Writers Working Wednesday!

A major goal for Book 'Em North Carolina is to increase reading, whether that is non-fiction or any genre of fiction. Whether you have written a book for adults, young adults or children, we'd like to introduce our followers to you - whether or not you are participating in our next book fair.

So each Wednesday like today, we have Writers Working Wednesday, in which any author can post up to five lines of any book they wish to promote. Here are the guidelines:

1. In a comment, post up to five lines from a work in progress or a published work. You must be the author of that work, and it must be rated PG (we have students who read this blog).

2. Add the title of your work and include a buy link if you'd like.

3. Also feel free to add your website URL.

So let's see what you have for us: start posting your excerpts below!

Writers Working Wednesday!

A major goal for Book 'Em North Carolina is to increase reading, whether that is non-fiction or any genre of fiction. Whether you have written a book for adults, young adults or children, we'd like to introduce our followers to you - whether or not you are participating in our next book fair.

So each Wednesday like today, we have Writers Working Wednesday, in which any author can post up to five lines of any book they wish to promote. Here are the guidelines:

1. In a comment, post up to five lines from a work in progress or a published work. You must be the author of that work, and it must be rated PG (we have students who read this blog).

2. Add the title of your work and include a buy link if you'd like.

3. Also feel free to add your website URL.

So let's see what you have for us: start posting your excerpts below!

Writers Working Wednesday!

A major goal for Book 'Em North Carolina is to increase reading, whether that is non-fiction or any genre of fiction. Whether you have written a book for adults, young adults or children, we'd like to introduce our followers to you - whether or not you are participating in our next book fair.

So each Wednesday like today, we have Writers Working Wednesday, in which any author can post up to five lines of any book they wish to promote. Here are the guidelines:

1. In a comment, post up to five lines from a work in progress or a published work. You must be the author of that work, and it must be rated PG (we have students who read this blog).

2. Add the title of your work and include a buy link if you'd like.

3. Also feel free to add your website URL.

So let's see what you have for us: start posting your excerpts below!

Writers Working Wednesday!

A major goal for Book 'Em North Carolina is to increase reading, whether that is non-fiction or any genre of fiction. Whether you have written a book for adults, young adults or children, we'd like to introduce our followers to you - whether or not you are participating in our next book fair.

So each Wednesday like today, we have Writers Working Wednesday, in which any author can post up to five lines of any book they wish to promote. Here are the guidelines:

1. In a comment, post up to five lines from a work in progress or a published work. You must be the author of that work, and it must be rated PG (we have students who read this blog).

2. Add the title of your work and include a buy link if you'd like.

3. Also feel free to add your website URL.

So let's see what you have for us: start posting your excerpts below!

Writers Working Wednesday!

A major goal for Book 'Em North Carolina is to increase reading, whether that is non-fiction or any genre of fiction. Whether you have written a book for adults, young adults or children, we'd like to introduce our followers to you - whether or not you are participating in our next book fair.

So each Wednesday like today, we have Writers Working Wednesday, in which any author can post up to five lines of any book they wish to promote. Here are the guidelines:

1. In a comment, post up to five lines from a work in progress or a published work. You must be the author of that work, and it must be rated PG (we have students who read this blog).

2. Add the title of your work and include a buy link if you'd like.

3. Also feel free to add your website URL.

So let's see what you have for us: start posting your excerpts below!

Writers Working Wednesday!

A major goal for Book 'Em North Carolina is to increase reading, whether that is non-fiction or any genre of fiction. Whether you have written a book for adults, young adults or children, we'd like to introduce our followers to you - whether or not you are participating in our next book fair.

So each Wednesday like today, we have Writers Working Wednesday, in which any author can post up to five lines of any book they wish to promote. Here are the guidelines:

1. In a comment, post up to five lines from a work in progress or a published work. You must be the author of that work, and it must be rated PG (we have students who read this blog).

2. Add the title of your work and include a buy link if you'd like.

3. Also feel free to add your website URL.

So let's see what you have for us: start posting your excerpts below!

Writers Working Wednesday!

A major goal for Book 'Em North Carolina is to increase reading, whether that is non-fiction or any genre of fiction. Whether you have written a book for adults, young adults or children, we'd like to introduce our followers to you - whether or not you are participating in our next book fair.

So each Wednesday like today, we have Writers Working Wednesday, in which any author can post up to five lines of any book they wish to promote. Here are the guidelines:

1. In a comment, post up to five lines from a work in progress or a published work. You must be the author of that work, and it must be rated PG (we have students who read this blog).

2. Add the title of your work and include a buy link if you'd like.

3. Also feel free to add your website URL.

So let's see what you have for us: start posting your excerpts below!

Writers Working Wednesday!

A major goal for Book 'Em North Carolina is to increase reading, whether that is non-fiction or any genre of fiction. Whether you have written a book for adults, young adults or children, we'd like to introduce our followers to you - whether or not you are participating in our next book fair.

So each Wednesday like today, we have Writers Working Wednesday, in which any author can post up to five lines of any book they wish to promote. Here are the guidelines:

1. In a comment, post up to five lines from a work in progress or a published work. You must be the author of that work, and it must be rated PG (we have students who read this blog).

2. Add the title of your work and include a buy link if you'd like.

3. Also feel free to add your website URL.

So let's see what you have for us: start posting your excerpts below!

The Volunteers Behind Book 'Em North Carolina

The Book ‘Em North Carolina Writers Conference and Book Fair has grown tremendously over the past four years, making it a multi-award-winning event. None of it could be possible without the time, money, hard work and support of so many volunteers and sponsors in our community. Below are just some of the people who make this event happen, and who attendees will come in contact with at our 2015 event. They’re listed in no particular order of priority, as every single individual and organization is vital to our success. I am certain I will have forgotten someone in this list and I apologize up-front! With around 200 volunteers, it is challenging to keep up with them all, but each and every one is deeply appreciated.

Robeson Community College

This event would not be possible without the generosity of our host, Robeson Community College, its President, Dr. Pamela Hilbert, and the faculty and staff who work all year to ensure its success, most especially James Bass, Director of The Learning Center; Crystal Edmonds, Chair for English and Humanities; Susan Moore and Roy Raby, who bring together dozens of volunteers; and Patricia Clark and her security and maintenance staffs. On the day of the event, you’ll find RCC staff and students everywhere you look—from the cashiers ringing up the sales to volunteers dressed in blue t-shirts assisting in every hallway.

Lumberton Area Visitors Bureau

Upon arriving at Book ‘Em North Carolina, you’re likely to see the welcome table of the Lumberton Area Visitors Bureau as soon as you enter the lobby. Executive Director Mickey Gregory has been a member of the Executive Committee since the early days of Book ‘Em North Carolina. She has worked tirelessly to promote the events, to involve area businesses and volunteers, and through the generosity of the Lumberton Area Visitors Bureau and its Board of Directors, we’ve received grants to allow us to promote the event over a multi-state area as well as a Twitter campaign added this year (@bookemnc).

Robeson County Arts Council

Also in the lobby of the event, you’ll find the Robeson County Arts Council, chaired by Dr. Mary Ann Masters. The Arts Council is instrumental in promoting literary arts, visual and performing arts, and highlighting the talent that abounds in Robeson County. Please stop by the art display in the lobby to admire photography and paintings from local artists, and be sure to ask for information on exciting upcoming events. And when you pay for books purchased at Book ‘Em North Carolina, the Robeson County Arts Council handles all of the accounting for the event. Our accountant is Stephen Parker with the firm S. Preston Douglas; Stephen works tirelessly all year on all bookkeeping and accounting matters.

Friends of the Robeson County Public Library

Robeson County Public Library – Librarians

The Friends of the Robeson County Public Library along with Director Katie Huneycutt and librarian Lisa Matthews and Mattie Locklear will be your hosts for all of the adult talks in the Lewis Auditorium, Red Room and Green Room. Every one of them is a true book lover in every sense of the word, and they will be working to ensure that every author and every talks attendee has a wonderful time.

In addition, James Bass, Director of the RCC Learning Center, and a special committee will be working in the Lewis Auditorium on stage setup. The furniture on stage is provided pro bono by Kimbrell’s Furniture in Lumberton, North Carolina.

The Children’s Corner

There are a number of volunteers working in The Children’s Corner to ensure a fun and exciting time for the youngest readers. It is chaired by Communities In Schools (Executive Director Dencie Lambdin) and the CIS Academy (Anne Kinlaw). Author readings and activities are planned all day. The Dolly Parton Imagination Library of Robeson County, Kiwanis Club of Lumberton, and Communities In Schools for Robeson County will all have tables and will be anxious to speak to parents and children about the fun of reading.

Public Schools of Robeson County

Sandi Carter, the Arts Education Supervisor for the Public Schools of Robeson County, has worked with us each year, coordinating most of the signs you’ll see throughout the facility, especially in The Children’s Corner. Those signs are hand-made by students in the Public Schools of Robeson County, using their imaginations to bring stories to life.

Dencie Lambdin, Executive Director for Communities In Schools of Robeson County, will have student volunteers from the CIS Academy assisting in The Children’s Corner and throughout the event.

And students from Studio One, an innovative program within the Public Schools of Robeson County’s Arts Education Program, have appeared at each of our events in costume, bringing books to life through live characterizations of The Little Mermaid, Cat in the Hat, Snow White, and much more.

Talks Moderators

Our panel discussions are moderated by a volunteer from our business community, many of whom also financially sponsor the event (as indicated by asterisks beside their names):

Dr. Pamela Hilbert, President of Robeson Community College *

Joann Anderson, President and CEO of Southeastern Health *

Katie Huneycutt, Director, Robeson County Public Library

James Bass, Robeson Community College

Crystal Edmonds, Robeson Community College

Drina Hedgpeth, retired teacher

Bruce Jobe, The Law Offices of Bruce Jobe, P.A. *

Ginger King, Author

Jef Lambdin, President, Robeson Road Runners *

Dr. Mary Ann Masters, Lumberton Optometric Associates, PLLC *

Chip Pate, LPL Financial *

Carolyn Watson, Robeson Community College
Dennis Watts, Robeson Community College
Roy Raby, Robeson Community College 

Author Lounge

Our Author Lounge is hosted for the second year in a row by the Lumberton Women’s Club and Lumberton Juniorettes, who will be on hand all day greeting authors and serving a continental breakfast and buffet lunch to authors and their guests.

Food is provided free of charge to authors and their guests (a special ticket is required for entry) through the generosity of Golden Corral of Lumberton Buffet and Catering. For the second year, through the generosity of our financial sponsorships, we are offering meals to volunteers who work at the event (a special ticket or blue t-shirt is required for entry).

City of Lumberton

Ray Pennington, Mayor of Lumberton, has been a strong supporter of Book ‘Em North Carolina since I approached him almost nine years ago. Chief Mike McNeill of the Lumberton Police Department has graciously provided fingerprinting, Sherlock Hound, and other police support. And Connie Russ has ensured that flyers are included with every Lumberton resident’s utility bill each year of our event.

Sponsors

Our financial sponsors allow us to pay all overhead expenses associated with the Book ‘Em North Carolina Writers Conference and Book Fair, which allows us to donate 100% of the proceeds provided to BENC from book sales on the day of the event to area literacy efforts. This year our financial sponsors are:

National Sponsor

Southern Writers Magazine

Platinum Sponsors (over $1,000)

Lumberton Area Visitors Bureau

Golden Corral of Lumberton Buffet and Catering

The Village Station Restaurant

Gold Sponsors ($1,000)

Friends of the Robeson County Public Library

Rotary Club of Lumberton

Southeastern Health

Kiwanis Club of Lumberton (providing free dictionaries to children)

Silver Sponsors ($500)

The Law Offices of Bruce Jobe
DD Productions

Bronze Sponsors ($250)

Author B.R. Stanard

Century 21 – Leroy Rising

Edward Jones - Mary Jo Walter

LPL Financial - Chip Pate 
Lumberton Optometric Associates, PLLC

Robeson Road Runners

S. Preston Douglas & Associates

Robeson Community College

Media Sponsors

Author p.m.terrell (website, blogspot, e-newsletters)

Lumberton Magazine

Native Visions Magazine

Robeson Living Magazine

Robesonian Newspaper

Southern Writers Magazine

WHQR (Wilmington)

WPDE-TV (Myrtle Beach)

WRAL-TV (Raleigh)

Hotel Sponsors

Best Western (pet friendly)

Fairfield Inn
Comfort Suites 

This post was written by the founder and chair of Book 'Em North Carolina, author p.m.terrell. For more information about Book 'Em North Carolina, visit www.bookemnc.org. For more information about p.m.terrell, visit www.pmterrell.com.

Writers Working Wednesday!

A major goal for Book 'Em North Carolina is to increase reading, whether that is non-fiction or any genre of fiction. Whether you have written a book for adults, young adults or children, we'd like to introduce our followers to you - whether or not you are participating in our next book fair.

So each Wednesday like today, we have Writers Working Wednesday, in which any author can post up to five lines of any book they wish to promote. Here are the guidelines:

1. In a comment, post up to five lines from a work in progress or a published work. You must be the author of that work, and it must be rated PG (we have students who read this blog).

2. Add the title of your work and include a buy link if you'd like.

3. Also feel free to add your website URL.

So let's see what you have for us: start posting your excerpts below!

Creating a Successful Book Event

Last week, I told the story of how The Book 'Em Foundation was conceived and how I established the annual Book 'Em North Carolina Writers Conference and Book Fair.

Now that we're in the final weeks for our third event (to be held on Saturday, February 28, 2015 at Robeson Community College in Lumberton, North Carolina), I've established a system to make it workable. Because I don't like last-minute surprises and glitches, I divided the year into sections in which we focus on a few large components of the event. As we approach the final weeks, all our planning and work through the year pays off as things come together.


MARCH THROUGH THE SUMMER

As soon as we've wrapped up the last event, we get started on the next one. I begin by revamping the website, www.bookemnc.org (before becoming a full-time author, I owned a couple of computer companies, which has come in handy) and set up the new pages for the following year's event.

The most important part of the new pages is releasing the Registration Form, used by authors who wish to sign and sell their books at Book 'Em North Carolina, and who may wish to participate in panel discussions and solo talks.

Although our Registration Form states that the closing date for registration is September 1 (or until the event is full) we have found that our last two events were full by late spring. We have a certain amount of space allocated for the event and because each author receives at least six feet of space (four feet of table plus two feet on the side) we easily reach 75+ authors, publishers, literary agents, Hollywood producers, and rock stars in a short period of time.


SUMMER SPONSORS

Beginning in early summer, we solicit businesses and individuals for sponsorships. Sponsorships range from $250 to more than $1,000, and we also accept donations. This money is critical for helping us pay for advertisements across multiple states and overhead (volunteer t-shirts, name tags, etc) so that all the money we take in during the event is set aside for literacy efforts.

We also apply for grant funding. Each year we've received a Kiwanis of Lumberton grant that pays for dictionaries that are given to children attending the event, and a Lumberton Area Visitors Bureau grant that pays for additional advertising.

There are NO paid employees - everyone is a volunteer.


LOGISTICS AND TALKS

In the fall, we begin a series of meetings at Robeson Community College to discuss how we can improve upon the previous year's event, and we hammer out logistics.

I begin speaking at a variety of community organizations such as Kiwanis, Rotary Club, and book clubs.

By November, I am hard at work on the Talks Schedule, arranging panel discussions and solo talks, assigning authors and moderators to each talk, and lining up the volunteers needed for each Talks Room and The Children's Corner.

I also begin reaching out to volunteers and volunteer groups and keeping a list of who is committed and what they'd like to do at the event.

I have also entered each title that each author and publisher wishes to sell at the event into a database and posted it online. This usually numbers more than 300 titles.

I have created a seating chart and assigned seating for each and every author, publisher, literary agent, Hollywood producer, and rock star. That seating chart is placed online at www.bookemnc.org.


PROMOTIONAL CAMPAIGN

By late fall, I have developed the brochures, flyers and posters.

The brochures are distributed through the Lumberton Area Visitors Bureau to the Welcome Centers along Interstate 95 and to hotels, restaurants and businesses in the area.

The flyers, including a Talks Schedule, are provided to the City of Lumberton for distribution in all utility bills in January, as well as to area businesses and sponsors.

A special flyer is developed for The Children's Corner and will be distributed to school children through Grade 3.

I begin contacting newspapers and magazines and scheduling advertisements to run in the January or February editions (magazines) and in Sunday newspapers. I also begin making television and radio appearances in North and South Carolina, and scheduling more of them to take place in January and February.

By January 2, we are ready to roll out our promotional campaign. All of the articles written, interviews provided, and guest blogs begin to unroll throughout multiple states.


THE FINAL DAYS

In the final days, I am tying everything together: ensuring that all promotional plans are set to go without a snag, all volunteers know when they are to arrive and what they're expected to do, all questions have been formed for the panel discussions, and all logistics are in place.

I create the signs for each author's table so they're easily found, work with volunteers for signage in and around the event, work with volunteers on an individual basis to ensure everyone knows their jobs, and take care of all the last minute preparations.

Next Friday, January 30, I'll begin introducing the volunteers and volunteer groups who work so tirelessly to ensure that each Book 'Em North Carolina Writers Conference and Book Fair goes off smoothly and without a hitch. I couldn't do this alone!

This blog was written by the founder of Book 'Em North Carolina, author p.m.terrell. For more information about the event and to download the brochure, flyers, seating chart, book list, and more, visit www.bookemnc.org.

Writers Working Wednesday!

A major goal for Book 'Em North Carolina is to increase reading, whether that is non-fiction or any genre of fiction. Whether you have written a book for adults, young adults or children, we'd like to introduce our followers to you - whether or not you are participating in our next book fair.

So each Wednesday like today, we have Writers Working Wednesday, in which any author can post up to five lines of any book they wish to promote. Here are the guidelines:

1. In a comment, post up to five lines from a work in progress or a published work. You must be the author of that work, and it must be rated PG (we have students who read this blog).

2. Add the title of your work and include a buy link if you'd like.

3. Also feel free to add your website URL.

So let's see what you have for us: start posting your excerpts below!

Book 'Em North Carolina - How It Happened

Last Friday, I talked about The Book 'Em Foundation and the inspiration behind it. Today I'll pick up with how the Book 'Em North Carolina Writers Conference and Book Fair came to be. I've been asked many, many times how I created this annual event and how others can do something similar in their own back yards.

Laying the Groundwork: I began lining up community support in 2005 for Book ‘Em North Carolina, even though the first event would not take place until 2012. The purpose of the event is to raise funds for literacy programs in Robeson County, reducing crime, and helping authors network and find new fans.

We gathered support from the City of Lumberton (always important to get local leaders involved), the Lumberton Area Visitors Bureau (instrumental for publicity efforts, and God bless the LVB's Executive Director, Mickey Gregory, who is an entire cheerleading squad wrapped up in one body), area businesses (sponsorships), civic groups (volunteers), schools (school-age attendance and volunteers with boundless energy), non-profits (to whom the literacy funds will go), among others. When we were offered Robeson Community College for the location, we were ready to get started.

Lining Up the Authors: We began contacting authors in March 2011. Katie Huneycutt joined me early on and has been instrumental in the event each year. Originally a librarian with Columbus County, she is now the Director for the Robeson County Public Library. She helped me email authors and post blogs to raise awareness of the Book ‘Em event. Thanks to Katie, we lined up two New York Times best-selling authors as headliners: Carla Neggers and Michael Palmer (necessary to attract large crowds). I developed our website, posting every author’s picture, bio and links as they registered. Over time, I added dozens of informational pages. As of this writing, I continue to maintain and pay for the website myself.

Sponsorships: We solicited businesses for sponsorships, instrumental for promoting and marketing the event. We lined up pillars of the community, including a host of businesses who donated $250 to $2,000 apiece. We secured grants from the Lumberton Area Visitor’s Center to cover promotional efforts and Kiwanis Club of Lumberton, who provided money to buy children’s books to give away.

Publicity: We began periodic press releases in the spring, which were picked up by mainstream and Internet media. We obtained media sponsors, including Lumberton Magazine and Robeson Living Magazine, and have been working steadily with newspapers, television and radio stations.

In 2012, we picked up our first national sponsor: Southern Writers Magazine, who continues to sponsor us. 

Our big promotional campaign begins January 2. Brochures are in all the NC Welcome Centers on I-95 and with local businesses; flyers will be distributed with all Lumberton utility bills; and our full Talks Schedule will be published in various magazines, including Southern Writers Magazine and Lumberton Magazine.

Logistics: The conference and book fair features more than 75 authors selling and signing their books, which means we must have tables and adequate space not only for the authors but for traffic flow. Over our first three years in Lumberton, we've also added publishers, literary agents, Hollywood producers (for making books into movies) and even rock stars who believe in our mission.

We’ve divided two buildings into fiction, non-fiction, young adult and a special Children’s Corner, meticulously measuring hallways and classrooms. We have four to five sets of talks going on simultaneously - panel discussions and solo talks for every genre – plus readings for small children.

Each talk requires a moderator; each hallway and conference room requires a Team Captain and host of volunteers. There is an Author’s Lounge, requiring a Food Committee. Golden Corral of Lumberton Catering & Buffet stepped up to provide breakfast and lunch for our authors free of charge. We’ll have greeters, on-going events in the Children’s Corner, and centralized cash registers, each requiring a team of volunteers.

When our event began in 2013, a strong rain descended on Lumberton. It was heart-warming to see scores of volunteers in their light blue Book 'Em North Carolina t-shirts rushing out to each author's vehicle as they pulled in front of the triple doors at the Lewis Auditorium, to unload their books and transport them to their tables. When the authors parked and made their way indoors, they were pleasantly surprised to find their books awaiting them at their designated tables.

Attendees: Over the first three years of the event, attendance has grown to encompass visitors from across the country. We've had fans and aspiring writers journey from as far away as California, Missouri, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Florida - as well as from across the Carolinas. During a blizzard, one group left St Louis, Missouri and traveled for two days to reach the event. They found it so beneficial and fun that many plan to make the trip again in 2015.

Afterward: When the event is over, our work is not: we’ll clean up the space used, reconcile all the funds received, pay authors and publishers their portion of the book sales, award the non-profits funding for literacy efforts, and donate remaining books to literacy groups.

Then we start the whole process over. It takes a full twelve months to organize the event and ensure its success. Tune in next Friday, January 23 to find out how we manage it all!

Book ‘Em North Carolina Writers Conference and Book Fair is held on the last Saturday of each February in Lumberton, NC. The event is FREE and open to the public; doors open at 9:30 am. A portion of every book sale is donated to the Dolly Parton Imagination Library of Robeson County, Communities In Schools, and Friends of the Robeson County Public Library for literacy campaigns for all ages. The Book ‘Em Foundation was founded by author p.m.terrell, who wrote this blog, and Police Officer Mark Kearney, to raise awareness of the link between high crime rates and high illiteracy rates.

Writers Working Wednesday!

A major goal for Book 'Em North Carolina is to increase reading, whether that is non-fiction or any genre of fiction. Whether you have written a book for adults, young adults or children, we'd like to introduce our followers to you - whether or not you are participating in our next book fair.

So each Wednesday like today, we have Writers Working Wednesday, in which any author can post up to five lines of any book they wish to promote. Here are the guidelines:

1. In a comment, post up to five lines from a work in progress or a published work. You must be the author of that work, and it must be rated PG (we have students who read this blog).

2. Add the title of your work and include a buy link if you'd like.

3. Also feel free to add your website URL.

So let's see what you have for us: start posting your excerpts below!

How Book 'Em Came To Be

The Book 'Em North Carolina Writers Conference and Book Fair is just weeks away, and I'd like to take a few posts to explain how The Book 'Em Foundation came to be, how we established the annual Book 'Em North Carolina event, and what authors and visitors can expect on Saturday, February 28, 2015 when we hold our fourth BENC event, which is a multi-award-winning event.

MEET P.M.TERRELL

My name is Patricia M. Terrell. To my friends, I am simply "Trish" and to readers and fans, I am p.m.terrell. Although I began writing in 1967 (and yes, that makes me feel REALLY old), my first book wasn't published until 1984, and my first suspense/thriller in 2002. I wrote (and still do) because I love writing, and I honestly can't think of a better way to spend my time.

When my first suspense, Kickback, was released in 2002, I traveled the Commonwealth of Virginia, signing books and providing proceeds to Virginia Crime Stoppers Association's local members, including the Chesterfield County/ Colonial Heights Crime Solvers, where I was honored to serve as their first female president.

MEET MARK KEARNEY

While signing in Staunton, Virginia, I became acquainted with Waynesboro Police Officer Mark Kearney. Mark and I share a commitment to bettering our communities and as we talked, the subject fell to the link between high illiteracy rates and high crime rates. Both of us began researching the correlation and the more we learned, the more we were committed to helping our communities by simultaneously raising the level of literacy and reducing crime rates.

As we pondered how we were to accomplish this, I realized that I, a lone author, was giving to Crime Stoppers and Crime Solvers organizations through the sale of my books. What if, I mused, I was able to pull together a half dozen authors to help me raise money for increasing literacy and reducing crime?

We put the word out and in a short period of time, we had not six authors but more than 75! We realized that this event was going to be larger than we'd ever imagined so we formed the non-profit (Virginia) Corporation, The Book 'Em Foundation.

THE BIRTH OF BOOK 'EM

Our first event was held in Waynesboro, Virginia and was so successful that we continued to hold the event annually. In addition to Waynesboro, they were also held in Lebanon, New Hampshire and Charleston, South Carolina.

When I moved from Virginia to Lumberton, North Carolina in 2004, I knew I wanted to establish an annual event here. It would be called Book 'Em North Carolina and would be not only a book fair in which books were sold to raise money for literacy and anti-crime efforts, but it would also include an annual writers' conference.

Tune in on Friday, January 16 to find out what was involved in getting the Book 'Em North Carolina Writers Conference and Book Fair started.

Writers Working Wednesday!

A major goal for Book 'Em North Carolina is to increase reading, whether that is non-fiction or any genre of fiction. Whether you have written a book for adults, young adults or children, we'd like to introduce our followers to you - whether or not you are participating in our next book fair.

So each Wednesday like today, we have Writers Working Wednesday, in which any author can post up to five lines of any book they wish to promote. Here are the guidelines:

1. In a comment, post up to five lines from a work in progress or a published work. You must be the author of that work, and it must be rated PG (we have students who read this blog).

2. Add the title of your work and include a buy link if you'd like.

3. Also feel free to add your website URL.

So let's see what you have for us: start posting your excerpts below!

Love on the Lido Deck

Today's special guest is Barbara Oliverio. A Readers' Favorite Award™ Winner, Barbara Oliverio is the daughter of Italian immigrants and grew up in North Central West Virginia with a love of reading and a passion for learning. Following a career path that included being a teacher, journalist, and marketer, she has lived as far away from home as Italy where she practiced her family's native tongue as well as took advantage of living near to other European countries to travel extensively. A rabid Pittsburgh Steeler fan, she lives with her husband, an equally committed New York Giants fan, in suburban Denver where off-football-season dinner conversation is calmer and is usually accompanied by a meal she cooks from one of her mother's treasured recipes. Other interests include New York Times crossword puzzles, good movies, and travel. She volunteers extensively for her parish and writes for its publications. She also teaches part-time for the St. Catherine of Siena Institute.

GUEST BLOG

So You Wanna Write a Book

By Barbara Oliverio

Before I became a published author, when I was “just” a writer, I never really thought about my method. I just did what I did. Quite often at book events and signings now, however, I’m asked some variation of one question: “Just exactly how do you write a book?”

Hmm. It’s a headscratcher.  I certainly don’t have THE magic formula, but I can share the steps I follow that seem to work for me.

Research your genre. Whether you are going to write mystery, paranormal, young adult or any other genre, you need to know what the genre looks and feels like so that you can know how to reach your target audience. I chose to write romantic comedy for my debut novel Love on the Back Burner, not because it is the only genre I read, but because it fit well with the story I wanted to tell. While preparing to write it, I must have read thousands of romances to understand the ebb and flow. I knew that I was going to concentrate on comedy and dialog, so I also watched romcom movies to study that dialog. Eventually, I could map out the rise and fall of a plot and it was ingrained in my head.

Interview your characters. I create a “persona” sheet for each of my characters. On it I give a physical description and list everything I know about them. I list their favorite colors, movies, books and tell what their hobbies and interests are. I write down where they went to school and have them tell me about their favorite memory. Usually, I also find a photo of a celebrity who the character would resemble. (In Love on the Lido Deck, I reviewed the web for photos of blonde actresses with extraordinary green eyes to base the character of Keira). Does all the information make it into the book? Probably not, but if I have a solid background on each character, I am better able to have them move through the story organically and stay in character.

Know how characters are related. I take a big sheet of paper and draw a circle with the name of my main character smack dab in the middle of it. Then I draw circles near her depicting the people that she is directly connected or related to. At that point, I draw straight lines from people who know each other directly, and dotted lines from people who only know “of” one another. What I end up with is a map that assures that one character can’t comment about someone they don’t know and upset the continuity of the story. You can do the same with index cards on a corkboard and different colors of yarn connecting them.

Outline – but don’t get stuck on it. I know. That sounds contradictory, but it works for me. I make a broad sweeping outline of the plot of the story because, after all, if you don’t know where you are going, you’ll never get there. I’m never afraid to let my characters lead me down a different path occasionally. They sometimes have better ideas than I do! I do reserve the right to reel them back and get them on my path if where they go doesn’t work. (Note: I do have some author friends who outline meticulously and others who don’t outline at all – I’m just telling you what works for me.)

Set a schedule. We’ve all seen the movies and seen the writers stricken by the muse. That’s the movies. In real life, writing is a task that needs to be scheduled. I give myself a number of words per day. (Usually, I go over that number). Even if you think you are blocked, and the words that you write look awful at the moment, you will have written SOMETHING. You can always delete and start again the next day, or edit, or save the bit for somewhere else.

I do all researching, etc., before I even write the first word in Chapter One. Folks are surprised when I tell them how quickly my writing flows, but I attribute it to all of the planning and research I do. I guess it’s a version of “measure twice, cut once” and I’m pretty sure that my little papa taught me that as I tagged along while he did projects around the house. Hey! Who knew that building a bookcase and building a book had so much in common!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Sharp-witted, always-organized Keira Graham has traded in her high tech career as a systems analyst for the whirlwind world of event planning. As she builds up her fledging business, she learns that her widowed mother has news of her own – she has a serious gentleman caller!  Is Keira ready for mom’s new romance?

When she gets a game-changing opportunity to organize a major event on a luxury Caribbean cruise, Keira turns to best pal chef Alexandria D'Agostino to help recruit famous chefs who will offer classes for foodies looking for fun in the sun as they gain cooking know-how. The cruise becomes a rollicking adventure for Keira, her sassy assistant Juliet, the entire D'Agostino clan, Keira's mother and other surprise guests. And has Keira meet her match in charismatic Cruise Director Brennan McAllister, who could have something more than keeping everything shipshape on his mind?

AN EXCERPT

I picked up the phone and punched in a number I would never forget.

“Maeve Graham,” answered the familiar voice.

“Mother, it’s me.” My mouth curled into a smile thinking of my mother probably just getting back from a charity breakfast, slipping off her impeccable heels to put on the comfy pink slippers I had knit for her when I was eight and going through my crafts phase.

“Keira, my sweet”—I heard the love in her voice— ”I was just thinking about you. Can you come over for tea and let me show you the new mare we’ve gotten in?”

My mother lived on the 35-acre estate that my father had inherited in tony horse country right outside the city. It was where I grew up, and the word home to me always conjured up the sounds of horses in the background. The stables were not as full as they once were, but she still had a number of our own horses as well as some that she boarded.

“Sorry, Mother, but I am slammed with work.”

“Oh.” I heard the disappointment in her voice. Then she brightened. “That’s okay, I’ll see you at the Witheroe wedding this weekend, won’t I?”

“Mother, you’ll see me there but as the event planner, remember? Not as a guest.” Although she had been the source of most of my first leads when I started my own event-planning service in Denver, my mother sometimes forgot that I was the hired help now.

“Of course, dear,” she paused.

“Mother, is something wrong?”

“No, no. I just haven’t had time to visit with you in awhile. I’d like to chat ... you know ... girl to girl.” What? Girl to girl? Had she been reading magazine articles on mother-daughter togetherness? We’ve always had a good relationship, but if she suddenly decided to follow some strange trend in family togetherness—eek!

CONNECT WITH THE AUTHOR

www.barbaraoliverio.com

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http://www.amazon.com/Love-Lido-Deck-Nautical-Romantic/dp/1497586399/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1402689950&sr=1-1&keywords=Love+on+the+Lido+Deck

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