Am I Writing?

Yes, I am. I can’t blame you if you don’t believe it. It has taken so long from the start of this journey of dreaming about getting published to being close enough I can smell it.

Some people take a very linear route: from idea to outline to manuscript. That has not been my path, partly due to inexperience, partly to distraction.

Even now, it is NOT the novel I am wrapping up. That manuscript is next. It is a novella, about 10,000 words, called Strange. The cover art is done. The final edit is a week from being complete. Formatting the manuscript is next, then off to the publisher, Acorn Book Services.

I am getting close to achieving the dream. Very, very close.

Washington, DC Area Authors Event for All Ages

Today I received an e-mail from my author friend Penny Clover Peterson: “I’ll be at the Cascades Library in Sterling April 11th from 10:30 until 1:00. I will actually have advance copies of ROSES ARE DEAD MY LOVE!!! Hope you can make it.”

The all-genres author event may appeal to you, so I am sharing the details below.

LEESBURG – More than 60 authors from the D.C. metro area will share their work in a Local Authors Fair at the Loudoun County Public Library on Saturday, April 11 from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Children’s, teen, fiction and non-fiction authors from Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C. and West Virginia will read from their work, sign their books and discuss their writing during the half-day fair at the Cascades Branch of the Loudoun County Public Library.

The event kicks off with children’s authors reading aloud during story time, and includes informal opportunities to meet and talk with writers, book sales and signings. It concludes with a special presentation by Sue Fliess, author of 18 children’s books including many in the Little Golden Books series.

The Local Authors Fair is for all ages and is co-sponsored by the Friends of Cascades Library and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).

Participating authors include:  Mary Amato, Maya Corrigan, Moira Rose Donohue, Tracee L. Garner, Tracey Kyle, and Penny Clover Petersen

For more information, visit the Cascades Library, 21030 Whitfield Place in Potomac Falls, or visit library.loudoun.gov.

Super Seminars for Those Who Write

Lauren Carr Internationally Best-Selling Author and Publisher  OPERATION: Promote Your Book & More Internet Marketing That Works! Saturday, 3/21 Author and Publisher Lauren Carr and critically-acclaimed author Cindy McDonald have worked with many authors who have become paralyzed with uncertainty when it comes to marketing their books. For this reason, they have gotten together to offer an all day workshop designed to break everything down for authors. Time will be spent teaching writers how to build and project the right image for their website, as well as learning how to use Twitter and Facebook effectively. Visit Acorn Book Services for more information about OPERATION: Promote Your Book & More workshop.Online registration and payment is available . Advanced Registration is highly recommended. (Workshop will be cancelled and refunds issued if a minimum registration is not reached by March 10). Dates: Saturday, 3/21/2015            9:00 am-4:00 pm (lunch included) Place:   Oakland Church              70 Oakland Terrace              Charles Town, WV 25414 Cost: $65 before March 10   $75 After March 10 Click the PayPal Button to Sign Up Now for OPERATION: Promote Your Book & More   Writing That Bucket List Novel Sat. 3/14/2015: 9:00 am-12:00 pm Second Session: 1:00 pm-4:00 pm Is “Write a Book” one of the things on your bucket-that list of things you want to do before you kick the bucket? Got a story in your head that you’ve always wanted to write?  Thought about writing the great American novel?  Or just a memoir to pass to your grandchildren? If you’ve got “write a book” on your bucket list, this is the class to get you started.  Best-selling author Lauren Carr will share her experience in writing and publishing to get you started on your story. In this three-hour workshop, Lauren will pass on the secrets that most professional authors had to learn the hard way about how to check “Write a Book” off that list. Among the secrets she will divulge: Where and How to Get Started on Your Book Making Time for Writing Identifying Time-Thieves Getting Past the 40-Page Block The Secret Behind Getting Over Writer’s Block Date: Saturday, March 14, 2015 Time: 9:00 am-Noon (First Session)           1:00 pm-4:00 pm (Repeat Session) Place: Clarke County Parks & Recreation     225 Al Smith Circle     Berryville, Virginia 22611 Cost: $45  To register or for more information: Visit Clarke County Parks and Recreation website or call   540-955-5140. 10+ Most Common Mistakes Made By New Writers Sat. 4/11: 9:00 am-12:00 pm 9:00 am-12:00 pm: Book Writing: 10+ Most Common Mistakes Made By New Writers Does your book suffer from Good-Parent Syndrome? Do you know what your crutch word is?  Lauren will discuss all of these topics, and other writing errors that can negatively impact your book’s success, during her four-hour presentation entitled: 10+ Most Common Mistakes Made By New Writers (Grammar and Punctuation Are Not On the List). Date: Saturday, April 11, 2015   Time: 9:00 am-Noon  Place: Clarke County Parks & Recreation            225 Al Smith Circle            Berryville, Virginia 22611   Cost: $45  The above date for this workshop is currently tentative. Contact Clarke County Parks and Recreation for the final date. To register or for more information: Visit Clarke County Parks and Recreation website or call 540-955-5140. How To Be A Successful Author Without Getting Dressed  Sat. 4/11: 1:00 pm-4:00 pm 1:00 pm-4:00 pm: Book Publishing: Authors in Bathrobes: How To Be A Successful Author Without Getting Dressed   Every writer dreams of big book events in book stores with lines going out the door. Unfortunately, for 95% percent of published authors, this is not a reality. It is not uncommon to have a book event and have no one show up. Today’s technology has made it possible for authors to gain a following, and make money with very little overhead and without getting dressed. In this presentation, author and publisher Lauren Carr will discuss how writers can now walk through the doors that have opened to not only write and publish their own books, but how to do it successfully-without getting dressed! Date: Saturday, April 11, 2015   Time: 1:00 pm-4:00 pm  Place: Clarke County Parks & Recreation    225 Al Smith Circle    Berryville, Virginia 22611 Cost: $45  The above date for this workshop is currently tentative. Contact Clarke County Parks and Recreation for the final date. To register or for more information: Visit Clarke County Parks and Recreation website or call 540-955-5140.

Join Our Mailing List! Acorn Book Services 415 Moonridge Lane Harpers Ferry, West Virginia 25425

If you’re a budding writer, or even published author who wants to learn more about being successful in today’s publishing arena, then come out out. Take note of the deadlines and which courses you need to register for. I look forward to seeing your there!