RWA, Part V — the BIG picture …

• Posted in About Books, General musings, On Writing

So, my significant other asked me what I learned at RWA this year. What the BIG picture is, so to speak. Here goes:

1) I’m starting to get my name out there: Several people had either heard of me or Karma Girl, which I took as an encouraging sign. It seems like all the blogs and interviews and publicity I’ve been doing have started to pay off.

2) People who’ve read Karma Girl really seem to like it: I didn’t hear any negative comments about the book. Of course, most everybody at RWA is exceptionally nice. But I didn’t overhear anyone in the elevator or bathroom saying It’s the worst book ever written! or sticking red-hot pins into Karma Girl voodoo dolls. Instead, folks came up to me and told me how much they enjoyed it. That’s what every writer longs to hear.

3) People who love books are the best people in the world: Seriously, it’s true. Whether you’re a published author, aspiring writer, editor, agent, or voracious reader, RWA is always a treat for the simple fact that there are hundreds of people coming together who love books and authors and writing. It always sends me home charged up to write and do more.

4) Karma Girl is doing well: I finally got some sales info at RWA. I’m not going to get into specific numbers or anything like that, but Karma Girl is holding her own. Yeah! (I should also have some more Bigtime news to announce by early fall, so stay tuned.)

5) I have the absolute best agent in the business: She’s always plotting and scheming how we can do bigger and better things together. But even better than that, she really believes in my work and wants to see me do well. That’s always a great feeling to have.

6) My editor is pretty snazzy too: She probably had about 100 people to see and bigger authors to meet, but she took the time to chat with me. Again, this goes back to number 3, about the general niceness of book people.

7) I still have a lot of work to do: Going to RWA always drives home the fact that I am a tiny little author swimming in a pool of Big, Big Names. If I hope to achieve my ultimate goal of world domination (watch out Nora!), then I’m going to have to work harder. Do more blogs, more contests, more giveaways. Oh yeah, and write more good books too.

Does anybody out there have a machine that adds more hours to the day? Because I sure could use it. 😉

I’m going to post about the book candy comment I received, but this pretty much wraps up my RWA coverage. Hope you enjoyed it! 😎

What did you learn at RWA? Inquiring minds want to know …

4 Responses to “RWA, Part V — the BIG picture …”

  1. Amy says:

    Congratulations on the success of Karma Girl! I know what you mean about being surrounded by book lovers. You just feel at home, don’t you? That’s how I felt at the American Library Assn. convention. 15,000 people and I had something in common with every one of them.

    Can’t wait to hear your Bigtime news this fall and am eagerly awaiting Hot Mama!! 🙂

  2. Jennifer Estep says:

    Thanks, Amy! Oh yes. I say names like JR Ward and Kim Harrison and people know exactly who I’m talking about.

    Some writers go to the ALA convention and Book Expo. You should do the RT event in Pittsburgh next year …

    BTW, I will have HMama bookmarks in a few weeks. Shall I send some your way? 😉

  3. Amy says:

    Defintely send some! I handed out the ones you gave me for Karma Girl…went like hotcakes! And count me in for RT next year. I can’t miss it considering it is so close!

  4. Jennifer Estep says:

    I’ll send you the bookmarks as soon as I get some. I don’t know how much romance you read, but I think you’d like something like RWA or RT, and RT is supposed to be more reader-oriented (although I’ve never been, so we’ll see). Either way, you’ll be getting free books! 😎

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