Sunday Snippet: The Book Signing Edition

This post is going up before I do a book signing here in the Ohio River town that is the inspiration for my fictional town of River’s Edge. I’m speaking to a writers group at 2 p.m. and then signing books at a fun coffeeshop right on Main Street. I’m really looking forward to this event, although I confess that the butterflies in my tummy have butterflies. Speaking is so far out of my wheelhouse, but I think it’s a good exercise to do it, and I’m hoping to do more of it at libraries and book clubs.

Today, I’m talking about what a copy editor does and what we look for when we edit a novel. When I speak to writer groups, I generally talk about writing–the mechanics and the process. When I speak to book clubs and reader groups, I talk about why I write romance and what it means to me. This talk will be particularly special because I will include a little bit about setting and why I chose their town to craft River’s Edge. I’m nervous, I confess, so hold a good thought.

The weekend has been enjoyable as we’ve learned more about Madison, and thus gotten ideas for River’s Edge. This town is full of gorgeous flowers–I must get that into a book. I finally got to see the inside of the old cotton mill that got turned into a hotel–doesn’t look at all like my Cotton Mill Inn (remember the old factory that Gerry Ross turned into a hotel back in Meant to Be?), but it’s still very cool and you can see evidence of the old 19th-century factory it once was. Our new friends who took us to dinner also showed us so many interesting and beautiful places. I stored them all in my head and came home and made notes.

I’m going to be focused on finishing Anna and Sawyer’s story this week so won’t be on social too much, then it’s full steam ahead for promotion for Make It Real, which releases August! Yay! There will lots of fun around that, I promise. On July 26 (Friday), though, I will be at Tule Book Club FB group at 8 p.m. EST for their annual Christmas in July party. Hope you’ll stop by.

Gratitude for This Week: Great visit to the town that inspires River’s Edge; Traveling with pal, Moe, has been delightful; Enjoyed stopping by a sweet farm/winery/restaurant for lunch on Friday; Anna and Sawyer are coming to the HEA of their story; a fun visit with Brenda–the most amazing photographer in the state! (Her photos of “River’s Edge” are the ones I share with you here and on social.)

Stay well, spend some time in the sunshine this week, be kind, and most of all, mes amis, stay grateful!