A new and exciting venture for SIBA and myself. Here is my first YouTube video that will be running at www.authorsroundthesouth.com very soon. I hope to read aloud

from books that are being posted for events at the Authors Round The South site, books in the SIBA Holiday Catalog, and books on the Southern Bestseller List. So post away and watch every day.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiodSEA_RL4[/youtube]

I am thinking about all of you and soon hope to turn my blogging to the consumers out there.  The SIBA office is starting to get the Holiday Catalog surveys.  We’ve heard from customers from:

Burry Bookstore
Page After Page
Booksmith
Fiction Addiction
Bienville Books
Scott’s Book Store
Hall Book Exchange
Jekyll Books
Phillips & Lloyd
Moravian Book and Gift Shop
Reader’s Outlet
Books Unlimited
Horton’s Books & Gifts
Enterprise Books
Family Book Shop
Corner Bookstore
Joseph-Beth Booksellers
The Muses
Destinations Booksellers
Raintree Books
Blue Ridge Books & News
The Book Stall

Someone will win a $100 Booksense Gift Card!

I have set up a You Tube account and hope to begin my video blog soon where I will be reading aloud from, and promoting books that are being featured in bookstores and posted at www.authorsroundthesouth.com

love the bookmarks

The 2007 SIBA conference in Atlanta was my first experience of book sellers en masse and I was a little uncertain about what I would find. After all, apart from a couple of folks from Charlotte area stores, I would know nobody.

I needn’t have worried.

There were plenty of occasions when people gave my badge a second glance and exchanged those Oh-he’s-an-author looks, but far from making me feel outside the business to which everyone else was committed, this was always a prelude to words of welcome, encouragement, even admiration. In short, I’ve never been around so many people who cared so passionately about books and reading.  For someone currently slaving away on books three and four, the atmosphere was a welcome tonic, and I was actually inspired to spend a couple of late night hours tapping away at the laptop in my hotel room.

This general sense of well-being intensified when it came time for signings in the mystery writers booth on Saturday evening, where I met more wonderful people: authors, publishers and, most of all, book sellers. Even at the daunting Movebale Feast (which should be made a decathlon event), everyone I spoke to was patient, attentive and–so far as I could tell–generally interested in me and my work. As someone who knew no one and began life on a different continent, it was extraordinary to feel so comfortable. It seemed partly good-old southern hospitality, but it had a particularly nuanced energy that came from shared interest. I found myself chatting not about print numbers and best sellers lists, but about characterization, plotting, even sentence-level phrasing: in other words, book stuff. It really is amazing how rarely authors get to have these conversations with informed, opinionated and polite people.

Sometimes a writer’s life feels solitary not just because much of it is spent in isolation (that tapping away at the laptop) but also because writers can sometimes feel like they’re in a state of siege: there’s the editors who want the next draft by the end of the month, and the reviewers who loom like Emperor’s presiding (thumb poised) over the final moments of the gladiatorial bout, and there’s the readers firing comments and critiques over the internet. Sometimes all writers want to do is put their heads down and hope the world goes away.

Not at SIBA. Here were people who cared, who didn’t make snap judgments based on dubious blurbs, and clumsy cover art. These people wanted to know the books themelves, and the people who wrote them. It was like a bit like taking a wrong term of I85 and finding yourself in the literary equivalent of Shangrila.

So all hail the independent book sellers of the world. And thanks.

A.J. Hartley

On the Fifth Day, Berkley 2007

The Mask of Atreus, Berkley 2006

This was my first SIBA, with my first book, Tim and Sally’s Vegetable Garden.  My wife and I had a wonderful time.  The authors, booksellers, vendors and SIBA staff we met were all friendly, helpful, enthusiastic and interesting people.  We enjoyed and were taught much from the many exhibits.  We’ll be back next year.

Best wishes,
Grady Thrasher

Many thanks to everyone who participated in the SIBA event in Atlanta! It was a great official “launch” for my book “Final Countdown: NASA and the End of the Space Shuttle Program” from University Press of Florida. The “moveable feast” of authors did leave me slightly hoarse, but I was delighted to meet all the sellers, authors, and visiting media. It was also good to see people wearing the souvenir “Final Countdown” buttons along with having copies of the book in their tote bags.

The only part of the trip that left me slightly concerned was lunch on Saturday. Lucia and I wanted to try “The Varsity” restaurant for its famous burgers and chili dogs. As our taxi drew closer, we noticed that the crowds were getting bigger and bigger, and everyone was wearing either orange or blue and gold. It turns out it was game day for Georgia Tech and Clemson–gulp! Even the cabbie was nervous, but everything turned out fine. It was comforting, however, to get back to the familiar setting of the SIBA conference.

If anyone has any questions about “Final Countdown” or to arrange a signing, my email address is dugginsnews@cfl.rr.com, or contact University Press at upf.com.

See you soon!

Pat Duggins
Author, Final Countdown

Part of finally making it into the publishing world is having the opportunity to meet so many writers, booksellers, and conference folk that you’ve read about for years. For me, getting the opportunity to participate in this year’s Moveable Feast was just about as good as it gets.

“I’ll be honest, when George Singleton walked into the room where the writers were taking lunch, I wanted to hug the guy. He’s just so damn good. Likewise, I got to share the table with a new writer friend, Man Martin, a guy who is deadpan funny and nothing but a true storyteller. I also admit I didn’t sample all the food as much as I’d liked to, simply because I wanted to talk to all of these talented, nutty folks. It will go down as one of my favorite meals of all time. New friends in Patti Callahan, and Elise Blackwell made it even more endearing.

“Then, there was the actual Moveable Feast. Okay, I was a little scared, but I also understood there were people at each table that knew so much more than me about the business of publishing and selling books, so I sucked it up and found out so much I didn’t know. It was sheer pleasure to meet folks from Quail Ridge Books, City Lights, Books Unlimited, Osondu and the list goes on.

“There are just times in the writing life that you feel among like-hearted souls. It’s rare, to be certain, especially when so much of publishing these days seems to be about tearing down rather than building up, but SIBA will always be a little shining light in the distance for me. A place to feel at home.”

With the right company, the most wonderful things can happen at the dinner table.  I had the opportunity to sit at ten dinner tables for one meal. SIBA’s(Southern Independent Booksellers Association) Moveable Feast offered a menu of chicken smothered in brown gravy with steamed vegetables and the company of some good folks. The feast is set up a la speed dating style. An author is at each table with eight booksellers. We have ten to twelve minutes to speak about our new book to the booksellers. At the start, I have to admit I was nervous. What if listening to me yap about Piper Reed Navy Brat bored them? What if I forgot what I was going to say and rambled? What can be accomplished in ten minutes at a round table? Independent booksellers are important people to writers. I wanted to make a good impression. Moments into my spill, I was put to ease by southern charm. They listened with interest. I felt like I was sitting on my grandma’s porch spinning a yarn. When I finished, they asked questions and told me their stories. One bookseller, a former Army brat told how she had to figure out the way to fit in at every destination that her dad was stationed. “Once,” she said, “that meant beating up a girl. After I did, she accepted me.”Another bookseller told me she could relate to a military childhood because her father’s insurance career caused them to move often. Growing up, she attended thirteen schools. The booksellers wanted to know how my Navy brat life compared to the main character’s. Was the book autobiographical? Where had I lived growing up? They asked their questions or told their stories in lovely southern drawls (there really is a difference between a Georgia and Alabama accent), crisp Midwest tones, or even a British one. The new south was alive and well at SIBA.  I appreciate being able to participate in such an amazing event—an event that allowed me to talk about my new book and get an insight into the people of SIBA.  A lot can happen in ten minutes at a round table filled with interesting people after all.

Atlanta was a blast! Talk about southern hospitality. It even extended to radio talk show hosts.  As soon as I arrived on Friday afternoon, I was a guest on the AM 1380 Shelley Wynter show where I had a chance go plug the conference and also talk about my experiences serving in the Reagan White House for six years – first job: Deputy Press Secretary (I was scheduled to be in the car with Jim Brady on that fateful day of March 30 – the assassination attempt on the President — but stayed back at the last minute to handle some work at the White House).  My last job was Senior Director of the National Security Council, so Shelley asked me if events during that time frame influenced my stories. Answer: of course! (“Write what you know”).

Then on to the conference on Saturday with that hearty breakfast, schmoozing with booksellers from the Carolinas, Kentucky, Georgia as well as Florida, where we have a home. My publisher, Forge, sent me down – along with two other Tor/Forge writers. One was Susan Kearny who has written some 38 romance novels. The woman is amazing! She confided that some of her stories are rather explicit and “politically incorrect” – can’t wait to read them.  My other colleague, David Hagberg is prolific as well having penned dozens of thrillers.  We had a great time comparing notes about the National Security Council vs. CIA types.

My afternoon panel was titled “Winter Books of Interest” and I was up there with Jim Sheehan who wrote that very successful book, THE MAYOR OF LEXINGTON AVENUE.  Now his new release is titled LAW OF SECOND CHANCES and it sounds terrific. Then there was Kip Gayden’s new book, MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE and TV host Robyn Spizman who introduced her clever books for the pre-teen set about secret agents.

When it came my turn, I had a chance to talk about the many events I witnessed during those Reagan White House days that I’ve now woven into my thrillers,CHECKMATE (out now) and GAMBIT (out Feb. 5) from the assassination attempt to the air traffic controllers strike, the shooting down of an airliner with a Congressman on board to the President’s announcement of his Strategic Defense Initiative (“star wars”). During the Q&A, someone asked Jim if he did extensive outlining for his books. He said “No.” He lets his characters take over the story. When I was asked if I had the same routine, I said, “Not exactly.” (I sounded like a Hertz commercial). I explained that I do extensive research, write a synopsis and complete outline and admitted that I tend to live by the “Rule of the 6 p’s” (Proper preparation precludes pathetically poor performance).

At the big signing session later that afternoon, when booksellers were kind of enough to come by for a signed copy of my GAMBIT ARC, I explained that any bookseller could send me a quick email (through my website: www.karnabodman.com) and I will mail them any requested number of signed bookplates so they can offer my books as autographed copies. Hope to see you all again next year!

A short note from blogger Wanda: 

1.  The Gifts Galore for Bookstores has been updated and has some cool new stuff.

2.  Kinda twilight zoney — I have been called for jury duty next week first time ever and I’m kinda excited about it and talked to my brother and he has been called also, the same week and the first time ever and he’s kinda excited about it — we are in different counties — what are the chances of that?!?

It was a thrill to be on the Chiller and Thriller panel…quite a variety and each author needed their own hour!  Wanda Jewel is a jewel…I thought this new “cram it all in” format was a lot of fun and kept things high-energy; much better than dragging things out over more days.  That Hilton has been there forever, but I thought was a nice hotel and I  hve never met friendlier staff…same for SIBA staff.   Loved the book signing; crowded but festive and more high-energy!  We ate at Trader Vics, for old time’s sake and the bananas foster was yummy.  Nice to see old friends, great books, and authors galore.   This must be the best regional ever!  Till next time, Carole Marsh, author, Carole Marsh Mysteries

Just back from SIBA, which was held at the Hilton downtown Atlanta, and all I can say is being a writer ain’t so bad after all. I know we sit for hours in a room by ourselves, trying to place words on the page that others will find worthy of publication, chew our fingers past the bone while we wait to find out, and then when it’s a go, hit the trail to hawk our books like some used card salesman. But, when an event like SIBA rolls around, it’s absolutely, positively all worth it, and then some!

Let me tell you: I got to mingle up close and personal with some of my favorite authors: Mary Kay Andrews (Deep Dish), Patricia Sprinkle (Sins of the Father), Terry Kay (alright I didn’t get to see him this trip, but I do know him (he blurbed my debut novel), and love his work and please check out his latest The Book of Marie: A Novel. It’s great!), Jacque D’Alessandra (Confessions at Midnight), Charles Frazier (Thirteen Moons) Patti Callahan Henry (Between the Tides), Joshilyn Jackson (The Girl Who Stopped Swimming) Ferrol Sams (Down Town: A Novel), Amy Sedaris (I Like You), Nicole Seitz (Trouble the Water), Jaclyn Wedon (Mockingbird in the Moonlight) and Edie Hand (The Last Christmas Ride), A. J. Hartley (On the Fifth Day),Kathryn R. Wall (Bishop’s Reach) and many more I didn’t even get close to. Whew!!  I wasn’t featured this year as my latest novel (Divorcing Dwayne), first in my three-book Dwayne Series  doesn’t hit the stands until April 2008 (Dear Dwayne and Dating Dwayne, to follow), but I did get to sign at the SinC booth.(Cold Rock River and Roseflower Creek). Thanks for having me, sisters! And to think I almost missed an opportunity to be part of this fabulous industry. 

You see, I didn’t start my writing career until our children left home, and my husband insisted they weren’t coming back unless they needed money. Previously, I wanted to be a movie star, but when the mirror confirmed that my theatrical-clock had not only stopped ticking, it was at the cemetery, I thought writing might be a better choice. While at the dentist waiting on a root canal – never make career decisions while waiting on a man with a knitting needle who intends to stab you in the mouth with it – I picked up a tattered paperback entitled The Writer’s Little Instruction Book. Spooky! I was merely contemplating the idea of becoming a N.Y. Times bestselling author and the perfect manual appeared. Surely God, his angels, and all the saints were trying to tell me something, right? I didn’t consider that maybe the devil and his deceivers were having a good laugh. The book listed 365 (give or take) secrets for writing and getting published. Perfect! It was an omen. In 365 days I’d be on the bestsellers list. I simply needed to master one little ol’ secret a day. The first one I came across was the key to a successful story. It was threefold: 1. Get your protagonist up a tree. 2. Put a tiger under the tree. 3. Get your protagonist out of the tree.  

Elementary! I was on my way and about to discover secret #2, when the receptionist called my name. It was time for my root canal. Piece of cake; I was on a mission to greatness. Not even that flashing knitting needle held high in Dr.I-Forget-his-name’s hand would stop me now. Four injections (the first three didn’t take), and two hours later I drove home not the least bit interested in the N. Y. Times, its bestsellers list, or who was on it.  Tomorrow, I’d begin the great American novel, the minute my feet hit the floor, the instant my brain met the coffee. However (don’t you hate that word?) I forgot about one character defect I’ve struggled with most of my life: I’m a world class procrastinator. If they ever give out Pulitzer’s on the subject, I’ll be a major contender. Not to say I don’t get things done. I do. But I tend to do them one minute before time’s up. Procrastination is not a good attribute for an author. All the best books on writing (there are slews of good ones; here are my favorites: Anne Lamott, Elizabeth Berg, Julie Cameron, Stephen King,and Walter Mosely’s brand new contribution), state clearly that writers are to place themselves before the computer (or notepad, or typewriter) at precisely the same time each day for precisely the same amount of pre-determined hours each day (weekends and holiday included), in order to not only hone one’s craft, but to complete the manuscript at hand. Ahhh. . .that might be a problem. 

The moment I get out of bed, I tend to explore the world around me and assess the damages, making a list as I go. Stupid little things like, I forgot to do the laundry, again and there’s no clean underwear, the milk’s sour, there’s nothing to eat but cat food, the garbage hasn’t been dragged to the curb in a month, and the refrigerator filter hasn’t been changed since we invaded Iraq. The list grows as I walk from room to room. Are those fur balls under the dining room table really having grandchildren? Can’t be, last week they were barely parents. I climb under to investigate. I meander from room to room, procrastination taking over the morning. I get out the phone book. Surely there’s an organization that can assist me. There has to be. I’m on the verge of being a bestselling author! I need recovery. 

The yellow page lists Alcoholics Anonymous, Overeaters Anonymous, Cheaters Anonymous, Kleptomaniacs Anonymous and Sex Addicts Anonymous. There are groups for Obsessive Compulsion Disorder, Attention Deficit Disorder, and Bi-Polar Disorder, but absolutely no procrastinators support group. There must be an organization meeting somewhere. Actually a helpline would be my choice. A number I could call the moment I find no underwear I’m willing to wear or encounter a chore I’m tempted to do, featuring a commanding voice like my mothers that will instruct me to immediately march over to my computer and bolt myself to the chair for a minimum of three hours, and call her in the morning. I look through the entire collection of yellow pages I’ve amassed, as well as the local newspaper’s classified ads and find nothing to assist me. Obviously, I’m one of a mere handful of major procrastinators in existence. There are simply not enough of us to require a network of supporters. Yikes! I’m on my own. I search the room for answers and spot my computer. It’s waiting, perfectly able to do my bidding. And I only have 364 more secrets to master. Glory be,I’m ready to discover them! I dash to the computer, sit down triumphantly, and put my hands on the keys. At last! I’m ready to write the great American novel. However,the phone rings. It’s my mother. She’s waiting on me. Did you forget you need to take me to the dentist? Ahhh. . .yeh, I did, but I don’t tell her. I’m on my way! I say instead. I get up from my computer and grab my car keys.  

Tomorrow, I’d begin the great American novel, the minute my feet hit the floor, the instant my brain met the coffee.  J. L. (Jackie Lee) Miles is the author of Cold Rock River, the critically acclaimed Roseflower Creek, and the soon to be released Dwayne Series. Divorcing Dwayne debuts April 2008. Dear Dwayne & Dating Dwayne to follow.  Write to Jackie at jackie@jlmiles.comVisit the website at http://www.jlmiles.com 

Wanda Jewell & Nicki Leone at SIBA 2007 Atlanta, GA