Three Weeks 'Til Book 'Em NC

For the last few years, every February I make the trek from the north Georgia mountains to a small town in North Carolina called Lumberton for a massive, ever-growing writer's conference and book fair called Book 'Em North Carolina. I have such a great time during this one day event that I always immediately agree to come back the next year.


So here we are, a mere three weeks from the big day. I can't wait! I'll be there with bells on (*Remember to buy bells*) ready to meet and greet new readers and old with handfuls of chocolates, lots of smiles and conversation, and dozens of copies of the Liz Baker series.


If you'll be anywhere near Lumberton on February 22nd please, please, please stop by and say hello. The even is free to the public. With over 75 authors, publishers, and literary agents signing books and giving panel talks, you're bound to find something of interest.


Here are all the details:


When: February 22, 2014
Where: Robeson Community College in Lumberton, NC
Hours: 9:30am to 5:00pm


Check out the website for directions and hotel information, as well as a list of authors, talk schedules, and author seating. My table will be down the first hallway you come to as you pass the cash registers. But don't worry, the entire set up is one big circle. You'll come around to my table at some point.  :D

Upcoming Event: Book 'Em NC 2013

Last year, I attended a conference-slash-book fair in Lumberton, North Carolina. I had a great time meeting other authors and trying my best to entice new readers. Not to mention, meeting a couple of online friends face-to-face for the first time. It was so much fun that I immediately agreed to come back in 2013.

And now it's 2013! Wow! Where did 2012 go? No biggie, though. Let's just move on and start enjoying 2013. :)

Back to Book 'Em NC 2013...

I will be in attendance at Book 'Em NC on February 23, 2013. The night before is the author meet-n-greet with the actual conference & book fair the next morning. It's an all-day event (9:30am - 4pm) that's open to the public free of charge. There will be author talks, books for sale, authors on hand to autograph your books (even when our hands cramp from signing so many)... I think they're even having food stations this year. 

Oh, and lest I forget, there's a big children's section upstairs. Last year, they had face painting and people dressed up as storybook characters. All the kids in attendance looked quite happy. Then again, that could have been all the candy I had on my table when they came by. LOL. For a moment I actually wished we'd brought our own kids to enjoy it... and then I came to my senses. ;)

This is such a big event and it benefits the local area there in Lumberton that I don't know anyone who would pass up the chance to help out, or even stop by to check it all out.  Here's the description of the Book 'Em purpose from the website:

"The purpose of The Book 'Em Foundation and this event is to raise public awareness of the link between high crime rates and high illiteracy rates. Proceeds from the Book 'Em North Carolina book fairs go directly to increasing literacy in Robeson County, North Carolina and to reducing crime in the area."

Last year, there were over 2,000 people in attendance, with 75 authors, and they raised over $9,000 in only 6 hours for the community.

If you're anywhere near Lumberton on Feb. 23rd please stop by, even just for a moment, to check it out. You might even find yourself leaving with dozens of new books. I know I saw many people walking around with arm loads that day... several even left with some of mine. :D

For more details and directions, visit http://www.bookemnc.org .  And hey, if you stop by be sure to find my table and say hello. I love conversation with fellow book lovers.

How I became a candy pusher to sell books.

I've always heard that you have to have a catch, something to attract readers and hold their attention long enough to tell them about your work.

I've also heard that it's good to have candies, foods of some sort, to pull people over to your table at events. Give lots of stuff away and people will stop long enough to listen to you, or at least pick up a book and check it. Hopefully leaving with said book.

I sat my table up, stacking books, spreading bookmarks and business cards, and filling a large glass vase with 4 bags of cinnamon disks. It all matched, the layout was satisfactory, and I was ready for the readers to rush through the doors. Never did I suspect I'd become a pusher of spicy candy!

Before the doors open a few Lumberton policemen strolled by. I said good morning to them, and them to me. As they walked away I heard one say to the other, "Those red things are like crack!"

Now, considering I'm still walking around a free woman I will assume that his comment was directed at the candy's addictiveness and not it's legality on the streets.

Everyone who came by heard a "Good morning!" from me, or similar salutation. I was usually greeted with a kind response and a glance at the table. Soon that greeting was followed by, "Do you like candy?" Now this drew people's attention even more. It caught them off guard enough to slow them down. Many paused to consider the question, leading them to consider the books laid out around the candy jar.

I enjoyed the fun of it so much that even the author at a neighboring table jumped on it. He would stop people to ask if they'd gotten some of my candy. He'd tell them that no one could pass without taking some. And when I'd come back to my table from being away for a bit he'd make sure I saw that my candy jar level was lower than before. LOL!

It was all very funny. I even made it a running commentary for those who would come by my table more than once. "Do you want MORE candy? Come on, take a handful and put it in your pocket."

So yes, I became the candy lady at Book 'Em. Anyone who came down the fiction hall was offered candy and most took me up on the offer. I even turned it around when someone said they didn't like vampire books with, "Well, do you like candy?" That always got a smile and usually they took my business card as well. :)

In the end, whether it's true or not, I'm going to contribute my book sells to my sparkling personality and the cinnamon disks! I went to NC with four bags and came home with half a bag, and sold more books than I expected to. Yay for candy!

Stop by tomorrow when I talk about the Author Meet-n-Greet from the night before Book 'Em.

New Time for Death, Second Edition

Good morning, everyone. I hope the week is treating you kindly. I'm currently working on the Liz Baker short story, Death Reflected, and waiting on my Federal tax refund to show up. We'll be working on home improvements over the next few weeks with that money. As well as knocking some away into savings.

Speaking of improvements, I'm releasing a second edition of Time for Death (Liz Baker, book 1) just in time for the Book 'Em NC Conference & Book Fair. Something eye-catching and up to date with books 2 and 3.

This new cover looks even more gorgeous in print than it does on the computer screen. Once again, due to the incredible talents of my cover designer Kelly Shorten. Thank you, Kelly!

The first edition of Time for Death is on the road to retirement and over the next several weeks will be replaced in book databases by this new edition. I know the Kindle, Nook, and Smashwords editions are already up-dated, but it will take a bit longer for the print copies to change over.

And as always, if you want a signed copy for yourself, or for gift giving, they are always available straight from me via ChristieSilvers.com.

Now I'm off to do the whole wife/mother thing with laundry, dishes, housecleaning, before jumping into today's writing. Have a good one!

Event: Book 'Em North Carolina

Yesterday I was invited to attend the Book 'Em North Carolina event on February 25, 2012. Today I agreed to attend!

This will be my first event outside the local area and most definitely outside the state. It will take over 14 hours of driving (to & from) and 2 nights in a hotel, but it sounds like a lot of fun. There are said to be about 75 authors and over 1,000+ members of the public in attendance. Attendance is FREE, so I hope to meet many new people.

Details:
Date: Saturday, February 25, 2012
Where: Robeson Community College Lumberton, North Carolina
Time: 9:30 am - 4:00 pm

For more details, visit http://www.bookemnc.org/ and click on the "Attendees" button. To see a list of participating authors use the "authors" button.

I'll be signing and selling Liz Baker books.  A percentage of all books sold will go toward the Lumberton community to help with increased literacy and decreased crime rates.  If you come see me while I'm there I'll have a variety of goodies to share with you. I'm even considering making Tim take pictures for me so I can email everyone their own copies when I get home. I'll post more details about the goodies when we're closer to the event date.

I hope to see you there!

Excitement that only a parent can understand.

Today is a milestone in the life of my youngest daughter. This morning she woke up with a dry diaper! Now many of you readers without children will probably be saying, "Yeah, ok, and?" But, you parents out there will completely understand he excitement that I'm feeling today. I just want to shout, "Diaper freedon here I come!" It's not like I'm spending a fortune on diapers all the time, I use cloth, but it will be great to be able to store all of these diapers away and not worry about them any longer. Ahhhh, I can't wait. Oh, and she received TONS of praise from me this morning when I discovered the dry diaper. TONS! lol

On a completely unrelated topic, yesterday was an exciting day in a totally different manner. Yesterday, I signed my very first autograph! I've been asked numerous times if I would sign someone's book, and I always say yes, but this was the very first in-person autograph request!! That is very exciting. I know that I was blushing, but it was soooooo much fun. I look forward to many, many more of those moments in the future. :-)