega Books, will ship anywhere in the US. Call 770-487-3977 to order your autographed copy and help our military heroes. 

Helen will take care of the coffee, and the breakfast bar is open. Today I’m serving made-to-order omelets, buttermilk biscuits and an assortment of homemade jellies, fresh fruit, country ham and, of course, grits.  Grab a plate and a cup of coffee, and let’s talk about our favorite subjects – writing the next bestseller and how to get our books published.

Wishing you abundant blessings,

Debby Giusti

www.DebbyGiusti.com

www.craftieladiesofromance.blogspot.com

THE COLONEL’S DAUGHTER

UNDER SIEGE

A ruthless killer is targeting the families of soldiers in a U.S. Army

colonel’s brigade. Special agent Jamison Steele, of the Criminal

Investigation Division, vows to stop him—because this time,

Jamison’s heart is involved. The colonel’s daughter, the woman who loved and left Jamison without a word, came face-to-face with the murderer. Protecting Michele Logan means constant surveillance. And solving the mystery of the serial killer’s motive requires asking Michele the questions she least wants to answer. Questions that may lead them both into a deadly trap.