Dawn this A.M. over Lake Persimmon, from our backyard. It’s been raining every day here since I got back from Reno. I love North Carolina weather. The only really bad month is hot, dripping July. Things start getting better right after that. The constant rain here is great for cooling things down. I can already taste the perfection that is North Carolina in September…..
In the past week, I’ve agreed to three more workshops–an online class on blogging for the Heart of Carolina chapter for November 2006, my Twelve Easy Steps to Breaking In presentation for the SpacecoasT Authors of Romance conference in Florida for February 2006, and a March 2007 workshop on Dark Heroes, also an online class for the Heart of Carolina chapter. Combined with other workshops already planned for the rest of this year and next year, 2006 is now totally booked. (I’ll propose workshops to RWA National and to Moonlight & Magnolias, which I’m planning to attend next year, so I’m leaving room in my schedule for those possibilities.) If you’re interested in having me do a workshop for your organization, I’m scheduling for 2007 now. ::thunk:: Need to update the “Appearances” schedule on my News page…..
It was just a couple of years ago that I was out humping people when I was getting started in speaking. Now I don’t have to ask anymore–people come to me–so if you think no one will want to hear what you have to say, just get started! You might be surprised by how it works out. If you’ve ever thought about speaking, whether you’re published or unpublished, it’s a great way to build name recognition. It’s also very rewarding to know you’re helping someone. It’s especially good if you’re shy, like I am, because it takes you out of your shell and enables you to meet a lot of people.:yes:
The Beast is up for auction! As many of you may have heard, author Marianne Mancusi lost her home to a fire during the RWA conference. I’ve contributed an autographed copy of The Beast Within to help the Literary Chicks raise money for Marianne. Click here to see all the items currently available in the fire fund auction–includes autographed books and critiques by published authors, editors, and agents. I’ve also offered a critique, but that hasn’t been added to the auction yet. I’ll let you know when my critique goes up.
And don’t forget to check in on Mary! Today is the final day of her “In Love With Books” giveaway celebrating her new release, What To Keep, and there are multiple prizes!! Don’t miss it! 
Estella Kissell says:
I would never be able to get up in front of a group of people and speak. I admire anyone who can.:thumbsup:
On August 9, 2005 at 9:35 am
Mary says:
The comments about NC weather made me homesick. I love NC weather even in the summer. It’s heaven.
On August 9, 2005 at 9:43 am
Melissa says:
I’ve heard NC is a beautiful and wonderful place to live.
I’m sending a box of stuff to Marianne. I was shocked when I saw the pics. of her burnt down home. Fire scares me the most and I always worry about it.
Thanks, Suz, for reminding me about Mary, Mary quite contrary…
Good luck with the workshops.
On August 9, 2005 at 9:46 am
Melissa Marsh says:
I’ve done workshops for my local RWA chapter before, but I don’t know if I could do it for a group larger than 20.:shock:
On August 9, 2005 at 10:13 am
Jill says:
I’ve never done much public speaking but I think online workshops would be fun. You have a lot going on!!
On August 9, 2005 at 10:20 am
Toni Anderson says:
Suzanne, I don’t know how you fit it all in!!!!:shock:
I’m struggling just doing the basics!!
On August 9, 2005 at 10:34 am
Kelly says:
Suzanne, you’re shy??? I never would have guessed! But now that I think about it, you acted a little shy when I wanted to take your pic at the Lit signing. 😉
On August 9, 2005 at 10:46 am
Suzanne says:
I =am= shy! I don’t know why no one ever believes that!!
On August 9, 2005 at 10:47 am
MartyK says:
NC weather IS beautiful, even the rain. I’m shy, too, but I can get up and talk so long as I know what I’m talking about. The need to “wing it” makes me nervous, lol.
Can anyone take the online workshops?
On August 9, 2005 at 10:54 am
Eve says:
I believe you – I’m shy too, but most people would never know it. Talking to new customers is a trial and I know that I could never talk in front of a room full of people – oral reports in class was always torture. The picture is lovely, NC sounds sooo much more bearable than Texas in the summer.
On August 9, 2005 at 10:58 am
Trish Milburn says:
I love North Carolina too, and it’s close enough to Tennessee that I get over there every once in awhile. I’ve got to come over sometime this fall and do some book research.
I love the little virtual pets on the main page. I tried to add one of my own to my blog, but it keeps showing up in the wrong spot so I quit. I’m so not a html person.
On August 9, 2005 at 11:49 am
Robyn says:
I love when people help others out in terrible situations(like the fire).
I am not a ‘in front of a crowd’ person at all-so shy and self-conscious; you go girl!:smile:
On August 9, 2005 at 12:32 pm
Rene says:
I love that picture. It looks so cool and pretty. We are in the ugly months here. From July up into October it is hot, hot, hot.
Very cool about the workshops. I do some occasionally for a website and they can be fun. And you do a great job. I did take one that you and 3 others did for writing SIMS.
On August 9, 2005 at 12:34 pm
Mik says:
What a dreamy picture.
Great advice! Why is it writers are shy? I’m terribly shy myself. But I can talk to anyone on the web. :wave:
On August 9, 2005 at 12:50 pm
Tori says:
That’s a gorgeous picture, Suzanne! I’ve only been to North Carolina once. For about 15 minutes. 😆 We drove over from Gatlinburg, TN. I wanted to go to Ashville and see Biltmore House, but my dad had other ideas. *sigh*
On August 9, 2005 at 1:09 pm
Tori says:
Forgot to add that I’m shy, too, though nobody ever seems to believe me. Must be a writer thing.
On August 9, 2005 at 1:11 pm
Suzanne says:
Marty, yes, the online classes are open to anyone!
On August 9, 2005 at 1:16 pm
Cynthia says:
Way to go on the upcoming workshops! I know you put on a fabulous one, so I’d definitely recommend them to everyone.
And, oh yeah, I’m super shy too, especailly in big crowds….I tend to just stand there like an idiot. 😳
On August 9, 2005 at 2:55 pm
MartyK says:
Yay!
On August 9, 2005 at 3:19 pm
Sandy Jones says:
I was at your workshop in Reno and I would have never guessed you were shy! You did fabulous. And you gained another fan by speaking in a group and I bet I am not the only one. :yes:
North Carolina sounds lovely!
On August 9, 2005 at 4:31 pm
Danica says:
Wow, that’s a gorgeous pic!
On August 9, 2005 at 6:39 pm
April says:
Suzanne-
That picture is gorgeous. Here in Indiana I’m surrounded by corn fields and soy beans. Hubby and I are talking about moving to North Carolina in a few years. I’ve never been there, but everything about it seems beautiful, and best of all no snow and ice. 🙂
On August 9, 2005 at 7:21 pm
Eve says:
I’ve been playing with Teaberry and Boopsie – addictive. I used to have some on my computer, but I couldn’t get anything done because they kept staring at me.:grin:
On August 9, 2005 at 8:11 pm
Mechele Armstrong says:
Beautiful picture.
You are one busy lady.
I’m horribly shy and public speaking is a little intimidating. 😯
I will admit that I’m a little excited about you doing a workshop at my RWA chapter. LOL I can’t wait to meet you.
On August 9, 2005 at 8:31 pm
ruby55 says:
Since I was a teacher (Germany, Grades 5-10), you’d think that I’m no longer shy. Think again. I’ve always been on the shy side. I once had to give a talk on a biblical subject in front of a group of about a dozen people and I was literally petrified. My throat was as dry as a desert and my voice was barely a croak; I misread most of what I had written. In Germany, a lot of your final exams are oral; it’s a wonder I didn’t have my heart beat out of my chest when I sat in front of the examiners.:hissyfit:
On August 9, 2005 at 8:48 pm
ruby55 says:
Oh, yes, Suzanne, what a wonderful place to live. It looks divine. As a family, we were near water in two places: in Winnipeg we lived right on the Assiniboine River; in London, ON by a small creek with nothing but grass on the other side. Your lake reminds a little of the Assiniboine which was also shrouded in trees and since we lived on a bend in the river, you could almost mistake it for a small lake. It was beautiful–but terrible mosquito-ridden.
On August 9, 2005 at 8:53 pm
Leslie says:
I love that picture! So tranquil and still… I can almost hear the cicadas. Hmmmm… I can almost feel the mosquitos too .. let me strike that thought and get back to the serenity of it all. :yes:
I totally applaud you for all you do, Suzanne. I can’t believe you’re booked up thru 2006! :shocked: That’s make me a bonafide nutcase. And I LOVE talking to crowds, LOL! I was a “Thee-a-tah” major… we love to the whole monologue thing :blahblah:
And … (big relieved sigh) I’m definitely going with the Mandarin Orange cake for the potluck. :thumbsup:
On August 10, 2005 at 5:37 am
Suzanne says:
Thank you, Sandy!
April, you would love North Carolina! It does snow here, though. Not a lot, though.
Mechele, I’m looking forward to meeting you, too! It’s been a long time since I was in Virginia.
Sigrun, I love living by water. It was one of my requirements when we moved here because we lived on water in Texas and I just loved it.
Leslie, being a theater major sounds like a good training ground for being a writer!
On August 10, 2005 at 5:51 am