Brain Candy Friday: Talking About The Weather

Everybody always thinks of the weather as boring. But I get fascinated by storms. I’m all too aware of the damage they can cause, but I must admit, hurricanes—especially—have always fascinated me. And tornadoes, and windstorms, thunderstorms, also. The forces of nature are incredibly powerful and even amidst the destruction they can cause, they are tremendous and awe-inspiring to witness.

Here, in the Seattle area, we get flooding and rain, some pretty intense windstorms. We don’t get a lot of snow, though a couple of years ago we were snowbound for eight days because nobody’s prepared to drive in this weather and most of the cities are built on hills and slopes.

One of our worst windstorms I remember was in 2006, when we had hurricane force winds howling through the area. There are some pretty intense videos on Youtube of the aftermath. I’m presenting a few of them here.  So what kind of autumn and winter weather do you get in your area?

Yasmine

The December 14, 2006 Windstorm (some great vids posted on Youtube):

Shadows of a Ghostly Kind

Blogging Over At Between Fire and Ice today about Shadows of a Ghostly Kind.

New Moon Daughters Comic Is Up!

The new page of the Moon Daughter's Comic "A Ghost in the House" is up!

SNIPPET MONDAYS #1: COURTING DARKNESS

We’re counting down to COURTING DARKNESS’s November release with a snippet from Chapter 2!

You can read the first chapter of COURTING DARKNESS in the back of NIGHT VEIL, or up on Yasmine's site. So we'll be posting snippets from chapter 2 each Monday until the release date. If we find anybody reproducing this on other sites we'll stop and everybody loses out. That means: NO cutting/pasting/copying/sending through email.

Remember, you can pre-order COURTING DARKNESS from Amazon.com or BN.com!

COURTING DARKNESS
CHAPTER TWO Excerpt #1
copyright 2011 Yasmine Galenorn, all rights reserved, do not reproduce
First Chapter
Excerpts Already Posted

Smoky was all for killing the daemon, but I shook my head.
“Better to keep Trytian on our side. After all, he did warn us
about your father. And if we kill the thing, Trytian will be in
our face about it. Right now, we don’t need that.”

“We can’t just let it run around the streets loose. What
will people say?” Shade stared at me for a moment, then
burst into a peal of laughter. “I can’t believe I just said that,
considering some of what you’ve told me about your exploits,
but still . . . a daemon?”

Menolly held up her hand. “Let me attend to it.” She disappeared
inside the room, and a moment later she came out, the daemon in hand. He flashed her a guilty look, then cleared his throat.

“I’ll cause no more trouble. Any return message for Trytian?”

I blinked. What the fuck had she said to him? Oh well,
whatever it was, it seemed to have worked. “Tell him we’ll be
on the lookout and do our best to stop the dragon. Tell him . . .
thank him for the information. He didn’t have to tell me.”

The daemon nodded, then started to head for the stairs.

“Wait!” I called out. He turned around. “Let me cast a
cloaking spell over you. You simply can’t go wandering around
the streets looking like you do.”

A sly smile stole across his face. “You want to try, girl?”

I nodded, even though Trillian and Menolly were both
frantically shaking their heads. Motioning for them to stand
aside, I began to work up the magic that I knew for cloaking
spells— if I could just get him to pass for human, that would
solve the problem of people on the streets. Then we’d just have
to explain to the folks up in the bar that they’d seen a crazed
lunatic wearing a costume who had a thing against elves.

“Sweetheart, I don’t think this is wise—” Trillian began
to say, and Smoky, for once, chimed in on his side, but I
brushed away their fears, too.

“My magic has grown stronger since I’ve been working
with Morio. And there’s no other way to avoid incurring
questions that we do not want.”

Disguise spells, or cloaking spells, weren’t all that hard—
at least not for the average Moon Witch. Given my background,
there was always the chance I’d muck it up, but I was
ever the optimist, and besides, I was the only one here who
could even try to cast a spell.

Without further ado, I focused on the daemon and summoned
the Moon Mother’s power into my hands, willing it to
flow into the creature’s aura. With a tingle raging through
my fingers, like pins and needles pricking a thousand nerves,
I began to rearrange the shape of his energy field, focusing
on smoothing out the bumps and modifying the color.

Even if we could get him to pass for a Supe of unknown
variety, chances were the Seattle Tattler wouldn’t be getting
calls about some hellish creature rampaging through the
streets. Maybe a weredog or something . . .

With one last shove to set the energy, I blinked and stood
back. The daemon began to shift form. We all waited with
pent breath, and then as the spell settled into his aura, I let
out a gurgle and face-palmed my forehead. Not quite what
I’d been going for.

The daemon stood there, on all four feet, tail wagging,
staring up at me. “What did you do to me, woman? I didn’t
think you’d actually be able to do anything. I heard you were
a bumbling idiot! How long am I going to look like this? A
poodle? Are you serious?”

He took a threatening step toward me and nipped at my
ankles, but Smoky leaned over and scooped up the daemon.

“Do not threaten my wife, even if it is with rabies.”

“I don’t have rabies, you idiot! I’m not actually a dog!”

“Um, I hate to differ with you,” Menolly said, “but you
are for now. And it could last ten minutes or it could last ten
days, knowing my sister. I advise you get back to the Demon
Underground before the dogcatcher sees you.”

The string of obscenities that issued forth made even my
ears hurt. Apparently, my mind hadn’t been as focused as I’d
thought, because he was nowhere human or Were looking.
In fact, he was a very ornate white poodle, clipped in the
typical powder- puff stereotype. With two glaring exceptions:
both his eyes and his toenails were brilliant red.

“You look like some sort of wacked-out hellhound,” Trillian
said. “I’m sorry, dude. My wife tends to fritz out on her
magic a lot, but it does work, contrary to what Trytian seems
to have told you.”

“Put me down, you lunatic, and let me out of here now!”
The daemon dog snapped again, and Smoky promptly curled
his thumb and index fi nger together and gave him a thunk on
the muzzle. Not hard enough to hurt, but hard enough to
humiliate.

Blessed Equinox

My Favorite Paranormal TV Shows

Blogging Over At Between Fire and Ice today about My Favorite Paranormal TV Shows.

Forums Are Closing

Okay, my website forums are not being used much--not enough to justify the time it takes for upkeep and making sure spammers don't get in. So I regret to say I'm closing them down. Facebook has suddenly become "the" place to be and I can reach thousands of my readers there, where my forums are seldom used. So I'll be here--my blog--posting as usual, on Facebook and, a bit less--still on Twitter.

Yes, I AM on Google+ but hardly ever check it and don't plan on making it a regular stop. I just don't have the time to hop around to every venue. And while I prefer my blog and Twitter, the truth is that on Facebook I reach more actual readers--I have the feeling that a lot of people who follow me on Twitter aren't readers of mine. And while yes, I enjoy interacting with them, that's what the social networking is primarily about for me--reaching my readers.

Oh, and another note: just reiterating what it says on my contact page. If you write me a long diatribe about what a bad writer I am, and about how if I just took YOUR advice I might actually write something worth reading, don't expect an answer, and expect me to think you're some cranky bitch, a writer wannabe who's jealous because s/he can't get published, or just some troll. Because that's pretty much the way the letter came across. Saying you don't care for someone's work is fine, but writing a long detailed letter bitching about it to the author, well...think you need to get more of a life. And that, my friend, is MY opinion.

Of course not everybody likes my work, and I don't expect it. But um...if you don't like it, go read something else and don't bother me. Because I don't need, or want, a collaborator or advice from someone who has never written a book. I've been in this business for a long time, I've got 27 books on the shelves that I'm proud of, and hey, this is what I write and how I write. It's not going to change just because a person here or there doesn't like it.

What matters is I have thousands (and I do mean tens of thousands) of happy readers, my editor is happy, and I'm happy with my work. And that--is what counts.

So yeah...there are my thoughts today. A tad bitchy but we all have our moments. *grins*

Yasmine

New Moon Daughters Comic Is Up!

The new page of the Moon Daughter's Comic "A Ghost in the House" is up!

Breast Cancer

I am here to talk to you all about breast cancer. This terrible illness has touched so many lives in some form or another. Yasmine and I recently put out a call on the internet for people who wanted to share how this illness touched their lives to get in touch with me. I was contacted by several terrific people who agreed to answer just a few questions, and I am going to share their answers with you now.

The first person who got in contact with me is a wonderful lady by the name of Elicia.

Was it you or someone else in your family who had/have breast cancer?
It was someone else, one of my Aunts and a few close family friends.


When were you/that person diagnosed?
Umm about 6 years ago I think...I don’t know like I said there have been a few


Have you participated in any walks or other charity events for awareness?
I haven’t yet but my mother and sister do and I plan to attend the next one. It’s done on the track at our local high school and there are people that camp there and stay all night.


How has this illness effected/affected you?
Personally I first found out as a young teen that it ran in my family and truly I started checking myself very young even before 18.The reason I started sooner is I know the sooner its caught the better, I guess you'd say the effect on me has been awareness.

The next person who contacted me was a terrific man named Simon who is from the UK.

Was it you or someone else in your family who had/have breast cancer?
It was my mother who found a small lump and at first being afraid didn't get it checked out. Which she did regret at a later date.

When were you/that person diagnosed?
In 1988 when I was nearly 17

Have you participated in any walks or other charity events for awareness?
I have done the Bristol half Marathon for a Cancer Hospice and Macmillan nurses and a few money raising events / auctions

How has this illness effected/affected you?
It gave me quite a bit of stress in my late teens / early twenties mainly through lack of sleep, one eye, one ear open listening for calls for help in the night and general worrying. It has also given me a positive outlook on life with regard to enjoying ones time, being alive to enjoy life and making the most of the people you have around you. However I can be less tolerant of people’s silly problems.

What is a message you would like to share with others about being effected/affected by this illness?

Positive, positive, positive thinking and upbeat behavior. It's really tough at times but I know it helped my mother and my little sisters that I kept cheerful and kept smiling. Take the positives out of the day and don't dwell too much on the negatives. If you feed the negative vibe it just gets stronger and harder to control. It's really hard and personally it was quite draining but just that little bit of laughter, love, sharing problems and fighting onwards through it all together works well. At times my mother didn't like to feel she was any less independent than she had been before she got ill. It was quite important not to pussy foot around too much or be overly helpful or smothering with her so she felt that she was in control and dealing with her illness too. I found that support is given in many ways and at many levels and it's not all about being nurse maid.

I then heard from a very sweet lady named Doris.

Was it you or someone else in your family who had/have breast cancer?

It was my mother that had breast cancer in 2003.

Have you participated in any walks or other charity events for awareness?

Yes, I have participated in several charity events for the awareness as well as donating to Cancer Awareness.

How has this illness effected/affected you?

Well, myself personally, it has made me more aware of women’s annual health check-ups. How fragile life is or maybe i should say how short. My mother’s cancer came back last year. They said it was a different kind from what her breast cancer was, but it was on the same side (right side). It was on her bronchial tube. When they found it some had moved and had attached itself to her brain. She died this past March 28. So I guess I can say it has affected me very strongly. Doing things like this, talking and the Cancer Awareness helps me to work through it I think. Every woman from 16 up to death needs to have their yearly exams. I cannot stress that strongly enough. When you first find out about someone close to you having cancer it is like a hole in the bottom of your stomach opens and it is a black pit left. After that you just have to take everything one day at a time.

What is a message you would like to share with others about being effected/affected by this illness?

To share something I guess is to have your check-ups. And that I can happen to anyone. No matter how much money, or lack thereof, that you have. It doesn’t matter cancer doesn’t discriminate, young or old, rich or poor it doesn’t care it will or try to take someone that you love.

This next lovely lady to answer my questions is Jodee.

Was it you or someone else in your family who had/have breast cancer?
Since I have known several people with breast cancer, I will say them in order of diagnosis (or when I was told about them having breast cancer)

A very close family friend was diagnosed with breast cancer in her late 20's around 1989. In 1995 I found out my best friend’s mother had fought and survived breast cancer. In 1999 my mother was diagnosed with the very early stages of breast cancer. Then in 2001 I was tested because of a lump in my breast but it turned out to be a cyst.

Have you participated in any walks or other charity events for awareness?
I have muscular dystrophy so I am unable to participate in the active fundraisers for breast cancer but have been involved in pink ribbon sales (merchandise & ribbons), morning teas and a few raffles to raise money for research.

How has this illness effected/affected you?
As a bystander to those who have gone through breast cancer it is scary & made me feel helpless. It's hard watching someone go through something like that and harder still when someone dies after fighting it for 20 years. My best friend's mother survived after having both breasts removed, my mother was treated before it progressed too far. Watching others go through what they do to beat breast cancer shows how strong those people are and their strength helped me be strong to offer them support in any way I could.

What is a message you would like to share with others about being effected/affected by this illness?

For others out there that are in the same position as me and are unfortunate enough to watch a friend or loved one go through breast cancer, my advice is to be honest with the person and talk about your emotions and encourage them to talk about their emotions as well. But most of all just offer support and be there. Don't try and do everything for the other person because it is important to them that they still retain some sense of independence. Just be there for company with a cup of tea and offer an ear when they want to talk and help with things to cheer them up.

The last person who contacted me was a very sweet lady named Jenni. After I share her answers to my questions I’m going to share a bit more of her personal story.

Was it you or someone else in your family who had/have breast cancer?

My Aunt & Step Mother.
I do have unexplainable masses they look at every 6 months now.

When were you/that person diagnosed?

Both Diagnosed in 92. Step died in Dec 95. Aunt Died in March 2009. The masses in my left breast were found in2005

Have you participated in any walks or other charity events for awareness?

Breast cancer awareness walks & picnic. Cancer awareness auctions.

How has this illness affected you?

Watching anyone you know and love go through the process of living and then dying with breast cancer is a very rude awakening to death and illness. I know for me, it taught me to hold on a little harder while hugging, say I love you as often as I can. Most of all never ever stay angry at those I love. We don't have a clue how long we will be together on this plain. I had to dig deeper than I ever had to find the strength to be supportive. As a nurse’s assistant you would think it would have been natural, Let’s just say I was a bit angry and bitter for about a month. I snapped into shape though and pitched in as much as I could.

What is a message you would like to share with others about being affected by this illness?

Breast Cancer is not picky. It does not discriminate. It will get its hooks into anyone it can. Please be diligent about breast exams and mammograms. They really don't take that much time to get done. Especially when the alternative is a horrible long painful illness, while your family and life pass by. Life is for living. Stay as healthy as you can.

Jenni lost her brother that she was extremely close to not that long ago. Even though she lost him to a different illness it hasn’t been very easy for her to deal with his loss. She also told me that her annual mammogram just happened, and they found some calcified masses which were biopsied. The biopsy on her masses came back inconclusive so they wanted to check them again in six months, but Jenni is trying to get them rechecked in three months. She just really does not want to take the chance of waiting too long.

Men I want to say to you that though most breast cancer cases that you hear about are women you guys need to be vigilant too. This is not just a women’s illness men can get it as well, so please all of you male and female check yourself for lumps. If you do feel one don’t wait go to your doctor and have it checked out.

If you would like to find out more information on how you can help raise awareness and money for a cure for this disease go to the sites I am sharing with you or look for one in your local area.

First is the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

This foundation is trying to raise awareness through education and also to provide mammograms for those who cannot afford them.

This next site is one I’m sure a lot of you have heard about before it is the Susan G. Komen For the Cure site.

This foundation provides not only support to those who are battling, or know someone who is battling, this illness, but also has several walks to raise money for finding a cure.

Next up is BreastCancerAwareness.com.

They have forums and blogs to help, and they also raise money for finding a cure.

Lastly I want to share a link to the Breast Cancer Site.

They have a special thing on their site where you click daily and help raise sponsor money to help those in need get much needed mammograms. They also have a store where you can get all kinds of awareness things like jewelry and more.

As I said before please check yourself regularly, and if you find something out of the ordinary get it checked out immediately don’t wait until it is too late.

Brain Candy Friday: Fall Fashion

So it’s time for Fall Fashion again. I don’t really like Vogue very much, but I love the fall issues of all the fashion and makeup magazines because I love seeing what’s coming out. I don’t have summer and fall wardrobes like a lot of people, I tend to wear the same clothes year-round, with the addition of a jacket here and a scarf there. And I have a few warmer shirts that I wear when going outside. But I do change my makeup looks, like I talked about last month, and I do like looking at the new fashions coming out.

When I think of autumn and fashion, I think of plaid and houndstooth check, of cowl-neck sweaters and beautiful retro pumps from the 50’s. Of silk scarves and leather stacked heel boots, and suede driving gloves. Now, this is not to say I dress in this manner—it’s beautiful but it really isn’t me (though I do have a fun pair of flats with plaid bows).

But I think about misty mornings, and dew on the gardens, and argiopes spinning their webs across the path (yikes! But they are a part of autumn to me), and I think of a woman, carrying a basket, dressed in a plaid skirt and a cowl neck sweater and calf-high boots, and I envision her walking out into the gardens, her breath coming in white puffs, as she gathers the last of the herbs before the season claims them.

And that’s my vision of autumn fashion. What’s yours?

Yasmine

Final COURTING DARKNESS ARC Contest

Final COURTING DARKNESS ARC Contest is here!

Writing Traditional Scenes

Blogging Over At Between Fire and Ice today about Writing Traditional Scenes.

Writer Wednesday: Writing Conferences Do's And Don't's--Part 2

Continuing the two-part discusson on Writers Conferences I started last week:

At the signing—and there usually will be a group author signing—make sure you aren’t blocking some other author’s line in your hurry to get to the author you love. I’ve had readers of the author sitting next to me blocking MY readers who are trying to form a line in front of my table. Don’t assume you can take pictures—some authors, like me, are photo shy and really don’t feel comfortable with cameras. Ask first. Depending on the venue, you may be able to bring backlist books to sign. I don’t mind signing earlier books, but if you have a lot of them, let others go first who have just one or two books to be signed.

Most authors are happy to meet their readers at signings—I know I truly love talking to my readers, but be aware of how many people are waiting behind you in line.

Think about what you’re saying—I’ve had people come by my table, pick up one of my books, sniff, and say “I can’t stand vampire books, I don’t like them” and toss the book carelessly back on the table. Fine, if you don’t like vampire books you don’t like them, but it’s just as easy to glance at the book, realize you wouldn’t like it, set it back down and move along with just a smile. Or to say, “Oh, I read mostly westerns (or contemporary romance or whatever),” and nod with a smile and move on.

That’s okay—we get it. Not everybody likes vampire books, not everybody likes fantasy or westerns or historicals. Just try to be pleasant.

Try to leave some down time—conferences can be more tiring than you think. Being around that much creative energy is rather daunting at times and can leave you feeling jittery and/or wired. It’s also exciting.

Dress clean and neat. Shower. (Don’t laugh, I’m serious). Conferences can get crowded so watch how much perfume you wear. Use deodorant. Wear comfortable shoes that you can stand around in while waiting for workshops to open. Dress in layers—some conference rooms will be freezing, others will roast you alive. If you ordered special meals due to allergies, double check when you get there that the information managed to make it to the kitchen.

Take advantage of the social hours and luncheons and dinners and the bar. That’s where the real fun lies. If I’m at a writer’s conference and I’m in the hotel bar, I’m expecting to meet readers and other writers, I’m not there to have a private session with my friends. If I want to meet with my agent privately, we’ll go to the restaurant and have dinner together, rather than hang out in the bar or lounge.

Two caveats: be aware that your behavior may be talked about. If you get drunk and go hang on an agent’s shoulder and whine about the fact that nobody wants your book and why didn’t they like it and please, please, PLEAASSSEEEE read it, that’s not going to score you points and chances are your name may be passed around. I don’t care what newer writers may think, the fact is that yes—publishing IS an incestuous industry and people know people. If you really make a bad impression, it will stick, and may get around. Why chance it? Yes, you can repair reputations sometimes, but why bother having to in the first place?

The other caveat: watch who you gossip about. You might be sitting with Author A, dissing Author B, not realizing that Author B is a good friend of Author A.

I’ve had that happen to me before. One conference organizer called me to bitch and moan about another author who happened to be my friend. Her whining was annoying and the situation was her own damned fault, not my friend’s. Needless to say, I was not amused, and I ceased to have much to do with that conference. You never know who’s connected in this industry, so just again, use common sense when you open your mouth.

The most important point I can make is: try to have fun. Go with an open mind, without expectations, and do your best to make it a good experience. Because as with just about anything in life, most conferences are what you make of them. Even if the conference doesn’t have everything you hope for, look for the positive, and make the most of what is offered to you.

Yasmine

Facebook

It has come to my attention that there is at least one person on Facebook using my name when they should not be. This is not a fan profile, and since my last name was created by my husband and me, and I've got an unusual first name, it's obvious they are trying to masquarade as me.

Note: my private profile on FB is locked down. My OFFICIAL page is HERE. There are a few fan pages other than this one and that's different--but if you see another personal profile with my name, it is NOT legitimate.

The only LEGITIMATE character pages can be found linked on my official fan page.

Yasmine

New Moon Daughters Comic Is Up!

The new page of the Moon Daughter's Comic "A Ghost in the House" is up!

In Memory: KG and Ginger

KG and Ginger--at our renewal of vows ceremony in 2000.
Our priest and priestess.
May your journey to the Summerlands be easy and smooth.

I want to remember two dear friends today. KG and Ginger…I first met them in 1991, at the Olympia CUUPs organization. It didn’t take long before they became dear friends.

KG was taciturn, but friendly and interesting and full of woodsy energy. I remember that he went out of his way to help me—and later, Sam—when he could.

Ginger—she was a light in the darkness. When I remember her, I remember her as a beacon, someone who’s voice made me think of woodland elves, and who’s outlook always—even when she was upset—sought the best in a situation. She was sunshine and moonlight…quietly steady in her beliefs, funny and caring and yet—no pushover.

They were connected to their land, they understood the Wheel of the Year, they were pagans in a way that I understood—not just for show or because it was trendy—but because their hearts truly belonged to the earth and the gods—in whatever way that manifested for them.

In 2000, they hosted the renewal of vows that Sam and I had, and it was beautiful. They were our priest and priestess, and the day was brilliantly warm and sunny (we didn’t do it on our anniversary because we were actually hoping for a bit of sun ~grins~), and everything shimmered in a surreal way.

Then, life intervened and though we kept touch, we weren’t able to see each other very much.

In 2007, we got an email from Ginger, telling me that KG had died suddenly of an aneurism. Sam and I regretted not connecting more, not carving time out. But life will be life and sometimes, an email is the best you can do. Ginger and I kept in touch, though not as much as we wanted, but we kept in touch. However, this past year, I haven’t heard much from her.

And then…last week…we got an email from her daughter. Ginger died, unexpectedly, of complications of a condition she had. It tore me up. One of the bright lights in the world died with her. I can hear her voice though, it will always stay with me because it was rang with honesty, radiance, and magic.

So, I’m saying to you: keep in touch with friends you love, however you can, even if it’s just an email. And don’t take them for granted. Someday, you may wake up and they won’t be there.

Today my post is to honor KG and Ginger’s memories. They will always remain in my heart, and I trust the Lady will speed them to the Summerlands. And the world shines just a little less without them.

Yasmine

Brain Candy Friday: Back To School Memories

I loved elementary school. We won’t even go into the trauma that was junior high, and I skipped high school and went straight into college, but elementary school—I loved it. I was chubby but the kids didn’t care. I did well in school, I had friends, and life—at least while I was at school—was good. I always looked forward to the first day back, and I loved back-to-school shopping, though I never go the clothes I wanted. But I loved picking out a new notebook, and Pee-chees, (do they even make them anymore?), and new binders and pencils and crayons and every year—a new lunchbox. Yes, even then I was an office supplies freak.

One of the things I remember most were the morning walks during late autumn, when frost had crisped the leaves so they crunched under my feet. The air was crisp—we didn’t have much rain where I grew up (and boy do I love that we do now), so the leaves got very brittle in autumn. I remember the smell of autumn, and the relief I felt when the summer heat faded into autumn chill. Back to school for me meant getting away from home, getting back to a routine, seeing my friends, and learning new things. I couldn’t wait to grow up and get away from home, and I knew that school would be my ticket out of that one-horse town. Things changed drastically for the worse when I hit 7^th grade and Junior High, but the six years in grade school were six that I actually remember fondly—at least while I was at school.

 What are your memories from ‘back to school’? Did you love school? Dread it? What do you remember most about those years?

 Yasmine

Special Note About New Books & Chats

Marketing approved my titles so we're looking at the following for the new books:

Otherworld:
Camille (book 13): Haunted Moon
Delilah (book 14): Autumn Whispers
Menolly (book 15): Crimson Veil

Indigo Court:
book 4: Night Vision
book 5: Night's End

On September 22nd I'll be taking part in a Twitter chat for BookCountry between 6--7 PM Pacific time. So join me there. The hashtag will be announced then and the chat will be ON Twitter.

On September 25th, at 4:00 PM Pacific time, I'll be having a live chat in my Moon Stalker Forums chat room. You must register to attend but it's free. We DO NOT post transcripts of the chats (nobody would EVER show up then, for one thing, and I keep the chats private to those who attend--sometimes I give little perks in there, btw), so mark your calendars.

Yasmine

Paranormal in Life and Fiction

Blogging Over At Between Fire and Ice today about Paranormal in Life and Fiction.

Writer Wednesday: Writing Conferences Do's And Don't's--Part 1

I’m going to talk about writers conferences here today and next week for Writer Wednesday. A writing conference can be a fantastic experience, or it can be disheartening and disappointing. Part of this depends on the conference you go to—to be honest, some are better than others. But part of this depends on what you expect out of it, and how you comport yourself.

The best way to approach a writing conference is with an open mind, and a willingness to meet new people and learn new things. This is a good chance for you to network, to meet not just agents and editors but other writers. Here’s a chance to learn more about the industry and marketing.

When you sign up for one, look over the list of workshops and decide which are the most valuable for your writing. You may want to attend one because one of your favorite authors is giving it. Or because it’s about the genre you write. Or because it’s good general advice. Or a workshop may fascinate you for some other reason. You may not be able to attend all of the workshops you want, so prioritize and plan out in advance what you want to do.

When you go to a workshop, be polite—do not videotape it unless you ask the presenter first. Take copious notes and always take the handouts. I guarantee at some point when you get home, you’ll be trying to think of just what exactly it was that the presenter said and you won’t be able to remember it.

During a workshop, feel free to ask questions. Think of some you might have in advance because a lot of people go blank when they’re faced with the actuality of being in a workshop environment. I like to interact with my readers/aspiring writers a lot, I love it when people ask questions—I’m not just there to hand out information that I want to give you, I’m there to answer questions that YOU have about the business/industry/genre.

Chances are, you’ll run into, or see, one of your favorite authors at most writing conferences. If you want to say hello, by all means do. We give workshops at conferences because we want to, because we like interacting with other authors, because it’s a way of giving back to the writing community. We enjoy talking to both readers and aspiring authors, because we all love books, we all love language and the world of writing.

But if we’re busy, politely wait until we have a free moment, or if we’re chatting with friends, come up, say hello, and take your cue from us—if we really are in the middle of something, you’ll be able to tell. If not, we’ll probably ask you to pull up a chair and join us.

Don’t ask us to read your work—most of us can’t for legal reasons and most of us simply do not have the time. It’s an awkward request. Don’t ask us to give you free books—we make a living off our books and very few authors can afford to give away a lot of books. Don’t tell us you hate our work (yes, all of this happens). We aren’t going to appreciate it.

Basically: be polite, like you want people to be with you. Common courtesy seems to disappear at these conferences and conventions at times.  The golden rule is a good caveat—treat others the way you want them to treat you.

If you meet agents or editors there, don’t behave like an idiot. Don’t shove your manuscript at them under the bathroom stall (yes, this happens). Don’t corner them in the elevator and demand they look at your work right then! (Yes, this happens). Don’t get angry if they say no to your pitch, and do not cuss them out. (Yes, this happens.)

If they’re sitting in public, most agents or editors won’t mind if you go up, introduce yourself, and ask what’s the best way to query them. Be prepared with a pitch—they may ask for it right there. They may ask you to send it to their office. They may ask for a few pages—be prepared. But don’t expect them to sign you on the spot. Definitely sign up for the pitch sessions if you are ready for an agent, but if you’re just starting out in the writing industry, you’re better off taking a workshop they might present. You won’t get an agent if you’re a beginner without a book that’s ready to submit.

Next Week: Part Two

Yasmine

New Moon Daughters Comic Is Up!

The new page of the Moon Daughter's Comic "A Ghost in the House" is up!

Brain Candy Friday: Labor Day Plans?

Labor Day weekend is coming up, and I’m wondering what you’re all doing for it? I’ll be working, as usual, but maybe taking a little time just to putter around with friends and enjoy a little break. When I was a kid, it was always the weekend before school started, and I was always so excited (when I was in elementary school) because I loved school so much and I loved the autumn.

So what are your traditions for this holiday?

Yasmine

Courting Darkness ARC contest #2

Courting Darkness ARC contest #2 is here!

Things That Go Bump in the Night (or oh HELL no!)

over on Between Fire and Ice