Baltimore Book Festival + Fan Interaction + Upcoming Workshop

Apologies for the late post today. Mom and I drove down to Baltimore on Thursday for the Baltimore Book Festival and got back Sunday afternoon. I wasn’t able to do the post ahead of time for this morning and then I had to take Grandma E to the doctor.

So here’s what the last 4 days looked like.

View from our room.

Our room at the Residence Inn

USS Constitution

Spinach Salad at M&S Grill

Parmesan crusted flounder

Author tents on Friday

The Inner Harbor

Loved this dog at the Visitor Center

SFWA panel on what’s new in Sci-fi and fantasy

RWA Book Cover Bingo–most fun hour of panels

I won the fabulous Rebecca Rivard’s book in bingo!

Lunch on Friday

crossing genres panel

Dinner at the James Joyce Pub in Harbor East with the amazing Lauren and Sean–my bmore buddies!

The dessert that made me clap my hands. Bailey’s ice cream with caramelized brown bread pieces mixed in. Plus a fan of apples and strawberries.

Saturday in my author tent

Awesome shot of me signing books by JM McDowell, who came up to say hi and helped out during the unexpected tent move. 🙂

I reconnected with a high school friend at our 20th reunion last weekend and he came out to see me and get my books when we realized I would be in his city! Thanks Kadin! 🙂

The best chicken sandwich ever–Chick-Fil-A

Free hotel breakfasts rock!

Home!

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Had some cool experiences already with readers from the Baltimore Book Festival.

First, someone came out to see me because he joined my mailing list at last year’s event and wanted to tell me how much he enjoyed Six Train. So cool!

Second, Emma, this adorable girl I met at this year’s event, bought my book and immediately started reading it. I know because she texted me the next day to let me know she loved the opening and that it was a “page turner.” I was so thrilled to hear from her!

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I am teaching a one week online workshop on The Importance of Giving Up over on Savvy Authors next week. There’s still time to sign up if your interested.

Workshop Summary

We all have moments of self-doubt. Times where we wonder if we are on the right track with a story or with our pursuit of publication. Everyone talks about the power of perseverance, but no one really talks about how important it is to give up. To let yourself admit that things aren’t working out and to re-evaluate what you are doing. Sometimes we need to step back and decide if something is really worth it. We need to remember that this is a choice. And at any time we can choose to stop or choose to keep going. Sometimes giving up is the only way to find our way back to our story and our dream of publication.

Level: Mixed
Where:  The Savvy Forums
Cost:  Premium Members $20 / Basic Members $30

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