Dunes & Dreams RWA » Promo http://dunesanddreams.org/blog Where Romance is a Shore Thing...One word at a time! Tue, 07 Sep 2010 16:07:35 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Learning to Write in Huntington http://dunesanddreams.org/blog/2010/01/31/learning-to-write-in-huntington/ http://dunesanddreams.org/blog/2010/01/31/learning-to-write-in-huntington/#comments Sun, 31 Jan 2010 14:49:04 +0000 Gina Ardito http://dunesanddreams.org/blog/?p=170 Yesterday, members of Dunes & Dreams RWA hosted the first of a four-part workshop, “From Once Upon a Time to Happily Ever After: Turning Your Dreams Into a Book” at the Huntington Public Library. Imagine our surprise when we arrived to discover our room taken by the Defensive Driving class!

But the staff of the library quickly regrouped to set us up in the auditorium. Good thing, too. The auditorium was packed with people–all ages, both genders, all experience levels; all with one thing in common. They wanted insight into the writing process; how to start, how to keep going, how to finish, and how to achieve their own dreams.

In Session I, we began with the ideas of Goal, Motivation, and Conflict, segued into Characterization, Dialogue & Narrative, and ended with Plotting. We even came up with a new name for Debora Dennis‘s unique plotting materials: The White Board of Destiny. (Thanks, Trisha!) The enthusiasm in the room was contagious. Questions popped up from every corner. And our ladies provided informed answers that left the crowd intrigued, amused, and delighted.

At the end of the day’s lecture, we were bombarded by attendees who wanted additional information or wanted to tell us how much they enjoyed the talk and their plans to return for all three remaining sessions. (One lady from Washington, D.C. who’d attended on a lark with her friend told Candace Gold she intends to make a return trip just to attend the second session on February 27th!)

Even if you missed the first session, feel free to contact the Huntington Library to register for Session II, which will cover The Sagging Middle, Pacing, Finding a Critique Partner or Group, and other helpful necessities of writing. The event will take place on Saturday, February 27 from 10 am-12 pm. 

Join us! We’d love to see you there. (And if my gentleman of Irish descent is coming back, the coffee’s on me this time! You’re a regular, right?)

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]]> http://dunesanddreams.org/blog/2010/01/31/learning-to-write-in-huntington/feed/ 0 Making a difference! http://dunesanddreams.org/blog/2009/06/22/making-a-difference/ http://dunesanddreams.org/blog/2009/06/22/making-a-difference/#comments Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:12:53 +0000 Debora http://dunesanddreams.org/blog/?p=61 100_0576Yesterday 6 members of Dunes and Dreams RWA (Eastern Long Island chapter 215 of the Romance Writers of America) along with 2 guest authors – set up a booksigning event at Pindar Vineyards in support of a local charity, Suffolk Literacy.

For two hours, we chatted romance, sold our books and enjoyed the company of not just Dunes and Dreams members, but the book-buying public. YES, Long Island loves romance novels! How do we know? In those two short hours, under a cloudy sky, the constant threat of rain and on Father’s Day – we raised $381 for our local charity of choice!

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I am so proud to a part of this dynamic group of women! The support for all our members and our genre – in any published form – is incredible and genuine. Our first event was such an overwhelming success, that Pindar Vineyards has invited us back next year – this time Mother’s Day!

For me, this event was also inspirational. The excitement of signing one of your books is such a rush, I have challenged myself to have another book on the signing table of my own at next year’s signing…a challenge I pose to every member of Dunes and Dreams (and really any writer out there!) Now is the time to get down to business and get that book written, now is the time to reap the rewards and the knowledge of a fantastic writing group (and if you don’t get the guidance and support you need from your current group, or if you are looking for a group, check us out!)

So, ladies of Dunes and Dreams, I salute you! We should all be proud of our donation!

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]]> http://dunesanddreams.org/blog/2009/06/22/making-a-difference/feed/ 5 Always Be Prepared! http://dunesanddreams.org/blog/2009/05/11/always-be-prepared/ http://dunesanddreams.org/blog/2009/05/11/always-be-prepared/#comments Mon, 11 May 2009 20:32:35 +0000 Gina Ardito http://dunesanddreams.org/blog/?p=38 Yesterday being Mothers’ Day, I was one of those last-minute shoppers scrambling at my local stores for a gift for Mom and the stuff I’d need to prepare a fabulous dinner (because it’s MY day, darn it! I want a fuss even if it means I have to make it myself!) So I’m strolling thru my local supermarket early in the morning, wearing one of my favorite writers’ t-shirts. This one says (in bold scary print): Need Coffee, Have Deadline, Must Write. It always gains some kind of reaction and yesterday was no exception.

As I was perusing the dairy aisle for ingredients for my raspberry truffle pie (Hey! When I make a fuss, I do it right!) a store employee walked past me and pointed at my shirt. “I have to get a shirt like that for my wife,” he said.

“Oh?” I asked. “Is she a writer?”

“No, she’s a reader. I swear I never see her without a book in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other.”

My mind starts scrambling. “Really? What types of books does she read?”

“Oh, all kinds,” my victim…er, new friend…replied. “But especially romances.”

“That’s great,” I told him. “You know, I’m a romance writer. I happen to have a few copies of my books in my car. Would you like to buy one for her for Mothers’ Day and I’ll autograph it for you?”

You’d think I just offered him a winning lottery ticket.

Ka-ching! That fast, I made a sale and (I hope!) a new fan.

The thing about promoting is: you must always be ready. Opportunity knocks at strange times. Keep business cards, promo items, and books as close at hand as possible. You never know when you’ll be able to gain an advantage.

For more promotion ideas, be sure to join Dunes & Dreams RWA at their next meeting on Saturday, May 30th at the Mastics/Moriches/Shirley Library from 11 am to 1 pm when we’ll be joined by our guest speaker, Patti Ann Bengen, who’ll be sharing her pearls of wisdom on the topic!

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]]> http://dunesanddreams.org/blog/2009/05/11/always-be-prepared/feed/ 1 A Day at the Pond http://dunesanddreams.org/blog/2009/05/07/a-day-at-the-pond/ http://dunesanddreams.org/blog/2009/05/07/a-day-at-the-pond/#comments Thu, 07 May 2009 19:00:00 +0000 Debora http://dunesanddreams.org/blog/?p=30 Did you visit us at the Duck Pond?  On Saturday, May 3rd, members of Dunes & Dreams were invited by Patti Ann Bengen to share some space under her “Bookworm” tent and take part in an informal booksigning.

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Although the weather didn’t cooperate and it was one wet day, we put on our happy faces and displayed our books!

 

 

The promotion of our books is not only the job of our publishers or the bookstores, no, it’s one that we must share.  Sometimes that means stepping out of a comfort zone and going to the people!

Confused about the brave new world of promotion and how it affects you – even if you’re not published yet? We’ve recently rearranged our Dunes & Dreams meeting schedule to make room for this month’s guest, Patti Ann Bengen, who is going to teach us how to take our marketing skills to the next level.

We hope you’ll join us.

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