That's a Wrap

Are you a confident writer? Or do you have a few pesky, unwanted insecurities? Well, look no further! You need the Insecure Writer's Support Group!

We writers stick together and encourage each other like no other occupation.

And I'm feeling more secure than insecure lately (thanks to my supportive friends!), so I'll just offer some advice:

Every writer has an audience. Someone out there wants to read what you write. We can't all be a number one best-seller, but we can be SOMEONE's number one author!



It's also time for the A to Z Reflections of 2015.


I can't believe the A to Z Challenge for 2015 is over - did it seem to fly by for you? The month of April sure did! I had a great time reading other blogs and all the great comments I got here, but I always felt so rushed to get my visits in. Eh, I always feel rushed. So I'm glad I'm sitting down for a few minutes to write this recap and reflection post.


Here are the numbers:

Here's how I visited:
Didn't Read - probably couldn't get to the blog or they hadn't posted in a while or at all with the challenge. I also didn't read any (AC) - my wittle eyes are too tender...
Didn't Comment - I just didn't connect with the posts. That's how it goes...
Replies - The low response is not unusual. I don't think some of the bloggers realize what they're getting into and hope everyone will flock to their blog without having to go visit themselves. I'm just happy to find some quality blogs each year and always do!
Stars - I gave stars to blogs whose themes I really liked (highlighted some of them on O day) and I hope to become better acquainted with them as things resume to normal.

Here's the data in pretty bar graphs =)

My Visits vs Visits Back

 Percentages

And here are the main words from most of the blogs I visited:

Then there's my favorite, these are the people who visited me with name size relating to how many times they came by - Thanks so much you guys!!

All in all a fun & educational month!

And if you're a tweeter, we are doing two last A to Z twitter chats on Thursday, May 7 at 1pm and 8pm. It's been a blast! #azchat is the hashtag.

Finally, my friend TB Markinson is starting a new feature giving away a few ebooks a month in a rafflecopter. It's a wonderful idea where she advertises books and authors and someone gets to win them - Win-Win! And I'm featured this month in TBM's May Giveaway along with Lee McKenzie, Chrys Fey, Kourtney Heintz, and Medeia Sharif! Check it out!

Zat's All Folks!

For A to Z 2015, I WUZ

ALL ABOUT THAT PLACE

I highlighted ZILLIONS of Blogger Friends' Places

(well, maybe not ZILLIONS)
and

I offered up a ZOO of Book Event Tips

I have no Z blogs to share, but I have ZOME ZIPPY Blogfests I heard about during ZEE challenge!! ZAVOR them!

SHARON BAYLISS came up with the WRITER MAMA (& PAPA) BLOGHOP! MAY 4th
We blog about how we find time to write among our other many life's responsibilities. I'm looking forward to hearing how others handle ZEE stress!

ALEX J CAVANAUGH & HEATHER M GARDNER are teaming up to host BLOOD, BOOBS, & CARNAGE - MAY 18. Gee, I wonder what I'll post about (AZ if, you can probably guess my favorite series that fits this description!!) Join the BLITZ!

T B MARKINSON is hosting a monthly ebook giveaway at her blog, MAKING MY MARK. By the way, if you don't have Broken Branch Falls or Pop Travel, they're part of the giveaways in May and June respectively - ZOUNDZ like a wonderful idea!

ZOWIE! I almost forgot to mention the A TO Z REFLECTIONS HOP! This is where I put up my STATZ of the challenge. I didn't ZOOM over there in time to be on the list, but I'm posting one anyway...how ZILLY of them to close it before the challenge WUZ over! But you know where to find me! (ZOINKS! My bad people! That link is for last year's reflections - I guess they haven't put up this year's yet?? I'm in process of getting that info!)

And Zo, I leave you with a final Book Event Tip:

These events take a lot out of you - whether you get a hotel room or drive home, you'll be exhausted. Don't plan any other activities. You'll need time to ZONK! And you deserve it!

I hope you enjoyed my tips! And I'm always looking for a good event. Pass me a line if you hear of any!

Xciting Xertions

For A to Z 2015 I'm

ALL ABOUT THAT PLACE

I'll be highlighting Blogger Friends' Places

and

I'll be giving Book Event Tips

My favorite X blog is XCEPTIONAL!

XKCD - hilarious COMIX about science, math, and relationships! If you've never seen them, worth the XCURSION!

Here's an XAMPLE

And one XTRA

And don't XIT yet! I have XTENDED Book Event Tips!

Keep your XPECTATIONS reasonable.
I hate to burst your bubble, but don't XPECT to sell a case of books at an event. The only time I've sold that many was at my release parties with all my local friends, neighbors and family - which is awesome! And I'm very appreciative! But at festivals and events, the average is not high. And that's okay!

I'm not even XPECTING to sell as many at my future parties as I did at the first two - I'm not new and XCITING anymmore...

But at the last event I went to, I sold a lot more than I XPECTED! And that was XCITING! So the more we write, the more we sell, and the more fans we will have.

We Want What We Want!

For A to Z 2015 I'm

ALL ABOUT THAT PLACE

I'll be highlighting Blogger Friends' Places
and

I'll be giving Book Event Tips

WAIT no longer for WONDERFUL Bloggers!

WEAVING A TALE - Donna Weaver is WAY cool. She's sweet and funny and a hard WORKER. She keeps me grounded WHEN I'm WEARY.

WAVY LINES - Laura Marcella has fallen by the WAYSIDE, and that happens sometimes in this WACKY life. But I always enjoyed her WORDS of WISDOM WEEKLY quotes!

WISTFUL NEBULAE - WHAT can I say about Mary Pax? Mary, Mary quite extraordinary! How does your garden grow? WITH stars and planets and WISTFUL magic - and speculative fiction books in a row!

CR WARD - Carol has been a long-time blog friend. I WAS fortunate to read one of her first elemental series on her blog as she WROTE it WEEKLY - an intense, magical, romanciful journey!

And here WE be with Book Event Tips (WITH bonus pictures from my latest on Saturday!)

WHAT better time to WRITE or WHIP up a new idea for a WIP, than WHEN you're sitting at your table WAITING for the next surge of readers!

Bring paper or a device to WRITE down your ideas. My latest table partner came up WITH a great new story idea based on the patronage. I know he's do WELL WITH it!

Sometimes I sketch out scenes or WRITE poetry WHILE I WAIT.

WATCHING others interact can give an author the break she might need to WORK through a block or spark a new WIP.

A WRITER WRITES everywhere! Be ready for the WEAPON of opportunity to strike and tame it!

And WE WOWED the readers at the Ohioana Book Festival! There were so many visitors, I barely had time to run across the hall and say HI to Julie! Stupendous turnout! And my presentation at the kids' corner was awesome as WELL! I just WISH I had felt better to go to the after party - rain and cold made me WANT to curl up in bed, so I did. Oh WELL, I'll definitely be there again next year!

my half of the table =)

I got to meet THE Margaret Haddix! 
She was at the table next to me!

A cute pixie!
My photo props were a huge hit!

got to meet fellow CQ author Vicki Leigh!

Virile VIP!

For A to Z 2015 I'm

ALL ABOUT THAT PLACE

I'll be highlighting Blogger Friends' Places
and

I'll be giving Book Event Tips

Pump up the VOLUME on this VIRTUOUS Blogger!


VIKLIT - My VERY special friend from across the pond. I'm happy to claim her as my top VORACIOUS reading CP! And she founded a VISION of encouraging other bloggers in the form of "Celebrate the Small Things" - every Friday. Yay VIKKI!

A VERY important Book Event Tip:

Choose a prime VANTAGE point!
Sometimes you are assigned a table, but if you can pick your spot...

• You want a VIABLE spot where you will be seen.
• Choose a VENDOR table closer to the entrance rather than the exit - by the end, buyers probably have all the books they can handle and may not be able to add yours to their stack!
• Being close to others in your genre can also be a good VARIABLE to consider, bringing readers who enjoy it.
• And having a friend nearby is a comfort in a VERITABLE sea of strangers.

The Unusual Suspects

For A to Z 2015 I'm

ALL ABOUT THAT PLACE

I'll be highlighting Blogger Friends' Places
and

I'll be giving Book Event Tips

UNLIKELY you will leave these ULTIMATE Blogs feeling UNLUCKY!

UNICORN BELL - ULTRA helpful and full of advice, never UNWELCOME, this group of bloggers can UNTIE your writing problems!

UNTETHERED REALMS - an URGENT group of writers UNITED to spread the UNLIMITED joy of reading, writing, and all things UNSUNG - if you love fantasy, sci fi, and speculative, this is the site you should USE!

I hope you're ready for some USEFUL Book Event Tips!

UTILIZE the down time.

Have notepad, ipad, iphone handy!

• USE a notebook to: take notes on other displays or UPCOMING events
• USE it to work out a kink in or start a new WIP
• USE a tablet or ipad to show your trailer
• USE your phone to connect, check emails, and by all means click some pics!

Take Two...or Three

For A to Z 2015 I'm

ALL ABOUT THAT PLACE

I'll be highlighting Blogger Friends' Places
and

I'll be giving Book Event Tips

TODAY I'm TALKING about some TERRIFIC Bloggers!

TYREAN MARTINSON - TIMELESS and TRUE, this girl can TELL a great TALE!

TAMMY THERIAULT - I can't pronounce her last name, but THAT'S ok - I love her THRILLING, TWISTED interviews and TORRID sense of humor. She has perfect TIMING!

TRISHA - TENACIOUS writer from down under, TRISHA TAUNTS us with her wit and many versatile TALENTS!

TONJA DRECKER - Reviewer of TONS and writer TOO of childrens books, she gives us TANTALIZING TIDBITS in her blog, Kidbits!

THERESA MILSTEIN - A fellow TEACHER and northerner (I was born in Plymouth, MA!) I've always enjoyed her TRUISMS!

TIME for Book Event TIPS TO TAKE with you!

Do you have a good sense of TIMING? I hate TAKING restroom breaks because I know THAT'S when customers will visit my TABLE!

And when I see a pre TEEN boy enter the room, I just know he will want to read my book. But it never fails that another author happens to be TALKING to me or someone is blocking his view when he walks by and I feel I've lost a sale. TERRIBLE TIMING!

But, the THING is, if someone is interested, THEY will make a point to check it out, so I shrug it off.

TIMING is also important when prospective readers do make it to my TABLE. I have to TELL myself to hold my TONGUE and let THEM TALK. I TRY to let the books speak for THEMSELVES and be open to questions from TIMID guests. Don't TORTURE THEM by putting THEM on the spot.

Stop in a Sit a Spell

For A to Z 2015 I'm

ALL ABOUT THAT PLACE

I'll be highlighting Blogger Friends' Places
and

I'll be giving Book Event Tips

I'm SINGING and SHOUTING praises for these SUPER Bloggers!

SOUTHPAW

SUSAN GOURLEY/KELLY

SUZANNE FURNESS

STEPHEN TREMP

SHARON BAYLISS

STINA LINDENBLATT

the SILVER FOX

SOMETHING tells me I SHOULD SHARE SOME Book Event Tips!

Let's SEE. I already SUGGESTED to SMILE...
I've mentioned SEVERAL times that authors SUPPORT authors...
And I gave you SOME ideas for SWAG...

Oh yes! SWAG!
Here are SOME things not to forget for your table. Because the rule of dumb is: If you forget SOMETHING, you know you'll need it!

• A tablecloth - never be caught without your SKIRT! SOME events provide a covered table, most do not and you really want. You SHOULD SEE SOME of the tables I've SAT at!
• Author cards - we authors love to SHARE, as I SAID earlier, and the easiest way for authors and fans to connect is with SOCIAL MEDIA through links on your card.
• Books - now, this SHOULD be a given, right? But SOME events buy books and you just SIGN and SELL them. Even SO, I bring a few extra - who knows, they may SELL OUT!
• Book STANDS - from the SINGLE book STAND to the multi-SHELF tiered display - SOMETHING every author must have!
• More SWAG options - Besides pens, notepads, and candy, here are other ideas I have SEEN:
• STORIES - yes, free links or SMALL pamphlets, SAMPLES of their work
• Postcards - about their book, about other events, and even cards to SUPPORT other authors by the SAME publisher
• Jewelry - Hey! That's my thing! But there are many ways to go with it. I've also used and SEEN wristbands
• Misc STUFF - lip balm, travel bandaid case, mini flashlights, magnets, key chains, etc

I'm SURE there are more, but you decide what SUITS you best and what you can afford. Contrary to popular belief - authors are STRUGGLING artists!

STOP!

I have SOMETHING of SUPREME importance to SHARE! Alex J. Cavanaugh has a glorious new book out! SEE?

DRAGON OF THE STARS
by Alex J. Cavanaugh
Sci Fi – Space Opera/Adventure/Military

What Are the Kargrandes?

The ship of legends…

The future is set for Lt. Commander Aden Pendar, son of a Hyrathian Duke. Poised to secure his own command and marriage to the queen’s daughter, he’ll stop at nothing to achieve his goals.

But when the Alliance denies Hyrath’s claim on the planet of Kavil and declares war on their world, Aden finds his plans in disarray. Entrenched in battle and told he won’t make captain, Aden’s world begins to collapse. How will he salvage his career and future during Hyrath’s darkest hour?

One chance remains–the Dragon. Lost many years prior, the legendary ship’s unique weapon is Hyrath’s only hope. Can Aden find the Dragon, save his people, and prove he’s capable of commanding his own ship?

Purchase:

Amazon ~~ Barnes and Noble ~~ Kobo

Chapters ~~ iTunes ~~ Overdrive ~~ Goodreads

Alex J. Cavanaugh has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and works in web design, graphics, and technical editing. A fan of all things science fiction, his interests range from books and movies to music and games. Online he is the Ninja Captain and founder of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. He’s the author of Amazon Best-Sellers CassaStar, CassaFire, and CassaStorm.

Links:

Blog, IWSG, Twitter