Events

My Takeaways from the UW Writers’ Institute

This was my third year attending the UW Writers’ Institute. Just like in the previous years, the best part of this conference was being around so many people on a similar journey as I am. It’s such a supportive, encouraging, and nice bunch. I can’t help but bristle at the word “networking,” but it’s hard not to connect with these people. I’m excited about the new connections and friends I made, and I’m rooting for all of them.

Last year, I wrote about my favorite part of the conference and highlighted points from the Sunday keynote. And in 2015, I wrote about what I learned at my first writers’ conference.

In the past, I enjoyed attending the sessions on craft, but this year, I focused more on the marketing ones. As always, I kept a list of snippets that resonated with me from each session. And now I’d like to share those with you.

February 25: Mystery to Me Author Slam

I am excited to be one of the Writers’ Institute authors speaking at Mystery to Me bookstore’s Author Slam on Saturday, February 25 in Madison! Come watch me talk for 15 minutes about Flowerantha and sign books. I go on at 7.

November 5: Southeast Wisconsin Festival of Books

On Saturday, November 5, I will have a table at the Writer Marketplace during the Southeast Wisconsin Festival of Books at UW-Waukesha. I hope to have some sweet swag to give away along with my paperbacks for purchase. Come find me before noon!

I’m also excited because a couple other great Wisconsin authors I know/have met once will be there presenting like Rebecca Williams Spindler and Amy E. Reichert! Not to mention my writing group buddy, Malinda Peterson, who will also have a table. It should be a fun time!

February 9: New Book Release

Lyfers, the next book in The Fandom Collection, will be released Tuesday, February 9!

Over the next few weeks, I will be posting the first four chapters of the book to introduce you to each of the main characters.

If you haven’t read Front Row yet, I will also be running a free book promotion in the days leading up to the release! So you will be able to pick up Front Row for free Saturday, February 6 through Wednesday, February 10.

Description: A model, a recent college grad, and a stay-at-home-mom embark on the trip of a lifetime. Former model Jade is not as young as she used to be, and she struggles to keep up with the younger, newer fans. Cody, who is a dead ringer for one of the boy band members, wants one last hurrah with his best friend before he has to join the real world. Frankie left her husband and children at home to cut loose with her friends and her five favorite guys.

But the super fans, who have dubbed themselves Lyfe Support, keep getting in their way. When these three groups of cruisers put their heads together, tricking security guards and masquerading as band members, they can outsmart even the savviest of fans. And maybe then, the band they love will finally notice them.

All the while, Luc, the supposed least popular member of the band, needs to resist the myriad of temptations on the cruise ship to determine what really matters to him in life.

Book Launch and After Party Update

Malinda and I selected our signature cocktails for our after party next month! In addition to celebrating the launch of Flowerantha, which came out in July, I will also be releasing the first in a series of short stories set in the land of Flowerantha on September 19.