But the completely over-the-edge, over-the-top, jewel-worthy winner: XandraG for The Bedazzlement of Duke Peepingdong.
Way to go, XandraG! .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) with your address and let me know your preferred bookstore so that you can claim yer winnings!
The Liberty States Fiction Writers Create Something Magical conference was last weekend at the Renaissance Hotel in Iselin, NJ. Someone apparently ordered a flood, as well, because the day of the conference it rained so hard, light poles in the parking lot fell over. No kidding- it was more than torrential. If it was an orgasm, this rainstorm would have gone on with waves and crests for more than sixteen pages.
So, understandably, people were a little damp, and as the day went on, people went home a bit early, I suspect to drive while it was still daylight (not that driving in that rain during the day or night would have been easy).
The sessions covered technique, dialogue, editing, pitching, marketing and promotion, and one of the highlights for me was the keynote address over lunch by F. Paul Wilson, who revealed the secret life of writers - and what they Really do with all their time. Some key points:
- The only meal they pay for is breakfast. Otherwise, they are wined and dined constantly, and the topic of discussion is always insider publishing gossip.
- They don’t use computers, because then they can’t tear the paper out of the typewriter, ball it up and toss it across the room.
- Every night brings a booksigning, which is of course crowded with eager book buyers dying to meet him, and then a launch party, and then to Elaine’s.
- Most of the time, they sit and wait for inspiration. Often while drinking.
The truth is, as Wilson stated, writers are now spending a lot of time not writing because publishers cannot mount effective publicity and marketing campaigns for every book they buy. So the writing of a book is often a very small part of that book’s success, because so much more depends on the author and his or her outreach (so you can take bloggers to Elaine’s! That’s my suggestion! Right? Right!).
The message behind Wilson’s speech, which was way funny, was that even when you make it, there’s still work to do, and for that reason, everyone in the room was in a similar place: lots to do, lots to write.
One thing I love about chapter conferences is how enthusiastic and inspired people become as they sit next to other writers and talk about the craft and practice of writing. One person at my lunch table said they’d been struggling with a scene and after an hour or so at the conference she realized she’d figured her way out - conferences can make your brain all sparky.
I presented two sessions. The first was on Digital Publication for Self-Promotion, and was very well attended (thank you, people who weren’t as caffeinated as me, for coming to a morning session!). The second was after lunch, and was scheduled against the editor and agent panels, and was very sparse. I felt very bad for the publicists scheduled after me, who only a handful of people in their session - though I also understand leaving early to get home in that storm.
One cool thing about Liberty States, which is not a member of RWA and welcomes writers of all types of fiction, even “those books,” whichever “those books” are, is how focused they are on distance membership. First, their meeting location is at the Edison Public Library, which is across the street from the NJ Transit train station on the Northeast Corridor train line. So if you don’t have a car and want to join them from Manhattan, you can - or from anywhere else on the NE Corridor line.
Second, all of their meetings and speakers are recorded and an exclusive podcast is available for members who cannot make it to meetings. Recently they hosted a demo of martial arts titled ‘Kicking Butt on Paper’ with Melinda Leigh and Kathy Fawcett, and the fight sequences were videotaped and will be available later this month. So even if you’re not there, or can’t take a Saturday to attend their meetings, you’re still able to participate from a distance. That’s so cool.
Like I said, I really enjoy chapter conferences, and hope I can attend or present at more of them. I’ll be presenting and writing about the Chicago Spring Fling conference in April, and heads up, Chicago, I know “spring” is a flexible concept in Chicago, so if it’s about 40F I’ll be kvetching about it.
What chapter conference is your favorite? Which one did you learn the most from? And which keynote speakers have rocked your world?
What could be better than the snort-worthy ‘I’m a man on a horse” Old Spice commercial?
A parody, set to John Denver’s “You Fill Up My Senses.”
It’s like if Weird Al parodies your song, you know you’ve made it? If a viral video mocking your commercial goes up, you are rollin’ in dough and Old Spice.
by SB Sarah • Thursday, March 18, 2010 at 12:39 AM
You know what would look good on your wall? A smug bull, that’s what.
To celebrate the release of Lessons in French, Laura Kinsale is giving away a very limited edition print of an original artwork by Charles Rutledge. Inspired by the illustrated editions of classic Jane Austen novels, this sketch features the scene of Callie and Hubert in the kitchen, on the lam from the constable. To quote Kinsale, “It’s very much in the spirit of an illustration from a 19th century book. As well-known comic book curator and art critic Cliff of Dr. No’s commented; “That is one smug bull.”
Have a look:
There were only 5 prints made, with 2 artist’s proofs, and Laura gave away one on her site in January. This is one smack of a collector’s item to someone who is a Kinsale fan, especially if you enjoyed Lessons in French - and if you didn’t win that one, here’s another chance. I have one limited edition copy on archival paper, signed by the artist and by Laura Kinsale, and an autographed copy of Lessons in French by Laura Kinsale to one random commenter. (Note: All copyright in the artwork remains with the artist, and his permission is required for any copy or digital display.) The print will be unframed print number 5/5 and an autographed copy of Lessons in French.
What do you have to do to win? Simple: leave a comment and tell me which scene or line in a romance novel you’d love to see in an illustrated drawing such as this one. Comments close in 24 hours, so start pondering and making your artistic wishes! (Me? A tie between Merlin flying, and that scene in the beginning of The Duke and I where Daphne punches out that annoying guy, Nigel.)
Standard disclaimer: I’m not being compensated for this giveaway. Use only in a well-ventilated area. For a limited time only. No postage necessary if mailed in the United States. Parental advisory: explicit lyrics. Falling rock.
by SB Sarah • Wednesday, March 17, 2010 at 08:00 PM
The time for filling out the brackets is closed and the time for voting, trash talking, vicious vote gathering, and the ruining of other brackets is ON.
The voting commences on March 18, 2010 EST. The voting link is here. The voting schedule is in 12 hour blocks to accommodate people in all timezones. For Round 1, please observe the following times:
Round 1, Set 1 of 4: March 18, 2010, 00:00 am to March 18, 2010, 12:00 pm
Round 1, Set 2 of 4: March 18, 2010, 12:00 pm to March 19, 2010, 00:00 am
Round 1, Set 3 of 4: March 19, 2010, 00:00 am to March 19, 2010, 12:00 pm
Round 1, Set 4 of 4: March 19, 2010, 12:00 pm to March 20, 2010, 00:00 am
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.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) said...
She does have a lovely voice and I laughed at the end when her friend says “I messed up it a few times.” Also like the excuse to watch that commercial again.
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) said...
The scene would have to be from Bet Me, when they are all sitting around the dinner table at Cal’s parents’ place. That scene was… memorable, to put it lightly.
The time for filling out the brackets is closed and the time for voting, trash talking, vicious vote gathering, and the ruining of other brackets is ON. 
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