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Florida Romantic Times Convention Schedule

  • Apr. 16th, 2009 at 8:51 AM
Dawnbreaker

Time is ticking down faster than I had planned. I have the last 2 chapters of Book 4 that need to be edited tonight so I can ship the book off to my editor on Friday. I haven't even begun to think about packing for my Florida trip, which I leave for on Saturday. So, it should go without saying that I'm running a little behind.

However, before I leave, I want to give you a quick rundown of my schedule if you happen to attending the Romantic Times Booklovers Convention from April 22 through April 26.

On Thursday, April 23, I will be on a panel from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.:

URBAN FANTASY: I’LL LOVE YOU ... FOREVER: WRITING A SERIES IN URBAN FANTASY

THURSDAY: What happens when there’s no happy ending to wrap up the book? Urban fantasy authors discuss the nuts and bolts of writing a series: how to build a world, plan a story arc and keep the romance alive book after book.
Captain: Richelle Mead
Panelists: Mario Acevedo, Ilona Andrews, Jocelynn Drake, Jeaniene Frost, Mark Henry, Jaye Wells

I will be on the radio program: Authors on Air: Parnormal Party at 2 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. with Jeaniene Frost, Terry Garey, Pamela Palmer, Jamie Rush & Kerrelyn Sparks

Here is a link for more information so you can call in and ask questions!

From 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., I will be appearing at Avon's Dusk to Dawn Mixer:
The sun has disappeared on the horizon and the shades of the night envelope the earth. Avon and its authors invite you to celebrate the dark passion of twilight with food, fun, and drink. Expect the unexpected as you never know what magic may appear in the cool, early hours of the evening. Please stop by. There is a dark rumor that there may be some free books.

On Saturday, April 25, I will be at the Giant Book Fair from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. signing my books. My publisher is trying very hard to have copies of Dayhunter available. Keep your fingers crossed!

Giant Book Fair: Where can you meet your favorite authors, get your pic taken with them or a cover model, or get a sneak preview to what's coming out in the wonderful world of women's fiction? At the one and only RT Booklovers Convention Book Fair! Over 300 authors will autograph books, posters and bookmarks, and you can bring your favorite "keeper" books to have your fav author sign them!!

Finally, I will be occasionally wandering aimlessly around the conference, so feel free to stop me for a picture, a signing, or some quick chitchat. I'm always looking for someone to help me look less lost and lonely.
  • Mood: bouncy

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Through the Trees

  • Nov. 22nd, 2008 at 10:28 AM
Dawnbreaker

I can see the houses in the subdivision behind my house. Up until about a week ago, those houses had been obscured by a wall of yellow and brown leaves. I noticed for the first time this morning that the leaves were completely gone and I could now stare through the bare limbs to see my somewhat distant neighbors. I don’t mean to be anti-social, but I have to admit that I preferred the leaves whether they be green, yellow, or brown.

I know it’s still more than a month away, but it’s winter in Cincinnati. Now, don’t get me wrong. Our winters aren’t that bad. We’re not plagued with constant sub-zero temperatures and mountains of snow. Winters here generally comprise of gray skies, cold weather, and overwhelming dreariness that kind of leaves a weight upon the soul.

Is it any wonder that I fully intend to begin work on book 4 this afternoon? I know I’m supposed to be taking a break. I tried last night. I tried to pick out a movie to watch, but nothing sounded good. I tried playing a video game, but after an hour, I was bored. I’m afraid to pick up a book to read, knowing that I’m going to be working on my own Book 3 edits soon. In the end, the only way I know how to keep the winter blues away is a combination of Mira and Danaus.

Just some quick updates and reminders:

On Sunday, November 23, I will be giving a reading at Northern Kentucky University along with four other authors at 2 p.m. I will not be reading from the Dark Days series. I’ve decided to give my nightwalkers a break and I’m bringing another short story that I wrote a couple years ago that I am still fond of.

I will also be attending the RomanticTimes Conference in Wednesday, April 22 through Sunday, April 26. I will be on a panel on Thursday, at 2:30 p.m. (I think) discussing what it takes to write a series. I will have more details the closer we get to the actual date.
 
  • Location:Panera
  • Mood: cheerful
  • Music:If I Was Your Vampire -- Marilyn Manson

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RWA Conference: Part 2

  • Aug. 4th, 2008 at 8:22 PM
Dawnbreaker
I should have known better than to think that I would be able to blog from the conference. That was just crazy talk. After the first signing, I ran off to a radio show with Jeannie Frost, Melissa Marr, Kathryn Smith, Terry Garey, and Kerrelyn Sparks. It was a lot of fun and as soon as I get a link to the podcast, I’ll post it on the site. Below is a picture of me at the signing. Jenna Black, a good friend and fellow author, also popped by to chuckle at my anxiety and silliness.

After that first night, the rest of the conference was kind of a blur. I attended parties, signings, presentations, panels, and spent some quality time with fellow authors at various restaurants and bars.

For me, the conference scene has changed substantially since I became a published author. I’m attending far less craft presentations and more information-specific panels such as “how to dispose of a dead body” and “sociopath vs. psychopath: what are the key differences”. For me, these workshops can condense down a couple nights worth of research into an hour or two. With me attending fewer panels, I’m now spending more time networking with authors, publishers, and my agent.

But it wasn’t all work. I managed to sneak out of the hotel with my agent and we got down to Fisherman’s Wharf. I didn’t get out to The Rock, but I did get to see Alcatraz from a distance. It was still very cool. I got to see the trolleys and just wandered around the city for a while. Even purchased a cool new pair of boots. A girl can never have enough.

I’m back now and I’m ready to head back into Book 3. I’ve got a nice chunk of it done and I’ve honestly started to miss Mira and Danaus.
  • Location:home
  • Mood: tired
  • Music:I Remember -- Stabbing Westward

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Mass Signing

  • Apr. 19th, 2008 at 12:32 PM
graveyard
 
If you haven't been to the Romantic Times Convention, then you may be unaware of the fact that there is a massive signing on one of the last days. Today is that massive conference. Unfortunately, my book is not out yet, so I didn't get to join in the fun. However, I did wander around and take pictures of all the authors that I know. This time next year, I'll be sitting among them. So, here they are (in no particular order), all the nifty writers that I have met over the years and at this year's conference!
This is the amazing Jenna Black:

This is the sweet and funny Jeanne Stein:


This is the way-too-young Caitlin Kittredge:


This is the brilliant Jeri Smith-Ready:


This is the positively darling Jeaniene Frost:


This is the wickedly bubbly Jackie Kessler:


This is the lovely Richelle Mead:
This is the severely warped Mark Henry:


This is the wonderful Keri Arthur:

 

This is the superb Kelley Armstrong:


This is the angelic Rachel Vincent:

And finally, the simply wicked Kim Harrison:

The rest of the day is light and I'm headed home tomorrow. I hope you've enjoyed these little glimpses of the convention. I'm sure I'll be posting more thoughts on the conference during the next few days as I have more time to digest everything I heard and saw.

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RT Goodness

  • Apr. 18th, 2008 at 5:11 PM
graveyard

I'm a bad blogger. Everyone else here has been much better than me about posting pictures and updates. I haven't taken many pictures, but somehow I'm managed to be a number of pictures. Hmmm.... I guess I'm just hanging out with a very picture-happy group.

Yesterday wasn’t a very good day for me as I had a nasty migraine that slowed me down. However, I’ve bounced back and I’m ready to go again.

This morning started off on the right foot: coffee and friends. After basking in the warmth and love of my cup of coffee, I got to sit down and spend a few less-than-hectic moments with Kim Harrison, “Guy in the Leather Jacket,” Rachel Vincent (my roomie here), Jeanne Stein, and Mark Henry (who I met for the first time in person here, and let me tell you this man is twisted and hilarious).

Next, we were off to the panel “Demons Are the New Black,” which had on it Kim Harrison, Caitlin Kittridge, Jackie Kessler, Richelle Mead, Carole Nelson Douglas, agent Miriam Kriss, and Mark Henry. The panel was great, but I didn’t get pictures because I was way in the back. Hop over to Rachel’s blog, as I believe she has posted one or two.

Next was the “Urban Fantasy 101” panel, which had on it Rachel Vincent, Richelle Mead, Jeanne Stein, Keri Arthur (who I am just loving the more I see her each year), Jeri Smith-Ready, Kelley Armstrong (who I already adore), and a Tor editor whose name I am completely forgetting right now because I am an ass. Unfortunately, as you will notice in the picture below, not everyone is shown because I moved to the front row for this panel to make up for my back-row blindness during the prior panel. This panel was great because a lot of it was about defining Urban Fantasy vs. Paranormal Romance and the importance of world building (it’s ABSOLUTELY crucial).

Afterward, we were whisked away to the awards luncheon, where Kim Harrison won an award for Best Protagonist and Jeaniene Frost won Best Urban Fantasy! And to complete a good lunch, great chocolate cake for desert, and the joy of friends winning awards: we got free books. Now, you know this is the main reason people go to these things; it’s all about the free books. I’ve done pretty well so far and I’m trying to keep it light. Remember, what ever you get here you have to either schlep home or ship. Also, I’m not allowed to read. I’ve got deadlines!

Any other updates… I finally got to meet the wonderful, brilliant Melissa Marr in person. She was the only one out of the upcoming anthology that I hadn’t met yet. I also found out that she’s reading my book … gulp! We had drinks last night and I joined her and several other wonderful writers for lunch today.

At the moment, I am enjoying a little down time before tonight’s Vampire Ball. It is my goal to grab at least a couple pictures of that interesting event tonight. In the meantime, it’s back to work. I’ve got a short story to finish.

For more photos and updates, stop by Rachel Vincent’s blog and Mark Henry had a great photo posting over at Fangs, Fur & Fey. I’m sure there are other pictures out there, I just haven’t located them all yet. In the end, the only thing I've got left to say is: Vicki Pettersson, we wish you were here!

  • Location:Pittsburg, PA
  • Mood: bouncy
  • Music:There Is -- Boxcar Racer

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Exhausted But Content

  • Apr. 16th, 2008 at 8:46 PM
Dawnbreaker

Sorry for the short entry, but I'm dead on my feet. I'm safe and sound at the RomanticTimes Convention in Pittsburgh, PA. The hotel isn't the greatest considering that we crammed in here and the hotel is under construction (yuck). But on the plus side, I've gotten to hang out with Kim Harrison and been able to catch up with my roomie, Rachel Vincent. Jeaniene Frost and Melissa Marr are on their way here and I'm looking forward to seeing them both tomorrow along with all the other authors that I've missed today.

After about 3 hours of sleep last night, I'm ready to collapse in bed, but I'm going to try to get a little writing done. I promise to have some pictures to post tomorrow!

  • Location:Pittsburg, PA
  • Mood: exhausted
  • Music:I Hate Everything About You -- Three Days Grace

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Conference Craziness

  • Jan. 22nd, 2008 at 10:47 PM
Dawnbreaker

I have finally booked my second and final conference for 2008, causing my bank account to give a small and sad little whimper.

I will be attending the Romantic Times BookLovers Conference in Pittsburgh, PA from April 16 through the 20th. I won't have a book to sign yet, but I'll be rubbing elbows, enjoying some informative workshops, and I'll be able to hang out with some good friends. In truth, seeing writing friends is the big draw for me. I love exchanging emails with them, but sometimes lounging by bar swapping bawdy stories is just a great way to spend an evening.

Then I will be traveling to San Francisco, CA for the Romance Writers of America conference from July 30 through August 2. At this one, I am hoping that my book will be officially out and that I will get to sign a few copes. I am hoping to catch up with another set of writers who I missed at RT and my lovely agent.

So, if you happen to be at either and see a red head with a lost expression on her face, it's probably me. Please stop by and say hi. I'd be happy to grab a seat with you and swap a bawdy story or two.

And in case you're wondering, No, I don't technically write romance. However, romance readers have also proven to be avid urban fantasy readers. Figuring out my niche for readers has been a little tricky. I write urban fantasy without a doubt, but it runs very dark, darker than a lot of stuff that is already out there, I think. There are also romantic elements, but then how can you write a book about people's lives without involving emotions like love, lust, and hate?

  • Location:home
  • Mood: content
  • Music:Let It Die -- Three Days Grace

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