Wednesday, June 11, 2014

How Twitter Has Kept Me Sane (And the blog post I never thought I’d write)


First of all, I thought this day would never come.

Writing a post about a book deal seemed like a distant dream…like oh say, having dinner with David Gandy. (You didn’t actually think I could write a post without mentioning him, did you?) But now that the day has finally arrived, I’ve determined that writing an announcement post is HARD. Like writing the first chapter of a book hard! Because no one out there wants to read about how long it took me to get published (years!) or how many tears were shed in the process (I should own stock in Kleenex!). What they really want is for me to tell them when their day will come and no matter how much I’d like to, I can’t. But what I can do is offer up a list of people who helped me survive the last few years with my sanity intact. Well, some of it at least.

So while I’ll include the announcement at the bottom for anyone who missed the dozen or so times I mentioned it on twitter, what I’d really like to do is introduce everyone to a few of the people who make up my twitter “neighborhood”. And yes, I now have that Sesame Street song stuck in my head…Who are the People in Your Neighborhood…

There are people like @andrewtshaffer & @danielkenney who no matter what find a way to make me laugh every damn day.

There’s @juliebstroop , and @KayleeSim13 who never once stopped believing in me and whose DMs of encouragement got me back in front of the computer more times than I can count! And there’s @DeniseJTompkins, who sends the absolute BEST emails letting me know in no uncertain terms that failure is not an option.

There’s best selling author’s like @jcharbonneau who, despite being on tour, calls to see how queries are going. Or @lolashoes & @seeCwrite, who not only never met a stranger, but are the type of gals to spend a five hour lunch chatting about the rollercoaster of publishing with a writer who feels like giving up. Or @alice_clayton who won’t just recommend a book over dinner, she’ll buy it for you.

There’s @Partlyhazy & @MelissaWrites2 who are the best lunchtime support group a girl could ask for.

There’s @ddmarxbooks, who can meet a person while walking into a conference and by lunch time is saving her a seat, @DinaSilver whose marketing expertise never ceases to inspire me and @officeladyprobz who after years of tweeting became my new BFF on a sprint through the streets of Chicago!

There’s sites like @50ShadesSource & @50Latersbaby whose support has been both amazing and unwavering!

There’s Aussie @Juliet_Madison and Brits @JosieGiggs & @JaneWriting1  (we’ll say they live waaaay at the end of the block) who not only want you to come visit but send sightseeing tips!

There’s uber re-tweeters like @AntShellie & @PinkiePixieJo who never let me down when I fear there will be nothing but crickets on the TL. Or @nicsigni , @HeatherMarieYA, @Fizzygrrl, @snarkychicklet , and @lizlincolnwritr who are quick with replies that always make me smile.

There’s @AndreaBerthot, @SarahLBlair @writeforapples , @JackieHennesse1, @KarenCarro & @jillcahr, my sisters in arms. I have no doubt their day with come and when it does I’ll be shouting it from the rooftops.

And there’s @br_myers , @_RScottWhitley_, @LynnMontagano, @MeganWhitmer, @ViviBarnes, @MrsTomSauter , and @cecyrobson. This group has been a near constant in my life since I opened a twitter account. I would have never made it through the past two years without them and I hope someday we’re all at a conference together. First round is on me!

Of course none of this would have happened without my writing partner and best friend in the whole wide world *arms stretched out like a toddler* @Amy_KRogers! I would have never started another book if it weren’t for Amy. Her creativity astounds me and I can’t wait to take this journey with her by my side!

So without further ado…my first sale:     

      

Saturday, February 22, 2014

Win a Date With…George Clooney?


Last week I overheard a conversation between two teenagers who’d just watched “Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!” for the first time. After discussing the merits of Josh Duhamel and agreeing he was “definitely the best part of Transformers”, the talk quickly turned personal. “Where would you go with Harry Styles if he showed up to take you to lunch?” one girl asked the other.  The entire conversation made me smile because whether it be a quirky film about a starstruck grocery store clerk, two teens debating the best restaurant to dine with a member of One Direction, or a grown woman imagining a romantic evening with David Gandy (you know who you are), one thing remains the same…we’ve all entertained the fantasy of “what if”.


Josh Duhamel and Kate Bosworth
star in 2004's "Win a Date with Tad Hamilton"

Well for one lucky woman, the fantasy of winning a date with her celebrity crush became a reality. Earlier this month, single mom Jean Allen won a date with George Clooney. And brace yourself…it only cost her ten dollars! Yes, that’s right, for a mere ten dollar raffle ticket, Jean was on George’s arm as he walked the red carpet for the premiere of his latest film.  And the best part? It was all for a good cause with the proceeds from the contest going to Clooney’s charity, SatelliteSentinel Project.

Now you’re probably asking yourself how you missed the chance to buy a ticket because lord knows I was wondering the same thing. Turns out there is a website called Omaze.com which auctions off once in a lifetime experiences ranging from riding in a tank with Arnold Schwarzenegger to brunch with the cast of “Scandal”. Be sure to check it out. And in the meantime if you hear of any other charity auctions, say with a devastatingly handsome British model or the members of a popular boy band, be sure to share with readers by posting the details in the comments section below. 



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