Ozarks Indie Book Fest in One Week - Plus a Ticket Sale

Happy Tuesday, everyone! Today, let's talk about OIBF! Eep! Get your clicking fingers ready, and let's get going!

Ozarks Indie Book Fest is having its inaugural event starting on Thursday, October 19, 2017, and running through Sunday, October 22, 2017!

There's a ton of awesome stuff planned, and you can find the full schedule on the OIBF website here. See any names you recognize on there?

Of course you do!

Our weekend will kick off with a keynote speech by the one and only Christina Benjamin, and then the fun shall begin with treasure hunt fliers being passed out! This treasure hunt includes several of the attending authors, and readers will get to seek out the authors during the signings, Friday and Saturday, and quiz them to find out what to put on the paper. A huge gift basket full of goodies is up for grabs.

Saturday opens with a keynote speech from the always awesome BJ Sheldon before readers swarm the signing hall!

Want to be one of those readers?

Use the code oibf2017

on this link for $15 off a two-day ticket! 

That's right, two day passes are just $20! With the single day passes being $10, and no t-shirt or bag being included, this is one HELL of a steal. With your twenty bucks, you get entry into the keynote speeches, all the panels, entry into the signing hall, entry into the Saturday night awards program, and both of these goodies:

That bag is FULL of alllll kinds of author stuff. Wow, am I right?

Plus, you get to listen to my keynote speech Saturday morning, and you'll get to come to the princess party Friday evening from 5-6:30pm! Three of the War and Pieces ~ Frayed Fairy Tale authors will be there! We have a ton of cool games and prizes for you all.

At the awards, you can dress up as your favorite book character. That's right, it's a COSTUME PARTY! Huzzah! So very fun, and so close to Halloween, you can reuse your costume to go trick-or-treating just a week and a half later.

You know you wanna come, so get to clicking that link!

Drop a comment in below if you're coming and will see me, and I'll have a special prize waiting for you at my table. ;)

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

Jo

Great Lakes Book Bash 2017 Ticket Sale

Happy Saturday! Now, you know I wouldn't be bugging you folks on the weekend unless it was really important, right? If you're planning to attend GLBB in October of this year, you'll want to read this! Ticket prices are insanely low! Get your clicking fingers ready, and get going!

 ✬✬✬ ➡ TICKET SALE ⬅ ✬✬✬

Are you planning on attending Great Lakes Book Bash this October? Have you purchased your VIP tickets yet? Single day tickets?

Take advantage of our FINAL ticket sale of the year to save 50% off your purchase.

That makes your VIP ticket only $10!!!

VIP tickets gets you…
* A GLBB 2017 tote bag
* Admission to the event on Friday
* Admission to the informational sessions on Friday
* EARLY admission to the event on Saturday

Ticket link: http://bit.ly/GLBB2017

Discount Code: BOOK

Sale price only valid 9/2-9/4/17.

Great Lakes Book Bash

October 27 & 28, 2017

Radisson Plaza Hotel

Kalamazoo, MI

For more information visit www.greatlakesbookbash.com

Attending Authors…

Abigail Grey
A.D. Saddler
Alora Kate
Amazeballs Book Addicts – 2017 OFFICIAL GLBB SPONSOR
Anjela Renee
Anna Reanult
Becca Vincenza
Bev Davis
CC Dragon
Charles Stern
Christina L. Barr
City and Book
Cover Me, Darling – 2017 OFFICIAL GLBB SPONSOR
D.B. James
Deedle Miyares
Delphina Henley
Diana Plopa
Donald Levin
Dora Badger
Elisabeth Popolow
Elizabeth Meyette
Ellie Wade
Emily Goodwin
Emma Shade
G.S. Scott
Heather Mullins
Indie Books Gone Wild
Janet Brown
Jen Cousineau
Jennifer Friess
Jimmy Leonard
✬✬✬ Jo Michaels ✬✬✬
Kacey Hammell
Kathy Coopmans
Kelsey Fox
K.L. Roth
KS Adkins
Kyleigh Castronaro
Linda K Sienkiewicz
Lindee Robinson Photography
Mark Love
Meg Farrell
Melanie Jayne
Melissa Keir
Misty Provencher
M.R. Polish – 2017 GLBB Keynote Speaker
N.J. Ember
Rachael Brownell – 2017 GLBB HOSTESS
Sanzaki Kojika
Samantha Cole
Sara Fiorenzo
Sarah Grimm
S.E. Brown
S.E. Summa
SF Benson
SJ Maylee
Skye Falcon
Stacey Rourke
Sylvia Hubbard
Sylvia Stein
Terri George
Tia Silverthorne Bach
Victoria Scott
Zoe Blake

As you can see, I'll be there! LOL! Will I see you?

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

Jo

Chapter.con London 2017 - Information and Ticket Specials

Happy Monday, everyone! I just realized it's only a month before I leave for my awesome trip to London to attend the first annual Chapter.con, and I have nothing ready. Nothing. Zilch. EEP! But it also got me thinking: WHO will I see there? So, today's post is the 411 on the conference. If I'll see you, drop me a comment below and say YES! Ready? Here we go!

 For a full schedule and to buy tickets, click here.

Authors of Horror, Paranormal, Romance, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, New Adult, Young Adult, Mid-Grade, Children's, Women's Fiction, Dystopia, General.

AUTHOR, READER & BLOGGER CONFERENCE + PUBLIC SIGNING EVENT
London. Twickenham.
Friday 25th & Saturday 26th August.
Join us in the beautiful surroundings of St. Mary's University and Strawberry Hill house for an intimate 2 day reader, author and blogger conference, including a public Saturday signing event.

ALL WRITERS, AUTHORS, BLOGGERS, PUBLISHERS welcome. It's time to step up to the next level and expand your community.

Whether you are a best-selling established author, an aspiring author, a blogger, a reader, a publisher or a book seller, we would like to invite you to  Chapter.Con; one of the U.K's very first conventions of its kind designed to connect, educate and inspire.

One of the primary beliefs of Chapter.Con is inclusivity; of celebrating diversity and indviduality.

​With a series of panels hosted by some of the world's most experienced and best-selling, trail-blazing authors, two inspirational key note speakers, business consultancy workshops, mindfulness seminars, and branding analysis services,  Chapter.Con is far more than a literary festival; it's home, family and mentorship.

Chapter.Con is a chance to exchange ideas with fellow authors, giving you the time, space and forum to create a vibrant and co-operative community.

Chapter Con is open to Indie published, Hybrid published and traditionally published authors of all ages and stages of their individual journey. It is also open to new and established book bloggers, and readers who want to see behind the scenes of the author world.

For a full schedule and to buy tickets, click here.

Now for the information about the signing day tickets and the deal the conference is giving to those folks who bring teen readers with them!

There are still author tables available! Go to the link above to find out more.

So, will I see you there?

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

Jo

Great Lakes Book Bash VIP Ticket Giveaway X2

Happpppy Friday, everyone! This week has been mad crazy, but it's also been fun! Our fairy tale books are releasing like hotcakes. But that's not what today's post is about. Nooooo! Today, I'm giving away TWO VIP tickets for GLBB 2017. Guess who'll be there? Yep, that's right, ME! :D

So, if you'll be in the Kalamazoo, MI area around the end of October (the 27-28, to be exact), you'll want to enter!

About the event:

Founded in 2014 by Authors Rachael Brownell & Casey L Bond, Great Lakes Book Bash is a literary conference and signing held in Kalamazoo, Michigan celebrating the fact that “Readers are our Rock Stars”. The conference is hosted by the Radisson Plaza Hotel.

In it’s first year, GLBB had over 75 exhibitors attend the one-day conference: authors, designers, swag makers, bloggers and models. Those exhibitors were met by over 150 readers from the Kalamazoo area and beyond. Some of those exhibitors led informational sessions, or panels, on specific topics related to the publishing industry. After the conference was over, everyone got together for a little party, sharing stories of the day and getting to know each other better.

In 2017, the conference is being extended to two days. It will encompass more of what readers and exhibitors asked for after the first year – more panels, more signing time and a meet and greet for exhibitors.

More information will be available soon on Great Lakes Book Bash 2017. If you don’t find the information that you are looking for on this website, please use the contact form above and we will get back to you.

Here's what a Rock Star Pass includes:

This ticket includes your admission to Great Lakes Book Bash on Friday, October 27, 2017 from 11am-2pm and Saturday, October 28, 2017 from 10:30am-2pm in the Kalamazoo Room at the Radisson Plaza Hotel in downtown Kalamazoo, MI as well as ALL panels on both Friday and Saturday. This is the ONLY ticket that will allow you VIP early admission on Saturday, October 28th. Registration will open at 10:00am. You MUST stop at the registration table located outside the event room and pick up your name badge to be granted access to the event. A master list will be available and no printed ticket will be necessary.

Are you excited?

Well, here's the Rafflecopter entry form! Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

I can't wait to find out who I'll be meeting!

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

Jo

Great New BookTuber Discovered - Thoughts and Reflections on RAI 2017

Happy Monday, good people of the blogosphere! What a crazy few months it's been. My fingers are crossed this will be a regular thing once again. I miss my blog!

Anyway, today, I'm going to introduce you all to a new booktuber I met while at RAI, and throw a few of my thoughts out there on the event in general.

As you all know, I'm always on the lookout for folks willing to give their genuine opinions on books they read. Not only does this booktuber speak well, she's incredibly effervescent. Love watching her channel so far. While she and I were talking, she told me that if you send her an ARC, it's guaranteed to get a video review. Not a bad deal, in my opinion.

Be sure and check out her channel here "Steph's Rom Book Talk." Catch her RAI video here! Follow her Facebook page here!

Screenshot!

Now, on to thoughts about RAI.

I've loved this event since last year (my first), and I can't say enough about the amazingness that's Liz C. Long. Roanoke Author Invasion is a true signing. There are no panels, no activities outside of the signing except the after party, and there are only authors in the signing hall. Fans get in FREE.

Yep, that's right, I said FREE.

Because of that, people come from far and wide to get their books signed, take photos with their favorite authors, and BUY BOOKS. They have more money in their pockets to purchase the books because they didn't have to pay to get in the door. Makes a ton of sense to me.

Plus, Liz does a fantastic job of marketing the event locally. She's on the news, in the papers, and on the radio constantly. Her event draws a huge crowd. I believe there were over 300 free tickets claimed this year.

Yeah, my jaw dropped, too.

In addition to the single day being a behemoth sales day, I also got to meet some fantastic bloggers and book reviewers (see Stephanie above). It was a constant stream of people coming by my table, engaging me in conversation, and admiring/buying my books. I must've handed out hundreds of prints of my book covers, and people snagged a gazillion Frayed Fairy Tale buttons.

You also get to take a ton of pictures. Fun and funny, or laid back and casual, you won't be sorry. I'm Batman in the first pic :D

All in all, I'd say, if you can attend this event as a reader, or be a signing author, don't think twice. Click the button. You get time with the authors you love, and that's one of the things that's most precious.

What events do you love?

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

$25 off Tables at OIBF

Happy Wednesday, everyone! Oh my gosh, I'm excited! If you remember my post from Monday about the conferences and signings I'm attending this year, you'll know about Ozarks Indie Book Fest. Well, there's a SEVEN DAY sale on tables! Get your clicking finger ready, and let's get to the details!

To start, a half table is only $100, which I think is a steal to begin with. But for the next seven days, you can get one for just $75.

Use code springfling17

Get your ticket or table here! 

If you want to know more about the fun stuff happening at the conference, check out the schedule on the OIBF website. It promises to be a weekend of FUN.

Remember! Reader tickets are just TEN DOLLARS! Grab them on the link above.

Let's talk hotel rooms!

UNIVERSITY PLAZA HOTEL AND CONVENTION CENTER

This is where the Ozarks Indie Book Fest is being held.

Rooms can be booked. Call or go to the website of University Plaza Springfield Missouri.

(417) 864-7333 http://upspringfield.com/

Booking Code is OZARKS.

Rates are $109.00(Plus Taxes) for 2 Queens in 1 room. $139.00(Plus Taxes) for 1 king suite.

Check out the amazing sponsors for the event here. There are some great ones. I can't believe I'm gonna be surrounded by so much awesome.

What are you waiting for? Will I see you there?

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

Jo

Utopia Con 2017 - New Ticket Packages Available!

Happy Wednesday, good people of the blogosphere! Today, I bring you information! I know you're all super excited about this. Reader only tickets for Utopia Con 2017 are now available. Get your clicking fingers ready, and let's get going.

BUY THEM HERE

I'm going in order via price, least expensive to most expensive, I'm not getting into vendor table costs, and I'm just giving you an overview of the details. For more in depth explanations and the refund policies, please visit the official Utopia website ticket page here:

Exhibitor and Signing Hall ONLY (Choose Friday-June 23 OR Saturday-June 24)
Sales end June 22
Access to the Exhibitor and Signing Hall ONLY from 11AM-5PM
Price: $15 plus fees

One Day Admission (Choose Friday-June 23 OR Saturday-June 24)
Sales end June 22
Access to all official events. Does NOT include access to Master Classes, private events, or any other event that is listed for an extra charge on the website.
Price: $55 plus fees

Silver Ticket Package (Includes admission Thursday, June 22-Sunday, June 25)
Sales end December 31
Includes a welcome bag (while supplies last) and access to all official events. Does NOT include access to Master Classes, private events, or any other event that is listed for an extra charge on the website.
Price: $105 plus fees

Titanium Ticket Package (Includes admission Thursday, June 22-Sunday, June 25)
Sales end December 31
VIP Registration/Badge. Includes a welcome bag (while supplies last), t-shirt, lunch Friday and Saturday, early seating for the awards, and access to all official events. Does NOT include access to Master Classes, private events, or any other event that is listed for an extra charge on the website.
Price: $180 plus fees

Master Class - Revising Like a Pro (Thursday, June 22 at 4PM)
Sales end June 22
Bestselling author C. J. Redwine will teach pacing, character development, conflict arcs, prose, and more.
Price: $50 plus fees

Master Class - Save the Cat! (Friday, June 23 at 10:30AM)
Sales end June 22
Jose Silero teaches authors how to give their stories a strong "spine" and create a transformative journey for the protagonist.
Price: $75 plus fees

Master Class - Improv for Writers (Friday, June 23 at 2PM)
Sales end June 22
Two improv professionals (who are also authors) will teach writers how to get out of their chairs and get moving to create dynamic worlds and action for their characters.
Price: $75 plus fees

If you want information on promotional opportunities, those are also listed on the official Utopia Con website.

In case you need that link again:

BUY THEM HERE

What do you think? Will you be going?

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

Jo

GLBB Tickets on Sale NOW! Plus, FREE Entry!

Happy Thursday, good people of the blogosphere! Today, I have the AWESOME news for you! GLBB tickets are on sale NOW! Ready to grab yours? Get your clicking fingers ready and let's get going.

Get tickets HERE.

Here's the info, schedule, and available ticket packages:

A two-day event in 2017, Great Lakes Book Bash is going to be an epic experience that you won't want to miss. It's more than just a book signing. There will be informational panels geared towards authors, readers, and bloggers. Don't forget about the COSTUME Party on Saturday night celebrating that "Readers are our Rock Stars".
For more information about the event, please visit our website at www.greatlakesbookbash.com.

Thursday 10/26/2017
7pm - Registration will open to exhibitors and assistants
7-9pm - Exhibitor set-up

Friday 10/27/2017
9:30-10:30am - Opening announcements and keynote speech from M.R. Polish (everyone is welcome to come to the opening announcements and keynote speech - no ticket required)
10:30am - registration opens for ticket holders
11am-2pm - Author signing (bring your own books or buy them from the authors)
3pm-7pm - Informational panels
9pm - Exhibitor meet and greet (location TBD)

Saturday 10/28/2017
10:30am - registration opens for ticket holders
11am-2pm - Author signing
2pm-3pm - Exhibitor break-down
3pm-6pm - Informational panels
8pm-12am - Readers are our Rock Stars COSTUME Party

(The schedule of events is subject to change at any time. The most up to date version of the schedule can be found on our website at the address listed above.)

WHEN:
Friday, October 27, 2017 at 9:30 AM - Saturday, October 28, 2017 at 11:30 PM (EDT)

WHERE:
Radisson Plaza Hotel at Kalamazoo Center - 100 West Michigan Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI 49007

Available Ticket Packages:

• Friday Signing ONLY ticket

  Free
• This ticket includes your admission to the signing on Friday, October 27, 2017 from 11am-2pm only in the Kalamazoo Room at the Radisson Plaza Hotel in downtown Kalamazoo, MI. Registration will open at 10:30am. You MUST stop at the registration table located outside the event room and pick up your name badge to be granted access to the event. A master list will be available and no printed ticket will be necessary.

  Hide Info

• Saturday Signing ONLY ticket

  Free 
• This ticket includes your admission to the signing on Saturday, October 28, 2017 from 11am-2pm only in the Kalamazoo Room at the Radisson Plaza Hotel in downtown Kalamazoo, MI. Registration will open at 10:30am. You MUST stop at the registration table located outside the event room and pick up your name badge to be granted access to the event. A master list will be available and no printed ticket will be necessary.

  Hide Info

• Two-day Signing ticket

  $15.00 (+$1.37 fee) 
• This ticket includes your admission to Great Lakes Book Bash on Friday, October 27, 2017 and Saturday, October 28, 2017 from 11am-2pm in the Kalamazoo Room at the Radisson Plaza Hotel in downtown Kalamazoo, MI as well as ALL panels on both Friday and Saturday. Registration will open at 10:30am. You MUST stop at the registration table located outside the event room and pick up your name badge to be granted access to the event. A master list will be available and no printed ticket will be necessary. This ticket DOES NOT include admission to the Rock Star Costume Party on Saturday night.

  Hide Info

• Rock Star Costume Party ONLY ticket

  $15.00 (+$1.37 fee) 
• This ticket includes your admission to the Rock Star Costume Party on Saturday, October 28, 2017 ONLY that will be held in the Ballroom at the Radisson Plaza Hotel in Kalamazoo, MI from 8pm to midnight. You MUST pick up for name badge before entering the costume party at the registration table that will be located outside the ballroom beginning at 7pm.

  Hide Info

• Rock Star Pass

  $20.00 (+$1.49 fee)
• This ticket includes your admission to Great Lakes Book Bash on Saturday, October 28, 2017 from 11am-2pm in the Kalamazoo Room at the Radisson Plaza Hotel in downtown Kalamazoo, MI as well as ALL panels on Saturday afternoon from 3pm to 7pm and the Rock Star Costume Party that will be held from 8pm to midnight at the Radisson Plaza Hotel in the Ballroom. Registration will open at 10:30am. You MUST stop at the registration table located outside the event room and pick up your name badge to be granted access to the event. A master list will be available and no printed ticket will be necessary.

  Hide Info

• VIP Rock Star Pass

  $30.00 (+$1.74 fee)
This ticket includes your admission to Great Lakes Book Bash on Friday, October 27, 2017 and Saturday, October 28, 2017 from 11am-2pm in the Kalamazoo Room at the Radisson Plaza Hotel in downtown Kalamazoo, MI as well as ALL panels on both Friday and Saturday, the Rock Star Costume Party & you will receive a VIP tote bag filled with goodies from some of the attending authors. Registration will open at 10:30am. You MUST stop at the registration table located outside the event room and pick up your name badge to be granted access to the event. A master list will be available and no printed ticket will be necessary.

What are you waiting for? Get on it RIGHT NOW!

Tickets HERE!

Well, what do you think? Are you coming?

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

Jo

Enter an Anthology with Proceeds for Pet Charities

Happy Tuesday, everyone! Today, I'm here to talk with you about an amazing opportunity you may want to take advantage of. If you're ready, let's get rolling!

So, if you didn't already hear about it on my radio show, Ozarks Indie Book Fest is happening in Springfield, MO, October 19-22, 2017. They're donating any and all proceeds from the conference to two charities:

Companions for Heroes

and
Loving Paws Rescue

But the organizers wanted to do even MORE for these two charities. They put their heads together and came up with the idea of producing an anthology with ALL proceeds going to the charities above.

Pretty amazing, huh?

Want to know how you can get involved? Well, here you go:




Fill it out now, later, or whenever! If you write a compelling beginning, there's a great chance of being chosen. No one will know who you are until the stories are chosen. Classy, eh?

Winners will also be announced on the Facebook event page. You can join in the fun here.

You have a few months before your full story will be due. Why not?

Will you be entering?

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

Jo

Whatever Jo Wants Wednesday #1

Happy Wednesday, everyone! Today is me posting about whatever the heck I want. I've decided to flip Wednesday and Friday for the obvious alliteration awesomeness. *grin* I'd like to talk about RAI today, so that's what I'm going to do.

First off, be sure you check out this interview with Liz Long over on A Daily Cup of Jo.

Jo and Liz have fun and discuss RAI!

Now for the details!

Roanoke Author Invasion is right around the corner! With this many authors, we are so excited to keep this a free event for readers as they meet their favorite writers and discover new ones!

Join sixty bestselling authors of contemporary and paranormal fiction and more at the Holiday Inn Tanglewood in Roanoke, Virginia on April 2, 2016 from 11pm-4pm. Signings will be split from 11-1 and 2-4p to allow a lunch break. Attendees will enjoy an afternoon of books, giveaways, and more as they get the latest releases from their favorite authors and discover new voices!

Authors include several bestsellers like #1 New York Times and International Bestselling authors such as Casey Bond (writer of the award-winning Harvest Saga); Cambria Hebert (of the popular YA Hashtag Series); Rysa Walker (2013 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards winner for her CHRONOS Files series); and Heather Hildenbrand, whose book Imitation has been optioned for television by NBC to be produced by Jerry Bruckheimer.

This free event is in its second year. With over 100 guests for the first year, attendance is expected to double as they travel from all over the country to visit Roanoke, VA. They will be able to meet their favorite authors and be introduced to new writers, win prizes, and take home swag. Free RAI tote bags will be given as first come, first serve, while RAI t-shirts will be available for purchase.

In addition, all attendees are invited back to the Holiday Inn for an afterparty from 7-10PM. Hosted by Forget the Housework, I’m Reading, City and Book and Brains, Beauty, BOOKS!

Tickets will be $20 sent to bookclubafterdark@gmail.com via Paypal. Price includes light appetizers, goodie bag and dancing. Proceeds benefit United Through Reading.

For more information, including how to get your free ticket, a full list of exhibitors, and the chance to volunteer for the event, visit http://roanokeauthorinvasion.com.

I'll be there with copies of Emancipation and 7 (plus, three of the authors will be at this signing)! *grin* I do hope to see as many of you as humanly possible.

Are you coming?

If you are, and you want to pre-order any of my books, fill out this form on Google Drive.

I'm so excited I can barely breathe! Are you excited?

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

Jo

Gearing Up for 12 Days of Review Requests Event

Happy Wednesday, everyone! I'm busier than a one-armed paper hanger this week, trying to get everything in order for both NaNoWriMo and the BIG December event here on the blog. Because it's almost October, I'm opening up the signup form for participating authors (for the daily prizes).

Please note: This is not to get your books considered for purchase and review! This is ONLY if you'd like to do a giveaway during the event or support the big prize.

Without further ado, here's the form!



Are you excited? I am! This year will be AWESOME!

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

Jo

Author Events Around the United States and Abroad

Happy Tuesday, good people of the blogosphere! Today, I'm talking about author events. If you've published a book or you're a fan of awesome writing, you'll want to know where you can go to sign or meet your favorite authors. There are some amazing events right here in the U.S. for you to attend. Even if you're in the U.K. and have always wanted something authorly, you'll want to check out this site!

Ready? Let's get going!

If you've never heard of Indie-Visible: Literary Justice for All, I have to wonder if you've been hiding under a rock. These ladies and gents are making waves in the book world with their pub hub and book hub sections of the website.

I did a writeup on the pub hub not too long ago. You can find that post here.

But today, I'm guiding you in a new direction. This is the place where you'll find author events happening all over the place. Get going!

Indie-Visible's Event Page

I do hope you'll consider attending one (or more) of these awesome author and reader events!

Did you know that page existed? What are you most looking forward to?

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

Jo

What a Wonderful Thing

Happy Monday, everyone! As most of you know, yesterday was my birthday. Because of all the outpouring of wishes on my Facebook timeline, I have a few things to say today. So, sit back, relax, and grab a cup of Jo.

Please keep in mind this has nothing to do with the feels I had at home. My family and my work are two separate beasts, and one does not negate or overshadow the other. These are just some thoughts I had about my work community that I'd like to share.

Why?

Because good things seem so rare right now. With all the crap pouring out of the media, I'm bringing a little bit of balance. Ready? Let's go!

When I checked my e-mail yesterday, I saw a number of notifications about posts on my Facebook timeline. So, I clicked over to tell each person thank you. If they took the time to tell me HBD, I was going to take the time to thank each and every one of them personally.

As I'm clicking "like" and dropping comments, I realized I've hugged or shaken the hand of nearly every person who posted. It was staggering to know that, not only have I met most of those people, I've helped nearly every one of them in some way or another.

It humbled me.

I'm so proud of the people I know who've done so many wonderful things. I feel blessed to be a tiiiiny part of whatever they've accomplished.

But, more than that, I can call these people more than acquaintances. They aren't generic faces in a sea of people. That makes me positively giddy. In just three years, I've met so many amazing people!

For those of you I don't know personally (we've either never had a chat or I've not met you in person), I invite you to say hello and strike up a conversation (if I don't make it to you first). I want to know about you!

So, thank you to everyone who wished me a happy birthday yesterday. I'm so grateful to have you all in my life. What a wonderful thing to have such a vibrant tribe (there is no such thing as a tribe of one). I wouldn't bother doing all that I do if not for you guys.

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

Jo

UtopYA Con 2014 Fan Invasion Author Signing Event

Happy Friday, everyone! Well, it's time for the weekend and two days off. I heard that sigh of relief from you all! *grin* Today, I'm gonna take a moment to tell you about a very special event happening at UtopYA in June. An Explorer Package (general admission) is currently $75.00, a Superstar Package (VIP access) is currently $95.00, and a ticket to get into the Awards only is currently $55.00. But, on Friday, June 20, 2014, from 6pm-9pm, UtopYA Con is holding a Fan Invasion event. Price of admission? Free if you bring a new or gently used children's book to donate to Book 'Em; otherwise, it's just $5. All proceeds from this event will go to Book 'Em.

I know! They've lost their minds! How awesome is that?

You can find out more here.

However, there will be a ton of great authors to meet and greet, and get your copies of their books signed!

Which authors are participating? These:

See anyone you know on there? *grin* Yes, I'm up there; but so are a ton of the authors you've gotten to know right here on the blog through the awesome author interviews I've been doing. Still to come: Amy Evans, Eva Pohler, and Elizabeth Kirke! Yup, meet them here, then meet them there.

Heck yeah! You can come say hello to me and get your copy of any (or all) of my books signed! Share the banner with your friends, grab a children's book, and come meet us all!

Join us for a ton of fun! I look forward to seeing you at the event.

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

Jo