IT'S COMING!

My first book is due to make it's appearance officially on May 3rd. I'm anxiously awaiting the copies that will be delivered to my home the end of this week or the beginning of next week. It's a surreal kind of feeling to know that all these months of waiting and working will soon result in the book I worked on for so long.  Yes, I'm excited. But in truth, this isn't about MY BOOK. This is about the work of a lot of people behind the scenes helping me reach this point. I consider it OUR BOOK. It really is a team effort. God really knows how to bring a team together.

I thought I knew how much work and team effort went into the creation of a book before I received my contract. But now after experiencing the past year I know I didn't know as much as I thought I did. When Debbie Marrie acquired this book I was thrilled. I knew Mike Dellosso wrote for Charisma House and was a member of ACFW so I e-mailed him and asked all kinds of newbie-just-got-a-contract type questions. He was always patient and enthusiastic.

I asked Rachelle Gardner of  WordServe Literary to be my agent. We talked and she agreed. She was there for me when I really needed some guidance. Lori Vanden Bosch, my very patient editor, worked so hard to help me learn the ropes. And there were so many others Ann Mulchan, Anna Silva, Deb Moss, Jihan and Woodley. Then everyone who worked along with Bill Johnson to complete my cover, which I just love. Forgive me if I missed someone. I'm sure I probably did. Just leave a comment and remind me. :)

And of course there are all of the people who helped teach me through years. James Scott Bell, Colleen Coble, Deb Raney, Mae Nunn, Angie Hunt, Kathleen Morgan, Linda Windsor, Tamara Alexander, and many more. The American Christian Fiction Writers were paramount in helping me become the writer I am now and I know they will continue to help me grow. That's one of the things I love about the writing life, you never really know everything there is to know. It's fun to study the craft of writing and I look forward to learning more every year. I enjoy trying to get better and better.

And even more important than all of this are the writers who prayed for me and my family for years as we went through a very difficult time. It has not been an easy road, but then it rarely is for most of us. But through it all, God is faithful.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Secrets of the Heart, just leave a comment and I'll throw all the names in a hat and pull one out. Charisma House Media will send you a copy of our baby. Don't forget to leave an e-mail where I can reach you. You can leave comments until Sunday night the 17th at midnight. I'll announce the winner in a comment on Monday's post. I'd like to know what you love most about historical romance. And if you have any questions don't hesitate to ask.

Gratefully,
Jillian

When Opportunity Knocks

I hope you all haven't forgotten that this is Valentine's Day Weekend. Don't forget your sweeties. Other than going out with my sweetie I have an event to attend.
Tommorow, February 12th, I will be attending Reader Appreciation Day with fellow authors at Barnes and Noble. This is an annual event. Many authors will be signing books. Alas, I have no book to sign yet, since Secrets of the Heart does not release until May 2011. But there is always opportunity if one looks for it. Here are a few things you can do even when your book isn't out there yet.

1. Get your business cards ready for distribution.
2. Ask your publisher for mock ups. Realms kindly gave me three.
3. Prepare to talk about your book.
4. Distribute a blurb about your book along with endorsements.
5. Hold a raffle. I'm going to raffle off a lovely piece of jewlery.
6. Have pieces of paper ready that people can put name/e-mail on for the raffle and tell them it's for your newsletter. Everyone may not want to do that, but the readers who are comfortable with it get a shot at the raffle.
7. CHOCOLATE. It's close to Valentine's Day and lots of us love a piece of candy.
8. A few pens for convenience. I didn't order any of those pens with my name on it.
9. Bring a camera. I just thought of this one. I'll want pictures for blog purposes.
10. Dress professionally.

I've never done this before. I'd like to know from readers and writers alike if you have any other thoughts for an event like this that might help advertise your book. Personally, I think it's more about talking and less about gadgets but I might be wrong.

I recently was blessed by two blog posts that gave me a lot of these ideas. If you go to this post on my blog  Blog Pick Friday you can easily find those posts. (I hope). Great advice.

If you are a reader that has attended an event like this or has attended a book signing what did you like and what didn't you like? What would you recommend?

If you are a writer and have done individual book signings and signings in a group as well what did you like and what didn't you like? What would you recommend?

Reader or writer, are book signings worth it? Please take a piece of chocolate as you leave the blog. :)