utopYA Con Survival Guide and Pre-Order Wants *grabby hands*

Happy Friday, good people of the blogosphere! Today, I'm here to tell you about a lot of stuff going on! Authors with pre-orders and table goodies (and where you can find them), goodies I want personally, some pictures from last year, and a little tips section on what you might want to bring/wear to utopYA Con. Ready? Get those pens and notebooks, and let's get going!

First up, I'm sharing the link to the pre-order list hosted by the always awesome Maria Pease. You can check out what kind of deals/sales the authors are offering, and find some amazing swag.

Go HERE to visit Maria's blog page with the info.

Now, for some of the items I really, really want:

Preorder items:
GB7: Liz Long & Laura Howard - Liz is giving away a tote bag I have my eye on with every purchase. She'll be Thursday and Friday. Here's a pic of the design:

GB13: Mary Ting/M. Clarke & Alexandria Weis - Mary is giving away a tote bag when you pre-order a series (plus, it's buy three get one free). She also has a two-day table. Here's a picture of her totes:

Bella Roccaforte is giving away an original painting for every pre-order. You can find her at the Saturday ARMI signing. Here's a picture of one of them (each one is different):

Items in giveaways:
PT2: Carly Strickland & Amy Leigh Strickland - Raffling off this beautiful journal on Thursday:

GB20: Nadege Richards & Komali da Silva - Raffling this awesome game Thursday and Friday:

GB40: Christina Mercer is doing something different! You sign up to WIN her books via her Google Doc. She has a two-day table. Check it out here.

There are more! These are just a few of the ones that caught my eye. Get your pre-order on!

Here are a couple of tips from me to survive the con.

What you should pack clothing/personal wise:

• Well, there's a film premiere AND an awards ceremony, so you might want to pack a dress. This can range from a summer dress to a ball gown and includes everything in between. Some folks wore jeans. It's all about what you want your pictures to look like.
• For the daytime hours, dress comfortably and bring a jacket or sweater (sometimes the rooms get cold) unless you wanna step outside often (it's super hot outdoors). Most folks wear jeans and a nice shirt or a t-shirt. Again, this range is huge.
• Shoes are always a good idea (make sure they don't hurt your feet - you'll walk more than you think).
• Something steampunk for the Friday night karaoke (if you're dressing up).
• Curling iron if you use one (the hotel has hairdryers).
• Makeup if you wear it.
• Toothbrush and toothpaste (yeah, I didn't forget either of those last year...).
• Breath mints (you know, just in case).
• An extra (empty) suitcase for all the books you'll score!

What you should bring if you're an author:

• Books - Business wise, the rule of thumb is 1% of the total number of attendees - twice that for a new release.
• Swag - Stuff that's book themed that you can give away.
• Items - Stuff that's book themed that you can sell.
• A couple of good pens, and at least one sharpie.
• Something special for bloggers (they love prizes).
• Any raffle items you may have (see above).
• Table decor (including linens - those aren't provided).
• Something to set your books up on so they're showy.
• A big smile.
• A notebook for panel notes.

What you should bring if you're a book blogger:

• An idea/map of where the authors you want to visit will be sitting.
• A pen, and at least one sharpie (you know, just in case).
• Something to carry all your goodies in (see info about tote giveaways above - and you'll always have the one from utopYA con).
• Some way to post to your blog about all the awesomeness!
• Your outgoing side.
• A notebook for panel notes.

If you considered bringing an attitude, I'd suggest leaving that behind. You'll be shut down quickly. *grins*

A few survival tips to make it the best experience possible:

• Be sure and eat breakfast every day. I know the temptation to skip is there, but don't. You'll be out of energy before ten and won't have time to leave your table to grab something.
• When everyone breaks for lunch, GO.
• If you're approaching an author, just do it. Don't be shy, because they love, love, love meeting readers.
• Don't drink until you drop. I know you haven't been away from home without kids in a while, but just don't do it.
• Be a professional in everything you do and say. People are watching you, and news travels fast.
• Be kind. There's no room for cattiness. You'd be surprised how quickly you'll be shut down.
• Sleep! Get to bed at a reasonable hour. You'll be up early.
• Drink plenty of water. I know this sounds like a duh thing, but dehydration will kill your energy level as quickly as not eating.
• Get to know your fellow authors. If nothing else, read their interviews here on my blog so you'll recognize their faces (I have two year's worth on there, and many of them are repeat offenders).
• Attend the panels. Go to the sched app and set up your day(s). It's worth it.

Well, I hope these tips and tricks help you. Be sure and visit the other official bloggers this month for more tips and tricks!

Did this help at all? See you at utopYA!

That's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Publication Spotlight - Erin Hayes

Happy Monday, everyone! Wow, I can't believe I've done a whole round/year of author interviews already. This is the last one for now (not sure if I'll bring it back after utopYA 2015 or not). I hope you've all had a ton of fun getting to know the authors attending utopYA this month. I can't believe it's only sixteen days away. Posts between now and then should be super fun. If you didn't get tickets, you're out of luck for this year, but you can still attend the Saturday signing event! Information here. Let's get to the spotlight fun, shall we?

I present to you, the bibliography of my featured author, Erin Hayes!

Her Wolf is a paranormal series that shows that lives of women in different packs who have to navigate the dangers and rules of being a werewolf, including who they choose to love. 

Title: Embracing Her Wolf
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length (print): 67 Pages
Buy Link: Amazon Kindle $0.99

Blurb: Not everyone wants to be a leader.

So when werewolf Gemma Branford is expected to act as one for her pack, she wants nothing to do with the leadership and societal rules involved with being a werewolf. As a purebred Alpha female, her refusal to mate with any wolf in the pack has caused a stir, as this allows for any werewolf she chooses to become an Alpha male.

When a rogue Beta wolf tries to take advantage of this, she realizes she has to stand and fight back for her right to choose a mate. Suddenly, it looks like her chance meeting with Adam, the lowly Omega wolf from a nearby pack, is her best chance of saving both her pack and herself.

This is a paranormal romance novella with language, violence, and sexual content. Not recommended for readers under the age of 18.


Title: Rockin' Her Wolf
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length (print): 103 pages
Buy Link: Amazon Kindle $0.99

Blurb: Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

When rockstar Huck answers his phone, he's shocked to hear from his long-lost childhood sweetheart. Anxious to see her after all this time, he agrees to meet her and gets swept up in her crazy world, changing his life forever.

Annie's been on the run for a long time, and she's determined to protect her friend's son from the vicious werewolves of their own pack. Her hunt to find safety unexpectedly leads her to Huck. And he won't let her go until she's safe.

This paranormal romance novella is the sequel to Embracing Her Wolf. It has language, violence, and sexual content. Not recommended for readers under the age of 18.


Title: Becoming Her Wolf
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length (print): 98 pages
Buy Link: Amazon Kindle $0.99

Blurb: When hope is lost, the one thing you can trust is love.

Beta wolf Jon is dragged to Las Vegas to protect Gemma and Adam as they finally tie the knot. Yet when the wedding is sabotaged and one of their own is taken hostage, it looks like his only hope for answers is a human woman who was left behind as warning to the newlyweds.

Waking up in the hospital, Eva doesn’t believe Jon when he tells her about the world of werewolves. But when she turns into a werewolf herself and the attraction between them grows, she’ll find that her life has been changed more than they ever could have imagined.

This paranormal romance novella is the third book in the Her Wolf series. It has language, violence, and sexual content. Not recommended for readers under the age of 18.

Title: Jacob Smith is Incredibly Average
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal
Length (print): 228 pages
Buy Link: Amazon Kindle $2.99

Blurb: Jacob Smith is an average thirteen-year-old boy.

He’s of average height, average intelligence, average looks. He even has a normal family, like an over-achieving brother, a rebellious sister, a kooky grandfather, and one or two family secrets. Maybe he was living too normal of a life.

When his mother announces she’s expecting another baby, Jake starts noticing that he’s being followed by strange beings. They want Jake because he is the most normal, average person on Earth. And they need him so they can take over the planet.

Can a boy like Jake save the world?


Title: Death is but a Dream
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy and Mystery/Thriller
Length (print): 310 pages
Buy Link: Amazon Kindle $2.99

Blurb: Caught between life and death, all Callie wants is to live again.

Homicide detective Callie Saunders knows that death isn’t all pearly gates and angels. After being hit by a bus, she finds that it's the ancient gods and goddesses of Greek mythology who are in charge of everything.

So when Hades offers her a deal, she accepts. If she wants to be brought back to life, she’ll have to figure out who is trying to kill his son. But if she fails, both her soul and the world will be destroyed.

With the odds mounting against her, it’ll take everything she has within her to wake up from death. But the rules are constantly changing. And someone wants her to stay dead.


Title: Fractured
Genre: Horror
Length (print): 234 pages
Buy Link: Amazon Kindle $0.99

Blurb: Blinded by a mysterious seizure when she was three years old, Bash Martin has managed to carve out a normal life for herself as an adult. Yet she still yearns for a deeper connection with her twin sister Lily, who has always been jealous of the attention their parents bestowed upon Bash due to her disability.

A dream vacation seems like the perfect chance to heal their relationship, but Bash soon realizes there is something terribly wrong with Lily and that her sister is hiding a dark secret. And when a supernatural fire engulfs their hotel and corpses come back to life, the sisters are plunged into a nightmarish world that threatens not only their lives, but their very souls.


Title: Bedtime at the Zoo: An Illustrated Children's Picture Book
Genre: Children's Picture Book
Length (print): 32 pages
Buy Link: Amazon Kindle $1.49

Blurb: During the day, the zoo is busy and alive.
But you only see the animals 9:30 to 5.
The zookeepers lock up and turn off the lights.
But do you know what the animals do every night?

This is an illustrated children's bedtime story, perfect for the Kindle Fire and Kindle Apps. Recommended for children of all ages.



What do you think? Gonna check any of them out?

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Learning at UtopYA Con 2015

Happy Tuesday, good people of the blogosphere! Today, I'm here to talk to you all about panels. Why? Because you need to know what you want to attend when you arrive at utopYA in June. If you don't have tickets to the con yet, you need to get them now. There are only five more days to buy! Go here to visit the Eventbrite page and get your order on!

Let me tell you, $110 for all you can potentially learn is one heck of a steal!

You can add these panels to your schedule on this page of the Sched app.

Let's just get going, shall we?

Thursday, June 18 11-12am:

ClockWise World Building
Moderator: C. J. Redwine
Panelists: Amy Bartol, Helene Dunbar, and Marissa Meyer

What you can expect to learn:
World building isn’t just for fantasy books. It is central to not only things like the topography of the places held within its pages, but also to the cultural standards and rules governing the interpersonal relationships and politics of the book’s plot and story. Is there such a thing as too much description? How do you temper or pepper it throughout the book to best effect? The creative process intertwines with research to create rich, believable characters, settings, and mythology that keep the reader coming back for more. Learn how to do this well from authors at the top of their game.

For: Beginners

Expand Your Universe: A How-to Guide for Newbies and Introverts
Moderator: Mindy Ruiz
Panelists: Rachel Harris, Eva Pohler, and Misty Provencher

What you can expect to learn:
Writers are inherently isolated creatures -- even the most extroverted still have hints of insecurity that tend to hold them back from effectively networking at conferences. Let’s face it; writers work and play with imaginary friends most days and nights. This panel aims to provide an interactive how-to workshop on how to network for the wallflower or newbie. What to say past “I love your book.” And how to step out of your comfort zone, approach any group, and add them to your “clump” or tribe of collaborators, conspirators and friends.

For: Beginners

Tense Time Warp: Raise the Tension with Past and Present POV
Moderator: Crystal Bryant
Panelists: Kristina Circelli, Cambria Hebert, Elizabeth Kirke, and Christina Mercer

What you can expect to learn:
The overwhelming trend in current NA books is to switch points of view each chapter between the male and female protagonists. And in YA we see one book written from one person’s point of view, and the next in the series written from another.  There are even books out there where one chapter is written in first person, and the other chapters, written from another’s point of view are written in third person limited. Do you know how to write from the different points of view? Do you know what they are and what ones are most effective for your audience?  While it drives purists insane, it drives readers wild with delight. What’s your point of view?

For: Advanced

Thursday, June 18 12-1pm:

Expanding Your Empire: International Markets, Audiobooks, etc...
Moderator: Tammy Blackwell
Panelists: Nikki Jefford, Carlyle Labuschange, Lana Popovic, and Cameo Renae

What you can expect to learn:
Now that you have a few published books under your belt and sorta have the hang of this whole writerly life, it's time to take your books and career to the next level. There's a big world out there, and this session will help you: navigate the waters of international markets, get yous books into libraries and book stores, market to new and influential audiences, understand licensing - turning your booksinto audio books, comic books, movie franchises and more.

For: Advanced

Great Sexpectations
Moderator: Delphina Miyares
Panelists: Angela Graham, Katie McGarry, and Jessica Sorensen

What you can expect to learn:
The lines of sex in NA and what is acceptable and what is expected are blurry at best. Clean NA is getting slammed for being too clean. Hot NA is being called erotica in disguise. New Adult is still a NEW category, and it will undoubtedly evolve or split off into multiple categories. Why not be a part of the discussion and influence the future of NA. There is just so much here to unpack, and these panelists are going to help you do just that.

For: Beginner/Advanced

So You Wanna Be a Writer?
Moderator: Kallie Ross
Panelists: Laura Christiano, Amy Evans, Kim Holden, and Morgan Wylie

What you can expect to learn:
You have a book in your heart, characters chatting in your head and a desire so deep to finally write that book you’ve been dreaming about. So what’s holding you back? Time to step out of the shadows and into the world of writing. Whether it’s just something you want to cross off your bucket list or what you want to do for the rest of your life, getting a book into the hands of the public has never been easier. This session will talk you through the realities of the writer’s life so that you can lead your dreams.

For: Beginner

Did you miss the buy link? Let me share it yet again:

Get tickets here!

You don't wanna miss this conference. Just read some of the testimonials on the Our Stories page on the utopYA website. 'Nough said.

Don't forget to visit the other official bloggers today and tomorrow so you learn about the other awesome panels that are happening at utopYA this year.

A Book Vacation
Book Junkie
Paisley Reader

Which one are you itching to sit in on?

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Author Interview - Erin Hayes

Happy Monday, everyone! Today, I have another utopYA 2015 unofficial author interview for you all. I just know you're gonna love this little lady. She's sassy, and she's doing a giveaway for you all! If you don't have tickets to utopYA yet, get them here now. That link will take you to the Eventbrite page. You only have a week left to get in on the action. Grab a cup of coffee and let's get going!

Jo: Erin! So excited to have you here on the blog! As a utopYA 2014 first timer myself, I can’t believe I didn’t run into you at any point. But, I get to squee with you and give you big ole hugs this year! Are you ready to get going?

Erin: We will have to meet up for this UtopYA, most definitely. Let's do this!!

Jo: And so we shall! *grin* Let’s goooooo! A little birdie told me you lived in New Zealand for a long while (okay, okay, it’s on your bio). I must know, do you have an accent, and do people comment on it?

Erin: Haha, when we first moved back, my accent was a little funky, because I sounded American with weird twangs. We were there for four years, and moved back to the US in December 2013, so I sounded like a fish out of water wherever I was. It's toned back a lot now, although I did pick up on some Kiwi-isms, like to-mah-to and gehr-aige (tomato and garage) that I still say. Still, I can't record my voice and listen to it – I sound like a cocktail of a bunch of different accents.

Jo: That's awesome! I love a little twang in an accent. Makes talking to someone new a load of fun! What were some of the highlights of the Alabama Book Fest you attended? Meet anyone notable?

Erin: I had a great time at the Alabama Book Festival! I was there as an attendee, so I got to do whatever I wanted (as she says in five-year-old voice). I listened to a great pep talk from Reed Farrel Coleman, who is now writing Robert B. Parker's Jesse Stone series, and he was incredibly inspirational. He also said that authors wear black, so I need to update my wardrobe, haha. I also got to see Deborah Wiles, Faye Gibbons, and UtopYA authors D.E.L. Connor and L.A. Starkey, who were awesome.

Jo: Black? Oh noes! I have a problem, too! LOL! I read that you want to live in Venice and Tokyo for a year. Do you think you’ll ever use either for a setting for a book? Which one and why?

Erin: Haha, that's EXACTLY why I want to live in both of those places for a year – to write books set there! I visited both places and I wanted to stay because they're both such fertile settings for stories. For Venice, the streets have a sense of mystery and history – perfect for a YA book I have waiting. And Tokyo – Tokyo is one of those places where anything could happen, so I'd love to see what would happen to my characters. Hopefully, right?

Jo: Heck yes! Visiting is so much better than doing a Google search for images, no? You did a virtual book tour, and I’m always curious about authors who embark upon a journey like that. Tell us, how did it work out? Did you sell a ton of novels, or was it more about exposure? Will you do it again?

Erin: Oh definitely! I look at tours as a way to get visibility. I don't expect sales (although they are certainly up during tours), but I seriously hope that in doing tours, I reach out to more readers and people who are interested in my crazy stories. I will definitely do it again, so I recommend them to anyone who wants to reach new readers.

Jo: There you go, folks! Yet another mixed review on blog tours! All in what you're looking for! What’s your favorite Poe story and why? Fave King story and why?

Erin: I know it's a poem, but my favorite Poe story is The Raven. It paints such a picture that makes me shudder every time I read it. For Stephen King, I'm going to have to go with The Long Walk. It's a story written as Richard Bachman, and man is it terrifying. Simple in its execution and plot, but there's so much going on with it. I highly recommend it. It ranks up there with my favorite novels of all time.

Jo: Okay, now I'm curious. Must read that King one! Rapid-fire question time! Orange or pink?

Erin: Orange! Tastes better!

Jo: LOL! Secrets or Lies?

Erin: Secrets. Lies hurt worse.

Jo: Right? Toilet paper: over the roll or under the roll?

Erin: Over the roll. I've never had toilet paper tear when it was over the roll.

Jo: True statement! Love it. haha! Time travel question! I’ve had so much fun asking these. Since the theme for utopYA 2015 is time travel, enjoy a question along that vein! Haha! If you could go back in time and meet Shakespeare, what would you ask him, and what response would you hope to get?

Erin: This going to be a bit deep and nerdy, so bear with me. One of William Shakespeare's contemporaries was a playwright named Christopher Marlowe who wrote The Tragical History of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus. In it, there is a line very similar to a line in a play that Shakespeare was writing at the exact same time. I remember my high school teacher speculating about it and that has always stuck with me. Although, for the life of me, I can't remember the line at the moment! Anyways, I would want to go and ask Shakespeare if he copied Marlowe or if Marlowe copied him. Or If they were even the same person! And I hope his response would be in iambic pentameter. Because I imagine that's how Shakespeare would speak.

Jo: Now that's an awesome answer! Having a zombie novel firmly under my belt, I have to know: What drew you to the horror genre, and what was the most difficult thing about penning your zombie novel?

Erin: You can ask my husband: I love a good horror movie and the visceral nightmares that you get from horror impact you like you couldn't believe. My horror novel Fractured came to me in a dream, and I wanted to give readers the same nightmares that I had – which must have worked, because I had a blogger say she had to stop at 21% in the book because it was terrifying her so much. Actually, the most difficult thing was knowing where that line was when it came to too much horror versus just enough. I hope I satisfied all the Goldilocks horror readers out there.

Jo: I'm sure you have! Love a good horror novel, I do. How about the werewolf genre? Was there something in particular you were looking to explore there, or were you just writing something you wanted to read? Which book so far is your favorite?

Erin: With my Her Wolf trilogy, I was just writing something that I wanted to read. Quick, easy, and werewolfy. They were a lot of fun. My favorite book so far is Jacob Smith is Incredibly Average. I loved the world that it's set in. Although I do have a few books that I'm working on right now that might rival it. We'll see. :D

Jo: I'm always intrigued by why an author is drawn to a specific genre. *grin* Great answer! Did you get your first LitCube? Were you happy with the contents? What was in there?

Erin: OMG yes, I got my first LitCube, Peggy is a genius. Loved it, and my husband loved it too (He enjoyed half the goodies in it). The first one had Chanda Hahn's book Unenchanted, there was t-shirt that I wear every week, a cookie, some coffee, and other amazing stuff. Perfect for book lovers like me.

Jo: *itches to sign up* Tell me how we can meet you at the Great Lakes Book Bash in October! What novels will you have with you?

Erin: Will you be at Great Lakes Book Bash too? That would be awesome, please say you will be too!! If all goes to plan, I'll have a couple of new books with me, especially How to be a Mermaid which is part of the Falling in Deep Collection that I'm doing with fourteen other authors; Damned if I Do, which is a vampire novel that I hope to wrap up shortly; and the sequel to How to be a Mermaid, which will feature witches. I'm excited. It's going to be a big year.

Jo: I wasn't planning on going, no. But I know a few people who'll be there, so maybe. We'll see. *grins* Who are you most looking forward to meeting at utopYA Con in June? Why?

Erin: Everyone! I went last year, so I know quite a few from that, and to name any one person would leave out so many others. Just know that I'm excited to seeing familiar faces again and meeting wonderful people, no matter who you are.

Jo: I know the feeling! Do you have any writing quirks (must have XYZ snack, music, etc…)?

Erin: I listen to the strangest music when I write. Right now, I'm stuck on the Attack on Titan soundtrack by Hiroyuki Sawano. Seriously, if you haven't heard it yet, go to Spotify and listen to it. It will make you shiver with its power. I also have my lucky Sailor Moon figurines watching over me as I work.

Jo: Okay, I'm geeking out right now. Sailor Moon?! For real?! I LOVE that show! Sorry, sorry. Back to the interview! Is there anything you’d like to add?

Erin: I will only have a table on Thursday – but I definitely will make it worth your while to stop by. I will have paperback ARCs of my newest book available for those who sign up for my newsletter (limited supply though, so make sure you get there). Which one? Well, you'll have to stop by and see!

Jo: Oh my! Great idea! Thank you so much for your time, Erin! If I don’t see you early on at the conference this year, come find me at the IBGW table so we can selfie! *grins*

Now, it’s time to tell you all about the featured book of the week!

Title: Fractured
Author: Erin Hayes
Genre: Horror
Length (print): 234 pages
Buy links: Amazon Kindle $0.99  ~  Smashwords $0.99  ~  B&N $0.99

Blurb:
Blinded by a mysterious seizure when she was three years old, Bash Martin has managed to carve out a normal life for herself as an adult. Yet she still yearns for a deeper connection with her twin sister Lily, who has always been jealous of the attention their parents bestowed upon Bash due to her disability.

A dream vacation seems like the perfect chance to heal their relationship, but Bash soon realizes there is something terribly wrong with Lily and that her sister is hiding a dark secret. And when a supernatural fire engulfs their hotel and corpses come back to life, the sisters are plunged into a nightmarish world that threatens not only their lives, but their very souls.

While your fingers are in the clicking mode, why not give Erin a follow on every social media platform I could think of when writing up the template for these interviews (plus some)?

Pinterest: egulyas
Google +: Erin Hayes
Facebook: Erin Hayes Books
Twitter: @erinhayes5399
Goodreads: Erin Hayes
Website: erinhayesbooks.com/
Amazon Author Page: Erin Hayes

Erin has blessed you all with a giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you have any questions, pop them into the comments below. Ms. Hayes will be around to answer and/or respond!

Well, that’s all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

utopYA Con 2015 Needs Your Help!

Happy Wednesday, everyone! Well, we've managed to survive the first half of the week; if you can make it through today, there are just two more days until the weekend. GOOD LUCK! *grin* I have a couple of requests for you today. The first involves two clicks, and the second involves a copy/paste with a click. Ready? Let's get rolling!

As you know, I'm one of the official bloggers for utopYA for 2015. Next year, for the five-year anniversary, I'm officially the book blogger/tuber coordinator. I'd really love to see this conference grow into the next big thing.

Here's where your help comes in.

If you wouldn't mind, please click on this link and vote for utopYA. This grant could do a lot for the con, and it's just a little two clicks of your mouse button: One to get to the Chase website, and one to click vote. That's it.

Ready?

Go here to vote!

Second, I'm going to beg you to please, please share the following post(s) on your social media sites:

Twitter:
Two clicks, $100k! http://bit.ly/1djRIye Please help @utopYAcon become the next big thing! #utopYA2015 #authorcon

Facebook:
UtopYA Con is for writers. Like you. Like me. It's a place where you can feel safe being exactly the person you are with no need for pretense. Help keep the dream alive! Please. Two easy clicks will give the conference your support, and it will help writers of the future learn how to achieve their dreams. UtopYA's tenants are: Education, Collaboration, and Inspiration. Now that's a powerful message. Spread the word and vote here: http://bit.ly/1djRIye

Thank you! Know I appreciate every single one of you. Tomorrow, we return to our regularly scheduled program!

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Nominated for Two Awards - Vote?

Happy Tuesday, everyone! I have some amazing news for you all. It's late because I've been on the fence with how to approach it. Bear with me while I explain, please. *grin* Do you have coffee? If not, grab some, sit back, and relax while you read.

I was recently nominated for two amazing awards by the utopYA Academy, and I'd like to tell you about them. I'm gonna ask you for a favor here in a minute, so stick with me.

First up, I got nominated for Blogger of the Year. This was huge for me, because there are some amazing bloggers on that list with me: Maria Pease, Tammie Ross Zimmerman, Shana Benedict, Vilma Gonzales, and Mandy Anderson. I mean, wow. I'm over the moon to be on that list.

More than that, it helped me realize what I do here in my corner of the blogosphere is appreciated, and it tells me someone, somewhere, found something I published helpful in some way. That made me smile. It's not about winning the award; it's about being on that list. I'm there. I helped someone in some way. I've already won. *cheers*

Secondly, I was nominated for a super amazing award that honors people who've displayed the tenants of utopYA over the last year (education, collaboration, and inspiration). It's called Utopian of the Year. Appropriate name, huh? On that list with me are some women I greatly admire, and there are a few I'm lucky enough to call friends: Carlyle Labuschagne, Tammie Ross Zimmerman, Heather Hildenbrand, S. M. Boyce, Carol Kunz, and Casey L. Bond.

This nomination means a lot. I'm humbled beyond words to be included with those women.

Why did I struggle with how to approach this? Well, it's because I'm me. While I have few issues with talking about my books and how much you may love them, I tend to freeze when I talk about myself. I'm just a woman at a keyboard. I do appreciate the things I do for others, but I always feel like I could be doing more.

I believe in the message of utopYA: Lift as You Climb. It's a powerful movement I'd love to see everyone embrace. That link will take you to a piece I wrote on the subject. Because of that, I stand behind the conference 100%.

Recently, I was asked to join the team of awesome that helps bring the conference to fruition every year. No, I won't be working to get sponsors or help organize the con. My end comes down to promotion and getting the word out. I'm the Book Blogger/Tuber Coordinator.

I have no words for how excited I was when Janet Wallace asked me to be a part of something so monumental in my mind. Something I believe so strongly in the message of. I jumped at the chance to help spread that mindset.

Speaking of which, if you don't have tickets yet, get them here now. They're almost all gone, and utopYA isn't an experience you want to miss.

But, I digress! Funny how you can do that when you're talking about your passion, huh?

Here's what I'd love it if you guys would do: Go vote for your favorites! It doesn't matter if it's me or one of the other women/men/books on those lists. Add your voice to the sounding board. Support the people you adore!

Want the link? Your wish is my command!

VOTE HERE

Thanks for reading my little post.

Did you vote? See anyone on that list you love?

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Author Interview - C. Marie Mosley

Happy Monday, everyone! Wow. Today, I have another unofficial utopYA author interview for you. I know you're all super duper excited (I am!). After the lovely C. Marie, we only have two more authors in the lineup. Then, it's time for utopYA Con 2015 where you'll get to meet them! If you don't have tickets, you need to get them NOW. We're almost sold out! There is NO more room in the hotel where the con is, and people are scrambling for their tickets. Don't be one of them! Get yours here.

Grab a cup of coffee and let's get rolling on the interview with C. Marie Mosley.

Jo: Welcome to the blog, C. Marie! You’re a difficult lady to stalk online, but I managed to find you in the dark recesses of cyberspace! *grin* Are you ready to get going?

C. Marie: Sorry about that…*eeek* But absolutely! Let’s do this!

Jo: All good. It is useless to resist us. You will be assimilated. *grin* Let’s get to it! So, you write under two names: Christal M. Mosley and C. Marie Mosley. Is there a reason you decided to change your author name? What pros/cons have you faced?

C. Marie: I started out writing under Christal M. Mosley – I thought the initial added a flare…*shrugs* Then, I got picked up by a small press publishing company and they had concerns with the spelling of my first name, that it might be too hard to find me with an oddity spelling. I didn’t really want to change it, so I decided against it. My first book was a young adult urban fantasy novel which I had planned to spin-off into a series. While awaiting the publishing timeline, I started writing a young adult contemporary romance novel – which I also planned to spin-off into a series – but the small press I had signed with wasn’t up for that genre. And because I was super excited, I decided to go the indie route and publish under a different name – mostly, this was to differentiate. C. Marie Mosley took the stage…and it just kind of stuck.

Jo: That's so interesting. It's like fate guided you to make the change. haha! I noticed your Empyreal series has been unpublished. What prompted that move, and do you plan to re-release them at some point?

C. Marie: Yes. The Empyreal series is currently unpublished. I do plan to re-release at some point, though I am not exactly sure when that will be. I have a lot going on in my head right now – different stories, spin-offs, continuations, and revisiting plans for current ones. I plan to revamp Empyreal to its most awesome glory, and one day in the future re-release the first book along with the planned stories that follow. Empyreal is a great series, and I can’t wait to share it in its completion to the world.

Jo: It sounds like an intriguing storyline already. I'm sure it'll only get better. Your Amazon author page only has one of your books on it (not sure if you were aware). But I’ve been reading your Twitter feed and notice you have a new release coming up (I can’t view your website *frown*)! Would you like to share the title (maybe a blurb) and projected release date with my adorable readers?

C. Marie: Yes...and no :/ There are reasons for that vast void, I assure you. The majority of my work is on a temporary hiatus right now. I have a few other projects going on, as well as re-working both series under my belt (Empyreal and Harden Fields). I am hard at work finalizing my current project, and I really wish that I could spare some awesomeness (Because…It. Is. Awesome.) But, I can’t right now due to some finality in the works. As for my website, it is in the process of getting a complete overhaul – something I’m super excited about! But I’m pretty active on Twitter (way more than other social sites), and I post a great deal on there. Also, I post and pin a lot of my current project inspirations on my Pinterest wall – so, everyone can be sure to check those out for updates.

Jo: AAArgh! The secretsees burn us! hehe Seriously, I'm excited to find out what you're working on. You have my interest piqued. What prompted you to start writing Contemporary Romance? What’s your favorite title in that genre so far?

C. Marie: Well, really…I wanted a break from the urban fantasy series I was tangled up in. Every writer feels that sense of, “Oh my gosh…where do I go from here?” And I was there…and quite stuck. I just wanted to do something different and fun, to break away for a while, so I did. I had an idea and I wrote a novel in like seven days (Yes, SEVEN). It wasn’t pretty, but it was ready for a second set of eyes… and soon, it was ready for a third, and so on. After just three weeks, I had a polished novel, This Side of Forever – and I was super proud of it. Like I’d mentioned earlier, I decided to go the indie route with this one. Soon, after its release I began working on a spin-off, Never Say Never. It was released a few months later. I enjoyed writing both stories, and I have been planning more stories to follow along in that series. Again, this series is on a break, but will soon return.

Jo: Wow. Seven days is fast! I'm a quick writer when I'm feeling it, but I think my fastest was eleven days. *bows to C. Marie* That's awesome. Kudos to you, lady! Now, I read that your books got picked up by a publishing agency. Are the novels still with that company? How’s it going/Why not?

C. Marie: Yes, I was picked up by a small press with Empyreal in 2012. But no, I am no longer with that press. Truth be told, I was really green around the gills when it came to the ins and outs of this world – publishing, that is. It happened really quickly. And I was so excited to sign with a publishing press that I didn’t take the time to do my homework or to make sure that we were a fit for each other. I had a lot of offers come in right after I signed with said company, and with many lessons learned, I realized that I jumped a little too quickly into the fire. With a lot of uncertain fates and unparalleled expectancies, we parted ways. All rights have reverted back to me, and I have since decided that I would eventually re-release them in some form or fashion. I still plan to do so, but the time table is still out as to when.

Jo: These answers always interest me. I'd say, out of ten authors who signed with a small press (that I've spoken with), nine have backed out within a year. *shrugs* Perhaps I'll do a piece on that. Anyway! Rapid-fire question time! Peanuts or popcorn?

C. Marie: Both. *thinks about Cracker Jacks*

Jo: Blue or Green?

C. Marie: Both. Blue-green.

Jo: Romance or Sci-Fi?

C. Marie: Both. More Nicholas Sparks, than Alien. But I love Star Wars! *grins*

Jo: You may be the most indecisive person ever! hehe! Never bad to love all the things! *winks* Now, we move into the time travel question of the interview. *grins* This one is from stuff I’ve gathered through my research, so brace yourself. Haha! If you could go back in time and inhabit a persona for one week, would it be Jane Austen or Audrey Hepburn? What would you hope to learn from your time? Is there anything you’d do/change?

C. Marie: Wow. Tough one. I love Jane Austen and her works. Her wit and literary genius astounds me. (Can you tell I’m a fan?) And Audrey Hepburn is…just amazing. A humanitarian, a talented actress, a fashion icon…beauty, brains, and personality to match. (Also, a fan.) Both are incredible icons, each equally as talented and remarkable in their own light. So…with all of that said, I can’t choose. I just can’t – in fact, I won’t. I’ll just have to split the trip in half. Besides, I like to travel.

Jo: I'm rolling on the floor laughing. I made that question difficult on purpose. haha! You’re an avid reader in addition to being a writer (aren’t we all?). I saw that you’re reading something like seven books at once right now. Which one do you think you’ll finish first and why?

C. Marie: Actually, that’s just what I have listed on my Goodreads. I’m actually in the middle of like ten. I’ve always got a book in my hand – whether it’s tangible or electronic. Why do I jump around to different books? I don’t know; I’ve always done that. My ADHD kicks in, I guess. Though I read all of the time, there have only been a number of books to really consume me enough to hold me to one at a given time. It takes a super strong tag and unbelievable pull for me to get so engrossed in a book that I’m there for the duration (a couple of hours). The Fault in Our Stars was that for me – two hours and a box of tissues later, I was like, “That was the best book EVER.”

Jo: Yup. Same here. Must read more than one at a time. I hear you’re a huge Austen fan and you have your own Mr. Darcy. Tell us what prompted the comparison?

C. Marie: I do, I do. If you met him, you’d see it the comparison is spot on. Confident, proud, honest, quite easy on the eyes, keeps his heart in check…but only one love (me, of course) was ever able to reach the side of him that no one else gets to see. We complement each other perfectly. Again, when spending time with the two of us, you can totally see this. Pride and Prejudice, Darcy and Lizzie, me and mine…the comparison is quite similar, if not completely parallel. I did, in fact, find my own Mr. Darcy…and I love, I love, I love him.

“In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.” – Jane Austen (Yeah, he said something quite like this…but it was more like the Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen version.)



Jo: Awwwwwww! That's so sweet. What a lucky couple you two are! Well, that’s all the time I have for today! Is there anything I didn’t ask that you wish I had?

C. Marie: I love my readers, and I love what I do! You guys are so awesome…and patient. Wonderful and new adventures are coming soon, so be on the lookout – great things, lovable characters and page-turning scenarios are on their way! Jo, thank you so much for having me!

Jo: It was a pleasure! I can’t wait to see you at utopYA! We’re gonna have so much fun!

While your fingers are in the clicking mode, why not give Ms. Mosley a follow on every social media platform I could think of when writing up the template for these interviews (plus some)?

Pinterest: C. Marie Mosley
Blog: C. Marie Mosley
Twitter: @CMarieMosley
Goodreads: C. Mosley
Website: www.cmariemosley.com

If you have any questions, pop them into the comments below. C. Marie will be around to answer and/or respond!

Well, that’s all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Fractured Glass and M Preorder Goodies

Happy Wednesday, good people of the blogosphere! Today, I'm gonna tell you about some awesome goodies you can get when you buy my books at utopYA Con in June. I'm also gonna talk about the awesomeness IBGW will have at our table at the con. This is an image heavy post, so be prepared! Ready? Let's get going!

First up, here's the link to pre-order my books: Get Books by Jo Michaels

As you can see, anyone who buys Fractured Glass will get either earrings (we'll have many styles) or a bookmark of their choice. Here's what they look like:

 Earrings:

 Bookmarks:

Here's the goodie bits. For the first two people that pre-order M, I'm giving away this awesome t-shirt:

Everyone who pre-orders one or more of my books will have their name put in a drawing to win a copy of Fractured Glass signed by all five authors and a copy of M.

Now, for the IBGW table, we have this collection of books, these two awesome t-shirts (large - regular cut), and this cool canvas tote bag:

And will be adding these:

There are more, including a copy of M (cover not revealed yet), but we're waiting until the authors either publish or reveal their covers to add the images. All are signed by the authors and are paperbacks!

In addition, we'll also have 11x17 posters of a couple of covers we'll be giving away.

How fun, huh? I know you see some titles up there you've been wanting to get your hands on. So be sure and visit us.

What do you think? Exciting?

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

UtopYA Con Presents Authors R My Idols Public Book Signing

Are you an avid reader who wants to meet and hang out with their favorite authors?

Here's your chance - and you get to do it for a great cause!

Meet bestselling authors like Denise Grover Swank, Lauren Miller, Kim Holden and Rysa Walker (and many, many more!) at Authors R My Idols (ARMI), sponsored by Indie-Visible and presented by UtopYA Con.

On Saturday, June 20, an open-to-the-public book signing will be held at Nashville’s Millennium Maxwell House Hotel. The book signing benefits local non-profit group Book 'Em. The signing is free for fans who donate a book, or only $5 without a book. Two signings will be held from 10A-12P and 1-3PM to insure readers get plenty of time to find their next pile of books to read!

All donated books and admission fees go directly to Book ‘Em to help them with their two-part mission: to get books to children and teens in lower-income families who might not otherwise have books of their own; and providing volunteer readers to local pre- and elementary schools. Book’em creates a more literate Nashville by helping economically disadvantaged children, from birth through high school, discover the joy and value of reading through book ownership and enthusiastic volunteers.

UtopYA Con is a proud supporter of this organization and looks forward to connecting authors and readers for such a great cause. For more information such as exhibitors, conference tickets, and more, visit utopyacon.com or you can purchase tickets (or save your signing space) here.

Join us on Saturday!

UtopYA Con 2015 Thunderclap for Awards Voting

Happy Friday, everyone! I'm not gonna mess around here. I know you're all busy! Plus, I have a little incentive for your help. I'll get to what in a few. So, with that being said, let's get to the meat of today's post.

UtopYA Con is inviting you to join in helping spread the word about awards voting. This is a big deal because this con is the only one with their own awards program. It's very chic, and everyone gets dressed up in their finery to attend. Trophies are awarded for a number of different categories, all related to young adult and new adult novels. See the whole list and details about how nominees are chosen here.

See last year's winners here.

The most awesome part of all this is: You, the public, get to vote once the nominees are announced! That's right, if you have a favorite author attending the con, you can go on over there and show your support for their novels by voting for them.

But utopYA and the authors need your help to spread the word to fans everywhere! All we're asking is for one tiny support of our Thunderclap campaign Your Voice, Your Vote. It's FREE, so we really just want to borrow one (or more) of your social media outlets for one tiny post on May 8th.

Here's the link to sign up: http://thndr.it/1zgCvSG

You can support with Twitter, Facebook, or Tumblr (or all three). Makes no difference.

Want to see if authors you love have been nominated? Be sure and click the link on May 8th when we go boom! Then, if you see a book you loved, vote!

Now, here's the incentive I mentioned. If you support the Thunderclap, and share that you supported, with one of your social networks, you can enter below to win a utopYA 2015 t-shirt. It's easy: Support, share that you supported, copy the link, paste it in the entry form, click enter! Boom! Done!

If you've already supported, just share the Thunderclap and paste in the link where you did. Easy peasy.

You have until May 7th to support and enter! And... GO!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

How fun is this? Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart.

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

UtopYA Con 2015 Pro Sched User

Happy Friday, good people of the blogosphere! It's time for another utopYA 2015 update! I know you're all super excited. BUT! Even if you're not going to utopYA, you can still figure out how to use Sched if an event you're attending in the future chooses to be green and save a few trees by going digital. Don't be the girl left out of the party. You'll lose out on a chance to join a huge family of like-minded creative people. Ever wanted to walk into a room and know the people there get you? Yeah, that's utopYA. So get your tickets here. Right now. The price goes up at the end of May, so don't dally!

Let's get to the info for today, shall we?

If you've been following along with the official bloggers this month, you'll know most of the ways you can use Sched to your advantage. Let's do a quick recap (links will take you to the corresponding posts):

Here on my blog, you learned how to create and update your profile. We went through connecting your social media and adding a cute profile picture.

When A Book Vacation took over, Shana taught you all how to mark things you'd like to go to, and she showed you a few awesome tips in her video.

Then, we went to The Paisley Reader. Maria walked you through syncing Sched with your phone (or freaking KINDLE)!

Today, we have the Book Junkie: Not-So-Anonymous, Ashley, walking you through how to change your ticket information and finding your friends!

By the time you get through all the posts above, you should be ready for the conference and have your reminders set so you don't miss a single panel. Have fun!

There won't be printed programs this year! Sched is what you need to learn how to use to get the most out of your experience.

What did you learn from the bloggers this month? Are you all set to go with the app?

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Author Interview - Mindy Ruiz

Happy Monday, wonderful people of the blogosphere! Today I have a super amazing guest to introduce you all to. Remember back in December when I had the awesome Kindle Fire giveaway going? Well, this lady donated in a big way to that event, so please give her a round of applause. Besides that, she's running a giveaway of epic proportions on the blog while she's my guest. How about a big note of thanks for that? Mindy is an amazing utopYA author, and she's involved in the con by both being an exhibitor and a panelist. If you don't have tickets yet, go get them now. Linky! Since I just saved you many tears from missing out on the fun, smile, grab a cup of coffee, and get comfy for my interview with author Mindy Ruiz.

Jo: Welcome to the blog, Mindy! I’m over the moon to have you here. You’re such an awesome supporter of other Indies, and I’m pleased you’ve agreed to grace us with your presence. You ready?

Mindy: Hell, yes!

Jo: Awesome! Let’s jump right in with both feet. Your series, Game of Hearts, heavily uses elements of Greek mythology. Why did you choose to include that genre, and what can we expect out of the rest of the series?

Mindy: Great question! The whole series came about because Lady GaGa’s song, Poker Face, played right after Katy Perry’s Waking Up in Las Vegas. I loved the idea of exploring the Suits in a deck of cards as if they were living, breathing people. Plus, I’m totally obsessed with anything Royal, so marrying the world of the Cards and Greek mythology was a no-brainer. I needed a back story and a nemesis and who better than to fill those shoes than the man obsessed with everything glittery and gold but King Midas himself.

Bam!

The House of Midas was born. But something was still missing. I needed a cohesive unit that tied the two powers together but still kept them under thumb. The myth of Midas and Dionysus provided the answer: I needed more Greek gods! The gods are the ultimate authority both The House of Midas and the ruling Cards fear and serve. The gods are to the Game of Hearts series what the shark was to Jaws.

In the final book, Cassie and the other Queens (Spades, Diamonds, and Clubs) uncover a devious plan that threatens all of humanities’ freedoms. Shadows and rogue factions play a huge part in the epic conclusion to free the Titans from Tartarus. Cassie has to make the ultimate decision whether to serve as the Queen of the House of Hearts or forget everything and everyone she’s experienced the last three years of her life.

Jo: I'm the biggest geek in the world, and that just made my inner-goddess sing! I can tell you love your novels. You heard it here, folks! Go check out this series! Moving on. How much is your character, Olivia, like you? Do you feel it’s a help or hindrance to be close with a character? Why?

Mindy: I’d like to say Olivia is all me, but not true. I based Olivia’s sass and in-your-face honesty off of a life-long friend, Rochelle Spears. Nothing, no past, no secret, no future prediction fazes Olivia. She’s going to experience life on her terms and be loyal to a freaking fault. Okay, the loyal to a freaking fault might be me.

I think it’s vital that you feel a connection or closeness with your characters because we all can write the paper cutout Disney prince or princess, it’s the complex tortured hero, heroine, and yes, villain, that really tugs at our and our reader’s hearts. I believe exploring those pieces, both the good and the bad, of you and those around you is how you create believable, likable, swoon-worthy characters.


Jo: Awesome picture! Great answer. I get asked all the time if I'm like my characters. I have to admit, they have a trait or two, but mostly they're based on people I know. I agree 100% on the need to be close to them. You must. *smiles* I know you’re a huge advocate of encouraging authors to keep learning. So, tell us, what writerly educational books grace your shelves? Which is your favorite and why?

Mindy: Albert Einstein said, “Once you stop learning, you start dying.”

If you think you know it all, then you really know nothing at all. I never want to be the smartest person in a room and luckily, I have yet ever to be. :) That being said, I have way too many writing books on my shelves. My favorites, because they’re totally like kids and I can’t choose one, are:
Save the Cat by Blake Snyder. I was a pantser forever, and with C. J. Redwine’s online plotting & world building classes and Blake Snyder’s Save the Cat, I’ve cut down on the plot lines I chase down rabbit holes. Painless Grammar by Rebeca Elliott, Ph.D.

Why? I may have daydreamed through all my English classes when they didn’t relate to Literature. Seriously, where was my Grammar Godmother when I needed her?!

Last one, the www.ce.SavvyAuthors.com website because, truly, Liz Pelletier and the crew over there are brilliant geniuses that make the technical side of creative writing easy to understand. One day I will share a chocolate martini with the lady. Maybe even in Las Vegas. *giggles*

Jo: I haven't heard of either of those books. *adds to list* I love that quote; it's so dang true, huh? Sooooo, I hear you aren’t a girly-girl (don’t judge; a little bird told me). So I’d like to know what your perfect date-night outfit and location would be. Why?

Mindy: Buahaha! Your birds are crazy accurate! I’m so not a girly-girl. I was raised with four brothers, have three sons, a nephew who is my fourth son, and seven more nephews to top off my testosterone world of wonder. I would die a slow, GI-Joe death if I didn’t suppress my estrogen. LOL.

Perfect date outfit would be blue jeans, a rockin’ hot top that was comfortable but still screamed ‘oh, yeah, she’s a girl!’ and flip-flops to show off my hot-pink pedicured toes.

Perfect location: I’m a beach girl. Give me salted sea air, waves crashing on the shore, and a bucket of Dungeness crab legs and I’m all yours. The husband threw in peach mojitos and laughed when I bombed him with crab shell shrapnel. It was true love from there on.

Jo: I feed those birds lots and lots of cookies! *wink* Sounds like a fabulous date! I know all about suppressing the estrogen. Ha! Let's not get too far off the question line, because I could talk all day about being a tom boy. You have two books out in the Game of Hearts Series: Enchanted Hearts and Lying, Cheating Hearts. What’s next? Care to share a little snippet of the blurb?

Mindy: The last book in the Game of Hearts series is in the hopper right now.

I’m also working on a paranormal category romance called: Cupid’s Curse. Yep, that’s what I’m going to give to you.

Blurb snippet:
My name is Jack. Oh, don’t let the manly sounding nickname fool you; I’m all girl. From my waist length blonde hair, over every curve of my five-foot-six frame, down to my pedicured toes, I scream female. But when it comes to matters of the heart, well, I’m a bitch.

That’s not my technical title.

Officially, I’m a Cupid. Turns out the god of love, Eros, doesn’t like it when you curse amore. He gets down right bitter when you swear to never be a sucker for the swoon. That one phrase, “I’ll never love again,” with the right amount of fortitude behind it, will land you cursed in Eros’s Cupid Corps.

Yep, I’m totally cursed to play Cupid until I believe in love. If I don’t, well, my heart goes all petrified and I become immortal. Sounds damn good to me.

Ha! Looks like I really do have a thing for Greek gods.

Jo: That sounds fan-freaking-tastic! I can't wait to check it out. You did a marketing thing at UtopYA last year I thought was absolutely brilliant. Tell me about the Enchanted Heart screen cleaners, and how you came up with the idea, please! I still have mine.

Mindy: *big ole toothy grin* OH. MY. GAWD!!!! You have no idea how stinking happy that makes me! I would love to take all the credit for Enchanted Heart screen cleaners, but that fabulous find lies at the feet of my darling husband. Luckily, he is in real estate and is required to attend numerous conferences and conventions. I may sweet talk him into bringing home an extra swag bag. Seriously, I go through their swag bags like I’m discovering buried treasures.

Jo: Yeah, I totally do. People ask me about it all the time. *grin* Now that we’re on the subject of UtopYA, talk to me about the panel you’re on for newbies and introverts. What can people hope to take away from that experience?

Mindy: Confession time: I’m painfully shy and awkward. It took me a long time to shatter the wall-flower vase and really own who I am. Before writing became both my passion and my career, I was in the family business of selling Real Estate. Cold calls and open houses and strangers all around brought me face-to-face with my biggest fear, talking to people. Anyone who knows me knows I hate talking on the phone and the thought of face-to-face tends to break me out in hives. That being said, I knew I could either have my excuse of being shy or I could, full force and despite being shy, put myself out there and chase my dream. It came down to do I want the excuse or do I want the dream. I chose to chase after the dream.

At my first UtopYA conference, where I climbed back into my wall-flower vase, (no, really, sat up in my hotel room with flowered pajamas), my darling friend Megan Curd, kicked me out of the hotel room and told me to find my freaking mojo.

After the conference, I read online that there were so many people who had traveled to UtopYA and had done the exact same thing I did! The overall themes:
I don’t know what to say?
I don’t want to be “that” crazy fan-girl!
And, I’m new and shy.

That was it.

I embraced Janet’s “lift as you climb” mantra and decided to apply what I’d learned successfully practicing real estate and networking at conferences for twenty years to writers and share that knowledge. Megan and I tapped some amazing people who have successfully networked both online and at conferences to help: New York Times Best Selling Author: Rachel Harris, Misty Provencher, and Eva Pohler will be adding their tips and tricks to the panel.

The Newbie and Introvert panel is an interactive session.

You will leave knowing at least three people you didn’t before.

You’ll be armed with three open-ended questions to get your conversations past, “I love your book” and on to more substantial chats with authors and readers you love.

Finally, you’ll leave the panel with a starter toolbox with basic how to’s:
* How to comfortably step out of your comfort zone.
* How to be able to identify when you’re starting to slip back into your wall-flower ways and what to do.
* How to approach an author you love.
* How to spot a fellow wallflower and build your own wacky clump or tribe.

Jo: Oh man. Even seasoned veterans can benefit from that panel! I'm so stealing this (with credit, of course) for something the bloggers have coming. *grin* Rapid-fire question time! White, dark, or milk chocolate?

Mindy: *cue big pimpin’ music*
White Chocolate.
White chocolate Kit-Kats, if I’m totally honest.

Jo: Paper or computer (for writing)?

Mindy: Computer. I’d go through too many erasers and trees if I went the long hand route.

Jo: Up or Down?

Mindy: Up! The ever-eternal optimist says UP!

Jo: Right? Somehow, I knew you'd choose up. *grins* Time travel question! Because the theme of UtopYA 2015 is time travel, I’m asking everyone a themed question. *grins* If you built a time machine, where would you go, what would you do while you were there, and would you tell anyone of your creation? Why/why not?

Mindy: Ooooh. Yikes. The practical girl in me says time travel = bad. But the caution-to-the-wall hellion in me says, Hell, yes! Time Travel? Where be the seatbelts?!

I’d totally go to the past and whack some Eleanor Roosevelt spine into the people-pleasing girl I thought I had to be. I’d tell her she was fine just the way she was and she should totally chase after the story-telling dreams her dad told her were “useless lies.” Now, because I’d messed with the space-time continuum like Marty McFly’d done in Back to the Future, I’d leave my mom a note and picture of my uber hunky husband and tell her not to let me settle for anyone else except this man. One: Mom’s Italian and no matter what moxy I’d gain from my Roosevelt spine whipping I’d still fear the woman. Two: the man is truly the love of my life. He loved me when I was bald, filled with chemo, and begged him to leave. He stayed and fought for us both, and I’m so blessed.

Would I share the technology? Nope! Not even hesitating about that one. Refer back to my Marty McFly Back to the Future reference.

Jo: Okay, can I just say I LOVE that photo? It's awesome! I hope you had fun taking these. Haha! Heck yeah. I love answers that involve going back to your younger self and giving advice! Don't we all wish we could do that? Speaking of road trips, did you ever get to go to Vegas? If yes, what did you see while there? If no, what do you plan to see while there when (notice I didn’t say if) you get to visit?

Mindy: The lady who inspired Olivia moved to Las Vegas a few years ago, so I visit as often as possible. Plus, living in Southern California makes it all too easy to jump a forty-five minute Jet Blue flight to get lost in Sin City.

When I was plotting the Game of Hearts Series, I knew I didn’t want to highlight the typical Las Vegas sites. I wanted to explore the history and the off-the-beaten-tourist traps of the desert oasis. The catacombs were based on an article my girlfriend sent me about Las Vegas’s Homeless living in the underground sewers after the 2007 financial crash. The Neon Graveyard (they call it a boneyard) where we first meet Isaac actually exists. I HIGHLY recommend taking the tour. Freemont Street and the digital canopy, for realz. Umm, OOOH, the water preserve where A. J. introduces Cassie to the forgotten and the declaration stones, they’re for real. The quote from John F. Kennedy carved in the side of a boulder, totally in the water preserve. I’m still ninety percent certain he really was from the House of Hearts. ;)

Jo: I read a book recently called The Underground that was about the people living under Seattle after the city's destruction. Awesome story. I'll have to check out the spots you've suggested if I ever make it back to Vegas. I'm totally psyched you and Tia live in the same state. All I can say is: expect coffee in the future! *winks* I adore anything outside the box. Anything you’d like to throw out there that I didn’t already ask?

Mindy: Ummm, I wish I could say something really prolific, but … nope! I’m all good. Oh, wait! If you see me at UtopYA, Penned Con, Indie Bookfest in Orlando, or Great Lake Book Bash, please don’t hesitate to come up and squeeze me. I tend to walk around in a haze of “holy shiz! I can’t believe I’m here.” Enhance my experience and say Hi, Mindy. Send me over the moon and tell me you love my books or make my millennium and leave me a fun review.

Jo, thanks so much for having me. I just adore you and your readers and can’t wait to have a peach mojito with ya!

Jo: I do hope to see you this year. It's so crazy, I'm surprised I saw my table mate last year. HA! I've never had a peach mojito, but I'm totally blushing at your compliment. Thank you. Sorry to take up so much of your time! I appreciate you being here. I really enjoyed researching you for this interview. You sound a lot like me (low-maintenance, has many sons—I have four, and I’m someone who just adores books), and I can’t wait to see you at the conference! Not long now!

Now, it’s time to tell you all about the featured book of the week!

Title: Enchanted Heart
Author: Mindy Ruiz
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy Romance
Length (print): 322 pages.
Buy links: Amazon Kindle $0.99 US and UK  ~  Smashwords $0.99  ~  iBooks $0.99 US and UK  ~  B&N $0.99 US and UK


Blurb:
Cassandra Vera never ever broke the rules.

Ever!

She’s also had a nonexistent social life since her best friend moved to Vegas. Armed with a new set of resolutions, the promise of a hot date, and her adoptive parents out of town, seventeen-year-old Cassandra agrees to a road trip, which is the perfect way to celebrate her birthday and ring in the New Year. After all, she’s headed to Vegas, the city where secrets are meant to stay hidden. Little does Cassandra know her past is buried there as well.

Cloaked in the shadows of the glitz and gaudy lights of Vegas lies a power struggle centuries old. One wrong step and Cassandra could destroy the delicate web of secrets. Now an enemy she never knew existed is after her, and the one boy who may be the missing piece to the puzzle — and her heart— is the one person she can’t afford to trust.

While your fingers are in the clicking mode, why not give Mindy a follow on every social media platform I could think of when writing up the template for these interviews (plus some)?

Pinterest: Mindy Ruiz Books
Instagram: Mindy Ruiz
Google +: Mindy Ruiz Books
Facebook: Mindy Ruiz Books
Street Team: Heart Breakers 4 Ever
Twitter: @MindyRuiz
Goodreads: Mindy Ruiz
Website: MindyRuiz.com
Amazon Author Page: Mindy Ruiz
LinkedIN: Mindy Ruiz
Tsu: Mindy Ruiz

Time for the Rafflecopter giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you have any questions, pop them into the comments below. Ms. Ruiz (pronounced Reese) will be around to answer and/or respond!

Well, that’s all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo