Tag: events

Short and Sweet

    Guy Pace

Short and Sweet

There is a new review of Nasty Leftovers online. Laura, a high school student, posted up a review today. She also reviewed Sudden Mission last week. She is in the age range of the books’ target markets, so these are important reviews. See what she has to say. I am so glad she liked both books.

I’m busy getting some other events and activities going. Check the Events page to see the new entries. I will also try to set up something in the Seattle area soon. An event coming in a couple of weeks is a visit to a middle school in Southern Idaho. It’s a career day and I’ll talk about writing and publishing. What is special is that two of my grand-nephews attend this school.

Another event is part of “teen week” at Barnes & Noble in Spokane Valley. This is a promotional event that takes place just as schools close for the summer. The bookstore sets up events for teens to get them involved in reading for the summer. Since it is Barnes & Noble, I’ll be on a panel or two with some local and some “a-list” young adult writers. This should be interesting.

I also need to knuckle down and get some writing done. Life, travel, grandchildren all conspire to keep me away from the keyboard. I’m working on it, though.

Keep writing.

 

Days in the Life

    Guy Pace

Days in the Life

There are days that make it all worthwhile. This past Saturday was one. It was a busy day with a lot of things going on, but the end event was the reading at Auntie’s Bookstore in downtown Spokane.

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This is the author signing table they set up at Aunties and they had copies of Sudden Mission on display.

I was so nervous and thought no one would show up. As it turned out, there were about 14-15 people and the readings were well received. I spent a lot of time after answering questions. I also signed some books and Aunties sold a few.

It all worked out well and basically kicked off the year for me as far as these kinds of events go. I was able to read a little from Nasty Leftovers and comments about that part were positive. I’m hoping to arrange a few more things between now and the April date in Twin Falls, Idaho.

We are wrapping up

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They even had Sudden Mission in the “teen novels” section of the racks!

the final details for Nasty Leftovers, and we should be on target for a March 15 launch. Keep checking back for more information.

And, keep writing.

 

Happenings

    Guy Pace

Happenings

Look for two new events on the events page. One is a reading and signing event at Auntie’s Bookstore in downtown Spokane. The other is a reading and signing event at the Barnes & Noble in Twin Falls, Idaho, Apri. 16. I’m working on an event in Boise, and hope to make some connections in Oregon in the Eugene area, and Bend and Madras.

I’m also submitting to participate in the Montana Book Festival in Missoula, Montana, September 21-24.

This year is going to be busy. I expanded the Events page a bit to reflect events and plans coming up. I’ll be plugging in things as they come together, so keep checking back. If you can help set up an event in your area, let me know. If it is in a reasonable travel distance from Spokane, we might be able to work it in. Use the Contact form and I’ll get right on it.

As for Nasty Leftovers, we’re still looking at the March 15 launch date. Proofreading and formatting is done. It seems that we are within reason on the work that still needs to be done. I hope we have a cover this week and the rest of the process should go quickly.

Thanks for all the support from family, friends, and fans.

Keep writing.

 

Awaiting Dates

    Guy Pace

Awaiting Dates

Nasty Leftovers is in proofreading. I’m on pins and needles.

Then, yesterday, a review of Sudden Mission from Peter Younghusband, Australia, came out. The excitement is building. Here is the link to that review:

Booktrope (parent of my publisher Vox Dei) approved the cover concept. And, Scott Deyett, who did such a bang-up job on Sudden Mission, is hard at work getting the art for the Nasty Leftovers cover ready. This’ll be great!

Due to holidays and schedules, we’ll likely push the publication date from the original March 22 (proposed way back last fall), to early April. I’m waiting to get confirmation on that date. I have a few events to schedule around that.

I’m also working on a concept for the book trailer.

I also need to get writing on the third installment.

And, I have some granddaughters I must totally spoil for Valentine’s Day.

Looks like a busy next couple of months.

Here’s a little taste of Nasty Leftovers, just to whet your reading appetite.

“Hello, William,” Paul said. “I’m …”

“Paul,” William said. “And she is Amy. I know.”

Something felt unsettling to Paul. William was far more clear-headed than any of the other survivors they had brought in, but he was off-putting in voice and manner, and his face was hard.

“I see,” Paul said. “May we ask you a few questions?”

The man smiled, a cold, confident smile that chilled Paul’s blood. “You can ask me whatever you like.”

“How do you know who we are? Did someone here tell you?”

“No, I know who you are because he told me,” William said.

“He?” Paul said. “He, who?”

“The magnificent ruler of this place, his highness.”

“Do you know his name?”

“Yes.”

Paul waited. William just looked at him, then gave another contemptuous smile. “Do you actually expect me to give it to you? Really, Paul, you are such a child.”

Paul felt like a child. He felt small and weak and hopelessly outclassed.

“Do you—do you remember when we found you and brought you here a few days ago?” Amy asked. Her voice sounded uncertain and Paul suspected she’d spoken just to change the subject.

“Of course,” William said. “I was deliberately taken to a location where you would find me and bring me in.”

Paul suspected as much, but hearing the words made him uneasy. The demon wanted William to be here. It was all part of his plan.

“Yes, Paul. It is his plan. You should have stayed in your little community with your gardens, your solar power, and your church and friends. This mission was just a supreme waste of lives, fuel, and time. You have no hope of clearing this city. It belongs to my master and will stay that way.”

Keep writing.

 

 

Self Promotion

    Guy Pace

One of the more difficult parts of the modern publishing paradigm is self promotion. I’m not good at this and always had trouble with it. It seems like bragging and I’ve never been comfortable with that.

Self promotion plays into job interviews. I probably understated my skills and accomplishments in my resume and interviews. Turns out, this seems counter to current trends where folks overstate skills and experiences, sometimes to the point of complete fabrication. While I may have understated things, I was always honest.

Now, though, I have to reach out to various people and institutions to arrange readings and signings. Self promotion.

Since Sudden Mission is a Christian-themed middle-grade/YA novel, I need to find venues for readings and signings that fit the message, you might say. Around Spokane, we have Christian-based businesses or mission groups in the form of coffee shops or cafe/churches. These are found all around the city and I’ve made contact with some.

The first reading/signing event at Indaba Coffee (the Broadway location), turned out great. Most of the audience were friends and family and a few other regulars at the coffee shop. I introduced myself and gave a little intro to the reading (not really enough it turns out), read two passages, then opened up to questions. There were a lot of questions and we got some good discussion going. We planned the event for about an hour and we got wrapped up in just about that amount of time. I even managed to sell and sign a few books.

I handed out a lot of those promotion cards I had made and left a stack at the coffee shop. That, I think, is a handy tool for those who aren’t ready to buy a copy immediately, but want to check it out more.

Based on this, I’m going to move ahead with more reading/signing events at other neighborhood venues in the area. I made contact with another venue and plan to visit a third this week.

Libraries are another resource. If you look at my Events page, you’ll see I have a couple of things scheduled at the Whitman County Library. That wasn’t too difficult since we have a lot of family in that county (just to the south of us). It could be more difficult getting into the Spokane County Library system to do similar readings since it is a larger organization. But, libraries, like most public institutions, are financially strapped. An author willing to volunteer for readings and programs may succeed.

Libraries in public schools may reject Sudden Mission for various reasons, libraries in Christian schools in the area are more likely to accept it. I did make contact with a number of Christian school administrators and librarians in the area to see if I can generate some communication. So, we’ll see how that goes.

Libraries, as I mentioned above, are often financially strapped. Whitman County Library did order a copy of my book for their collection and I’m grateful. But, I will also ask if they want another copy as a donation. I plan to offer copies to any other library I work with, so long as it ends up in their collection and not part of their book sale. While this won’t boost my sales numbers or author ranking on Amazon, it will get the book more exposure.

Keep writing.