Vegas {A few things I learned}

I learned a lot.

A whole lot. :)

And my brain still hurts from it all {literally}.

So, I'm sure I'll miss a few things, but here it goes:

One of the greatest things I learned was I had my genre all wrong.

And that's a big thing.

I have been calling my genre Romance. Which I never ever felt super comfortable with. When I think of Romance I think of a raunchy Harlequin. Or little story and lots of making out.

And that's not what I write.

After talking to a publisher I learned that my books are actually in the genre: Women's Fiction, with a sub genre of Chick-Lit.

When she said that I immediately thought of: You've Got Mail.

Total Chick Flick. Love story with an actual story!

And yep, that's what I write.

 

One of my favorite classes was a DIY publicity course. She talked about how to advertise for yourself and she said getting a website/blog/fb fan page after your book comes out, is too late!

 

Something kind of fun- they do a first page read. You can submit the first page of your book and it's read while a panel of 5 publishers/agents raise their hands to tell you when they'd stop reading the page, when all 5 hands are up they stop reading the page, even if they're only a line through. Then the panel tells why they stopped. It was super interesting and helpful. Most pages didn't make it even half way through, but mine made it all the way. :) A couple hands were up, but not all and that was pretty cool. :)

Afterwords the President of the Henderson's Writer's Group and the publisher for Ink and Quill publishing asked to speak to me. She kindly edited my first page and then she asked me to send her a few chapters. :)

 

I also learned that author's travel all over and all the time. :/

One author there was on a 6 month tour, signings and conferences. Six months away from her family.

I couldn't do that.

5 days about did me in.

 

Ahh, yeah, I learned a bunch of things- a lot more then mentioned. I felt my whole heart on my sleeve as I pitched my book for the first time. It was quite the experience. It was good.

 

And someday, somehow I'll have a published book one day.

 

Vegas {Pictures}

In Provo we drove past the old tabernacle that they're turning into temple #2 there. It was pretty cool! They have the whole building up on stilts.

I went on this trip with my friend Janelle. She is a writer too. We get together every Thursday and edit for one another. It's a good thing. :) Here she is with her mom Sheree, we stayed there our first night through.

1st Conference Day!!

 

The first day of the conference they have a cocktail party. Neither Janelle or I wanted to go and my Cindy Jo is sooo close to Vegas. So, she drove over and we spent a couple of hours with her! So so so happy. I love this girl!

We went to dinner and then we came back to our hotel (that rock/animal picture is in the center of our hotel). There is also a bowling alley in our hotel, so we went bowling.

We didn't make it outside again until the last day of the conference. They keep us super busy and feed us breakfast, lunch and dinner. So... we hadn't been outside in what felt like a very long time. The last night we decided to skip the keynote speaker and go out on the town for a bit.

The Bellagio

 Bellagio Fountains

Very cool :)

My one meal outside the hotel. Yum. :)

Vegas {WHAT I DID}

I did a lot.

 

I spent hours in a classroom.

Talked to publishers, agents, and editors.

I pitched my novel to a publisher and an agent.

I talked to other aspiring authors.

I didn't leave the hotel for days... ate, slept and conferenced there.

 

But that's what I drove 9 hours for.

That's what I paid for.

That's what I left my family for. 

 

And I learned a lot.

 

I also got so see my sweet friend Cindy Jo for a few hours and the Bellagio flowers and water show in one quick evening.

 

Good stuff... I'll share more later. :)

Coming in April...

I've wanted to be a writer since I was 8 years old.
At 14 I sent my first book off to a publisher.
So, it doesn't seem I've gotten too far. 35 and I'm still unpublished. But really, I didn't have a clue how to go about it all. I've learned a lot in the last 20 years. Actually a lot in the last 6 months. So, it's all good.

In April I'm going to a writer's conference.

I'm excited.

I'm nervous.

I've been getting ready.

I'm nervous.

I'm anxious.

I'm nervous.

haha

 

I've been working my tail off.

On my book.

On my pitch.

On my synopsis.

On my query.

On my log line.

It's getting there...

 

I'm nervous. (Did I mention that?)

Nervous to leave my baby girl for the first time and for a long time!

Nervous to be away from my family. (not just my girl)

Nervous that I have one pitch to one person.

 

 

I am just so grateful.

I'm grateful for my loving husband, who is excited for me. Who is so very supportive.
I'm grateful for my kids. Who are so sweet and patient with me and often ask: Hows your book mom? :)

I'm grateful for good friends. Who I've neglected somewhat. Thank you for being so understanding.

I'm grateful for my sisters. Who have read and reported and listened to me cry and whine.

I'm grateful for Janell. Who's taught me a lot. Edits for me weekly and trusts me to edit for her.

I'm grateful that when I'm gone away from my favorite little people it'll be their grandma with them.

 

O April.