Preparing for Tomorrow's #FlyHatEvent

Tomorrow is the day we've been waiting for. The Hot M.A.M.A.s will be taking Greensboro by storm during our Fly Hat Society Meet & Greet.

I'm super-excited about the event. As one of the two newest M.A.M.A.s, this will be my first in-person event with the group. So not only am I looking forward to meeting you, dear reader, I'm also looking forward to meeting most of the other M.A.M.A.s for the first time.

It'll be easy to spot me. I'll be the one fan-girling over my fellow authors who looks totally out of place in a big ol', Sunday-morning-first-row-of-church hat. In fact, you should have seen the look on my adult son's face yesterday when I tried on hats for the event. One eyebrow cranked to the ceiling, jaw down to the floor.

Priceless.

At least I got a good laugh out of it. In the end, I picked two hats and I'll make my final decision tonight. Still, it'll be fun to step outside of my regular, low-key, ain't-nothing-to-see-here approach and take on the big hat persona. ('Cause a big hat definitely deserves its own persona.)

For the past two days I've been ticking items off my to-do list in preparation for tomorrow's Meet & Greet.

Dress? Check.

Shoes? Check.

Book cover graphics? Check.

Awesome giveaways? Check.

Fly hat? Double check.

Looks like I'm ready to go. Hope you are, too. :-)

Tomorrow will be a fun-filled, free event for lovers of multicultural romance. Great readers and authors. Yummy food. And, of course, lots of fun and plenty of laughter. I can't wait to connect with you tomorrow in Greensboro at the Greensboro Central Library on North Church Street from 2-6 PM.

Still on the fence about coming? Above is a sneak peek at some of the goodies you could win tomorrow, either in the fly hat contest, or by signing up for my Reese Ryan VIP Mailing List.

See you there!

Romance Slam Jam 2015!!!

Where to I begin and how do I do justice in writing about the exquisite time I had this past week at the 20th Anniversary Romance Slam Jam Conference??!!

I remember posting about this being a trip of firsts- this was before I even got to Dallas, Texas where this year’s conference was held. It was my first trip to Dallas. I took my son with me and that was another first. Additionally, it was his first plane trip…just firsts all over the place! The trip was a special one before we ever arrived. When we did arrive, oh boy! The hotel Embassy Suites DFW- Amazing! I started the night off with a fabulous dinner courtesy of my dazzling street team. Thanks to Deborah and LaSonde for putting together such a wonderful event. I met readers who became more than readers-they became friends.

That’s the thing about Slam Jam- no one feels like a stranger and they become something more special by the time the event is done. So many awesome experiences.  I returned from my dinner that first evening and ran into more reader friends. The BRAB gang was in the house and we took a few moments to chat- they even let me read the prologue from a new novel. It’s those little impromptu moments like that: new friends chatting over a meal or quick drink, authors getting to mingle with the readers they’ve only conversed with online…that was another amazing experience as well- finally putting names to faces, I’ll never get tired of that.

The conference began with an abundance of enlightening reader’s sessions and informative author panels. I think many would agree that this year’s Town Hall meeting proved to be a very engaging event. Attendees had the chance to voice their opinions on everything from cover woes to the state of the African American alpha male in romance novels. The audience also shared ideas and strategies for making the future of Slam Jam an even brighter one.

The organizers of the event were a creative group if ever there was one. The opening night Pajama Party featured an unforgettable volley ball game combined with a game of Have You Ever? That proved quite revealing bit of fun. HOW revealing, you ask? Well…let’s just say I’m glad my son wasn’t in the room for that! Anyway- what happens at Slam Jam stays at Slam Jam…to an extent. RSJ Luncheon Keynote Speaker Gwendolyn Osborne delivered a rousing speech that informed and elevated. I was proud to have a ringside seat at Deborah Fletcher Mello's lovely table for the event. I also have to speak on the Pep Rally that presented a delicious buffet with a Southwestern flair-no one was counting calories that night you can bet on that! The Pep Rally was combined with a series of fun games-everything from the 3-legged author race to an interesting game played by balancing an egg on a spoon. Hilarious!

Following the book signing on Saturday; which is always a most exciting event, there were the Emma Awards that night. Everyone came decked out and ready for a night of dinner and reflection. Deatri King Bey relinquished her title as top organizer (not sure if that’s her title or not, but she’s the lady who keeps everyone on task!) Those responsibilities will now fall to Ms. Toni Bonita. Deatri put together a wonderful video presentation that was poignant, memorable and funny. Such great memories were shared as many chimed in about memories of their first African American romance novel, there were photos of past RSJ events and a beautiful tribute to the graceful and gifted Gwynne Forster.

The EMMA Winners From The 2015 Romance Slam Jam Conference Are As Follows:

Cover of the year: The Preacher's Promise by Piper G Huguley.
Inspirational Romance of the year :Unbreakable My Heart by Rhonda McKnight
Interracial Romance of the year : All You'll Ever Need by Sharon C. Cooper 

Sequel of the Year: Shifter' s Claim by A.C. Arthur 
Suspense of the year: Truth or Consequences by Sharon C. Cooper.
Steamy Romance: Indulge Me Tonight by AlTonya Washington 
Hero of The Year: Brock Brick Avery; from Brick House by Keith Thomas Walker 
Heroine of the year: Rochelle Delaney "Roc" from The Book of Joshua II by 

Iris Bolling.
Book of The Year: Hero by Deatri King-Bey  
Debut Author of the Year: Piper Huguley.
Spirit Award : Toni Bonita Robinson 
Book Club of the year: Cillia Book Maniacs Priscilla C. Johnson  
Special Award, present to Deatri King-Bey 
Author of the Year : Farrah Rochon 

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE WINNERS!!! 

SEE YOU NEXT YEAR IN THE BIG 'D'!

DETROIT, MICHIGAN!!!

Another First- My First EMMA Award!!

A Superbowl Stunner!!!

Well the Superbowl is over- thank goodness! If you follow me on Facebook or Twitter, you know that I really got involved in this game. What you may not know is that I don’t follow football on the regular. Not via the NFL anyway. My son has been a student of the game since he was 6 so I follow the sport in that capacity for much of the year. I used to be a more avid viewer- the San Francisco 49ers continue to be my favorite team. Of course since I discovered a family that goes by the name of Ramsey I’ve been a big fan of the Seattle Seahawks as Seattle is where the Ramseys hail from.

I was asked to do a commentary on the game and must admit I am woefully unqualified for this job. My author buddy Cheris Hodges would probably be a much better commentator, but I’ll do my best to provide a little recap. I observe the game as a parent but otherwise infrequent spectator. However, I know enough about the sport to question the strange call made by the Coach during the final seconds of the game. Long story short, the Quarterback threw a pass when he probably should have run the ball into the end zone, my Seattle folks lost the biggest game of the year and I just about lost my voice yelling some pretty unsavory comments at the TV. And let's not forget the ugly brawl that took place moments after the Seahawks

realized all was lost- yeah...it was quite a night!

Overall, this year’s biggest game was one of the best I’d seen in years. Full of highs and lows, lots of occasions to cheer and a surprisingly good Halftime show. Lenny Kravitz and Missy Elliott came out to lend their talents to Katy Perry’s performance- it was very enjoyable not to mention all the delicious snacks I made sure were on hand to enhance the night.

Hopefully my 49ers will be next on the big stage to duke it out. ‘Til next year folks!

Christmas is Coming Around

Readers have been asking, Angie what can we expect from you this year for Christmas? As most of you know, every year I have my 12 days of Christmas countdown and each day I do a giveaway to my readers. Last year’s big  prize was a Kindle Fire. I haven’t quite decided what I plan to do to top that this year.

You’re also releasing a book, right?

Yes! It’s not Christmas without a holiday story. Book two of the Sexy Simmons series, Claiming What’s Mine, is scheduled for a Christmas Eve release. Yaaay!

I’ve been burning up the midnight oil to release this book on time, however, the problem I’ve been having is the cover. I can’t seem to decide what I want to see on the front. A Christmas scene? A sexy couple? I think my graphic designer is ready to quit because I have looked at over a dozen cover concepts and yet nothing screams Darnell Simmons to me. LOL. I want something that brings in the holidays and creates Christmas anticipation, and nothing is talking to me yet. I’m starting to think that maybe I am overthinking the whole thing and instead, I need to focus on what I enjoy most. Bringing back the families my readers have grown to love.

A Review...Of Book Reviews

October has been a month of spectacular events. This month I attended a wonderful weekend conference hosted by the BRAB Online Book club. BRAB- Building Relationships Around Books organized the Southern Readers Retreat-A Literary Affair in Roswell, GA just outside Atlanta.

     There were lots of exciting sessions put in place over the weekend. One of my favorites was the Author Panel on Saturday morning. I love taking part in Q&A sessions and this one ranked right up there with the best. Panel authors fielded loads of questions from a fun and highly engaged audience. Readers queried the authors on everything from what they read when they aren't writing to how they select names for their unforgettable characters.

     One of the more interesting questions for me focused in on book reviews. Attendees wanted to know what authors think of them. I decided to pass the mic on that particular question. Over the years, I've been rather vocal about my indifference to reviews-as an author. As a reader however, my opinion is quite different and therein lays the purpose of this blog.

     As a reader, I find reviews to be a great help. I don't really rely on them to help me make the decision to purchase a certain book though. Instead, I refer to them when I'm already in the process of reading a story and wondering what's wrong with me because I'm not in agreement that it's a 5-star piece of work. Reading reviews with lower ratings, let's me know I'm not alone in my opinion and therefore not off my rocker- not completely anyway :-)

     The most exciting part of the answers given for this question however, involved the power of the reviews. I learned that the 'power' of a review wasn't so much in the number of stars associated with it, but in the number of reviews a book has overall. More reviews increases a book's discoverability- this term gets tossed around a lot in my line of work. Basically, it means just what is says. A review increases a books potential to be found by a reader. As a librarian I gotta appreciate that! As a writer, I love it all the more. Do you have any idea how many great books there are that no one knows about simply because it hasn't generated a enough reviews? So sad! :-(     

      I can honestly say that I took in as much information as I gave during this year's BRAB Conference. It makes me eager to attend next year's event- Vegas, Baby! 

     Looks like those reviews (good or bad) that I'm so indifferent to, are really a huge help.

     This author still prefers the good ones, though :-)

Supporting the Dream.

Believe me, this is not the topic I intended to blog about. I have a very uplifting, inspiration blog title "Reaching Your Full Potential" with video and everything. See I'm into reinventing myself mode and wanted to begin with overcoming my "shyness with the public." So I am doing a series of self-help video's and thought I would share them with you. HOWEVER.......events of the last few days hit my spirit and I had to speak out. If the ladies of HOT MAMA's do not put me out the group after this blog, I'll post it next time. 

In 2011 I wrote a blog titled African-Americas supporting African-American authors. I feel the need to bring this topic to the forefront again.This touch my heart in many ways for I believe we have the power to do anything we want to do. Even prove to the powers to be, who finance and produce our entertainment, to take our community seriously. We have authors, with a HUGE RANGE  of material, from romance, Sci-fy, paranormal, erotic, suspense, mysteries, thrillers and all points in between. Yet, whenever we see a book turned into a film, such as 50 Shades of Grey and The Help, we as African-Americans gripe, because it's not one of our books. We use a lot of energy asking, why? Why? Why? The answer is simple. The books in question have the numbers. It's about the PRESIDENTS, guys. If they see the number of book sales for our books as they do for the books mentioned above they would finance movie deals for us too. I just looked at Kickstarter, a program to assist with funding of movies or television shows. A movie titled Reap What You Sow, is listed. A little over $200 has been pledged towards the  goal of $3,000. Now, I can tell you from experience, that the amount they are seeking is nothing compared to what it takes to complete a production. However, there are less than 10 contributors. What was written a few years ago still holds true. We have the power to support each other and make a difference, but for some reason, unknown to me, we don't. I don't understand. I really do not understand. 

Written in 2011 still true in 2014

Today I want to talk about African-Americans supporting African-American authors. The movie The Help will be released soon. A lot of us got a little up in arms because this book by a Caucasian author about African-Americans was picked up for a movie. The book sold millions because it was supported, not just by Caucasian readers, but by a lot of us too. Here’s the thing, African-American authors produce wonderful stories that we know should be told on the big screen. But putting a book to film cost $. The film industry is no different from any other business. The bottom line is ‘the bottom line’. If you can’t show numbers in the book stores (online included) then how do you expect to show numbers in the movie theater? Its simple economics—demand and supply. James Patterson or Nora Roberts will have a book release and thousands will purchase that book. There is a demand; therefore, the supply is met.

If we want to see more our favorite African-American author placed on a demand list we truly need to step up our game. Many of us will go into a book store to purchase that James Patterson or Nora Roberts novel, but will borrow the African-American author from a friend. If you enjoyed that novel, why not purchased the next release by that author? Let’s face it, we don’t’ support each other the way other communities do. Yet, we complain when we see others succeed at what we fail to do. If you want to see your favorite African American author’s story about African Americans on the big screen, support them in the bookstores. Let the money people in HOLLYWOOD or wherever know what your demand is…Let’s stop complaining about who got what. Turn that negative energy into a win-win for you and the authors you love. SUPPY AND DEMAND people! I’m just saying.

To Keep Eboni from shooting me, here's a sneak peek into the HOT MAMA Luncheon in Raleigh/Durham, NC on Saturday September 13, 2014 

Until the next time,
Iris 

Sharing Ideas

Readers always ask where I get ideas for my stories. That’s easy. Everyday life! It’s funny how things

we do as part of a normal routine generates story ideas. Walking down the street. People I meet. Things I hear and see. All of those things trigger ideas for my books. I even have a bad habit of people watching and eavesdropping. You’d be surprised at the things I’ve overheard and seen. But lately I've been forced to step outside my comfort zone to do something spontaneous and different, write stories my readers requested.

The biggest suggestions I hear is for more stories about regular, everyday folks with blue collar jobs. After all… they need love too! And the second, to create more stories in my favorite location, Sheraton Beach, DE, an oceanfront town in Delaware only minutes from Rehoboth Beach and the home of the Beaumont family. Since then I have written several spinoff stories where readers can revisit the town again and again. And as requested, this will be the location of my newest release, Time for Pleasure.

The idea for this novella was quite interesting. I bought a refrigerator and the deliveryman sounded so sexy on the phone I shared my peaked curiosity with my facebook family. Friends and Readers asked for details… and a story was born.

Life has truly been an open book. I can't wait to see how the next chapter unfolds.

CONTROL

CONTROL

Hi Everyone, I’m using my space in today’s HOT M.A.M.A.s Blog to chime in about my progress on the upcoming Ramsey Tesano installment. As usual, the more impatient among you (love you guys) are sweetly requesting the novellas that I’ve been known for putting out prior to the release of the full novels. I wish I could meet those requests with this story, because it is shaping up to be a lengthy tale.

Unlike A Lover’s Debt which allowed for an enjoyable novella in Lover’s Christmas, such won’t be possible with A Lover’s Control. I think you guys will understand that when the book releases. The story is so involved; each scene so interwoven with the plot, that nothing can really be extracted as a stand-alone for a separate book. I think once the story is in hand, you guys will be pleased. I would be very surprised to hear from one of you speed readers telling me that you completed the book in a few hours. The story is a heavy read- understandable as it is proving to be a very heavy writing project. As always however, it is a fun experience and I am continually stunned by where these characters take me.

I have not yet announced a specific release date for the story, but I am working toward a Thanksgiving release point. My plan is to make A Lover’s Return ready for a spring of 2015 release. ‘Return’ weaves very tightly into ‘Control’ which makes it necessary to flesh out the last two books promptly without letting too much time lapse. So for those of you who just have to have that sneek peak, you can expect it following the upcoming HOT M.A.M.A.s Event on September 13, 2014. I’ll be sharing the premiere reading with the guests in attendance, so get your tickets while you can and secure your spot in the audience.

Hope To See You Soon!

"Layers of the Past"

Morning All,

Wasn't quite sure what to chime in about with today's blog, so I decided to just give a little up to date info on what I'm currently working on. I'm happy about the fact that I've been able to keep up with my current release list ( http://www.alsreaders.com/ ) and even been able to add some unexpected things to the list like the updated books in the Ramsey Series (Dream & Pretense: The Ramseys) and release a free Ramsey short story "Lover's Muse: An Interlude".

So the pages keep turning and I'm very excited about the next project scheduled for release "Layers of the Past". This has been on my calendar for so long. Since the release of the original novella "Layers" and it's surprise popularity among the readers, I've wanted to get out the full length novel that I had always intended to follow up with. However, life always intervenes and that kept pushing back the release date. I continue to be intrigued by how layered this story continues to become. I believe I've definitely selected the right title for it.

The new story pretty much picks up right where the novella ended. Our hero Huron Base has found something he never expected- a woman he loves and wants to be with forever. At the end of "Layers" we saw the gorgeous Mr. Base breaking ties with business associates he found...questionable. In "Layers of the Past" he will continue with that endeavor, but not everyone celebrates his decisions... We also get more background on the "information" Jessica Breck took when she left her former occupation. Then, there's our lovely heroine Kamari Grade still making moves as one of the nation's best troubleshooters but someone has their sights sets on bringing Kam down a 'grade' or two...

And those are just a few of the things cooking in this upcoming story. Don't worry, you won't have much longer to wait. Stay tuned to my blog: http://altonyasblog.wordpress.com/ for the announcement of the new trailer and story excerpt coming soon.

Toodles,
Al
http://lovealtonya.com/

Throwback Thursday

I've been asked to take part in a Thursday Throwback chat today featuring the Ramseys. When I received the request, I was undoubtedly excited. More than that I struck by the amount of time that's passed since the release of that first title: A Lover's Dream- which was published in 2006, but actually written in 2003. Gosh! My son was a baby! I was still a relatively new author- a relatively new PUBLISHED author. I had actually been writing since 1994 and by the time I got around to ALD, I'd had about 4 published works and almost 15 unpublished works to my credit.

A connected series had eluded me however.

I guess it really hadn't eluded me, I'd actually not considered writing one- not understanding how much readers enjoyed returning to find out what their beloved (and not so beloved) characters were up to. Heck, I was one of them- from Karen Moning's Highlander Series (which actually sparked my decision to create Quest and Quaysar) to childhood faves like The Chronicles of Narnia and the Paddington Bear Series. I had a definite love for returning to the stories that followed characters I enjoyed.

At a book event at the Greensboro Public Library in North Carolina, I spent a great deal of time in conversation with the readers in attendance about our love for connected books. By the end of the event, I had the motivation I needed to get this thing started, but the actual plot path still eluded me. I did have the ingredients, though. I knew that whatever this connected story would entail would have to involve a family (because seriously, who comes with more drama than a wild family?) I knew there would have to be gorgeous men and women (this was a romance, after all-ha!) I knew there had to be secrets- tons of secrets. This ingredient was an easy one to come by since pretty much all my work deals with some hidden revelation to be uncovered as the story unfolds.

Different from my other stories, however I wanted the secrets comprising this series of stories to not only unfold more slowly but to also have been ones that were set in motion years- decades prior. I had completely enjoyed creating this series. The characters, the secrets, the passions, the settings...all of it has motivated me in the most phenomenal ways and it's rather bittersweet to envision a time when the story will come to its completion. I say bittersweet because part of me- a big part- is excited to see all the characters find the happiness they've fought for.

There are still two more stories (at least) to go. Readers are asking that I also include a Tesano Elders title, and there's a high probability that I will. But that's a ways off. There is still loads of drama to be recorded- Still more tense (and fatal) moments, more steamy encounters... Enjoy!

Deadlines...You've Finally Arrived At The Finish Line!

We all have them...
We all dread them...

Deadlines.

Whether it's to pay a bill, finish our taxes or complete that manuscript, a deadline is sure to be in your life at some point in time.

Now, how you handle approaching such a time slot is the factor.

Did you work steadily toward the goal of completion? Or was there some life-changing event that took you off course?

Either way, if you were on point and got veered off track, one can usually adjust. Keep a calendar on your person or if you're tech-savvy, utilize your cell phone for daily updates. It's important to maintain one's focus, even in challenging times to achieve goals. If you find yourself off track, take a moment to regroup and get back in the movement!

Do not allow a deadline to determine your destiny!

After all, it's just time...make the most of it.


Speaking of such a topic, it's time that I get back to this story for the Embue line.
Chin up, pens up and fingers to the keyboard.
Rule your day and the HOT MAMA'S look forward to seeing you in June at the Fly Hat Luncheon in Morrisville, NC!

 -- Loretta R. Walls aka Embue. #nucherte

Books to Film

Have you ever had dream to become reality? Well, I did. Last year my publishing company, Siri Enterprises, along with a few friends, and a lot of prayer, took the pages of the first book of my Heart Series, Once You've Touched The Heart, and turned it into season 1 of The Heart TV series

Yes, it was real....LIGHTS -CAMERA-ACTION, type real. 

The Heart TV Series aired on February 15th 2014 and played 1 hour, for six weeks straight. What a BLAST it was. Just ask fellow Hot MAMA's, Angie Daniels and Loretta R. Walls, along with fellow author Nikkea Smithers. They were on set watching the magic come to life.

Imagine this....6 weekends, 6 am - whenever, food - maybe, water - from time to time. If anyone say anything about fine men and body oil, well... it was a dirty job, but somebody had to do it. It was grueling,  I tell you, grueling,  mad fun. LOL!. We had a blast filming an entire season in 18 days. The outcome was pretty damn good. 


Soon, yes, very soon, you will have the opportunity to see the entire season on DVD. Keep an eye on: www.irisbolling.net for the latest information regarding the release of DVD's and the start up of season 2 of The Heart. 

Here's what's so amazing about this. 

Independent authors came together, to accomplish this feat. It wasn't easy, and it broke my bank account, but it was certainly worth it. Here's why. Authors came together to help a fellow author see her books come to life. They asked for nothing in return. Their motivation was to hep me accomplish a dream. No one can ever tell me there is no sisterhood in this business we call publishing, for the existence of The Heart TV Series proves that to be falsehood. 

To fellow authors, Nikkea Smithers, Loretta R. Walls, Angie Daniels, Victoria Wells, Lutisha Lovely, Suzzetta Perkins and Morgan McCoy, and those who wished us well, I want to say thank you, for your support. 

Here's to each and everyone of you who dare to BELIEVE. 

In other news, prepare yourself for the release of The Book of Joshua II - BELIEVE. The date...... has not been released...yet. HOWEVER, you may want to get your pennies ready, for it could drop without notice....

Blessings, until the next time,

Iris Bolling 

Quality: Are Readers Asking For Too Much Now?

Quality:  Are Readers Asking For Too Much Now?

After months and months of observation, I always wonder in the back of my mind as an author if I'm giving my readers enough in the stories I create.

I've come to the honest conclusion that there is no magic solution to satisfy every reader that tries your work. It's simply not a feat to be attained; we all have different tastes for that very reason.

Variety is still the spice of life. (No pun intended against my novel, "Spices of Life" I promise.)

With that being said, there are still some that are brave enough to push the literary envelope within the short story world and series realms.

Are authors short-changing readers with short stories? How many are too many in a series? What if the readers enjoy the quick, sweet reads in between waiting for a full-length novel from an author they adore? There are less reviews and more complaints about rushed story lines, lack of character development, price gauging and horrific editing (if any at all.)

To add another layer to the conversation, are the readers demanding more of the characters and what they bring to the series at hand? How do you say no and end a good thing that has gone on for a while? When is enough truly enough?

This is only scratching the surface and rest
assured, there is more to come from the world of HOT M.A.M.A.!

Until then, mark your calendar for June 7, 2014 to attend the HOTTEST LUNCHEON on the East Coast! The HOT M.A.M.A. Fly Hat Society Luncheon in Morrisville, NC. Click the link below to register. Bring your friends and be prepared to have a blast!
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-2014-hot-mama-land-fly-hat-society-luncheon-tickets-9612923513

Open your mind and explore everything...
Loretta R. Walls aka Embue #nucherte

You've lost that loving feeling

My birthday is right around the corner and I'm not excited. Thankful, yes. But I can't get excited and throw myself a party. 

It's because this is so not where I thought I'd be at 21. Ok, thirty something. Actually, damned near 40. I used to love my birthday. March meant spring time and flowers. Now, it's just another day. I like other people's birthdays. Then you can eat one piece of cake. On your birthday, you're left with a whole cake. Who needs those calories? 

Sometimes, writers get in their feelings and that's where I am today. Hello melancholy. Lately, some really good people have been mistreated and that sucks. At the same time some really good people have seen their dreams come true. I'm looking at you, Iris Bolling! The Heart TV series is awesome!

Today is a blah day for me. I can do two things about it, drink more coffee or take it out on my characters. Hmmm. I think I will do both! 

That's the fun part about being a writer. You can get out of your feelings and write something amazing. 

The Wait is Over!

  The wait is finally over and it's time for the premiere of the Heart TV Series…

   The day started off with a private screening of Episode 1 at the beautiful Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond. The theatre quickly filled to capacity and became standing room only. Fans didn’t seem to mind as they waited anxiously to be the first to see the series. I was one of those people, who had yet to view the finished product.

   Then the lights dimmed and it was show time.

   First off, the acting, film editing, music scoring was amazing and I was so caught up in the story an hour wasn’t near long enough. I spent weeks working with these actors and watching the director, producers, and the film and camera crew who committed hours to making this all possible. For me, I had the opportunity to work as a production assistant on Fridays so I was there when several of the scenes were being filmed but seeing the final product was not at all what I had expected. It was better. In fact, I had tears in my eyes. I was happy for everyone, especially Iris Bolling. These books are her babies and as a writer I truly understand what it feels like to hold the final product in your hand. I can only imagine what she was feeling seeing it transpire on the screen right before her eyes.
  The women in the audience were whistling and catcalling as one gorgeous man after another stepped onto the screen. The fans of the series were cheering and excited to see some of their favorite scenes being played out before them. I wasn’t at all surprised while the credits were running, the audience started chanting for more!
   Afterwards it was time for cast and crew photographs and interviews before getting dress for the red carpet after party. The event that was held at the Holiday Inn was lights, camera, Action! Another packed house and plenty of buzz. It was mind-boggling the number of dedicated readers who had traveled from Texas, Minnesota, Chicago, Georgia, the list goes on to be a part of this historic moment. We mingled, laughed, took pictures, ate, drank, and kicked up our heels on the dance floor. And at the end of the night the cast and crew hugged and bid good-bye to each other, The Heart family. It was truly an honor and a blessing to have met and worked with such a talented group of people!  
   I crawled into bed and then spent Sunday grinning at all of the photographs posted on Facebook, and people buzzing about the event. The premiere was truly a success. And I look forward to Season Two.

Angie

2014 Events: What Are You Doing? Where Are You Going?

2014 Events:  What are you doing? Where are you going?

 

January is about to be history and February is on the bubble. With snow abound in many corridors, readers tend to love this time of year. They actually love any time of year, so long as they get to read. I can’t blame them in any fashion.

The holidays are behind us and expenses getting paid off, yet and still, there are literary functions you wish to attend.

 

 

What are you doing? Where are you going?

For the first question, have you made plans to attend an annual event and started paying for it? Perhaps an author cruise featuring some of your favorite authors and some you’ve never heard of?

The second question really tells all:  Where is the venue located? Do you have to fly to attend? Hotel reservations come into play if it’s out of town. What all will take place during the event? Readers want an experience when attending events, not just a crowded book signing.

We as authors have to offer a level of entertainment when putting on an event. Readers not only want to enjoy themselves, it’s a getaway for them as well. Meeting their favorite authors, hearing them speak and converse about a character is part of their privilege in turn for their loyalty. Ensure you’re giving them the best moments of their life.

 

One event taking place on February 8, 2014 is the premiere party for The Heart TV Series, created by Iris Bolling. She utilized the platform from her award-winning Heart Series novels and transformed the first book, “Once You’ve Touched The Heart” into a television show. The event will lead into debuting on Saturday, February 15, 2014 on the CW Richmond. Readers and guests will get to experience the cast in full character mode and enjoy what the exclusive screening will unveil.

Readers, be sure to check your local libraries, author’s websites and the like for forthcoming events. Many book clubs put on venues as well throughout the year.

That’s it for now, since I have to get back to sprucing up a few of my own works. Until later…

Loretta R. Walls aka Embue #thehearttvseries #IPE #global #nucherte

The Heart Journey Begins!

What’s up for 2014? THE HEART TV SERIES!

That’s right. We have taken the story from the pages of a book to live characters appearing on your television screen February 2014. Am I excited????? You have no idea how exciting this entire journey has been. We have the opportunity to see literature come to life, have positive characters portrayed and if that wasn't enough, we've added some serious eye candy for you. 

Here’s a few reason why you should be excited. 

Here are more reasons:

Aaron Wiggins as JD Harrison

Richard Jackson as Brian Thompson

Mark Vincent as James Brooks 

Tremayne Norris as David Holt 

 Morgan Avery McCoy as Tracy Washington 

Troy Micel as Ashley Harrison

 Is that our own Hot Mama Angie Daniels? Yes, Angie Daniels as Lena Washington 

 Join us beginning February 15, 2014 on the CW-Richmond as this talent cast bring the lives of JD Harrison and Tracy Washington to life.

Want to be a part of the journey from the beginning, join us at the premier...check it out.

Until the next time,

Iris

I LOVE MY READERS!!!

Gosh! I say that ALL the time, but I really do! Well it’s obvious that an author should love his or her readers. After all, they support your work by spending their time and money on it so…heck yeah, they are deserving of all the love. For an author though, I like to think that the love for ones readers goes beyond that.

MY READERS? They push me so much that it’s unreal. I sometimes talk about how I can release a story and within two days (sometimes less) of that story releasing, I’ve got upwards of 10 or more people asking when the next book is coming out. Seriously? Yes and I love it! Such a demand has been such a motivator for me but it can cause issues. For instance, right now I’m on deadline for my traditional publisher, I have a swarm of readers who have patiently waited for a title much longer than they should have- “Layers” folk, my apologies on how long this book has taken to get to you and then there’s a YA Fantasy title that my agent has expressed interest in and one that I had such an awesome time drafting, but have yet to complete the final version…

Some might say that this all sounds like a tremendous headache, but for an author with a passion (and obsession) for writing, it’s a dream. For an author with a love for his/her readers, all that pushing can, and I think should, be viewed as a motivator. If no one was asking, I’d still be creating my stories. That is, after all, why I started writing in the first place. I couldn’t find the stories I wanted to read on the market, so I decided to write my own. I’ll be doing that long after I stop releasing stories, I suppose, but having a group to share with and glean responses from makes writing all the more enjoyable.

I struggled a lot with what I’d write about for this blog. I’ve been pretty busy and didn’t have time to prepare a post until a few short moments ago after reading a few posts from members of my webgroup. It’s appropriate to say that I owe this post to my readers, but that’s no surprise.

Thanks Guys.

Love,

Al

Connections...Are You Making Them Or Do They Pass You By?

As authors, what are we doing to reach out to new readers that may not know us from a hill of beans? Did you know that one simple post could attract many people that may become interested in your work?

Now, it's true that I'm known as the "Best Promoter Ever" but even with that, I need a little help every now and then. Sometimes, just extending your work can be enticing enough to gain a reader who will spread the word on your behalf. Even if they didn't care for it, they may know someone that does and more than that, respect is established.

Speaking of connectivity...

I have the sixth installment of my "No Other Love" series releasing on December 24, 2013 titled, "Connections" and it's going to be a doozy! If you've been following the series, you'll remember the quiet keyboard player named Wyatt, who hangs with his fraternity brothers and is a television producer during his day job. Well, he's gained a new love interest named Elissa Patton who is a straight shooter. The real question is, will Wyatt be ready to introduce her to the other woman in his life: His Mama!

There's plenty of time to catch up on the series so get started!

Back to reaching out...

Take thirty minutes out of your day and post up an offer to gift a book to a reader that has never heard of you. See what it does and if it's effective for you. In the end, you'll gain more loyal readers and grow your fan base. Give it a try with a couple of author friends and see what happens.

Until we connect again, stay crafty!

Loretta R. Walls aka Embue #nucherte

The Dirty Girl Mud Run- Say What?

So this weekend I’ll be taking part in the Dirty Girl Mud Run. Yes, yes I know I was like “What?!!!” when I heard about it. First the name caught me totally off guard, then it got me curious and then I agreed that the name was quite fitting. Anyway, this Saturday hundreds, maybe thousands of women will converge for a day of running an obstacle course that won’t test the limits of endurance so much as it will courage and determination. Basically the “Run” will actually consist of running, walking, climbing, splashing, bouncing and crawling- yes crawling. Ha! Now, of course, you may be asking what in the world am I thinking. Trust me, I've asked myself; and the girlfriends that talked me into doing this, that very question.

In the end though, the proceeds go towards supporting Breast Cancer Awareness and I am so very thrilled to be taking part in something for such a cause. Checks can always be written and will continue to be. My hope is that by putting myself through this obstacle course, the importance of the cause will be forged by a connection in my mind brought on by the exertion it will take to do more than simply write a check.

While I AM looking forward to a long shower to wash off all the grime; followed by a long soak to soothe the muscles that will soon be screaming my name, I am very much looking forward to stepping outside my comfort zone and doing something I’ve never tried.

To learn more about The Dirty Girl Mud Run and to find out when it may be coming to your area, visit the website: http://godirtygirl.com/about

Wish Me Luck!!!

Al