Brainstorming, Branding and Buckeye Book Fair

Election Day! I hope you’ve already been out to vote. I did not, but only because I am between residences and have been disenfranchised accordingly.  Not voting in a presidential election feels very wrong, although giving a false address would have been worse, right?

I’m writing this a week in advance since I’m about to travel to Ohio on four separate missions. I’ll sign books at the Buckeye Book Fair on Saturday, November 2nd, on Sunday I’ll begin brainstorming with my new brainstorming group, and on Thursday I’ll make a quick drive north to see what’s happening with our cottage renovations in Western New York.

That’s only three missions, you say? Did I mention two of my children and all three of my grandchildren live in Cleveland, where our brainstormers are meeting this week? Enough said? At least I’ll be there for the bedtime stories and for trick-or-treating since this year it will be post-Halloween and post-Sandy.

Here’s a quick rundown of my week:

  1. Buckeye Book Fair:   Buckeye is a fabulous event. What’s not to love about a book fair where  readers line up half an hour before to get in the door and buy autographed books from their favorite authors? I love being asked to sign at Buckeye, and even though I no longer live in Ohio, I still have so many roots there. Of course being able to sign with good friends is an added plus. Casey Daniels, alias Kylie Logan, will be sitting at my table, along with our mutual friend Karen Harper.  Serena Miller will be joining us for the first time, and close to a hundred authors will be represented.
  2. Brainstorming:  My former brainstorming group has disbanded. Several of our members aren’t writing at the moment, and so Casey and I have formed a new one.  I explained the ins and out of brainstorming here last year. We meet for as many days as we have authors. Each of us hastwo hour-and-a-half sessions to discuss works in progress or even ones we’re simply considering. Then we explain what we need help with and the floodgates open. We tape each session because it’s so easy to miss ideas, some of which suddenly leap off the tape and into our plans for the book. I’ll be working on the third book in the Goddesses Anonymous series and on. . .
  3. Branding:  Branding is one of those promotion and social media buzz words that’s being tossed around a lot. Basically we, as authors, are told to figure out what we do best, then find a tag line that best expresses that to put on our websites and every piece of promotional material we produce. Quite frankly given a choice between working on this and walking on hot coals, I would be stumped. But hopefully my new brainstorming buddies will help. If they don’t, you’ll need to put on your thinking caps.

I will have internet, so join me on my Facebook Page while I’m gone. I’ll be checking in whenever I can. I promise renovation photos when I return. If there’s anything to see.  The last I heard they were still waiting for a permit. Don’t we love bureacracy? Which brings me back to . . .

VOTE!!!!

2 Comments

  1. Nancy Badertscher on November 6, 2012 at 11:29 am

    It does seem wrong somehow that there isn’t a provision made for someone in your situation, but I’m sure you explored all the possibilities. Sounds like you have a pretty full week. Hope the brainstorming goes well, and the visit to check on the progress in NY too. Got to love the waiting part ….. Hope the Trick or Treating goes/went well for your little ones. How are things going with the FL house?

    • Emilie Richards on November 6, 2012 at 10:15 pm

      If all goes well, we will be in our new house next week. Fingers crossed.

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