The rest of the conference

I forgot to mention my editor/agent appointments that happened on Friday. Anyway, the first one was very low-key. The agent requested a partial from all of us without having to pitch, and then we asked questions about her agency. The second one was also low-key. I talked to a Mills & Boon editor about my submissions and asked advice on whether I should be focusing on medievals or whether I should diversify. She said until I sell, I should keep trying different things. Once I sell, that’s the time to focus. Interesting.

On Saturday, I listened to a combination of publisher spotlights and promotional workshops. I learned some interesting facts about promotion, namely booksellers. Stephanie Bond gave a great talk on how she contacts a new bookseller each week as a gesture of goodwill and sends them promotional items to give to their customers. Great idea. She said that over time, you start to build up a base of people, and when they order books, they’ll start to remember your name.

That night was the Golden Heart/Rita awards ceremony. I guess I must be clueless, but while some people were offended by the historical slant of the film clips and the fashion show put on by the presenters, I wasn’t. I was entertained. I guess if you look at it from an overall perspective, that the focus wasn’t as much on the nominees, then they’re right. Maybe it’s because I’m not a political person. In any case, I enjoyed the ceremony, the wacky fashions, and the theater atmosphere.

Last night I finished reading Julie Kenner’s Carpe Demon. What a fun book!