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| HNS committee: Val Perry. Winifred Halsey, Jane Kessler, Sarah Johnson |
A very quiet crowd for breakfast Sunday morning at the Historical Novel Society Conference. That didn’t last long as author C. W. Gortner took the moderator seat at a lively panel that discussed women authors talking with a male voice and men authors talking with a female voice. All panelists agreed, with some surprise, that a minor character would come in and completely take over their book. And all for the better. Check out my Drive By Video™ with C. W. Gortner below as he talks about "getting into character" for his books. A funny, delightful man it was a pleasure to meet.
The next session had Jade Lee taking over from where she left off the night before with the late night sex scene reads while going head to head with Carrie Bebris about whether or not sex is necessary for a historical novel. The consensus seemed to be that as much sex is necessary that is needed for each individual book, which just seems like common sense to me.
I have to admit that I was prepared for a somber, serious crowd for this event, but this every other year conference is filled with captivating, clever, fascinating people. Not only did I learn a lot, but I would highly recommend this to anyone with any interest in world history. These people know their stuff and I’m a convert.
Now, on to the news I received this week along with the latest giveaways.
From librarian Linda McMaken, Ohio: I recently attended the Lori Foster Reader/Writer Get-together and was allowed to "heavily solicit" books for my library. The authors were amazing at giving me donations! I know many of them are feeling the economic pinch too, but they still gave. I have a box of books for my library and promises of more. I was also promised a stack of Spanish language editions as my library does have a small Hispanic population. So, if authors have foreign edtions they don’t know what to do with, contact your local library, they make take them off your hands.
I am asking if you would please include a kind note of thanks to the authors at this event for their generosity, since they ALL read your blog! And to please pass along that no matter where you reside, there is a library that needs book donations. I know authors don’t make money off library book check outs, but believe me after working in a library for nearly 15 years, they DO get new readers who DO become buyers.
Unfortunately, some libraries are still manned by stuffy, sensible shoed "old school" librarians who may not accept some donations, but don’t let them discourage you, there are so many other libraries that would stand in line for those donations. Most libraries are eager to have donations, to have authors volunteer for booksignings, or workshops. The best part! We are non-profits and all donations are entirely TAX DEDUCTABLE. I figure that should help the old stimulus program. Again, thanks to all the authors who donated. And thank you Barbara for giving me a forum to say thanks!
From author Lisa Hendrix: Join over forty novelists and poets, including romance authors Delilah Marvelle, Lisa Hendrix, Elisabeth Naughton, Genene Valleau, Minnette Meador and more at the 1st Annual NW Book Festival, celebrating Oregon Authors and the written word. The festival takes place June 27, 2009, from 10am-4pm, at 21860 Willamette Drive, West Linn, OR.
From author Patricia Sargeant: I’ve launched a blog on my Web site. Novel Hearts is a forum to raise awareness of the charitable causes some of our favorite authors support. Each month, one or two authors will share with us their experiences with and information about the nonprofit organizations they help, either with time, money and/or materials. To date, author guests include Marcia James, Lori Foster, Dianne Castell and Janie Mason. Upcoming author interviews include Karen McCullough, Donna Hill, Deatri King-Bey, Francis Ray, Dyanne Davis and Beverly Jenkins.
From author Laurel Bradley: A Wish in Time won the Gold Award as ForeWord Magazine’s 2008 Romance Book of the Year Award to be awarded in a ceremony there.
From author Marjorie M. Liu: The exclusive Part 2 of Grant’s Letter to his unborn child can be found at Tor.com along with the audio version.
This Week’s Giveaways
From author Edie Ramer: Kensington debut author Sarah Parr is giving away an autographed copy of her Giorgian Romance Adventure, RENEGADE, at Magical Musings on Thursday, June 18.
From author Diane Gaston: Diane is giving away signed copies of her backlist and June 15 is The Wagering Widow
From author Pati Nagle: To celebrate the release of Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff’s ebook Laldasa: A Beloved Slave, BookViewCafe.com will hold a twitter fiction contest June 17-19, with copies of Bonhoff’s novels as prizes.
From authorCindy Procter-King: Author Margay Leah Justice is giving away a copy of NORA’S SOUL at Muse Interruped. .
From literary publicist Stephanie Barko: Authors - You may qualify for this Free Virtual Author tour to be given away next month.
Susan Hanniford Crowley is offering giveaways all week starting on June 15: E-books from a.c. Mason and Adele Dubois, logo tote bag and $20 Amazon gift certificate from Sandra Sookoo, and t-shirts from J. Hali Steel.
Marjorie M. Liu has got a Twitter contest going on now, too: Enter to win a DARKNESS C
ALLS themed prize (one per day from June 15-30th: music, signed book, tote, etc.) by tweeting #darknesscalls
As always, please your news, notes, kudos, giveaways and special announcements to me for consideration at barbaravey@gmail.com
Now enjoy this Drive By Video™ with author C. W. Gortner.
Bottom Line: I now have "History Buff" to add to my growing resume.
Hi, Barbara. I enjoyed your recount of the Historical Novel Society. It sounds like a wonderful event. Thank you for posting the news about my Novel Hearts blog. Best! Patricia
OMG!! I am laughing “quietly since it’s still early” at the video!! Um, make sure the next time he dresses up, that he gets a 9-month preggers with swollen ankles and sore back… he may not want to do it again! Welcome Home from another successful trip Barbara!
Thanks for mentioning Patricia Sargeant’s Novel Hearts blog! I had the opportunity to be interviewed for this blog, which shows the many ways that romance authors give back to their communities and beyond. I love reading the interviews to learn more about author friends and the causes they support. — Marcia James
Hilarious video! Makes me want to buy his books. I’ll look him up. Thanks for mentioning Sarah Parr’s giveaway at Magical Musings.
Hey Barbara! Great blog, and thanks for taking such a good picture. This is great incentive to finally update my own website .
Wanted to pass along my recommendations to anyone living in Oregon that the NW Book Festival is going to be a blast and everyone should come. We’ve got some great authors and just about any genre you can think of, but romance will be very well represented with about 8 or 9 invading en mass. It’s going to be a lot of fun. Ok, plug over…love the blog today. The video is hysterical. I would absolutely go to that book signing.
Barbara, fun interesting info! I’m one of the 40+ authors who will be at the NW Book Festival. There will be authors of every genre and presentations every fifteen minutes by the authors. I’ll be speaking at 11 am about researching for a western.
Thanks for the plug about the NW Book Festival in Oregon. It is shaping up to be a wonderful event! I’ll also be one of the authors speaking. My topic is rock stars as heroes and, if I was really brave, would take a tip from the video of C.W. Gortner and dress up as a rock star to get into character for my presentation. But perhaps the Northwest isn’t ready for me in spandex and rhinestones! Sounds like the conference you attended was very interesting! I really enjoyed the highlights of that conference and all the other news on your blog. Thanks!
Great weekend at the conference in Illinois. I bet the historical information was fascinating. The NW Book festival sounds like a great event. I get the best tips on events from you – thanks!
Barbara, Thank you for mentioning my Book of the Year Award. The award was actually given out at Book Expo America. Very cool. It would have been even cooler if I’d been able to make the ceremony. My sone graduated from high school that weekend. What can I say?
Saw the mention of Laurel Bradley’s win of ForeWord Magazine’s Gold Award for Romance Book of the Year for 2008. A big congratulations to Laurel. That book is on my keeper shelf and one of the most unique, romantic, interesting books I’ve read.
Thanks for the informative and entertaining bog and video. Congratulations to Laurel Bradley for the Book of the Year Award!
OOps! Meant blog not bog in my previous comment.
Thank you to Jane Leopold Quinn and Jeanmarie Hamilton for their kind remarks. Both are talented authors in their own right.
What a great idea to donate extra foreign language editions to the library. My little branch library has a long counter devoted to many langues, but now that I think about it, there’s not one romance on it! Time to change that
Great blog, Barbara. Congratulations, Laurel. Sandy
I don’t know how I missed the announcement about Laurel’s award. Congrats again, Laurel!
Hi Barbara! Congrats Laurel on your award!
Love the drive by video with C. W. Gortner. I must say it makes me want to go get one of his books. He’s great!
Congratulations to Laurel Bradley on her award. A Wish in Time is a wonderful book, filled with characters that you will long remember. Well deserved, Laurel!
Always great to see peers honored. Thanks Barbara. Congrats Laurel.
Hi Barbara, It was a such a pleasure meeting you at the conference. I love your blog! Hope we can stay in touch. Mary http://www.marysharratt.com
Great video Barb!!! How did I miss this in June?!! I would love to meet this author–he sounds like such fun!!