I’m over at the Contemporary Romance Cafe today, talking about how writing advice at the wrong time can give your stories Shaken Baby Syndrome.
When Writing Advice Goes Wrong – Shaken Baby Syndrome
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Before and After – the Real ROI
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In May I spent a week at the RT Booklovers Convention in New Orleans.
In a funny coincidence, I ended up on the same flights with good friend and local RWA (LERA) chapter-mate, Darynda Jones.
This is far more of a coincidence than it might sound. While our local chapter meets in Albuquerque, Darynda and I live at nearly opposite ends of New Mexico, which is a pretty big state. Thus, while I fly out of Albuquerque – an hour’s drive south for me – Darynda flies out of Amarillo, Texas.
However, we both connected to New Orleans via Dallas Love Field. And were on the same flights both going and coming back.
Total surprise to us both.
Thus, we ended up with Before (left) and After (right) airplane selfies.
I think it’s interesting to see the difference in our faces. The light is warmer in the After pic, because it’s morning in New Orleans, versus the harsher mid-afternoon light of Dallas in the Before. But even factoring that in, I think we both look more relaxed and happy in the After pic.
Maybe a little more tired. Possibly a few pounds heavier from all the damn beignets.
But still, I look at the photo of us after a week with our tribe, talking books, reading and writing non-stop and I see that it was good for both of us. I’ve kind of been harping on return on investment (ROI) lately, because so many people seem to want to apply that standard to the cost of attending conventions. This is more of a business approach than I typically take to writing. After all, if I only cared about making money, I could have become a stockbroker. If I can make a good living as a writer, I’ll be delighted. That is, in fact, my plan. But that’s partly because writing feeds me on other levels, too.
I can see it in my face.
Conventions: Tips, Trolls, & Tactics
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I’m over at Word Whores today, with my contribution to this week’s topic of Tips, Trolls and Tactics at Conventions.
World-Building, Win-A-Book and Workshop!
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I’m over at the fabulous and brilliant Suzanne Johnson’s blog today, talking about World-Building. You can win a copy of The Mark of the Tala there or at Here Be Magic, for Win-A-Book Wednesday.
Also, I’m teaching an online workshop starting next Monday on Walking the Consent Line – how to deal with issues of dubious and questionable consent in erotic literature.
Thank you all for the release day love yesterday – you made it a great day!
The Mark of the Tala – Release Day!
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It’s Release Day! It’s Release Day! It’s Release Day!
There are so many things to see and do today, it’s a bit overwhelming.
The Bookpushers are winding up the Seven-Day Giveaway (and vacation tour of the Twelve Kingdoms) with the Grand Prize today! They’ve also threatened to post a review later…
The delightful gals over at A Reader Lives a Thousand Lives have a special Book Nerd interview up with me.
That’s What I’m Talking About has a review up and also featured a Sunday Snippet this weekend.
Janet Webb at Heroes and Heartbreakers did this amazing First Look on Friday.
Tomorrow, Bookworks will host a double launch party for me and Darynda Jones! There’s a Facebook Events Page or you can check out the store website or this article in the Albuquerque Journal. (Yes – they assumed I’m a guy. *sigh*)
Now – where’s the cake???
Crystal Balls, Party Pics and Giveaways Galore!
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This is the awesome crystal ball/snow globe I got at the Kensington Books party at the RT Booklovers Convention. On the flip side is the cover for The Tears of the Rose. It’s one of the best party favors EVER.
If you want to see some photos from the party, Aloha On My Mind posted some very fun ones. Yes, I wore my sash from the Mardis Gras party – what??
Release day for The Mark of the Tala is already on Tuesday! So I’m kind of everywhere,
The lovely Veronica Scott interviewed me over at the USA Today Sci-Fi Encounters blog. Reading Between the Wines also interviewed me and is hosting a giveaway. And we’re up to Day 5 of The Bookpushers Seven-Day Countdown and Giveaway. We’ve been doing the Vacation Guide to the Twelve Kingdoms, which has been very fun.
Finally, I’m over at Here Be Magic, talking about Fairytale Tropes and how we love to explore and bend them.
Some of the Things I Learned at #RT14 – Part 1
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I got to sit a few minutes at Cafe Beignet with Helen Kay Dimon and Deanna Raybourn during the RT Booklovers Convention. Both such smart writers and lovely, charming women. I also scored a copy of Helen Kay’s new book, Mercy, which I’ve been gobbling up! So good.
Sunday on Word Whores, I mentioned that this conference brought me into so many great conversations about the industry. I’d like to talk a little more about that today.
First, I should mention that the amazing E and Has Bookpushers are running a seven-day Release Week Bonanza Giveaway for me, to celebrate the release of The Mark of the Tala a week from today! These gals are so awesome to me. You should run over and tell them so, even if you don’t want to win a fabulous prize or follow the Vacation Guide to The Twelve Kingdoms. 😀
I already waxed on about how grateful I am that Megan Mulry put together the group she did. A lovely and gracious person, Megan also possesses a gift for bringing together really wise, interesting people. Anne Calhoun, whose books I’ve always loved but I only had met glancingly, turned out to be as super smart and insightful as her stories. At one point she said:
“Unlike love, there’s not enough power to go around. For one group to gain power, another must lose some.”
That became a resonant theme through the week. She also talked about her Masters Thesis, which traces the changes in women finding their own agency through the roles, desires and expectations of the heroines in romance novels. I really want to read that.
Also sharing our house was Janet Webb, who reviews for Heroes and Heartbreakers. She had an amazing and insightful perspective on the romance genre – as someone with an extensive understanding of both the canon and emerging works and writers. We had a terrific conversation on the role of condoms in romance novels, how editors and publishers really insist on couples using them, which she finds artificial as a reader. She’s since sent me a fascinating article on an HIV-prevention drug that’s vastly underused. So interesting. I want to work this into a story now.
“@davewiner: This pill could stop 90 percent of HIV cases in the US. http://t.co/9ZGlSlqASG” @jeffekennedy And I thought of our discussion.
— Janet Webb (@JanetNorCal) May 19, 2014
In a terrific stroke of serendipity, Janet was also reading The Mark of the Tala for a H&H First Look. She shared her notes and impressions about the book and gave me insight into my own story. Amazing experience. Janet’s longtime friend and avid reader, Andrea also stayed with us, bringing enthusiasm and sunshine to the week. 
Another book blogger housemate, Sasha Harrinanan, who does Caribbean Accent Book Reviews, seemed to be out and about most of the week, gathering her prodigious pile of books. That’s her by the gate to our French Quarter home. She came and went like the went, but such a delight to get to know a little better.
Rounding out our blogger contingent was Julia Broadbooks. She also writes for Heroes and Heartbreakers. We’ve talked on Twitter many times, but this was our first to really get to know each other. Absolutely delightful person.
I’d never met Lexi Ryan before, but she’s just terrific. A savvy marketer, Lexi sat down with me and filled my head with excellent advice from her perspectives on self-publishing and marketing. She is not one of the loud, strident voices in the Indie publishing community and she’s doing very well for herself. I loved getting her perspective. Her best advice? “Be everywhere.” We talked about serials and what works and what doesn’t.
She also taught us how to play Cards Against Humanity and may have spent some time stroking her Bigger, Blacker Box. Just saying.
Historical romance author Miranda Neville was also someone I’d never read or met before. I came home with two of her books and tremendous respect for her, her body of work and Georgette Heyer. Seriously, it’s totally Miranda’s fault that I now have summer reading to improve my understanding of the canon.
Also new to me was Lisa Dunick, PhD professor of English, Romance Novel Center editor and also writer of YA as Lisa Maxwell. Another sharp, savvy woman with a terrific understanding of books and genre, Lisa contributed to my broadening view that the loudest voices in our industry don’t comprise the majority opinions.
More to come!
Conferences: More than ROI
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I’m over at Word Whores today talking about how the real return on investment can’t be measured in dollars.
Smashing Freebie!
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I’m in New Orleans this week, attending the RT Booklovers Convention. I posted my “appearance” schedule last week. Alert readers will note that today, Tuesday, is *not* on this list. That’s because I’m hiding in my courtyard in the French Quarter getting my words in. The above is where I’m sitting as I write this.
Yes – kind of awesomely gothic and tropical.
A fun thing that I’m part of this year is a Freebie jump drive from Smashwords. Mark Coker blogged about it here. The drive contains 349 free books, including my Petals and Thorns. I mean this in the nicest way possible when I say I hope it’s a gateway drug for the rest of my books. 😀
Meanwhile, you might catch me wandering around the Quarter, but I’ll definitely be around tomorrow and the rest of the week!
Find Me at RT!
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I’ll be at the RT Booklovers Convention in New Orleans starting on Sunday.
As they say in show business, I’ll be there all week. 😉 So, if you’re in the neighborhood, find me and say hello!!
For those who don’t know, Tip Number 1 for Finding Jeffe? Look for the hat. Seriously. Sometimes people not on site ask for pics of me, to find out what hat I’m wearing. I wish I could say I’ll be wearing this one, but likely they’ll be a bit less dramatic. (Caution, if you get frisky and look around at other pics on my Tumblr, be warned that there’s some very naughty ones…)
Tip Number 2: Look in the bar. Although, this IS New Orleans so there are a lot of amazing bars. This might not be much of a guarantee this year.
Tip Number 3: When all else fails, go for the scheduled appearances!
RT Book Reviews Welcome Party
Wednesday, May 14, 2014 – 10:00am to 11:45am
I’ll be hanging out, wandering around, you know…
Mardi Gras World Carnivàle!
Get ready for a once-in-a-lifetime experience as the publishing industry unites to celebrate books, authors and especially readers. This event is sponsored by several publishers including: Ellora’s Cave, Gallery, Forever, Kensington, Random House, Samhain, Sourcebooks, Tor/Forge/Tor Teen, and Totally Bound Publishing and author Heather Graham. Mardi Gras World is about a mile from the hotel, and continuous bus service will be provided to take guests to and from the hotel.
A second-line band will lead us through the float den as we get to see the gorgeous Mardi Gras floats up close. After the fun spectacle, you will be led to an event space overlooking the mighty Mississippi where you will be treated to a spectacular southern culinary experience and enjoy local live music that will capture the spirit of New Orleans! Each publisher will host a food station with delectable New Orleans dishes like jambalaya, etouffee, beignets and many others. A great way to start the six-day extravaganza!
Event Date:
Wednesday, May 14, 2014 – 7:15pm to Thursday, May 15, 2014 – 12:00am
Off-Site: Mardi Gras World
Look for me on the Kensington float! No, really!
Kensington’s Karmic Carnival
Your fortune awaits! Kensington invites you to peer into the past and glimpse the future of romance at a magical celebration of Kensington authors and (psychic) reading. Indulge in delicious snacks and refreshments as you chat with your favorite authors, meet the Kensington team and score special prizes. Enjoy spell casting, fortune telling and, of course, great books! As we gaze into our crystal ball, we see a fabulous party filled with fun treats and good books in your future!
Event Date:
Thursday, May 15, 2014 – 5:15pm to 6:15pm
I’ll have copies of The Mark of the Tala to sign and give away!!
RT Pub Crawl
What would give our attendees the perfect New Orleans experience? The answer, of course, is a trip up Bourbon Street — but, in true RT style, arriving as one gigantic group! Imagine 2,000 book lovers descending on the notorious street with drinks in hand (both alcoholic and nonalcoholic) and a plethora of local music spilling out onto the colorful streets of the French Quarter. Also, imagine sampling local foods as you stroll along the strip — like treats from Cafe Beignet, located at Musical Legends Park.
And what would make this experience even more fun? Having 10 of your favorite publishers and author-groups host at 10 of the best bars on Bourbon!
At their respective bars, a special area will be designated for each sponsor where they will have a bevy of authors standing by to meet and greet RT attendees. They will also have a string of Mardi Gras beads with their logo to hand out to RT attendees who visit. Each sponsor will be doing something different at their assigned bar. Some will have goodies and giveaways, some will have a limited amount of free drinks and some will just be wild and wacky — adding to the party atmosphere on Bourbon Street. But all will have a strand of beads with their logo — this is important!
Event Date:
Thursday, May 15, 2014 – 6:30pm to 8:30pm
I’ll be part of the bevy at Pat O’Briens! (Which I once got kicked out of, back in the day. I’m sure they don’t remember me…)
Club RT (Friday)
Come by Club RT and meet your favorite author in a relaxed, informal setting. We’re sure you have several burning questions, and no doubt the authors would love to hear your points of view. What better way for them to improve their own writing than by listening to their most devoted fans? Who knows, you might end up inspiring an author to add a character to their series.
Event Date:
Friday, May 16, 2014 – 11:15am to 12:15am
Come visit meeee….
Meet more than 700 authors who will autograph books, posters and bookmarks. Bring your “keepers” and have them signed!
This year we have combined our Giant Book Fair with our E-Book/Indie Expo to provide a great, new, merged experience. Find all of your favorite authors in one place!
This event is also open to the public and tickets can be purchased for just the Giant Book Fair. You can purchase a ticket at the door the day of the event. Pre-ordered tickets will be picked up at the hotel on the day of the Giant Book Fair.
You may bring in your books from home to get them autographed. However, they must be checked in and stamped (with invisible ink, so there’s no damage to your books) before you enter the book fair. Also only two books from home per author are allowed.
Event Date:
Saturday, May 17, 2014 – 11:00am to 2:00pm
Location: 3rd Floor
Room: Grand Ballroom & Mardi Gras Ballroom
Note that you don’t have to attend the convention to come to this. Fun!!
FAN-Tastic Day Party
Meet a revolving door of hundreds of authors as they make appearances every 30 minutes in this high-energy event. Be one of the first 500 attendees and you’ll receive a goody bag filled with free books and promotional items.
Event Date:
Saturday, May 17, 2014 – 6:15pm to 8:00pm
I’ll be wandering around, likely all blingy, because afterwards is:
Harlequin’s Dance Party
Harlequin Enterprises hosts a spectacular dance party and an evening of glamour where you will meet the stars of romance.
Event Date:
Saturday, May 17, 2014 – 9:00pm to Sunday, May 18, 2014 – 12:00am
Yay dancing!!!!
Wow – I’m tired just reviewing all this. Send wine and chocolate.
Hope to see you there!