Hi all!

First, I wanted to let you know that FATED is on sale for $1.99 right now on online stores.  (That’s $12.00 off).  The print is on sale for $5.60.  I have no clue how long the sale will last.  Maybe spread the word if you get the chance, will you?

And…I made it safely to Atlanta.  We had a veerrrry long layover in Minneapolis since our plane “was broken,” and they had to fly in a new plane for us.  So, I ended up arriving at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis at 2:00am.  Yikes!  I’m a bit tired.  But look at the very cool picture I took last night from my hotel room.  Pretty, right?

The conference kicks off soon, and I’ll be signing books at the RWA Literacy signing on Wednesday, which is open to the public.  It’s here at the hotel, and I believe it begins at 5:30-7:30.  If you’re anywhere in the vicinity, drop by and say hi.

I’m also participating in both Kensington and Grand Central’s publisher signings during the conference.  You have to be attending the conference to go to these.  But if you’re here, drop by.

Also, the fabulous Cynthia Eden and I are giving a workshop on Saturday at 3:15 about:  The Serial Killer Next Door.  It’s how to write realistic and multi-dimensional villains.  We’re expecting to have tons of fun, so if you’re attending the conference, please pop in to see us.

So, in addition to tons of meetings, a couple of cocktail parties, and a few workshops I can’t wait to see…that’s my week.  Well, and writing.  I have a couple of deadlines coming up.

Have a wonderful week…and I hope to have time to update throughout.  Also, thank you for the wonderful feedback and reviews on FORGOTTEN SINS.  There’s a great buzz going on right now from that, and I know many of you have helped to make that happen.  You’re the best!  🙂

Hi all!  Sorry about the dual post today – I don’t usually do that.  But…had to let you know…there’s an awesome scavenger hunt going on today and tomorrow where you can win tons of stuff.  Several of us paranormal authors have formed a group blog called DARKER TEMPTATIONS, and we’re starting things off with a bang.  GIVEAWAYS!

Go to the blog for directions on how to win.  To tease you, here’s a list of prizes:

• From Sayde Grace – two digital copies of her books
• From Cynthia Eden – an ARC of Angel of Darkness or a digital copy of Never Cry Wolf
• From Danica Avet – digital copy of any one of the Veil series and a set of Romance Trading Cards
• From Rebecca Zanetti – signed copy of Fated
• From Kristin Miller – digital copy of Intervamption
• From Marcella Burnard – signed copy of Enemy Gates
• From Katie Reus – digital (or audio) copy of Deadly Obsession and a digital copy of Destined Mate when it comes out in October
• From Erin Kellison – signed copy of your choice from the Shadow series

This is part two in the Countdown to Conference blog series.  In the last blog we talked about what to wear to the conference.  This entry is about how to schedule your time and what else you should bring, besides clothes.

Try to have a game plan before you arrive.  I go through the conference schedule, read about all the workshops, note when the spotlights and signings are and then create a FLEXIBLE schedule for each day.  Then I schedule a meeting/lunch/coffee/dinner whatever with agent/editor/pr person/pals, etc… so I can see how my days have filled out.  Then, taking note of publisher and agent parties, I look to see when the chapter parties are and if I have time to hit a couple.

• Spotlights:  Most of the publishers will have a spotlight.  (See conference schedule).  During this time, the editors will usually talk about what’s hot, what they’re looking for, and how to submit to them.  It’s very handy.  They’ll also sometimes highlight what releases they have coming up…so you can see what’s hot.  They take questions…and I’ve seen people line up to do a quick pitch when the presentation is finished.  Also…look around the room.  AGENTS attend these spotlights.  The one you want to pitch to might be sitting next to you.
•  Book signings:  Besides the literacy signing the night before the conference actually starts, the individual publishers also have signings.  Translation:  FREE signed books.  (Though you end up with tons of free books even if you don’t make it to the signings.)  NOW…I will be participating in Kensington’s book signing on Friday from 12:00-1:30, so I hope to see you there!
• Workshops:  I love workshops.  Just love them.  So I create a schedule with my first choice, second, and so on…and often end up going to my third choice because it may be about craft, and the ones I’d attended already were about PR. 
• PRO Retreat:  If you’re a member of PRO – definitely go to some this.  They have cool workshops.  (See guidelines for PRO).
• PAN Retreat/workshops:  There’s a list up now of the workshops for PAN members – looks awesome!  (See guidelines for PAN).
• Goody Room:  Don’t forget to check out the goody room for pens, books, notebooks, candy…
• Free Time:  Give yourself some.  Trust me.

So, there’s a breakdown of the conference and how to schedule your time.  Now…what should you bring besides clothes? I always bring:

• Granola bars.   You will be unexpectedly hungry and running from workshop to workshop…and who wants their stomach to growl in the middle of the presentation?
• Emergen-C .   Some people bring that Airborne instead.  You’re in a place with a lot of people, maybe not eating right, and probably not getting enough sleep.  I drink one of these every day of the conference and haven’t come down with that ‘conference cold’ so many people go home with.
• Comfortable shoes.  By day three, your feet are freakin sore.  Yeah, bring the pretty shoes for night and even the first day.  By day three, you won’t care how your feet look.  You’ll wear the flip flops.  Trust me.
• Safety pins.  You’ll be a hero.  There are always wardrobe malfunctions…and safety pins are necessary.
• Sunglasses.  You may end up venturing outside with Cynthia Eden because she wants to check out the ducks in the middle of a pond.  You don’t want to go blind.
• Pen and notebook.  You’ll be surprised how many notes you’ll take at the workshops…you can even blog about them later.  And you’ll be getting email addresses for new friends.
• Laptop…if you want.  I bring mine.  Many people will tell you they don’t write while attending conferences.  I do.  I’m usually inspired by something and will need to type something…but you could always just write it in your notebook.  J
• Prepaid USPS (or Fed Ex) labels.  You’re going to get a lot of stuff.  Books, postcards, pens…so many!  They’ll have boxes and labels at the conference, but if you have your own, you can pack the boxes in your room and drop them at the mailing place WITHOUT waiting forever in line.
• Ones.  If you’re going to the cocktail parties, you’ll want to tip the bartenders.  Bring ones—you can usually fit those with your cell phone in your conference badge so you don’t have to carry a purse.
• Your book on a flashdrive.  If you’re pitching (see later posts), bring this.  Don’t bring a hard copy. We’ve all heard the urban legend of the author who pitched and the editor asked for a digital copy to read on her kindle during the plane ride home—loved it and bought it.  Have the flashdrive…just in case.

Okay, that list is by no means exhaustive.  But it’ll get you started.  Next time (on Friday) I’ll blog about pitching…

As you probably know, CLAIMED has a very cool cover and now I have coverflats!  What you don’t know, is that the fabulous Cynthia Eden was kind enough to give us a cover quote.  Here it is:

CLAIMED is paranormal romance at its best! With intense action, fiery hot scenes, and a hero worth dying for–literally!–CLAIMED is a book not to be missed.

If you’ve read my blog, you know Cynthia is one of my favorite authors.  So receiving such an awesome quote from her is exciting…and humbling.  I just can’t thank her enough for taking the time out of her very busy, multi publishing schedule to not only read CLAIMED but to write a quote.

Here’s the back cover:

A DARING RESCUE

Emma Paulsen is a geneticist driven by science.  But she’s also a psychic, so when a dark, good-hearted vampire frees her from the clutches of the evil Kurjans, she realizes he must be the man who’s been haunting her dreams.  But with a virus threatening vampire mates, Emma may discover a whole new meaning of “lovesick”…

A DEADLY DECISION

As King of the Realm, Dage Kayrs has learned to practice diplomacy.  Still, it’s taken three hundred years to find his mate, so he’ll stop at nothing to protect her–even if it means turning his back on his own kind…

So…how about we give away a cover flat of CLAIMED along with a bookmark for FATED?  I’ll leave the contest open for a week or so.   Just leave a comment–about anything you want.  If all else fails, just say ‘hi.’  🙂

UPDATE:  Congrats to Danielle Gibbs and Judy C. for winning the signed coverflats!  Yeah, I gave away two.  🙂

Hi All!  The Magnificent Megan sent me some coverflats for CLAIMED this weekend – I’d love to sign one and send it off to you.  So leave a comment at the end for a random chance to win. 

The wonderful Cynthia Eden provided a cover quote for us, saying that CLAIMED is a “paranormal romance at its best!”  Here’s the back cover copy:

A DARING RESCUE

Emma Paulsen is a geneticist driven by science.  But she’s also a psychic, so when a dark, good-hearted vampire frees her from the clutches of the evil Kurjans, she realizes he must be the man who’s been haunting her dreams.  But with a virus threatening vampires’ mates, Emma may discover a whole new meaning of ‘lovesick’…

A DEADLY DECISION

As King of the Realm, Dage Kayrs has learned to practice diplomacy.  Still, it’s taken three hundred years to find his mate, so he’ll stop at nothing to protect her–even if it means turning his back on his own kind…

So leave a comment for a chance to win.  If you need a prompt…what do you like about vampires, shifters and/or witches?  Or, in the alternative, how is your spring going?  It snowed here last week.  🙂