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I know it's been ages since I've blogged and since RT, but I finally managed to put a slide show together of RT photos. I had a blast, and these pictures will give you a small taste of some of the fun had and wonderful people I met.
I know it's been ages since I've posted here. Between school and work, and everything else I have on my plate it's just been crazy. On the upside, I'm two weeks away from the end of the semester. Woohoo!!!
I was at RT two weeks ago and I had a blast. I'll have some photos to share soon, but in the meantime a friend found something really cool. One of the local Pittsburgh news affiliates did a slide presentation on their website and check out whose cover made the cut. :)
http://kdka.com/slideshows/romance.novel.convention.20.701520.html?rid=3
Free publicity is always good publicity.
More soon.
Rayna
I hate being sick. I hate the sneezing, coughing, and runny noses. I especially hate the raw skin on your nose from excessive blowing. Yes you can safely assume that I too have fallen victim to the evil flu bug. Why didn't you get a flu shot, you may well ask. I have an allergy to the medium in which they grown the flu vaccine. However, even it that weren't the case it wouldn't matter, I still would have gotten it, because unfortunately the strain of flu that is laying everyone low wasn't covered by this year's flu shot. If you weren't already aware, the flu shot that is given out each year is based upon the strains from the previous flu season. Apparently, this little vicious bug is a new kid on the block.
So I say all this to say what. Basically I've been sick as a dog and completely useless for a while. In fact, I had a chat at CoffeeTime Romance on the 26th of February and I was chatting away tucked in bed with a box of tissues close at hand. Picture if you will me typing a response, then hack up a lung, typing another response, and then violently blowing my nose. A lovely image, no? In retrospect it was sort of amusing. The upside is I'm now well on my way to recovery thanks to a big bottle of Robitussin and multiple boxes of Theraflu. As far as I'm concerned the makers of both medications should be canonized. So what's on tap for me now? Well my next major event will be RT, I haven't been in years and I'm really looking forward to going. I'm going to be signing on Wednesday night at their eBook expo, should be really cool!
I'll pop back in soon with more updates. Until next time, Stay healthy.
I had my first solo live chat on Jan. 30th. Talk about a good time, well after I got past the initial nerves. I got there a few minutes early, I mean since I didn't actually have to leave my house it would have been bad to have gotten there late. LOL! Anyway, when I arrived there were only maybe 2 or three people there and my thought was guess it's better then no one. I mean I'm a newbie author, very few people have actually heard of me yet. Still when the room started filling I felt marked relief and Crazy Mo, a fellow NJRW chapter member, was an excellent moderator as always. She kept the conversation lively and moving forward. There were no awkward lulls in the conversation.
It's sort of an odd feeling having people ask a bunch of questions about me and about my writing. I guess I'm still more used to being in the readers shoes then the authors shoes. Some of the questions were excellent and really required some thought. It was nice to finally meet some of the readers. I was also pleasantly surprised to find out that some had already read my book before the chat. How cool is that!! On the whole it was a great time. I'm looking forward to my next on in February 26th at CoffeeTime Romance.
I love riding roller coasters. Not wooden ones, mind you, just the metal ones that will flip, dip, twist, and loop. Last spring, I went to Great Adventure, the Six Flags Park near me in Jackson, NJ. It was a special all coaster night. Which for the coaster lover that I am was totally awesome. I'm sure you're wondering where the heck I'm going with this and what it has to do with reviews. Well, I got to thinking, "A dangerous past time. I know.". Getting reviewed is a little like riding roller coasters to my way of thinking. For example, at this all coaster night I got to ride Kingda Ka. If you're not familiar with it here is the link. It's the worlds tallest, fastest roller coaster. There's not much to it, but what there is is intense. I remember waiting in line to ride this thing. Looking at the track, excitement and nerves tangling in my stomach. Then it was my turn and I get in the car and lock on the safety harness, "What are you thinking" screaming in my head. Then you leave the station house and you're at the point of no return, being launched into the sky.
Having your book sent to reviewers is a bit like this. You've got all of this anticipation and nerves as you check the net to see if reviews have been posted. You're sitting there thinking you must be crazy subjecting yourself to potential ridicule. Then you get reviewed and it can be as exciting as riding Kingda Ka or it can be like riding the Superman rollercoaster where all I could think was get me off of this thing now. I'm going to be sick.
For me my first review fell in the Kingda Ka category. I was so thrilled and excited to get 5 Angels from Fallen Angel Reviews. It makes you fell really good to know that people are reading and enjoying your creation. Now, I get to post this cool little graphic on my website. 
If you'd like to read the full review Click Here
I know that not all reviews will be great and that I'll have some that make me feel the same way the Superman Ride did, but 5 Angels isn't a bad way to start.
A friend once said to me that I'll never have another first book again so revel in every moment of it. True words have never been spoken as far as I'm concerned. Don't get me wrong, I not saying that the blossom will have worn off on subsequent books, just that everything that surrounds the first book will just be a tad more special and moments I'll definitely never forget. 2008 will be a year filled with firsts for me and I'm really looking forward to it. So much so that I've already started in on those firsts. 
As I've already said my first book released on November 21st. I followed that by having my first book signing on Dec. 2nd. It was in NYC at the New York Center for Independent Publishing. Apparently for the last 20 years they've been holding a book fair and conference for small presses and independent publishers and this year Linden Bay Romance/All Romance eBooks had a table. I had the best time hanging out with my good friends and fellow authors Tara Nina, CH Admirand, and Anne Elizabeth. Tara and CH were also signing, Anne came to visit and support us. My best friend, Michele, and her family also trekked into the city to support me. (They'd been wanting to go to the new Dave & Busters on 42nd Steet. I gave then the excuse they needed. LOL!) We laughed all day long and chatted with the people that attended the event. It really was a great time and I can't say how relieved I was to have my first signing with people I know and like so much. I hope to have some photos to share with you soon. I am so bad about bringing a camera with me. I must be because I really don't like be photographed, so I'm often at the mercy of my friends when it comes to getting shots of events that I attend. :)
Then on Dec. 5th, another good friend and fellow author, Caridad Pineiro, had me as a guest blogger. It was my first time guest blogging and I really had a good time. I got to talk to some of her fans about my book, and psychics, and their thoughts on the paranormal. Take a look! I gave away a free download of my book. If you weren't able to join in for that drawing don't worry. I'm doing the book-a-day at The Romance Studio on January 4th.
To circle back around to my original point, I really am looking forward to every event that I do in conjunction with this first signing. It will be a year full of firsts and I can't wait to experience every second of them.
***A little shameless self promotion cant' hurt***
