The Gathering Authors in Taos New Mexico! Weekend Recap

The Gathering Authors First Annual Retreat by our organizer, Carolee Dean! 

(I'm on the left in the pink top in the back.) 

  (Kersten Hamilton, Carolee Dean, Kimberley Griffiths Little, Lauren Bjorkman, and Sheralyn Pratt)

I'm sharing this recap because Carolee hit all the high points of the weekend, of which there were many - actually the entire weekend was a total high. Not exaggerating here. It was beautiful in Taos, New Mexico, the company was fabulous and smart and funny, the writing time great, the brainstorming superb and enormously helpful, and both the deep publishing discussions and personal talk very rewarding, too.

We also got totally silly at the local indie bookstore, Moby Dickens, and created an upcoming video (being edited now . . . ) with props and hilarity that will be at #createyourownapocalyse - so find us there.

Please also find us at #TheGatheringAuthors on Twitter.

Take it away, Carolee!

I have just returned from the First Annual Gathering Authors Retreat in Taos, New Mexico and am already looking forward to next year's event. The Gathering is a LOOSELY organized group of traditionally published New Mexico children's authors who meet to offer each other encouragement, support, and industry tips. In the photo above we are about to enjoy lunch at Lambert's. If you aren't used to New Mexico chile, beware. Left side - front to back (Kersten Hamilton, Me-Carolee Dean, Kimberley Griffiths Little). Right side - back to front (Lauren Bjorkman and Sheralyn Pratt - joining us from Utah). Not pictured (Sheralyn's border collie, Sebi).

Our retreat, also LOOSELY organized, was held at the Sagebrush Inn. The only cost was travel and hotel expenses. We made a list of topics we wanted to cover and that was the extent of our planning.

 

Topics included: 

1. The Changing Face-Book of Social Media

2. Wacky Marketing Ideas

3. Effective Marketing Plans

4. Publishing Woes/Joys

5. How to Hit the NY Times Best Seller List

 

GO HERE TO READ THE REST AT CAROLEE DEAN'S BLOG - and "follow" her: Carolee Dean Books Blogspot 

xo,

Kimberley

Very Cool Agency Site Redo!

My agent is Tracey Adams and her husband Josh, also an agent extraordinaire, recently revamped their agency website.

Adams Literary Agency was the first agency to launch a website 5 years ago and the new and improved is fantastic!

Go here to see the new site: Adams Literary. Check out the "New Books" Page! I love the all the book jackets you can scroll through so easily!

You can FIND ME HERE! More updates will be on there soon, too, as Scholastic lets us share cover art and blurbs and synopses for THE HEALING SPELL (July 1, 2010). I can't wait!

I am very BLESSED and LUCKY to be with them. Tracey and Josh are so knowledgeable about the children's book industry and so much fun, too. Just last week, Tracey and I were emailing about a new blurb I got from the DEMI-GOD of Children's Literature of the past three decades (YES, HE READ THE HEALING SPELL AND IS BLURBING IT!!!) and she just picked up the phone to chat and squeal together in person. She said, "I've decided that phone calls are too infrequent these days, and it's important to connect voice-to-voice! " I so agree. Gave me a happy glow all day long.



In other news, check out this new book by fellow New Mexico Author Lauren Bjorkman, and part of the Class of 2009. Her debut novel is having it's birthday!!!! Congratulations, Lauren!!!!