Tag Archives: keeping them hooked

Working for the Weekend

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Blog tour: Today I’m featured at the Harlequin blog, discussing the Attractiveness of Ancient China as a Setting. Harlequin!! Guest blog at Romance Junkies yesterday about the brainstorming crew behind The Taming of Mei Lin.

Warrior Women month: Next Tuesday, I’ll be featuring an interview from Linda Heenan, a swordswoman with experience in both Eastern and Western sword forms. I want to grow up to be her–if my coordination were any better.

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This weekend is going to be a fun-filled one. I have a potluck reception tonight where I’ll be seeing Jade Lee. I have her new book, Wicked Surrender, and wonder is it gauche to ask for an autograph over penne pasta and gooey butter cake?

I’ll be making a baked squash casserole from a Paula Dean recipe. The butter makes it better…

Then I’ll be heading off on a road trip to Tennessee for a “Keeping Them Hooked” workshop Saturday morning. I think I’m less nervous now that this is the third go. By third period, my lesson was usually going very well. If anyone happens to be near Bartlett, TN, you might want to check out the local RCRW chapter there. Guests are welcome!

Workshop in Framingham, MA on March 27

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I have my first speaking engagement this weekend in Massachusetts at the NECRWA conference. The workshop is titled, “Page 1, 5, 50 — Keeping Them Hooked” and is based on how I was using my contest and submission process to track the “red line of death”. I learn what was working to keep readers hooked from page to page.

I’m going by the old teaching adage of being overprepared. I have excerpt books printed with my first 10 pages to hand out. I also have an outline. I’m going to be bringing a couple of craft books — got to have props!  I’m even going to wear a watch like I did when I was a newbie since I no longer have my internal clock set to be able to feel out 50 minutes. It’s been a while since I’ve had a watch with cell phones and all.

The thing about teaching is no matter how much I’ve prepared, I’m absolutely jittery until that moment I’m standing in front of class. Then an hour just flies by. Right now, I’m a total nutcase. Just thinking about it sends the butterflies swirling in my stomach. This is odd when I consider that I’ve gotten in front of groups of people to present over a thousand times. It must be the adrenaline, that’s my story.

I should be updating my webpage with an Appearances section soon. My next talk is the week after. Just an author panel though at the PCA conference in St. Louis. So it begins!