A Night @ The Ellwood House & Celebration of a Milestone ('Spell of the Black Unicorn' turns 5 years old!)

I've been keeping this under my hat for a while. Mainly because it's an event that not only features me, but 3 other authors, plus a slew of gifted performers and sounds like there will be a fashion show, and who knows what all.

It's in DeKalb at the visitor center (below), at the historical Ellwood House in DeKalb, Ill.


Description:
On Friday April 26th, from 4-7 pm event series "Borders Nith Out" returns for its 3rd show at the Ellwood House visitors center! Written and directed by the former employees and regulars of Borders Books DeKalb, the series was relaunched in Sept of 2012. Managed by Jessica Arriaga.

Special guest hosted by fashion modeling superstar: Sabrina DiGiovanni of Beauty Look Magazine.
$5.00 at the door. All ages.

Four themed fashion walks set to the music of Fleewood Mack by the Ladies of Borders Nite Out. Featuring Lola DeLo, Sarah Henneke, Ashley Lucero and many others.

Meet published authors-
Deanna Francis who will be signing her new book 'Taking Chances' She was recently featuring in the A&E section of the Daily Chronicle.
Jo Fredell Higgins with her books 'DeKalb' and 'Aurora' from Arcadia Publishing's Images of America series. This is her 4th Borders Nithg Out appearance.

Anderea Jones with her books Hook & Jill and Other Oceans. Andrea has appeared in several Borders Nith Out events over the years and is always a guiding light in the shows.

Lorelei Bell celebrating the 5th anniversary of her first novel, "Spell of the Black Unicorn" Lorelei was in the very first Borders Nite Out in Dec. of 2008 and her she is in the brand new one!

Handmade jewelry for sale and display by Ashley Ney. Jewelry and ViSalus display by Rachel & Adam Muller (of Borders Nite Out)
Live music by Amanda and Andrew, Mitch Munns with Rachel Cozzola, Mark w/Mia Lynell, Danielle Pivonka, and other musical guests!

Well, you get the picture. Yes, I'm celebrating my very first, self-published work Spell of the Black Unicorn, which I self-published almost 5 years ago. I am now working on putting it up as an ebook. I hope to get it finished by the end of this month, and have it out as an ebook by May.

When Daniel Sherrill told me about how these events had really taken off, I thought, why not go to the next one. Of course this means (gak) I have to go out in public (I'm part turtle, and hide my head a lot). Also (gak) find something that fits me and looks nice--gained too much weight over the winter and I just can't loose it no matter how much I try.

I'm hopeful there will be so much going on--well everyone will be looking at the ladies on the catwalk and listening to the music--I won't have to feel like I'm in the spotlight. Especially when there's going to be 3 other authors. Hmm. I've invited friends and hope they come out for this one.

So, that's what I'll be doing this Friday night. Wish me luck... in finding something that fits me.

23 BOOKS SOLD!

People were out shopping Saturday afternoon in droves, as we drove through the shopping area where Borders is situated. Just as I'd thought, the bookstore had a good crowd milling through as my husband and I swung into Borders at 2:20, a little before I was expected for the book signing. I sighted the table with the red table covering with the Borders logo on past the middle of the store.

Julie Morsh, manager of the DeKalb Borders, must have known something about the draw the news article would have, the number of friends and family who would come out to buy a book. And going by my very first book signing three years ago—in which I sold 17 our of 24 books—she must have known to order an extra dozen—36 books—for this event. A very good thing she did. I would have sold out!

Julie greeted us, and while I was in the washroom prepping myself, she went and got us both huge cups of decadent coffee with a bit of chocolate stuck into the cloud of whipping cream. On the house. She also gave me a pen for signing—also mine to keep. I love to be catered to. She also said thank you to me! I think she knew I'd sell a lot of books.

I ran into old friends who had seen the article. One friend, Connie, had said she came by because she'd seen the article in the MidWeek. I've not seen her in ages! I worked with her more than a dozen years ago, and hadn't seen her in at least that long. She wasn't a vampire novel fan, she merely came by to say hi and tell me how excited she was, and thought it was great that I finally had a book published. She, like all who knew me that long ago, knew my fervent dream was always to have a book published. Right after she left another woman who I had worked with in the same place had brought two daughters with her, and I believe I sold 3 to her.

Another old and dear friend, John R. (who also on occasion does the John's Corner of Horror posts at my blog), brought his daughter and, as promised, they each bought a copy and wished me the best. They are both vampire enthusiasts.

After this, things began happening pretty quickly, and I was signing books, and having pictures taken and talking to people about the book. Dennis also gave his two thumbs up and told people about the book, and how he felt this was my very best work.

Various relatives showed up; my sister came with her husband—and I was so happy that she could finally come to one of these, the very reason I made sure it was in the afternoon—and then my husband's niece strolled in and bought 3!

A few more relatives showed up and bought at least one each. Strangers who are into vampire novels couldn't help but buy a copy. Julie had set me up right next to the vampire section; exactly where I wanted to be in order to catch the eye of more vampire novel enthusiast.

My photographer, John Zeningale made it, after having driven all the way from New Jersey from a business deal—through snow, no less. He hadn't expected to make it at first, but he had text messaged me on facebook the night before that he was on his way, and would be there. These are his pictures I've posted here, and have more at facebook. Thank you John!

Others I know through work came and bought a copy. And my pile of 36 books were really dwindling. I'd lost count at some point and as it was getting toward the end, we counted and came up with 23 books.

The surprise of the evening was a reporter from the DeKalb Chronicle came in to interview me. I'd met this young man, Michael Brown, from when he worked for the NIU paper, The Northern Star. He had interviewed me two years ago—not about my book at the time, but he knew I had published before. It was nice to see him. I found out that it was the news release that my editor, Yolanda, at Copperhill Media had sent out that had caught the editor's eye, and he sent Michael to get the full story. Michael said that because I'm a local person, this might get front page (Ill have to see how this comes out).

Afterwards, my husband, his sister, my sister and her husband and I, all went out for dinner at a local Mexican restaurant. That was great. We toasted to the incredibly great book signing. I couldn't have wished for it to turn out better. And we joked about getting a stretch limo to take us all to the first showing of the movie version of my book. (I wish!)

Sorry about the delay, when I got home from a celebratory dinner on Saturday, I found that may phone was dead! It took until today for the wires to be fixed.

Shameless Self-Promotion

This is picture with me holding my book in Borders where I'll be at this Saturday, 3-5

The article came out today in Midweek you can read it here--hopefully I got the link right.

My husband and I went to town to do some errands, and popped into the bookstore, mainly to find out if my books have come in. The young lady wasn't sure. She said they'd had a shipment come in, and it might be in, but she was the only one on the floor right then, and so offered to check later, and give me a call.

You know that hitting the panic button too early would be foolish. It's only Wednesday. So we picked up the latest MidWeek--3 copies--found my article and went to a bar and grill to have a small lunch to celebrate.

When we came home message on our phone was from Borders telling me that the books were in. All 36 of them! Wow. A dozen more than my first book signing with my first book. Julie must have big hopes on me to sell this book. Boy, I hope so.

Things seem to be working out. The books came, my story hit the paper at the right time. Oh, and Publisher's Clearing House sent me that special envelope they told me to watch for. I might win a million dollars a year, every year. Shoot, one million is all I could handle or even need right now. Sure would make last year disappear real quick.

Well, my new year is working out so far. Angels have a way of helping out on their end too.

Thanks Mom.

I guess I'd better not rest on my laurels and get back to work. I've only so many free days left!

The Big Event

For each and every writer/published author hopeful, the Big Event is, of course, the book signing.

I've had three official book signings. Nothing compares to the first one. You can never repeat that first one.

But you can get the momentum going again. The excitement will be there with another local book signing for the new book.

I spoke to Julie Morsh of my local Borders and she called me back because she had a meeting to go to, and so we could chat a bit. She was excited that I had a new book out, and asked right away if it was a series. I told her it was. She said that the series "back in the day" was not a big deal. Now it's "hot". A series will hook your readers into your characters, if you build them with intensity enough to make people like them--or hate a few--enough to want to see some sort of thing building between the good and bad ones. And if you're real smart, you'll keep on adding new ones to love or hate for whatever reason.

So, because I'm going through this again, for the second time, it isn't the same, and yet it is. I'm excited, but it's controlled excitement. I know that I'll be contacting the paper again and know I don't want to babble on and on about my book like before. I'll have something prepared, and hope I don't sweat like a b.b. player on the court with M.J.

I have known contacts too. Julie Morsh, bookstore manager, didn't know me and I didn't know her back in 2008, but now, after having me in her store a few times, she knows who I am and I got to adjust my time for when I wanted it--in the afternoon so that I can go home at a reasonable hour and crash. She was very accommodating, and she was happy to hear I would have my own photographer, John Zingale, again--I call him my paparazzi--because when John Zingale showed up at the first book signing, and was snapping away, I couldn't understand why someone was taking so many pictures! I didn't know he was going to do that and it was like I had some paparazzi there at my book signing. John, being a good friend and co-worker, said he'd be there again, and I'll be emailing him about this soon.

January 8th, at the DeKalb Borders, should anyone who reads this be able to attend.

Julie will order the books in the morning, happy to know it was through Ingram. She said she wouldn't put them out until the week of the signing--afraid she might run out of them maybe?

And with my 3 weeks off coming up soon, I'll have plenty of time to get things ready, get the word out the best I can and hope most of the people I know can attend. The first one was fabulous. I sold 17 books out of the 25. That's considered very good. Julie hugged me after the book signing, that night. They had the carolers in a section behind me, so that people had to go past me. When I got there, I was asked to sign two books and one woman came up to me and said "I just have to have this book!" and I didn't even have my coat off.

That will probably never happen again, but I hope for good things with this book, and the next ones to follow. It's fun, but it's work to get the book out there. I hope to do a better job of getting the word out about Vampire Ascending.

A Weekend Get Away

My husband and I celebrate 22 years of marriage on the 3rd of December. We've made reservations to stay in a cabin during this coming weekend--and these photos are what the cabins look like, inside and out. Nestled in the beautiful, very mature White Pines State Park, outside of Oregon, Illinois, it is a nice break away from what we are so used to around us--dormant fields, and the park next to us which we've had for 16 years. You just need a change of scenery. And White Pines Inn was perfect. It was one of the places where Dennis and I had gone on a date, and learned that we enjoyed the outdoors. We had stayed once about 17 years ago, but had never gone to the dinner/theater, and had been wanting to revisit and add the dinner/theater. We'll be enjoying the comedy "Scrooge" which has audience participation.

The cabins, as you can see, are real log cabins, built in 1929 by the C.C.C.'s. They used to have actual working fireplaces. When we visited the first time, they had closed them off. But now they have either a gas or electric fireplace. A romantic get away, for sure. Nothing like having someplace warm and cozy to enjoy on a cold December night. We have been looking forward to it since we made the reservations back in October--finding they had only 3 cabins left (I think they have 20)

Also, on the 3rd, I've been told my book, Vampire Ascending, is to have a first print copy. I'm to get this copy, I suppose, and another is to be sent to a reviewer. So, all that going on this coming weekend, I've got a lot of celebrating to do.

It's been a while since I've had a book out. Oddly enough, the first one came out in November of 2008. I had a book signing in December. With all that is going on, my work schedule and so forth (not quite knowing when my book will be available to be ordered by a bookstore), I'm thinking about all the rushing around during this time, worrying about this stuff, I think I'm going to hang back and have a book signing in January instead. I know that people get gift certificates for the bookstores for Christmas gifts, so I'm going to do it this way. That way, while I'm down (no work) for 3 weeks, I can get my interviews done, and arrangements for the book signing as well, and I won't drive myself nuts trying to organize it all before Christmas--which falls on Saturday, and thus so does New Years Eve.

So, I'm not going to be around this weekend. I'm not going to have to cook, wash dishes, and we might take a few hikes into the woods, clean out our lungs and refresh our minds with the peacefulness surrounding us.