Happy May, all! Today is the monthly meeting of the Insecure Writer's Support Group, hosted by Alex J. Cavanaugh.
For once I am not feeling all that insecure and instead I'm feeling more excited than anything else. This weekend I will be attending the Ohioana Book Festival and I'm really looking forward to it. I'm nowhere near as nervous about the public speaking aspect of it as I was back in my March IWSG post and I think a big reason for that is all the great support I received from this group. So thanks to all of you for that! I also have to give a special shout-out to the awesome Liz Blocker who took the time to email me some wonderful public speaking tips she learned as a drama student in college.
I don't think I'll be blogging for the rest of May as I'm going to burrow down in my writing cave before taking a trip to Martha's Vineyard later in the month. I'm going to be part of "Vineyard Writers Day" there at Edgartown Books and I'm as excited for that as I am about the book festival this weekend. So I hope by the time the June IWSG rolls around I will be able to share that I not only survived my public speaking appearances but also had fun at them. :D
Before I sign off for the month I want to share the news about Come Back, the debut novel from Melissa Maygrove. Yay, Melissa! Come Back will be released on Monday, May 12 and I have no doubt that it will be a wonderful read. If you don't already follow Melissa, you are missing out on one of the nicest bloggers out there.
Here is the info on Melissa's book and the giveaway she is hosting as part of the big release party.
Sometimes a single choice
alters the course of a person's life
forever.
Come Back
by Melissa Maygrove
Western Historical Romance
Adult / New Adult
Available May 12th from Truelove Press
The Giveaway starts May 5th and ends at midnight on May 19th.
A signed paperback copy of Come Back for winner living in the cont.
U.S. or Authorgraph + e-book copy (international entrant)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Where to find Melissa...
The Giveaway starts May 5th and ends at midnight on May 19th.
Winners will be announced May 21st.
The two prizes are:
A $50 gift card to your choice of Amazon
or Barnes & Noble (Book Depository for international entrants)
Congratulations and best of luck to Melissa! I'll see you all in June. :)
What a lovely positive post. Lots of great things happening for you, Julie - enjoy it all :-)
ReplyDeleteTwo events coming up! And one in your favorite place. How awesome is that?
ReplyDeleteIt is great that you are not insecure this month. All the best with the public speaking endeavor and don't worry, you will be amazing.
ReplyDeleteYou're going to do great, Julie! I have no doubt.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the appearances and the writing, and have a wonderful trip. :)
@Annalisa, thanks!
ReplyDelete@Alex, yeah, I can't believe how it's worked out. :)
@Murees, thanks so much, that's very kind of you.
@Madeline, I hope so, thank you!
Oh I can hear such a difference in your post about public speaking Julie. You a brave and settling into the role. Love that. Have fun in your cave and enjoy those events. :)
ReplyDeleteshahwharton.com
Aww. Your sweet intro nearly made me cry. Thank you, Julie!
ReplyDeleteUm. Liz needs to spread the wealth. I'll be hitting her up for that public speaking advice. LOL
Enjoy your time away. We want a full report when you return. :)
IWSG #224 until Alex culls the list again.
Good luck, good luck, good luck -- and have so much fun! How extra exciting that you get to go to the scene of the crime for one of the events.
ReplyDeleteCongrats to Melissa!
ReplyDeleteAnd way to go with your public speaking!!! I hope you have lots of fun this month, and enjoy Martha's Vineyard!
Sounds like a lot of fun. Have a great time.
ReplyDeleteTwo writers not feeling insecure at the same time? What were the chances?
ReplyDeleteA great post! Have fun at the book festival. I would've loved to come, but the Mother's day weekend every year, I visit with my in-laws. Yay for Melissa! Great giveaway.
ReplyDeleteCongrats to Melissa!
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a lot of fun at the Ohioana Book Festival and at the Vineyard Writers Day!
@Shah, that's so nice, thank you!
ReplyDelete@Melissa, Liz's tips are awesome, I'm sure she would share! Congrats again. :)
@Nicki, thank you!!
@Tyrean, I hope so, thanks so much.
@Beverly, thanks, I appreciate that.
@Ken, I think it's a true miracle LOL.
@Christine, thanks!
@Cherie, I hope so, thank you.
Public speaking terrifies me! I have to read from my book twice next week, then again in June... It's just reading for kids, but it seems really terrifying to me! I comfort myself by assuming nobody will show up.
ReplyDeleteThat's great about the upcoming event! It sounds like it'll be a blast, and I'm so glad you've gained some confidence in the public speaking area.
ReplyDeleteSee you when May is over!
Grats to Melissa!
I love the positivity of this post-- happy writing :).
ReplyDeleteCongrats to Melissa! I've been seeing her book everywhere!
ReplyDeleteHow excited you must be for both this weekend and going back to MV! You'll do great because you're feeling so positive. Do you think I can fit into your suitcase for the trip? ;)
Happy writing!
We can't get enough support for this job. I'm glad you're part of such a great group.
ReplyDeleteExcellent post! After A to Z, I need to buckle down, gird my loins, and get back to writing too.
ReplyDeleteToo bad I can't find a cool book event like Ohioana Book Festival. It sounds like a winner.
Good luck with your events! It sounds very exciting!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the shout-out!! I'm so glad it helped, and I can't wait to hear all about how it went!! HAVE FUN! And enjoy your much-deserved blogging break!!
ReplyDeleteHow exciting to speak at Martha's Vineyard--the place you love! Hope you can relax and enjoy your speaking engagements. I can't wait for vacation:)
ReplyDeleteWell you certainly can't go wrong with that cover. Enjoy your month off.
ReplyDeleteOh, I would love to go to Ohioana Book Festival and Vineyard Writers Day. Can I tag along? ;)
ReplyDeleteI know you're going to be fabulous when you give your public speech.
And I want to thank you for such kind words on my blog. :)
@Stephanie, oh, good luck with the readings! I know you will be great.
ReplyDelete@Karen, thank you and you're so welcome.
@Loni, thanks, I hope so!
@D, thanks!
@River, I will try to find room in the suitcase! :D
@Donna, I'm so glad as well, thanks!
@Carol, I hope you will find something near you, I got lucky here. Thanks!
@Sarah, I am excited, thanks for your good wishes.
@Liz, thank you again, I so appreciate it!
@Jennifer, thanks so much.
@Michael, agreed about the cover LOL.
@Chrys, thank you and I would love to have you tag along. :)
Congratulations to you and Melissa! Enjoy your time off. A trip to a vineyard is a great way to celebrate a new book.
ReplyDeleteHave a great month off, and enjoy your trip :)
ReplyDeleteCongrats Melissa and best of luck with your release. Have fun Julie and I hope everything goes well for you.
ReplyDelete@Jenn, thank you, I think so too. :)
ReplyDelete@Laura, thanks!
@Sheena-kay, thank you, I appreciate it.
You are going to rock it, Julie! Have fun and enjoy your time off. You deserve it.
ReplyDeleteLiz really is a sweetheart!
Elsie
co-host IWSG
Congrats to Melissa. Hope you have fun at your speaking and come back and tell us all about it in June.
ReplyDeleteI'm so excited for you! I hope you get a lot of writing done in May and have an awesome time at the book fair! (I try to burrow in my cave to write...but it's boring in there.)
ReplyDeleteCongrats to Melissa! :)
Here's to a great break, Julie. You deserve it. I'm right behind you. I'll be signing off soon to reconnect with my writing and my in person friends.
ReplyDeleteJulie, that's so great that you have your writer's conference this weekend. Know it will be fun. Enjoy.
ReplyDeleteMary Montague Sikes
Seems there is a lot of excitement in your life with those two events. You sound pretty confident and happy. I am glad for that. Enjoy yourself!
ReplyDeleteWoo hooo! Have fun with all your writerly events. That's awesome. The public speaking gets easier, doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteCongrats to Melissa!
Yay for Melissa! This is going to be a release of awesomeness!
ReplyDeleteHere's some cheese to take to your cave with you, in case you get lonely. ;)
Congratulations on presenting this weekend and not being worried about it! Yay!!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your weekend and your trip to your favourite place. It sounds like you will be creative in your cave. You will present just wonderfully-just think of them all in some superhero costumes
ReplyDeleteSupport certainly helps, doesn't it? Good luck this weekend, enjoy it all.
ReplyDeleteCongrats to Melissa. And you'll do great at the Ohio Festival. Enjoy burrowing down into your writing cave...get lots of writing done!
ReplyDeleteCongrats to Melissa!
ReplyDeleteHave fun, Julie. Write up and make sure you come back and tell us all about the festival and the Vineyard Writer's Day! :D
Such an uplifting post. Have fun at the festival this weekend.
ReplyDeleteCongrats to Melissa!!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your May break, Julie. And have a great time at the book festival.
Yay for feeling positive! And congrats to Melissa. Love the cover.
ReplyDeleteHi Julie, its wonderful that you are not insecure this month. Goodluck to Melissa.
ReplyDeleteHope your cave writing is productive :)
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad that you are feeling more confident, and I know you'll do a great job at the Ohioana Book Festival! Enjoy your well deserved blog break! Congrats to Melissa!
ReplyDeleteJulie
Julie: enjoy your events. Sounds so exciting and happy writing this month. The Vineyard--that sounds so relaxing.
ReplyDeleteCongrats Melissa! Love the cover. Best of luck!
That's great that you've conquered your fear of public speaking! I'm terrified of public speaking, I hate hate hate it ;) So I'm going to focus on internet marketing once the book is ready ;)
ReplyDeleteBest of luck with the Book Festival and with the writing cave!
That's great that you've conquered your fear of public speaking! I'm terrified of public speaking, I hate hate hate it ;) So I'm going to focus on internet marketing once the book is ready ;)
ReplyDeleteBest of luck with the Book Festival and with the writing cave!
Hi Julie,
ReplyDeleteI'm excited for you. You have worked hard and now deserve to reap your rewards.
Have a great May break while enjoying the Book Festival and your time at Martha's Vineyard.
I'm routing for you my friend.
Thank you all so much for your good wishes and kind words! You guys are all the best. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you will do great.
ReplyDeletewhy did I not try to sign up for Ohioana? I'm such a goof! Next time.
BTW, if you need a book assistant on the Vineyards, I could be talked into it...
I'm sure your speaking engagements will go swimmingly. You could make a second career out of this! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm happy that you're fear of public speaking has reduced. Have fun.
ReplyDeleteI love this. This is the third IWSG post I've read today with the message that the author wasn't feeling particularly insecure.
ReplyDeleteMaybe the support group is helping members overcome.
Congratulations to Melissa.
You're entering your writing cave and I'm just crawling out of mine. Have fun at the book festival. You'll be great! :)
ReplyDeleteHi, Julie,
ReplyDeleteWOW, you have so many exciting things coming up this month! Good for you! You'll do great at the Ohiana Book Festival ...
AND EDGARTOWN...I am so jealous. I haven't been to the cape in DECADES. Someday I hope. I hope it's wonderful for you!
YAY for Melissa! How exciting. All the best to her and her debut novel!
You've been tagged.
ReplyDeletehttp://stephie5741.blogspot.com/2014/05/tagged-my-writing-process.html
Come Back looks and sounds SO good!
ReplyDeleteHow fun about your festival! Have a great time!
And I don't blame you at all for taking May off from blogging. I had to do that for most of March and April to meet a deadline on my sequel.
See ya when you return!
Glad to hear things are going well.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your blogging break, hope you get lots done.
Good for you, Julie! I'm so glad you're feeling good about things. You're right, we get a lot of support from our writing peeps.
ReplyDeleteCongrats to Melissa! Your book looks awesome :)
Good luck with your public speaking appearances! I've found that I'm way less nervous if I'm speaking on something that interests me and that I know thoroughly (versus having to do research for it, for instance).
ReplyDeleteGood luck on your public speaking and at Martha's Vineyard! I'm sure all will go very well.
ReplyDeleteAnd I agree. Melissa is great! :)
Have a wonderful time, and thanks for your kind support.
ReplyDeleteHope you have a fantastic May, Julie! Not surprised at all that you need to take a break from the blogosphere for the month...
ReplyDeleteHi Julie - hope this past weekend was fun .. and that the Martha's Vineyard holiday and event will give you much enjoyment and many sales .. then the burrowing down and writing ..
ReplyDeleteHappy May and see you soon - Hilary
Thank you all again so much for your comments and good wishes! You all rock. :)
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