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Archive for the ‘A writer’s life’ Category

Amber Rose is out there

Posted in A writer's life, Amber Rose, Book launch, book signing, Cry Havoc series, new release, victorian paranormal, tagged , , , , , , , , , on April 11, 2025| Leave a Comment »

That sounds like a tag line from the Xfiles! Hahaha.

Now all I have to do is wait in case some one likes it enough to give me a review. Taps fingers on the desk.

On launch day, yesterday, I had my hair done. I don’t think I mentioned this story. I was feeling a bit down, a bit anxious around the middle of March. I decided I wanted to dye my hair grey, steel grey. I did not do any research. Rocked up to a random new salon and asked for that. I was shown a colour and that looked ash grey to me. However, I walked out of there with medium ash brown hair. Matthew blinked when he saw me. That’s not what I was expecting, he said. I was miserable about it. My mates were great and told me the new colour looked great. It made me look younger, which is true. Yesterday, I got it fixed. Previous posts you will see a different hair colour.

I like my new hair. It’s not steel grey yet. I put a lighter champangne type rinse in it. After the last shock colour I wanted to be careful. I have planned a bit birthday bash for my 65th birthday in early May. For the birthday party, I will do steel grey. However, I am very happy and it made launch day special. Bonus is that today my order arrived so I have some print copies.

New hair!

New hair. New Book.

I’m hosting a birthday dinner for a friend tomorrow. And I’m making a cake today. I’m going to try for a black forest cake. My first time. If it sucks of course I’ll duck out and buy a cake instead.

I pop off to New Zealand next week. I’ll be in Hamilton at the Ages of Pages book signing event on the 26th of April. Back just in time for my party!

PS I forgot to mention. Did you all see the Murderbot trailer dropped? I’m so excited. I loved the books.

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It’s all happening!!!

Posted in A writer's life, Amber Rose, Book launch, Cry Havoc series, Digital Publishing, Steampunk, victorian paranormal, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on April 3, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Amber Rose is up for pre order at major e retailers! !!

Amber Rose is up at Ingrams for a paperback, a hard back and a large print hard pack, with accessible font.

Phew!

I’m currently working on the universal links. Books2Read this time. Here is the link.

Get your pre-order! Date of release is April 10, 2025. All the files are up so it’s just waiting.

I’ve got to send a newsletter as well today and I have a release day blog post to prepare for the ARRA website.

I’ve also been dictating/narrating one of my Dani Kristoff books because I think I should narrate them myself. Aussie accent and all that. And, gee, Amazon and others offering AI readers. I’d rather have a human.

I also have ideas burning out of my brain for A Prudential Light, a short novel about Aunt Prudence Wainwright. This ‘memoir’ is foreshadowed at the end of Amber Rose and I think it’s going to be a beautiful and poignant story, some of which will be set in Singapore (colonial times). I am heading to Singapore in June so I was hoping to wait until then but I’ll have to make notes as the ideas are rushing out of my brain.

Here’s the cover and the blurb for Amber Rose again in case you missed it. Many thanks to the awesome Maxine McArthur of editing and proofreading and also feedback during drafting.

Also, if anyone ones a review copy please contact me on my contacts page.

Blurb Amber Rose

A book of manners, magic and mayhem…and, perhaps, a tad too many scones

All Ambrose Fulton wants is to enjoy his idyllic life at Hatfield, helping his wife Milly raise their little son, tolerating Aunt Prudence and entertaining their friends.

What he gets is a ferocious assault from a violet-eyed automaton that devastates the estate and makes off with his enchanted clockwork arm, brutally ripped from his shoulder. To the rescue, barely in time to save his life, come friends Edward Huntington, gentleman magician, and his wife, the monster-slayer Jemima.

Whoever sent the machine can only have wanted one thing: to glean the secrets of Huntington’s magical mechanical designs for purposes clearly nefarious. Now as well as wrangling an anxious innkeeper, a fake heir, interfering magistrates, odd magicians and some thoroughly unexpected visitors, they must uncover their mysterious enemy’s identity and stop them or who knows what evil ends Huntington’s inventions will be put to?

A final word as this is topical. I love technology and I think AI can be a useful tool for many things. However, I don’t think it’s good for creative things personally. I don’t use AI in my writing and my covers. As I haven’t bought a cover recently, I don’t think my cover artists use it either. I will, however, keep an eye out for it. This is a personal choice for me.

I am a bit of a geek. When I first used Skype and I was over the moon. This is Star Trek come to life. We have moved on from that. I had an Ericksson flip out phone back in the day. Yes, because it was like a communicator from Star Trek. I read science fiction and have loved it ever since I can remember. I have hope for the Human race, although that hope, that belief has been sorely tested of late. I’ve had an iPhone since the early days. Back then people criticised me for staring into my phone, playing with my phone. Now I watch other people do it while I look at the view or what’s going on around me. I still spend way too much time on my phone. I do Duolingo, puzzles, read books, listen to books, read the news, social media (no longer X) and communicate with people via email and text. I love my iPhone and I love tech, but I guess we must have boundaries.

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Publication update-Amber Rose

Posted in A writer's life, Book launch, book signing, Cry Havoc series, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on March 24, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Oh the excitement! Amber Rose is all laid out and off for a proof read.

It’s a milestone and I’m pleased with it. A bit more admin to do before I can put preorder links up. That’s a job for superman….no, actually, I’ll do it tomorrow as I’m a bit tired now.

I went to the ARRA events in Brisbane and Sydney on the weekend and met some lovely readers. Even readers who had some of my books and came back for more. That’s fabulous and I’m so grateful. I will be travelling to Melbourne for the book signing event at the Jasper Hotel on Saturday. Tickets at the door for the signing event.

What was fun about these events was that I got to be on panels, talking about bookboyfriends, talking about tropes. The feedback after was really positive. I also hosted a lunch in Sydney with four readers. I know what I write isn’t for everyone but it is lovely to meet people who read widely as well as people who write in your genres. In Melbourne I’ll be moderating a panel on Paranormal romance versus Urban Fantasy with Nalini Singh, HH Hodgson, and M J Scott (Melanie Scott) and that’s going to be fun and interesting too.

Interestingly I think I sold more SF in Sydney than I would at an SF con. Go figure! Rayessa and the Space Pirates, Awakening, Robot Hearts and my other short story collections. Brisbane I sold more Dani Kristoff paranormal romance books.

Don’t forget I do have a book store for ebooks and print books. If a print book isn’t up there and you want it just drop me a line and I’ll get back to you.

Me and my half table at ARRA Brisbane

Matthew and me at ARRA event in Sydney. Photo by Jenny Kew

Me with the headdress I bought at Sydney ARRA.

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Amber Rose moving closer to publication

Posted in A writer's life, ARRA, author appearances, Author signing event, tagged , , , , on February 22, 2025| Leave a Comment »

These last days have been fun, not!

I had a blood test on Wednesday last week and felt great. The next day I’m sneezing, my nose is running and my eyes are watering. Friday I’m in full lurgy mode but negative RATS for COVID, RSV and Influenza A and B. I just had to weather it as I didn’t feel sick otherwise. Just a cold. Then the cough started and I felt a bit ick. Something had changed. Meanwhile I worked the day job and I’m working on Amber Rose. I had done the complete draft but I needed to tidy up to send to the editor.

Editing and coughing are not a good mix.

Anyhow, I was prescribed anitbiotics and I think I am on the mend. Still have a bit of nose and cough but I’m hoping they will fly away by tomorrow and maybe I could get a good sleep. I had to cancel few things due to the cold, like a sleep study I’ve been waiting years for. Oh well.

The good news is that I sent Amber Rose off to the editor yesterday. Happy dance!

This novel caused me some angst if you must now. I should have written it last year. Actually if I’m honest years ago. However, for various reasons I didn’t. Then something went twang in my brain and I was uncertain how to bring it to an end and I felt lost in the narrative. My friend, Maxine, did a quick read of what I had at the time, around 47,000 words and gave me some feedback. It really, really helped and I think I brought it home.

I don’t have any immediate plans for more Jemima Hardcastle books. Well not set in Victorian England in any case. I have quite a bit of half finished manuscripts that I need to work on this year and a couple of other projects boiling away.

I’m taking a break to catch up on things: blog, newsletter,preorder form, BAS and other admin. I may put Amber Rose up for preorder! That’s exciting.

Appearances

On Saturday 22 March I’ll be at the ARRA signings and will be on a panel as well as selling books, Royal on the Park, 152 Alice Street, Brisbane

Sunday 23 March I’ll be in Sydney at the ARRA booksigning, Rydges City Central, 28 Albion Street, Surry Hills

Saturday 29 March, I’ll be in Melbourne at the ARRA booksignings Jasper Hotel, 489 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne.

The ARRA events are ticketed. Here is the link to the their page.

Later on in April, I will be at Ages of Pages in Hamilton NZ, 26 April, 9.30am to 4 pm, Claudelands Event Centre. Free entry. Check the website

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Hectic January

Posted in A writer's life, am wrinting, author appearances, Author signing event, Trying to focus, tagged , , , , , on January 16, 2025| Leave a Comment »

I thought December was hectic. Last minute travel, visitors, Christmas and the lead up to New Year. Alas, January has been hectic and it’s not done yet.

At the moment we are on a bit of a break up near Palm Beach. There was a series of storms last night and now the forecast is for rain until we leave on Sunday. The forecast at home was for 3 days of rain, but that’s changed to sunny days which puts our garden in the soon to be dead zone. Sigh.

I also didn’t bring anything warm because it was so hot so I’m borrowing a shawl. It truly is relaxing here. No traffic, just the lap of waves and the sound of wildlife. I am meant to be writing but did a bit of admin first. I swear I’m losing my mind but luckily I found it again.

I have done a bit more work on Amber Rose and I was very worried I was stuck. However, my good friend Maxine said not to think about it and it would come to me and it has in bits and snippets. I think the important stuff is the emotional side of the action and I think that’s hit me now. I have a few days here to get stuck in. I hope to clear 50,000 words this week.

We are back in Sydney next week for a Wardruna concert, travelling by train. We were here last weekend and I think the one before. My daughter has moved and it looks to me I’ll be here more often than previously. My sister is back from NZ so she will be my next destination in the Sydney area.

With this change I’m getting a bit spun about. How to do I make goals for the new year? What should I focus on? I feel like I’m just running and running and going here and there. I’m sure it will settle once I get used to the changes in my life.

Travel wise, I’ll be at the ARRA signings in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne in March 2025 and the Ages of Pages in Hamilton New Zealand on 26 April 2025. Do come along! There are going to be panel discussions and interesting things.

Wait for it! My banner

You can see why I really need to finish Amber Rose and get it ready! It’s on the advert!

At least my dizzy feeling of being spun about is shared by my partner, also a writer, and he at least has deadlines to meet and is diligent about writing. I must give up streaming stuff, or only watch after I have done my quota.

Well I best stop writing now and get to work. Until next time.

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Finally I can sit at my desk

Posted in A writer's life, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on December 26, 2024| Leave a Comment »

With family visitors, the office needed to be gutted and my desk moved. I have only just now uncovered it. We had two drawers to assemble for our new bed and we had to deal with them before I could sit down and type. How wonderful it is!

We celebrated Christmas on Christmas Eve with way too much food and loads of presents. I was so full I feared I would burst. I received Tansy Rayner Roberts’ latest kickstarter because it was so shiny and I asked the Dweeb to get it for me. But he also was my kringle choice so he also got stuff on my wish list. A photo printer, papers, and a voucher to frame a print. Other goodies some lovely tawny port, some really beautiful embroidery items from Ms Li brought from China. A lovely fan and a lovely scarf, some redwood earrings from California, chocolate and more.

A picture of Kickstarter from Tansy Rayner Roberts.

Yesterday, is my day off. People eat leftovers generally and we did and I watched rom coms the whole day. T’was the Text before Christmas, and the commentary was: “would someone really chat to a stranger? ” and you had to suspend belief for this one, but I liked it, I wanted to watch While You Were Sleeping (an oldie). Prime wanted $19.00 for it and I figured I’d just go buy it but then I found it on Disney for free. The Holiday was another one I hadn’t seen before but really liked. I also watched Love Actually before bed.

Christmas presents and not all there yet.

This morning I was out of the house at 6.30am to walk around Lake Burley Griffrin with my younger daughter. A good five kilometres! I needed it and a bit more. Today like I said uncovering the desk and finding my computer after some furniture assembly.

Food

My writing plans before Christmas went out the window. I had to go to NZ in a hurry for my brother-in-law and sadly he passed away after suffering a lot. I had to leave my sister behind but she’s surrounded by her son, her daughter-in-law and grandkids and I’ll go see her soon when she returns to Aussie.

I ended up maxing my credit card and spending all my money. Something I have not done for a while. Luckily I get paid again next week and things are better now and the need for spending has ended. I did save for Christmas but a few unexpected things came up. We also go the dishwasher repaired twice so that was not a nice Christmas expense. We found the problem was these soap sheets we were using made too much suds. We weren’t using them right in any case but the technician said don’t use them and use a level teaspoon of powder. My iphone battery died too and needed replacing. NZ trip and hire car.

We are also dog sitting because my elder daughter and my youngest grandchild have relocated to Sydney and we are watching the dog for a bit until she gets him after New Year. The cat is not impressed as he’s confined to one part of the house and he usually owns the whole place. I had to encouraging to leave our bed last night because I couldn’t get my pretzel shape comfortable and it was too hot to have car fur against my leg.

That’s about it. I haven’t thought of a plan for the year yet. I do need to get more of Amber Rose drafted ASAP. I appear to be more worried about the Dweeb’s deadlines than my own. He got a nice lecture from me this morning. Lol.

The immediate family and visitors are all well and happy and that’s a lovely thing.

I hope you had a Merry Christmas if you celebrate and my best wishes for the New year.

A lovely tranquil view from me walk this morning around the lake.

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A preview of my end of year round up

Posted in am wrinting, Australian author, author appearances, Culling craft, revision, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on December 2, 2024| Leave a Comment »

This post is based on an email I sent to the CSFG group. It has been amended.

We came back from the UK end of February 2024 and I hit the ground running. In March I attended two signing events one in Sydney and one in Melbourne, organised by the Australian Romance Readers. I’ll be appearing again in 2025 in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne next year.

I joined the CSFG novel crit group and got to work on revising The Founders’ Legacy for submission. The crit group requires members to read a novel a month for critique so it was a pretty hectic year on the reading front. The only time I read just for pleasure was when my book was up for crit.

Sihem (Now a The Founders’ Legacy) was my phd novel. I kept thinking that was going to take months to revise, but I knew it was a couple of weeks focussed work and I was right. As I had put this novel on submission I haven’t revised it yet. Not only do I have the crit to apply as I choose, I have some thoughts in my head.

I also revised Grandma Needs: Through the Pantry Door, my children’s fantasy. I drafted this last year. I have continued to put this out on submission. However, it’s a competitive market out there so we will have to see.

I submitted two short stories during the year and they were rejected too. However, I got the idea to do a collection of Robot stories, which led to Robot Hearts, science fiction collection. This included six previously unpublished stories. A few were older, and I wrote three new ones from scratch. That collection was published in September. I had a lot of fun with this.

I also wrote Destiny’s Blood, Book Three in the Cursed Ones series under my Dani Kristoff name. That was published earlier this month.

I’m about 37,000 words in book three of the Cry Havoc series, my steampunk series, featuring Manners, magic and mayhem. I had hoped to have had that published this year but it looks like next year. However, I am still drafting this so who knows, I may get the first draft done by the end of the year who knows?


I also started another book /novella called Louisa’s Choice, but that’s about 10,000 words in and has been for a while. It is kinda a reverse harem/why choose book possibly series.

I still have a revision on a Regency romance to do as I have two lots of beta reader feedback and a number of other things on the go, like a YA/Cross over fantasy that is drafted but needs restructuring and the next book written.

I don’t think I’m anywhere near as productive as I wished to be, but I’ve made a start. There are days when I can’t even sit at my desk. No idea why. I reduced my day job to two days and still I am not as productive and as enthusiastic as I want to be.

I also did a few events. Gamacon in Canberra and Fiction and Friction in Adelaide. I’m set for a few more in 2025. I’ve also attended a few writing related things like romance reader lunches, romance writer get togethers and an occasional CSFG thing. I went to Romance Writers of Australia conference in Adelaide and the World SF convention in Glasgow.

I spent of time on the back office stuff too, website/blog etc. I set up a pay hip store for my books. Many thanks to Keri Arthur for help there.

I read through Ruby Heart and Emerald Fire to correct typos and created hard backs and large print hard backs. I also published a hardback version of Vorn and the First Comers, which is a prequel novella to another series. I have more to do on this front. I also bought a microphone and have been practising reading for audio book purposes. I’m not entirely there yet. Although I didn’t meet my own expectations, I think I can safely say I’ve had a writerly year. I watch way too much streamed shows and don’t read enough either.
‘
Life is hotting up for the end of year. I am expecting family to visit from Singapore. My two eldest granddaughters are turning 18 in January and both graduated from high school this year. My eldest daughter is moving to Sydney with my youngest granddaughter. My other daughter announced she eloped in August. My grandson is back from overseas and doing well.

Life is constantly changing around us.

On a more personal front I have had a bit of a crisis. I have a craft room and I haven’t been in the craft room for a long time. It’s chaos in there and I’m at the stage where I feel the need to cull, that maybe I have to get rid of some things so I can focus on a few things. I have legacy silk flower makings, millinery projects and supplies, a floor loom, dressmaking stuff, yarn, quilting supplies, embroidery kits and the rest. I’m a regular craft junkie. I feel that way about the house too, but mostly the garage and all the crap that is in there. I’ve been warning Matthew that he might have to supervise as I will throw his stuff out. Rolls eyes. Maybe this is a good thing and not a sign of some impending life crisis. I’ve put on weight. My eldest said I have ballooned. It’s a battle to keep fit, exercise, do all the craft, writing and stuff and work. I feel that I’m going to go mental just trying to do everything. So maybe 2025 is about new beginnings, giving myself a break and throwing crap out. I want order, not chaos. However, order requires consistency and work and that’s the hard part.

Speaking of hobbies. Yesterday I did a cooking course. We made ricotta gnocchi and biscotti. I made cranberry and almond biscotti. I really can’t help myself can I?

And if you want to join my newsletter, where I share promotions and giveaways. Try here.

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When plans go awry

Posted in A writer's life, tagged , , , on November 29, 2024| Leave a Comment »

My big confession. I was meant to finish drafting Amber Rose by tomorrow. It is not going to happen. I have had other things crop up and the last two days I was so tired I could barely think. However, today Amber Rose is at 35,000 words, not 80,000 words. The words are coming.

A lot of things going on at the moment. A sick relative and the possibility of heading to NZ again before Christmas. Visitors for Christmas. Christmas! It’s so close. Work and social events increasing. However, I will try to keep writing until I can’t and then hope I can knuckle down in January.

I can’t believe we are near the end of the year.

I can’t believe I’ve done a lot of Christmas shopping already.

What else have I been doing?

Reading A Restless Truth by Freya Marske. I am really liking Maud and Violet and the setting on a ship. Think Titanic as a model and magic of course and lesbian sex.

I’m also listening to Kate Elliott’s King’s Dragon. I have a few of Kate’s books but I must confess I haven’t read them. This audio book displays her excellent prose, like brushes of a delicate paint, an intricate plot, reminiscent of history and elves and creatures. I’m just enjoying it so much.

I also put my nose into Julius Ceasar’s War in Gaul, which is very interesting too. A translation of course.

Viewing wise I have been whiling away many evenings watch Lark Rise to Candleford and loving every minute of it. Tonight I’m taking a break from that show to watch something with Matthew. Matthew has been very diligent writing to his deadline which is coming up fast. There will be some more Matthew Farrer fiction available next year I hope.

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Calm down a little

Posted in A writer's life, tagged , , , on November 6, 2024| Leave a Comment »

I’ve just checked and my last post was October 17. Where did the time go? I’ve been to Adelaide, tick. Then, we had family visiting from the UK so lots of stuff to do, food to eat (oh dear my gut bulge) and things to do.

Highlights for me were Matthew’s sister took us to the Taronga Park Wildlife Retreat. It is an amazing hotel, purpose built, tastefully fitted out and you wake up to koalas outside your window and you can do an evening tour after the zoo closes. And the view across the harbour was amazing. Our UK guest was very impressed. I thoroughly recommend if you are visiting Sydney and want a nice hotel, probably pricey but great as a special treat. Then some of us took the ferry over to Circular Quay and walked around the Sydney Opera House, had lunch on a street side cafe and then walked to the Rocks until we headed back to our new hotel, the Sofitel Wentworth, newly reopened after a grand refurbishment. I was too tired to go out but the gang went to Chinatown and had dinner. Then it was a visit to Coaster’s Retreat before heading back to Canberra with our guests. There were visits to the zoo and aquarium, National Museum and other things. Too soon our guests were off again to return to Sydney then home.

Life feels a bit like a roller coaster. Writing tasks long neglected, tiredness and so on. At the moment, I’m doing the final read through of Destiny’s Blood (much delayed due to the above) and then life might decouple a bit from writing. I’ll be drafting Amber Rose again, but also assembling deck furniture and doing house related things in the lead up to Christmas. I honestly don’t know how I fit it all in, but I always feel like I’m not doing enough.

I am really looking forward to going nowhere in particular, except Matthew is taking me to Sydney for a concert on Sunday but we will be back Monday so not quite the big expedition.

Two manuscripts on submission reach their useby day on the weekend so I’ll be looking to review them and send them out again. Sigh.

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Fiction and Friction Event Adelaide

Posted in A writer's life, author appearances, Author signing event, Romance, Romance fiction, Romance reader convention, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on October 17, 2024| Leave a Comment »

After a quick stay at home for one night on our return from Rarotonga and Auckland, we headed off to Adelaide by road. We were going to take the EV but given we only had two days to get there and the time added to charge and the amount of boxes, I rented a bigger car. I was hoping for a hybrid but lucked out. However, we did end up with a Subaru Outback Stationwagon which was fairly new. It was great except it was a bit gutless when overtaking on single lane highways where you have to get passed before another car comes your way.

I love the landscape as we travelled-The mallee scrub, the flat Hay plains, the silo art, the sunsets. We overnighted at Mildura on the way down. That town is huge, so flat and so spread out. There were cafes to choose from but not being local we chose by name and went to Nash Lane. That was a real happening place.

Emu in the wheat. There were lots of emus.

The Fiction and Friction event was something. It was my first dedicated independent book convention. We stopped in Murray Bridge on the way down and checked out the Fiction and Friction bookstore before heading into Adelaide. Nice!

We saw this on the way down, near Loxton I think.
Fiction and Friction shop front.
Flat plains near Hay I think

There were over 80 authors I believe and over 400 attendees, some of whom were VIPs so had early access and an afterdark function. I have never seen so many dedicated readers with trolleys. At other romance events I’ve been two there are maybe four people with trolleys. There were loads. Some people even did trips back to their cars and came in for more. I met a lot of readers, mostly due to the souvenir booklet where attendees were encouraged to get autographs. I sold books too. Not a sell out by any means, but I’m always grateful when readers buy books when they don’t know my work. I learned heaps too from the event about the scene that I didn’t know. I’ve not been to a RARE or BABE event. I’ve been wait listed for years…But I’m not well known enough and maybe not writing the right thing…However, it was a great opportunity to get my name out there and maybe acquire new readers.

Hay silo art
The river in Hay (Murrumbidgee)

What was popular is dark romance, and I’m guessing that include taboo, also explicit stories as well as Male Male romances (which have a big female readership). One reader told me she liked them because in her opinion male/female gets annoying because the female lead is meant to be strong but comes across as an idiot. A point to take note of.

The other things that are popular are special editions. Some people do all their reading with ebooks but then like to get the first book or the series as a special edition. Who knew? Well now I know right. And merchandise either as a freebie when you preorder or to buy if not. I had a preorder form up but didn’t have many preorders. An author friend said that her preorders covered the cost of her table before she sold anything there. I saw some authors with half a normal sized room with preorders laid out. The author guy next to me wrote mafia books and he had an all black special edition. People were just drawn to it. Black cover, black pages with white text and he had included some explicit images. I think special editions as objects in themselves are fascinating.

The venue was nicely decorated with a starry drape. It looked impressive but made where I was a bit dark. People couldn’t read my blurbs.

The vibe was absolutely amazing, positive, uplifting, exciting and joyful. Meeting up with other authors (known and not previously know) was such a buzz and sharing tips and bubbly was a nice ending. The after dark event was okay but many authors packed up which upset some of the VIPs who had paid to be able to chat with authors. I was a bit confused myself about what we were meant to do. There were panels and so on but mixing cold was a bit hard. I think if you do a mingle you should do speed dating or number draws to meet people and break the ice. Going up to a group of people already talking is a bit hard. However, I did get sales during the evening.

The starry ceiling as people were setting up
I forgot to switch my watch to local time so turned up half hour early for a mingle. I was directed by staff to enjoy the river.
My table set up. The theme was gardens so I went for it.
Keri Arthur was my neighbour on one side. Love the branding on the banner.

Overall a very worthwhile experience. My big takeaway is that I need to do more with my pen name Dani Kristoff and also do some branding like Keri’s as I think it was confusing to only have my Donna Maree Hanson banner but I sold mostly Dani Kristoff books there.

It was also very valuable to get an insight in this indy convention thing. There are a lot of dedicated readers out there not reading traditionally published books.

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