Posted by ascamacho on 30th June 2008
What a weekend it was for signing books. First I got to spread my novels across the globe from the Borders store in the Baltimore Washington International Airport. I learned there is a second, smaller Borders in that airport, and the manager asked to have some of my books shipped over there so she could sell them.
Saturday I spent a couple of hours in what turns out to be one of the smallest stores in the Books-A-Million chain. The folks at that store in Alexandria, VA told me afterward that I was the first author they have ever had do a book signing there. And since I did sell out in less than two hours, they’re eager to have me return. They also want more writers to find them and book signings.
Then it was practically going home to Borders in Dulles Town Center. I’ve done so well there in the past that Leigh, the manager, asked me to schedule a signing there every month for the rest of the year. How could I say no?
I also made an internet appearance of special interest to other authors. Next month I’ll be going on a limited virtual book tour, add guest posts to several blogs in order to promote my new nonfiction work, “Successfully Marketing Your Novel in the 21st Century.” One of the sites I’ll be a guest on - All Book Marketing.com - foreshadowed my visit with a very good post on virtual publicity tours in general. They mentioned my upcoming post in the process (very kind of them) and gave a really good rundown on virtual tours to boot.
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Posted by ascamacho on 29th June 2008
You’d have to be in Virginia to see me today at the Borders store in Dulles Town Center. But no matter where you are we could talk tomorrow.
Monday night I will be proud to be a guest on a blog talk radio program called Book Bridge: From Authors To Readers. The fifteen minute segment is a specialty program for African American authors to talk about how their books cross genres and appeal to a broad and varied audience. The show begins at 8:30PM Eastern and you’re all invited to call in to talk to me on the show by dialing 646-200-4071. The show is aired LIVE at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Circle-Of-Seven. I really hope you tune in, but if you miss the live action, you can listen to the show as a download afterward at http://www.cospradio.com/
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Posted by ascamacho on 28th June 2008
I told you that today I’ll meet new friends at one of the Books-A-Million stores in Alexandria, VA from noon to 4 pm at 6230 N. Kings Highway.
Tomorrow I return to familiar ground at the Borders store in Dulles Town Center. The mall is at 21100 Dulles Town Circle in Dulles VA. I’ll be there for the after church crowd, from 1 pm to 4 pm. Come by and say hi, and get a signed novel.
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Posted by ascamacho on 27th June 2008
I told you that today I’m at the Borders in BWI airport.
TOMORROW I’ll meet new friends at one of the Books-A-Million stores in Alexandria, VA. That signing is from noon to 4 pm. Even though I used to live in Alexandria I’ve never signed books there so this will be extra fun. Make sure you come to the right store. It’s the one at 6230 N. Kings Highway.
Then Sunday I return to familiar ground at the Borders store in Dulles Town Center. The mall is at 21100 Dulles Town Circle in Dulles VA. I’ll be there for the after church crowd, from 1 pm to 4 pm.
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Posted by ascamacho on 26th June 2008
I have an unusually busy weekend coming up, but busy in a very good way with lots of chances to meet and greet readers in Maryland and Virginia.
It all starts tomorrow when go to meet travelers at the Baltimore Washington International Airport. The busy time is from 3 pm to 7 pm, and that’s when I’ll be there signing my novels. If you happen to be flying into or out of the area, look for me at the airport Borders store.
Saturday I’ll meet new friends at one of the Books-A-Million stores in Alexandria, VA. That signing is from noon to 4 pm. Even though I used to live in Alexandria I’ve never signed books there so this will be extra fun. Make sure you come to the right store. It’s the one at 6230 N. Kings Highway.
Then Sunday I return to familiar ground at the Borders store in Dulles Town Center. The mall is at 21100 Dulles Town Circle in Dulles VA. I’ll be there for the after church crowd, from 1 pm to 4 pm. Come by and say hi, and get a signed novel.
And if you forget, don’t worry… I’ll remind you again.
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Posted by ascamacho on 25th June 2008
At the most recent writer’s conference I had lots of chances to chat with what one writer called “my fellow lunatics” about why we choose to use our precious time committing fiction. One author said that writing mysteries was the only way he knew to escape.
“Escape what?” I asked.
“My padded cell
“You’re not really in a cell.”
“Sure I am,” he said. “At work. Nine to five. You know a
cubicle is just a padded cell without a door.”
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Posted by ascamacho on 24th June 2008
There is no better time than surrounding yourself with mystery authors in a warm, friendly setting. The Deadly Ink conference offered all of that in a hotel that could have been mistake for a medieval castle. It was also a chance for me to learn from my fellow crime writers. The most important things I learned in those three days were:
Even if you don’t think your protagonist is autobiographical, if you look closely enough you see yourself in him or her.
A panel of six writers and a room full of mystery fans can toss ideas around for 45 minutes and brainstorm their way into a story that we all either want to read or are dying to write.
Jane K. Cleland is not an antiques expert, like the heroine of her Josie Prescott mystery series, but she is a fine lady who deserves "Guest of Honor" status not just for her great writing but also for her natural way of encouraging and supporting other authors. Oh, and you should read her books!
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Posted by ascamacho on 19th June 2008
I’ll spend this weekend with mystery fans and fellow authors at the Deadly Ink Mystery Conference. The conference is chaired by two of the editors at Deadly Ink Press, but they don’t play favorites. This year Jane Cleland (Josie Prescott Antiques Mystery Series) is the Guest of Honor, with Troy Cook (The One Minute Assassin) serving as toastmaster.
It all starts Friday night with a deadly dessert party. The great panels start Saturday morning at 9 and continue until the gala awards dinner. I’m on Saturday’s New Author Showcase panel hosted by Troy Cook, and on a later panel called, "protagonists - autobiographical?" Then Sunday morning I’m on the "What If?" panel, during which I’ll team with five other writers to construct a mystery based on audience suggestions. THAT is going to be fun.
The whole conference takes place at the Parsippany Sheraton, 199 Smith Road, Parsippany NJ. If you’re anywhere near there, let me know so we can arrange a meeting.
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Posted by ascamacho on 18th June 2008
If you enjoy television mysteries then you’re probably already hooked on "Bones." But if you haven’t read Dr. Temperance Brennan’s 10 print adventures you’re missing most of the fun. And you can already order #11, Devil Bones, at Amazon even though it won’t be released until August.
On television Brennan is a forensic anthropologist and best selling author. She’s based on Kathy Reichs, the author of the books about Brennan, on which the TV show is based. Are you still with me? Author Reichs is, in fact, a board-certified forensic anthropologist who divides her time between working for the North Carolina Chief Medical Examiner’s Office and the Laboratoire des Sciences Judiciaires et de Medecine Legale in Quebec. Brennan works in the same places, at least in the books. On TV she works for the Jeffersonian Institute in DC. Living in a suburb of DC, I can assure you that no such institute exists. I assume they mean the Smithsonian Institute.
Anyway, if you like your forensics less gory and your science done right in a novel, you should add the Brennan books to your library. Check out Kathy Reich’s work.
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Posted by ascamacho on 17th June 2008
WMystery author Morgan Mandel started Book Place as a literary social site, networking authors, readers, publishers, editors, agents, reviewers, librarians, and any other book-loving people. At Book Place, promotion is encouraged. There’s a button labeled "ALL AUTHORS" that you can get a listing of us authors who have built a page on the site. Then just click the author you’d like more info about. We writers can send in a jpeg or two plus a blurb and order info, and Morgan will kindly put it up. So come find me at Book Place.
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