Wow.....now with my first three book signings behind me, I can look back and reflect! My first signing was in Abilene, Texas at The West Texas Book and Music Festival on September 29th and what a ball I had meeting my online critique partner and wonderful romance novelist, Rita Thedford! I love this woman! We had the honor of signing our books along with 100 other Texas authors! And guess who showed up? Mine and Rita's very talented cover artist, Mrs. Tamra Westberry! We were so blessed to have her there! Thank you, Tam!
My second book signing was held at Borders Books in Mesquite, Texas on October 13. What a dream come true! I was signing books along with a handful of some of the hottest names in romance! Thank you Borders and Fresh Fiction for the beautiful roses and the cake! All of you made my day so special! I was the new girl on the block, the very pregnant new girl on the block and everyone made me feel so welcome! A big thank you to the fabulous Jade Lee (this woman writes the most luscious, hottest romances......wooooo!) for all your tips! Family and friends showed up for my big day and new faces, asking where I get my inspiration! Wow! And for you writers out there, here is a big tip.......give out something free cause I made book thongs and they were a huge hit! I even sold two books only because the person wanted the book thong! I hope they enjoy my book as much as they enjoy my beaded thongs....snicker!
My third book signing was the annual Buns and Roses Tea for Literacy held at the Radisson Hotel in Richardson, Texas on October 14th! What a grand time we all had, autographing books with a slew of fabulous romance authors, all for a great cause! I hosted a table of nine readers and enjoyed a lovely afternoon of tea and pastries!
Please check out my web site at www.alishapaige.com and see my book signing pics under Photo Album!
Thanks for stopping by!
Happy Writing and Reading!
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Reviews........Eeeeeeeeek!
There are so many different stages that a newly published author goes through. There's the OMG.......I just received my first contract stage! And then there's the OMG......I received my first edits stage! The third stage is OMG......I'm actually holding a print copy of my book! It's surreal.....really! And then there are the dreaded reviews! Will anyone like what I've written? What if they hate it? What if my editor is the only person on earth who thought my book was worth reading or worse.....what if she was just low on manuscripts and decided to make my year? Waahhh! We as writers go through a myriad of nightmarish thoughts!
I tried not to think about it. I sent my book off to a dozen review houses and shuddered. "Fear not!" I told myself. That was that. When I received that first review, it was I think the point where I actually realized that maybe my mother wasn't lying about my book. Maybe it really is good! I decided that right then and there, I loved this reviewer! What a wonderful person! Her heart must overflow with goodness! Surely she did this out of the goodness of her own heart....not wanting to hurt my feelings. Then I realized that this woman will never meet me. Well, probably not, but maybe one day. I don't even know her last name. She knows nothing about me. This is her job and she must have been telling the truth. Right? I hoped so.
Then a few weeks later, I got my second review and to my amazement, it was good too! I started to seriously become convinced that I was a good writer. Then a third and a fourth rolled in! The pressure of opening those emails! Eeeeeeeeeeek! And they were all good! One reviewer even recommended my book to other readers as a "must read"! She mentioned that she would one day buy the book, so I mailed her a copy! I love this woman! Thank you for reviewing my book, you kind soul! I was silly about it all. I was convinced that these people were angels sent from heaven, sprinkling happy review dust into my email Inbox!
Then one reviewer really blew my mind when she nominated me for an award! Okay, that does it! I'm convinced! I don't suck as a writer. Sure, I have good days and bad days, but from now on, I will believe in my writing. Onward!
For me, those reviews really cemented the fact that I am a writer and not only that, but I'm a published author with something special to offer my readers. Now, if I can only come down off Cloud 9 long enough to give them something else!
I tried not to think about it. I sent my book off to a dozen review houses and shuddered. "Fear not!" I told myself. That was that. When I received that first review, it was I think the point where I actually realized that maybe my mother wasn't lying about my book. Maybe it really is good! I decided that right then and there, I loved this reviewer! What a wonderful person! Her heart must overflow with goodness! Surely she did this out of the goodness of her own heart....not wanting to hurt my feelings. Then I realized that this woman will never meet me. Well, probably not, but maybe one day. I don't even know her last name. She knows nothing about me. This is her job and she must have been telling the truth. Right? I hoped so.
Then a few weeks later, I got my second review and to my amazement, it was good too! I started to seriously become convinced that I was a good writer. Then a third and a fourth rolled in! The pressure of opening those emails! Eeeeeeeeeeek! And they were all good! One reviewer even recommended my book to other readers as a "must read"! She mentioned that she would one day buy the book, so I mailed her a copy! I love this woman! Thank you for reviewing my book, you kind soul! I was silly about it all. I was convinced that these people were angels sent from heaven, sprinkling happy review dust into my email Inbox!
Then one reviewer really blew my mind when she nominated me for an award! Okay, that does it! I'm convinced! I don't suck as a writer. Sure, I have good days and bad days, but from now on, I will believe in my writing. Onward!
For me, those reviews really cemented the fact that I am a writer and not only that, but I'm a published author with something special to offer my readers. Now, if I can only come down off Cloud 9 long enough to give them something else!
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