Welcome
Hello Readers,
This summer has been a whirlwind. I finished my 8th manuscript TWO TO TANGO which will be released January 2011. I traveled to Chicago for July 4th to visit my family and friends for a much needed break.
I hired a publicist, Vel Johnson with VASAJ Communications to help promote my 7th book, IF YOU SO DESIRE which will be released September 1st. I attended the RWA National Conference held at the Walt Disney Dolphin Hotel in Orlando July 28th - July 31st.
The conference was a resounding success starting with the Literacy Autograph Signing on Wednesday 7/28. Thanks to my publicist, I received tons of media coverage. I was interviewed by The Orlando Sentinel and quoted in the newspaper article and on their blog. I was interviewed on camera by Central Florida News 13 and the clip ran for 24 hours on television. In addition, the video and article is featured on their website. Articles ran in both The Orlando Times and Florida Courier newspapers on my upcoming book release. (You can find the links on my News & Media Page.)
One of the highlights of the conference was attending a chat with Nora Roberts and getting to speak with her afterwards. She was so warm and inviting. The workshops were informative and educational. And the free books...oh my goodness; I have never received so many free books. Last count was 80.
What I loved about the RWA Conference was the ability to sit down with a stranger or a group of strangers in the lobby, at breakfast or at a luncheon and discuss a topic we both love: WRITING.The remainder of the conference was spectacular as well. I was able to meet with my agent Christine Witthohn of Bookcents Literary Agency and my Kimani Press editor. We brainstormed on future stories and my career. SPOILER ALERT: I see a trilogy on a family business in my future.
Harlequin held a great party for its authors on Friday night and the Awards Ceremony on Saturday night was a great way to finish the 4-day event and gave me a goal to strive for: a RITA AWARD (which promotes excellence in the romance genre by recognizing outstanding published romance novels and novellas).
One day, one day, a RITA could be in my future.
All the Best,
Yahrah St. John