Autographing books

I sometimes picture myself autographing one of my books. I visualize my hand sweeping across the page, maybe even drawing a smiley face. God willing, my dream will one day come true.

If you're published, how do you sign your books? Is there a saying you always write? Do you include the recipient's name?

And if you're an unpublished writer like me, how will you sign your book when your dream becomes a reality. Notice I said "when" not "if." (Smiles)

I see that sometimes people sign the cover rather than an inside page. I suppose by signing the cover other people can see that you have an autographed copy more easily, if that sort of thing matters to you. And I guess for the author, signing the cover saves time because her or she doesn't have to open the book.What are your thoughts on signing the cover versus signing an inside page?

Don't miss these three contests

Hey gang, here's a link to my social media blog where I talk about  three contests to win really cool stuff. Check the contests out when you have time. Some really cool prizes, including a Miche handbag, circus tickets and more.

Some more Peeps contest entries:

The Peep Swan

Rest in Peeps

Meet AKA teammate: Luis Cruz

Here’s another one of my awesome AKA Literary teammates. Hope you check him out.

Name: Luis M. Cruz.

Lives in: Bronx, New York.

Writes: YA.

Titles of books you've written/sold: THE DAY THEY MADE CONTACT (Yet to be published.)

Facebook: facebook.com/oubrago

Favorite book: STAR WARS: DARKSABER by Kevin J. Anderson.

Favorite book character: Commander Data from the Star Trek: TNG series.

Book you've learned the most from: HOW TO GET A LITERARY AGENT by Michael Larsen.

If you could have dinner with any author, who would it be and what would you ask him/her? Kevin J. Anderson. Can please pass the salt.

What is the best piece of writing advice you ever received: Miles Davis once wrote, "Write what you know or write what you don't know like everybody else."

Finish these sentences:

I wish I...could talk sense to all the world leaders.

If I knew...the secrets of the universe, my life would most likely be boring.

Other AKA profiles:
Aaron Tate
Louise Caiola
Katie Lee
Lee Richmond
Robert Spiller
Edward A. Iannuccilli
Tasha Cotter
Gilda Evans

Meet AKA teammate: Gilda Evans

Here’s another one of my awesome AKA Literary teammates. Hope you check her out.

Name: Gilda Evans

Lives in: Los Angeles, CA

Family: Single, with 3 kids, 1 grown, 1 almost grown, 1 on the way there -- who happen to be three of the best people on the planet.

Writes: Just about anything. Won my first essay contest at the age of 10. Wrote for the entertainment biz for many years. Currently working on the GIRL TALK book series - self-help/inspirational non-fiction. Also working on a YA novel series.

Day job: Bon vivant extraordinaire

Titles of books you've written/sold: GIRL TALK: Dating...what your friends don't tell you and your boyfriends need to know. GIRL TALK - Sisters...secrets, pinky promises and unconditional love.

Website: http://www.gildaevans.com/

Blog: http://www.gildaevans.com/, http://www.gildaevans.wordpress.com/

Twitter: @gildaevans

Facebook: Girl Talk by Gilda Evans

Favorite book: EXCUSE ME, YOUR LIFE IS WAITING

Favorite book character: Sherlock Holmes

Book you've learned the most from: My own - they are a voyage in self-discovery

If you could have dinner with any author, who would it be and what would you ask him/her? God. What is the secret to ultimate peace of mind?

What is the best piece of writing advice you ever received: Write your passion.

Finish these sentences:

I wish I...had three wishes! Or maybe twenty...

If I knew...20 years ago what I know now, things would be different.

Other AKA profiles:
Aaron Tate
Louise Caiola
Katie Lee
Lee Richmond
Robert Spiller
Edward A. Iannuccilli
Tasha Cotter

Peeps diorama contest entries

Had to share some of these. Each year, my staff holds a Peeps diorama contest. I love seeing the entries when they come in. For more about the contest, see this post. 

1. "Boy or Girl? Impeepsible to Tell" 

2. The Legend of Peepy Hollow

3.  Peeps Wonderland

 4. Peeps R Winning

 5. Justin Peeper

6. BPeep Oil Spill

 

Meet AKA teammate: Tasha Cotter

Here’s another one of my awesome AKA Literary teammates. Hope you check her out.

Name: Tasha Cotter

Lives in:  Glasgow, KY

Family: married to Daniel Cotter

Writes: YA, contemporary women’s fiction and poetry

Day job: Professor and educator

Titles of books you've written/sold:
Women’s Fiction: I wrote a contemporary women’s fiction series. The three books in this series include: THE PROBLEM WITH MR. RIGHT, EVERYTHING YOU WANT, and DAPPLED THINGS. I also co-wrote a book titled US IN PIECES, with Chris Green.

YA: THE SERIOUSLY MESSED UP (BUT TRUE!) STORY OF A WITCH (The first book in a three-part series)

Website: http://www.tashacotter.com/

Favorite book: This changes by the week, but there are a some clear favorites: Nick Hornby, Julianna Baggott, Steve Almond, Laurie Halse Anderson, and Suzanne Collins.

Favorite book character: Jo March of LITTLE WOMEN or Katniss Everdeen of THE HUNGER GAMES trilogy.

Book you've learned the most from: Craft-wise I’d say BIRD BY BIRD by Anne Lamott, WILL WRITE FOR SHOES Cathy Yardley, and HOW FICTION WORKS by James Wood.

If you could have dinner with any author, who would it be and what would you ask him/her? I think it would be Aimee Bender, author of THE PARTICULAR SADNESS OF LEMON CAKE and WILLFUL CREATURES. I love where her books take me — literally and figuratively. I’d pick her brain about her use of surrealism in her works and find out what’s on the horizon for her.

What is the best piece of writing advice you ever received: I think it was from Julianna Baggott. Her advice was obvious, but something I so often lose track of when I’m trying to schedule time to write: in order to be a writer, you have to sit your ass in a chair in write. Simple, but surprisingly easy to lose sight of. Too often when I’m at my desk I find myself getting up to go do anything else but write and I have to remind myself to get back to the book, get back in that chair…

Other AKA profiles
Aaron Tate
Louise Caiola
Katie Lee
Lee Richmond
Robert Spiller
Edward A. Iannuccilli, M.D.

New Civil War book hits stores

I just gotta give my boss, Jim McClure, a plug as well as a loud round of applause. He and co-writer Scott Mingus just released their book, CIVIL WAR VOICES FROM YORK COUNTY, PA: REMEMBERING THE REBELLION AND THE GETTYSBURG CAMPAIGN  in time for the kickoff of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War on April 12, 2011.

Jim talks about how the book came about in this post on his York Town Square blog.

Most of the stories and photos in the book came from the scrapbooks and oral traditions of York County families, and they cover the home front and war front.

Please pop over to Jim's blog and read about his newest book and about his journey to publication. Jim has written many history books and is not only a great person but a great journalist.

Meet AKA teammate: Edward Iannuccilli

 Here’s another one of my awesome AKA Literary teammates. Hope you check him out.

Name: Edward A. Iannuccilli, M.D.

Lives in:  Bristol, RI

Family:  Wife, Diane. % children, 9 grandchildren

Writes: Memoirs of his youth

Day job:  Consultant in a Patient Safety Organization

Titles of books you've written/sold: "GROWING UP ITALIAN; GRANDFATHER'S FIG TREE AND OTHER STORIES

Blog: www.italianamericanwriter.com

Facebook: Edward Iannuccilli

Favorite book: THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF KAVALIER AND CLAY

Favorite book character: Kavalier

Book you've learned the most from: GREAT EXPECTATIONS

If you could have dinner with any author, who would it be and what would you ask him/her? Hemingway. How do you develop your characters and how do they relate to your life?

What is the best piece of writing advice you ever received: Keep Writing!

Finish these sentences:

I wish I...started earlier with my writing career

If I knew...what would be my passion in later years, I would have been a language or a writing major in college.

Other AKA profiles
Aaron Tate
Louise Caiola
Katie Lee
Lee Richmond
Robert Spiller

Meet AKA teammate: Robert Spiller

Name: Robert Spiller

Lives in: Colorado Springs, CO

Family: Wife, Barbara; daughters, Nikki, Laura, Jennifer (all grown), grandchildren, Liam,1; Cameron, 11; Quentin, 13; Jackie, 16


Writes: Mystery (Amateur Sleuth), YA historical mystery, Horror

Day Job (for two more months): Middle school math teacher

Titles of books sold: THE WITCH OF AGNESI, A CALCULATED DEMISE, IRRATIONAL NUMBERS: Medallion Press

Website: www.rspiller.com

Favorite book: THE LORD OF THE RINGS (all three books)

Favorite character: Harry Bosch (Michael Connelly detective)

Books I've learned the most from: THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED, A NEW EARTH, and THE PROPHET For direct teaching. Most important lesson learned from fiction; A true hero often doesn't get to enjoy the world he saves. He strives for the benefit of those he loves.

Best piece of writing advice: Let Writing be your Zen Practice. Everything else will fall into place. Adopted from Writing Down the Bones.

Writer I'd like to have dinner with: Eckart Tolle, author of A New Earth. I would ask him for advice about how to live more successfully in the present.

I wish I were more like my wife: Generous, funny, observant, positive

If I knew exactly what the readers of the world wanted to read, I'd probably write what I want to write anyway.

Other AKA profiles
Aaron Tate
Louise Caiola
Katie Lee
Lee Richmond

I have sneaky sisters (and sons)

So my sisters really surprised us with a 25th anniversary party today. We thought we were going to a party for my brother-in-law Daryl. Turned out, it was a party for us. We were totally surprised. What made the party extra special was that one of my BFFs, Robin, and her husband, J.P., performed an impromtu vow rewewal ceremony. J.P. did an awesome job with the ceremony and Robin read the same passage she read at our wedding 25 years ago. It was incredibly special and great that could share it with all of our friends. Love you all bunches and bunches!

Why book trailers are now essential

I came across this article on book trailers and wanted to share it.

Have you produced book trailers? How did it go and what do you think of finished product?

Meet AKA teammate: Lee Richmond

Name: Lee Richmond

Lives in: Dunbarton, NH

Family: Wife Pam, Sons Hondo and Nick (grown and living in other cities)

Writes: Adult literary fiction: novels and short stories

Day job: Marketing writer; writer/producer of video

Titles of books you've written/sold: HIGH ON GOLD (Charterhouse, 1972; Avon, 1974); THEY WERE FIRE currently represented by AKA; THROUGH THE MOUNTAIN,work in progress

Website: http://www.leerichmond.com/

Facebook: Lee Richmond

Books you've learned the most from: WAR AND PEACE, AS I LAY DYING

What is the best piece of writing advice you ever received: Sit down in the morning and just start writing, and do it first thing every morning, and don't quit until you've put in at least four hours


Other AKA profiles
Aaron Tate
Louise Caiola
Katie Lee