Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Wednesdays With Joanne - "Bragging Rights"

http://fivestarauthors.blogspot.com

Hi guys,

Happy Wednesday and Happy Writing!

I just wanted to "BRAG" about my shared marketing efforts with other Colorado Five Star Authors. Hey, there IS safety in numbers. We are a group of five: Five Stars from Five Star and just had our first joint signing in Colorado Springs. Just so you'll know, we all "played together nicely."

The talented women of whom I speak, and their works are:

Leslee Breene - LEADVILLE LADY
Patricia Stoltey - THE PRAIRIE GRASS MURDERS
Beth Groundwater - A REAL BASKET CASE
Janet Lane - TABOR'S TRINKET
moi` - A...MY NAME'S AMELIA

Our mix is mystery and romance. Too much fun! (Although I must say, part of the fun is that we romantics outnumbered the mystery gals by one ... heh heh heh) Picture this guys: we shared a small table, managing to balance our books and bookmarks and buttons and pins and brochures and reviews, and ... whew! ... all the while sharing cappuchino ice cream, chatting it up with readers wandering among the stacks who strolled by our group of five; with some stopping for a chat; some extolling the virtues of romance; some eschewing it (few I can assure you); and some placing our books under our noses (if we were not wandering among the stacks ourselves) for us to sign.

A good time REALLY WAS had by all!

Our next joint appearance (in case you're in "the hood") will be at the Tattered Cover, Highlands Ranch, in Denver, June 23rd @ 3 pm.

Until next time...

Jo(anne)

http://womenwritingthewest.blogspot.com
www.joannesundell.com

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Wednesdays With Joanne - Conferences: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly

Hi all,

I'm still de-programming myself from the CRW-sponsored, Romancing the Rockies Conference held in Denver this past Friday and Saturday. Hence, the title of my blog today. Conferences are Good, Bad, and Ugly; usually all not at the same time, thank God!

Let's start with the Good. If you've never attended a romance writing conference, you're in for a treat when you do. And, if you're a groupie like moi`, you'll be blown away by all the authors you meet. You bet I made sure to have a signed copy of the latest books from Linnea Sinclair, Susan Wiggs, and Jeanne Stein. I can't wait to delve into them! Conferences also afford you a wonderful opportunity to network with authors, agents, editors, and other members of your RWA chapter; not to mention catch the latest and greatest writing tips from amazing writing experts like Margie Lawson. How awesome is she! Okay, admittedly, I've got a huge learning curve to master in terms of the writing craft, but at least I know what I don't know (I think). It's also good, good, good to smoos and network with the best of `em!

Now, for the Bad (hope the other shoe didn't hurt when I dropped it). There are so many incredible speakers, discussing so many incredible topics, in so many different lecture areas --- you can't make them all! Very frustrating to have to pick and choose, but one does what one must. There's always a "handy handout," rich with detail as to time, place, and subject. It's decision-making time, for certain. At the end of the day(s), you leave smarter than when you arrived; more informed than when you arrived; and certainly more aware ... of all that you don't know! Ah well, welcome to the world of writing.

Yep, here comes the Ugly. No offense intended to agents and editors (who graciously give of their time and expertise to travel from their, often far-away, offices) waiting for us at their hastily set-up judging tables, but for me ... the Ugly of conferences is the moment you take a seat in front of an agent or editor, and hope something comes out of your dry mouth, other than cotton fluff, which they've all heard before! I guarantee you, it's a humbling experience. I also guarantee you, if you schedule agent and editor appointments, at least you can count yourself A TRUE BRAVEHEART! "Oh we brave few" ... you get my point. You might not have an offer from any of your appointments to send in a partial, but you at least can leave, head high, shoulders straight; knowing you did it.

Just like spaghetti westerns of old (be still my heart at the mere thought of Clint Eastwood), The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly at conferences should be whole-heartedly embraced by romance writers. How can you not, with Clint waiting!


Shalom,

Jo(anne)
www.joannesundell.com

Wednesday, May 2, 2007

Wednesdays With Joanne - "The book(s) in us all"

Hi Folks,

Every time I'm at a signing, someone comes up and begins to talk about the books they have in them, yet to write. Invaribly what follows is one reason after another about "why" they haven't started on their novel(s). Hidden in this same person's meaning is perhaps the inference that "all they need is a little time and then they can write." I hope so for their sakes. Wouldn't that be nice if it were that simple. Geez, maybe it is and no one told me!

I absolutely love to talk to folks at signings. Those who stop for a chat and a look at my book(s) are usually polite, gracious, interested, intelligent, and just plain nice. Of course they're honest, too; many not liking romance, per se, yet willing to have a look. Many who stop are writers themselves, or at least beginning writers. Some have a good friend or relative who writes and is published. To this I say Hurray! To any accomplishments along the writing journey, I say Hurray!

Back to the person in the first paragraph, who wants to write, but hasn't yet. The only part I think they've yet to understand about writing, no matter whether fiction or non-fiction, is that finishing a book is the first step in writing. I know that sounds crazy, but a writer needs to know they CAN finish something. Only through the discipline of setting aside a time and place to write, can they begin writing, then finish their manuscript. Once finished, not only will the issue of "wanting to write and never having time to write" be off the table, but the issue of thinking "it's easily done" will be off the table, too.

Important for all of us is getting started in the first place. Don't wait, planning for that "some day" to arrive. Whether a beginning writer sets aside a little time before work in the morning, or a time at night to get those fingers keyed in, the first "book(s) in us all" will be in the making. How cool, and yes, how simple is that?

I do believe we all have books in us, waiting to come out. So, what are you waiting for?

Shalom,

Jo(anne)