Category Archives: Events

Kent County Public Library’s Authors and Audiences

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Hey, guys! There was an fantastic event at the Kent County Public Library today. The (I believe) 9th Annual Authors and Audiences.
 
We had lots of wonderful authors and illustrators there, had panels for various aspects of writing/publishing, and I got to meet best-selling author Jeri Smith-Ready! Whoo hoo! Check it out!
 
Besides meeting Jeri, and being fascinated by her publishing journey, and her books, I was able to spend some time with some wonderful folk – authors I’ve known for a long time (nods at Christy Shaffer) and some I just met today. Among them was Mark C. Collins, and he writes children’s books. I read one and was impressed. Seriously, if you have little ones, check him out!
Thanks to Hilary Welliver for all her work in putting this grand event together, and for the staff at the library (especially Michele Lapinski, who I saw running around constantly taking care of so many little details)!
I can’t wait for next year!
🙂
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Dover Comic Con was fantastic!

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Today was so superb! Not only did I have a booth in between two great writers and author friends (Will Hahn and Bobbie Palmer), but I saw many other friends as well and some great cosplay. (And I got to hug lots of the Doctor! Wheeeee!)

So all of that in and of itself made it a fantastic day, but something else made it even better. I had folks come up to my table exclaiming about my new book. It wasn’t always the same one either. Quite a few wanted the second book of the Deuces Wild series, Stacking the Deck, and some wanted Children of the Enaisi (book two of the Sword’s Edge Chronicles). When they found out there was also a prequel that takes place 1,000 years before, quite a few snatched that one up too.

I got home to a private message from someone who wants book four (when its released) for a gift for a family member who is a big fan of my books. And a FB post mentioning me from someone at the Con who loves my writing.

Wow! Just…wow!

🙂

Cecil Con Cosplays

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I love taking photos of Cosplayers, but many of them didn’t come to the Artists’ Alley, and of those who did, they didn’t all mosey down the aisle where I was. So I asked my minion, since she wanted to go see the Cosplayers, if she would take some photos of them for me. She did, and also showed off in the Jurassic Park jeep. LOL

There was one that passed right by me, and I was so in awe that I didn’t think until it was too late to snap him, and that was Solomon Kane. And my friend Will Hahn (who, by the way, has a great epic fantasy series – check it out!) was geeking about him too since one of his characters is sorta based on him, but I don’t think he got a photo either. 😦

Cecil Con was great, by the way. I had a blast, and I have to say it is a well-run Con. 🙂

And yes, I had folks happy to see my newest book out, but what was funny was that I mostly sold my Deuces Wild books! You just never know. LOL

Without further ado, here are the photos!

 

Hockessin Art and Book Fair – crazy, fun times!

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What a day!

First, I overslept my alarm. Then, my secondary alarm failed me (my dog, who always needs to go out before I’m ready to get up – really, she had to pick today to cuddle close and oversleep?).

So I woke up at 9:54 when I was supposed to be at the event and set up by 10 a.m. And I live over an hour away. I didn’t get all my cosplay on, or my cosplay make-up—shucks, I didn’t even brush my hair, I just pulled it up with two flexis. Anyway, I was up, dressed, and out the door with my books and sundry by 10:06. Now if that isn’t some kind of record then it should be!

I managed to make it to the event before 11:30 and without getting a ticket. *whew*

My table buddy, Will Hahn, seemed relieved when I arrived, which was nice of him because he could have spread his stuff out over our whole table if I had been a no-show. After that, things went well, fun even. Although Will declined to have a sword vs ray gun duel. He seemed of the opinion he might not fare well. And alas, I have no photos of his brilliant cosplay because my phone had died. Boo.

I did manage to get a cup of coffee after I arrived, and Will seemed concerned by this as well, because he compared me to post-caffeine Twitchy of Hoodwinked, and that was before I had my coffee. I think I frightened him a little, er, especially after I went back for a second cup. No clue why I was so hyper, but ah well, he survived, so it’s all good I suppose. 🙂

So on to the book sales, because that, of course, is the main reason I go to author events. It’s always cool when someone comes up and says, “I bought the first book of Deuces Wild last year, and it was great, so now I have to get book two!” (Wheee!)

It’s also great (but sad) when folks come up and point to Sword’s Edge and ask, “Is book two out yet? When will it be out?” (When I get the cover. Soon, I hope!) But at least I was able to say “Soon,” then go on to say that the prequel is done and going through editing, and book three is being written, and I hope the rough draft of that is done before Christmas. I wasn’t able to be quite so hopeful about book three of Deuces Wild, but I’m working on that as well. Never fear!

So all in all, despite a rough start, it was a good day. Thanks to all the hard-working people who put together such a well-run event; it’s a joy to attend the Hockessin Art and Book Fair every year! And thanks to Will Hahn for being my table buddy and putting up with my Twitchy behavior! (By the way, if you like epic fantasy, you might meander over to his site and take a peek.)

🙂

 

Dover Comic Con 2017 Was the Best Yet!

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Arise, arise, Fandoms of Comic Con!
Fun deeds awake: LARP and laughter!
pics shall be taken, bling shall be gotten,
a geek-day, a hot day, ere the sun rises!
Ride now, ride now! Ride now to Dover!
(with profound apologies to Prof. Tolkien)

Yesterday was the most amazing Dover Comic Con yet!
I saw many friends and there were some I looked for but didn’t find, although I know they were there: Everett De Morier, Liz DeJesus, Kristen L Corbett, Will Hahn, Jason Mears, Kerri Hollyday, James Dufendach, Frank Dawson Jr, Christy Shaffer, and Becky Palmer. (Especially Liz DeJesus, who helped me set up, and came by just to see if I was okay later on. Hugs, my friend!)
If I’ve forgotten anyone, I’m sorry, but I came home and collapsed almost immediately and slept for over twelve hours straight. I’m still not totally awake and coherent.

The panel on “What an Editor Wants” was fun – lots of folks showed up. I hope I didn’t frighten them, because that wasn’t my intent. But the business is so cutthroat, I wanted to emphasize that you must be on your best game, and be as professional as possible. Will Hahn co-hosted with me, and I think he un-scared them after I got finished terrorizing them.

I’m uploading the cosplay photos to my FB author page, and I apologize because I didn’t get lots of pics because my booth was so busy!

Folks constantly stopped, asking about my books – I didn’t have to do any hawking, which is great because I’m lousy at it. LOL
I had some few run up with gasps or squeals and saying, “Is that book two?” about Deuces Wild: Stacking the Deck (one man marched over, picked up Stacking the Deck and held it high, and huffed, “FINALLY!”  I told him book three was already being written, to which he replied, “Good!”), and others who were groaning because the sequel to Sword’s Edge wasn’t yet released. I made sure they either took a business card or took advantage of the QR code for my website so they could keep up with news about the release of the sequel.
A few even slowed walking past and called out to the effect of, “I have her books, they’re great! Can’t wait for more!” as folks were huddled at my booth.
It’s a strange but fantastic feeling to know you’re an author with fans, and that they’re eagerly awaiting more stories!

🙂