Whew! What a whirlwind weekend! From the pre-retreat booksigning until my return home on Sunday afternoon, I spent the three-day weekend surrounded by friends (new and old), talking endlessly about writing, reading, romance, publishing, and all aspects of the book world. The retreat was inspiring (you’ll see the results of some of my thoughts sooner, rather than later) and (for this introvert) exhausting.
In one quick list, here are a few highlights from the retreat:
- Robyn Carr’s publishing story — thirty years of writing before she became a #1 NYT Bestseller, and consistent appearances on the list since then,
- Elaine Spencer’s industry insights — this agent from the Knight Agency represents some friends of mine, but I’d never met her in person. She consistently presented interesting, engaged views of the current, rapidly-changing publishing world,
- Valerie Gray’s insider perspective — this Mira Executive Editor discussed the way that she works with Robyn Carr, Carr’s agent, and the Mira imprint to build a hugely successful career. (As a former Mira writer, I found it fascinating to hear about the career landmarks for growth — being offered an anthology slot, being offered a Christmas book, shooting for the 24th, then 3rd, then 1st slot on the NYT list…)
- Laura Reeth’s marketing advice — this publicist who works with Nora Roberts shared a recipe for success (and one for margaritas). While the specific tools were not earthshaking (writing a bio, building a website, maintaining a blog), the emphasis on traditional resources (dress for success, branding, print communications) made me reflect. A lot.
The high points of my retreat though, were actually off-campus. I met Stephanie Dray for a rousing conversation over coffee and dessert and I came away — as I always do from my meetings with the divine Ms. Dray — with a new love for my job, and for my various writing projects.
But the biggest eye-opener of the weekend was the booksiging at Turn The Page Bookstore in Boonsboro, Maryland. I was fortunate enough to be invited back to this year’s event (having signed there for the first time last year.) Turn The Page is (as the famous story goes), owned by Nora Roberts’s husband. It is located cross the street from the BoonsBoro Inn, owned by Ms. Roberts herself. The signing was one of the seven that take place there each year — Nora invites fourteen authors to join her each time. The event draws hundreds of readers, who line up hours in advance. The signing is beautifully orchestrated by store staff, who sell hundreds of books before the signing starts, but also allow authors to hand-sell books during the course of the signing.
As before, I was overwhelmed by the reader response — attendees came from as far away as Montana and Arizona. One woman was there with her husband — he had planned the trip to celebrate a major wedding anniversary. Several readers juggled small children, or wrestled with walkers or wheelchairs. Many had cameras, to document a virtual pilgrimage.
I realized, as I watched the whirlwind of activities, that Nora Roberts has done more than publish 200 books. She has done more than put forward the face of a professional businesswoman to replace the timeworn image of a caftan-and-yappy-dog-writer-of-romance-novels. She has done more than please millions and millions of readers (including, most amusingly to me, my then-94-year-old grandfather!)
Nora Roberts practically supports the town of Boonsboro. Her seven-times-a-year signings infuse the historic town with cash. The pizza joint on the corner (yes, featured in the most recent Roberts series). The bakery across the street (*my* personal destination of choice – for the lemon-frosted ginger cookies!) The farmer’s market, the gas station, the couple of dozen small businesses that get flooded with customers like life in a tidepool…
(Of course, those businesses and all their employees work hard. I don’t mean to belittle what they do.)
Truly, booksigning day in Boonsboro is a wonder to behold. And it’s all because of the work ethic of one woman who has figured out they key to the hearts and minds of millions of romance readers.
So, I’m back from my Maryland safari. I’m settling down to get some writing done. (And some support-work too, all the behind the scenes stuff that keeps us authors busy from dawn to dusk…)
And you? What wonders did you discover this weekend?
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