Happy Monday! Here's my mishmash of thoughts:
1. Signing at Books-A-Million This past Saturday, I had a signing at Books-A-Million in the Exton Square Mall. It was a lot of fun. Here's a picture of me at my table:
2. I finally saw my books in a bookstore! Yes, I know my books have been out for a while, but I don't have bookstores by me. So sad, I know. So I finally saw my book on a bookshelf in Books-A-Million. And of course I took a picture.
3. I now have a BAM by me!!! Okay, I just told you I don't have any bookstores by me, BUT the manager at BAM told me that they just opened one in my mall. Woo hoo! I'm beyond excited about this and am going there today to see if I can set up a signing. :)
4. Querying So, I've begun querying on a very small scale. I have one query out and one full out. Today I'll be querying a few more agents and really getting this process underway. Please cross your fingers for me.
5. Christmas decorating We decorated for Christmas on Thanksgiving. As soon as we got home from visiting my grandfather, who is 92 and going strong, we put up our tree, stockings, and other decorations. Now I just need to finish my shopping.
That's it for me. What's on your mind today?
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Awesome to see your book on a shelf! I don't know if I'll have that honor, since I'm on the other side of the world from the US. :-)
ReplyDeleteI can't believe it took me this long to see my book in a store. We need more bookstores.
DeleteI know, and I hope I can work something out with a local indie bookstore (Well, local in terms of being in my STATE...) to get Gabriel ordered there when the time comes. I hope to work out some local events for launch time in the Detroit and/or Troy area, and MAYBE Chicago if I can manage the travel.
DeleteI love seeing my author friends in my bookstores. Have you asked libraries in your area if they'd stock your trilogy and picture books? Perhaps if you bought a couple copies and donated them if upfront cost is the issue? I'm thinking about doing that with Gabriel, whatever it takes to get around the limited resources thing with my publisher.
I donate my books to my local library, Taurean. :)
DeleteOoh your book looks good up there on the shelf. :D Good luck with querying. *crossing my fingers for you* I will go tree hunting later this week, then start decorating it as soon as we have it. This is going to be so much fun!!
ReplyDeleteHappy Monday, Kelly!
Happy Monday to you too! Have fun decorating.
DeleteI really liked your top! And yay for close bookstores, I don't know what I'd do w/out one close by. I have an independent about 15 mins away, and a B&N thirty minutes. I'm a lucky girl! Good luck querying- fingers crossed!
ReplyDeleteThanks! It's actually a dress. I'm more comfortable in dressing when I go to events.
DeleteThanks for the finger crossing. ;)
How awesome to see your books in a bookstore!! So happy for you! That must have been a huge 'squee' moment. :)
ReplyDeleteWe decorated for Christmas over the weekend too. A nasty cold is running through our house, and I got hit with it, so I haven't done the outside lights just yet. But I will when I'm feeling better. Everything else is done. My boys and I always do an elaborate front window display with snowflakes and construction paper. It's so much fun. :)
Nice! Sorry about the cold, though.
DeleteBoth you and the bookstore look great! And the new bookstore opening near you is wonderful news! I adore Christmas decorations, and I bet your house looks so beautiful and cheery. :-)
ReplyDeleteI went to the bookstore by me today. Yay! They knew who I was when I introduced myself too, so double yay! They will be ordering books and setting up a signing date with me later this week. I'm thrilled. :)
DeleteKelly! How wonderful for you. You will have no problems with your queries, you are published already. On your way, girl! :)
ReplyDeleteEven published, I'm getting rejections. lol You can't avoid them.
DeleteYou look so pretty sitting at that table. Woot! And your book is just gorgeous on the shelf.
ReplyDeleteAw, thank you, Sheri! :)
DeleteThe book looks good on the shelf!
ReplyDeleteAnd it seems you enjoyed yourself during the signing!
I definitely did. It's always fun to sign books. :)
DeleteKelly, what a great pic! I'm so excited for you seeing your book in a bookstore for the very first time. It doesn't get any better than that, right?
ReplyDeleteP.S. *HUGS* to Grandpa, too! :-)
No, it doesn't. Such a great feeling.
DeleteAwesome pics! It's great seeing your book on the shelf!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Auden!
DeleteGreat pic! :) You look so happy!
ReplyDeleteI was happy, but my daughter was taking the picture and she always makes me smile. ;)
DeleteI'm re-doing my website's welcome video that I hope to finish before either Christmas or New Year's Eve.
ReplyDeleteI've got a new script, but waiting to hear some feedback to avoid being too vague and detailed, as I'm trying to keep it under 1 minute, wish me luck because you know brevity is not my claim to fame...I wanted some feedback before I record again so I don't have the issues I did before, and DEFINITELY make sure I don't sound like I learned to talk just yesterday...
I'm working a special giveaway that I hope will stir up some more site traffic.
I'm also wondering what you think of my site's new layout? I've been trying to get it to where it's stylistically fitting my brand (Sophisticated Whimsy) but still be readable.
I'm also doing my Christmas shopping.
I'll check it out, Taurean.
DeleteI got a good chunk of my shopping done today, but still more to go. I love this time of year, but I hate wrapping presents. I'm going to have to enlist my daughter's help this year. She loves to wrap.
For me, the hardest part of shopping (Holiday or Birthday) is that some of my relatives are hard to shop for. I may have to do the gift card thing, but I like to have a gift that ties to their natural interests, you know?
DeleteI should be okay this year, though.
Oh, I forgot to mention this-
ReplyDeleteI achieved 30 picture book ideas for PIBoIdMo 2013! Now I'm trying to flesh out five of them into (Shivers...) elevator pitches in case I win the chance to have them evaluated by agents. Again, struggling with brevity here...But I hope the more I do it the less traumatic it feels, you know?
Didn't get anywhere with Nanowrimo, but that's just because my blog kept me more busy than I thought as I'm trying to not go as long without a post, and all the picture book stuff I did in November was a perfect springboard to amp up my blogging output. Did you get to check some of my coverage on T.A.A.? If not, you can always read the archives, and you'll want to watch out for my first Holiday Books Feature that again, I hope to have up the week before Christmas.
That's it for me. Take care.
Wow, 30 picture book ideas is a lot. I don't think I could come up with 30 ideas in a month. Nope.
DeleteI'll check it out. I've been in a funk lately over all this querying and such. I need to get back into things. My daughter goes back to school tomorrow and then I'll have more time to work.
I know, I read last week's blog post and am so sorry this, and before the winter holidays, too.
DeleteI wanted to comment, I just didn't know what to say, and like you I was having a fit of writer blues myself, but for me it was regarding some intercommunication with my publisher, but that's since been sorted out.
I still have to finish drafting the books I'm working on and find some beta-readers in January, but I hope to be querying again next year.
I still want an agent for my long-term career and I hope the novels I'm working on now will be more enticing. Like you, I don't like querying, but at least you're better at brevity than me, this is why I always say "Not all authors are in marketing OUTSIDE the context of publishing" because it's TRUE!
I try not be too hard on myself, but it's not easy when you're also trying to avoid not holding yourself accountable. Something I feel some really pragmatic authors I know (Not you, though) take for granted because it's their STRENGTH but for me it's not natural skill and I have to work at it HARDER.
I'll be praying you get a new agent soon. I sold Gabriel the week before Christmas last year, so it CAN happen quicker than you think.
EDIT: "I know, I read last week's blog post and am so sorry this happened, and before the winter holidays, too. I wanted to comment, I just didn't know what to say, and like you I was having a fit of writer blues myself, but for me it was regarding some misscommunication with my publisher, but that's since been sorted out."
DeleteSo happy for you, Kelly. It has got to be a great feeling, seeing your books in the store. Glad to see the signing went well. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Karen!
DeleteQuerying and setting up signings...and you have your holiday decorations up? You're making me feel just a little bit like a loser, but that's all right. Maybe it will motivate me. Or not. We shall see.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the blitz. It was awesome!
Glad you enjoyed your blitz!
DeleteCrossing my fingers for you. Congrats on your book sighning. Here's to many more. The BAM in our town is not very author friendly, at least with this author. I never hear of them having signings. Hastings is great. That's where I go.
ReplyDeleteThat's a shame. The staff at both of the BAMs I visited were so nice.
DeleteNice!! Those books look awesome!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kiersi!
DeleteGreat! Your book looks awesome on the shelf. Yes, querying sucks but you can do it! I keep fingers crossed for ya.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Dawn. I appreciate that.
DeleteCongrats on your book signing, Kelly! Your photo looks great! How exciting is it to see your book standing among others? I must say; your book does stand out!
ReplyDeleteI was thrown back into my day job after being off for Thanksgiving break. Lots of catching up to do before the week gets away from me! Glad to see you are off to a fantastic start.
It was so exciting to see. Definitely a moment I'll remember. :)
DeleteTo see your book on a book stand . . . I can't even imagine the feeling. :)
ReplyDeleteI felt like a dork taking a picture of my own book after my signing, but I would've smacked myself if I missed that opportunity. ;)
DeleteSo glad the signing went so well and it must have been amazing to see your books in a bookstore! How exciting!!! Awesome that a bookstore opened up near you. :) I decorated my tree on Saturday.
ReplyDelete~Jess
Yay for decorating. :)
DeleteIt must be wonderful to see your books on a shelf like that. Good luck with the querying. This week, I'm preparing for Christmas, helping at the school fair, packing for a weekend away and turning my novel around, from an adult urban fantasy into one suitable for the 9-12 age range. Feels better. Have a great week.
ReplyDeleteWow, Fi, I'm tired just reading all you have to do. Good luck!
DeleteCongrats and good luck with your queries.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Johnell.
DeleteGood luck with querying. (I must have missed it, because I thought you were agented)- I'm sure you will find the right fit. May it be soon.
ReplyDeleteSeeing your book on a bookshelf- YAY!
I was agented, but my agency closed so I'm seeking representation again.
DeleteGood luck finding another agent, Kelly. I'm also in the query trenches.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great feeling to have a book signing and see your book on shelves.
Good luck with your querying too, Medeia!
DeleteHow cool to see your books in a store! I have my first signing in March. ..I may pass out lol
ReplyDelete