Pay this no mind, I am testing something.

Back from Bisbee, brainstorming on my Romance novel all sorts of ideas for the ethnicity of the female character. African or French? Pied-Noir or Black African or stick with aristocratic French. One of my chapter members suggested Afrikaner, but that is coming in behind.

Gave the Public Speaking for Shy Writers for My Chapter Saguaro Romance Writers today. A friend and I are submitting a longer version of this to present at the Romance Writers of America conference next June in New York City.
This is not public speaking in the sense of giving a speech. This is more the sense of selling your book. You meet someone in the grocery line. They ask what do you do? Be proud of it. It is not a speech, but a conversation that could lead to something. Use virus marketing to meet and speak with people. This is the public speaking we are discussing here. At the most a book talk with questions and answers.
When I read Rich Dad Poor Dad this week, the author told a story about Ray Kroc, the man who built McDonald's speaking to a group of MBA students. He asked them what business am I in? They thought he was pulling their leg, until one student said, "Everyone in the world knows you sell the most hamburgers!" His response? "That's what I thought you would say. Ladies and gentlemen, I am in the real estate business. He made his money NOT because he made a better hamburger, but because he could sell land to have businesses and franchises.
As authors we know how to write. The 17th Century French playwright Moliere said, I wrote first for me, then for my friends, then for pay. Well, if you want to get to step three, it is time to market. There will be more detail down the road about how to do it and please ask any questions you have.

I never thought I would admire some of what Gandhi did. Simplicity and cutting back.

Last Friday, I watched the NBC show Who do You Think You Are? The show profiled Emmitt Smith. DNA studies interest me and they did Emmit Smith. He is 81% African, 15% European and 4% Native American. What does that tell me? Emmitt Smith can only BE an AMERICAN. Let's get past the hyphenated American and those who don't like it, he is one of us.

Laurie Schenbly Campbell spoke about rejection for writers at the Society for Southwest Authors meeting. The six members from Saguaro Romance Writers, are known as "Laurie's Roadies." There is none to keep in mind.

So Wyclef Jean wants to be President of Haiti. I will have to ask my old friend Patrick what he thinks.

Book news this weekend. Dorchester Press going to ebooks and Barnes and Noble putting itself up for sale.
I remember trips to Barnes and Noble as a child. I worked in a Barnes and Noble. We hang out and get work done in Barnes and Noble.
The Economist had an interesting article about Barnes and Noble. They want to go private, because they want to concentrate on e-books and many investors still have trouble with the idea of an e-book. Amazon already sells more e-books than bound.
I keep saying it is hard to predict the future, but with ebooks and publishing on demand, you can imagine instead of a bookstore with a coffee shop, a coffee shop that is a bookstore.
Food and coffee for thought.

I mentioned last week that Brenda Novak was signing at the Poisoned Pen bookstore in Scottsdale, Arizona. A group of writers met first at Grazie Pizzeria and Wine Bar. The owner, Maurizio is a really nice guy. The food is good and the company was great. There were lots of laughs.
The Poisoned Pen is 387 feet away according to Google Maps. Great store, lots of major mystery writers have signed there.
Glad I went, but Brenda is a good friend and her new book, White Heat is great.