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One of my writer friends is up for the Rita (Farrah Rochon) and one friend (Pamela Kopfler) is up for the Golden Heart. Well, they got nothing on me. Take a look at this nomination. I'm up for the 2nd Annual Boogity Boo Awards from the I Smell Sheep Blog. And get a look at this amazing trophy. Isn't it the best! I love it! LOL

I would love your vote. (just click the text above "I Smell Sheep") I'm under the catagory: Best Response Taken Completely Out of Context. :-)

Have fun voting! And thanks I Smell Sheep!

Hugs,
Dawn

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First, I'd like to say that I'm no expert, but after co-chairing a writer's conference in New Orleans this year, there were several lessons I learned along the way. And I hope to save you the trouble of finding it out the hard way. (Items listed below are in no specific order.)

Here we go.

Tip #1 - Give yourself at least 1 year to plan. (if you are thinking, oh crap, I only have 6 months, then get out while you can. Seriously.) You "really" need at least a year.

Tip #2 - Plan around the budget you have right now. (No guessing on future funds. No guessing that you'll have approx 200 people sign up or 100 people sign up, and then you are shit up the creek when only 50 or 75.) It could happen. Plan with what funds you have now.

Tip #3 - Conference Venue: This is so important. Make sure the location is perfect for the conference. If it's your first conference, don't start out too big. Find a nice place where there won't be 5 other big events going on in the same hotel. Make sure you visit the location prior to signing a contract. Is it conference friendly? Do they have a coffee shop? Or other things included with the conference rooms? (example: food, coffee, A/V computer connections, parking, podiums, screens, set ups, people to set up, etc.) If not in the contract, you will be shocked! (you might even pass out) These extras can cost thousands. Oh, before you sign, make sure you have someone who knows how to read/understand hotel/conference venue contracts. Very, very important. And get prices from at least 5 hotels in the area.

Tip #4 - Volunteers - Grab your volunteers as soon as you can. You'll need Pre-Conference volunteers and On-site Conference volunteers. (Make sure those who volunteer for on-site can travel to the conference, make sure they can afford to travel, that they have a babysitter for kiddo's, that they have a good car to get them there, etc.) Once you have all your key volunteers set up, make sure you have a "back up" person who can handle things in case your other volunteers don't show, get sick or God knows what. (extra volunteers for just in case is a good idea)And give your volunteers time to enjoy the conference too. Don't over use them.

Tip #5 - Set up a yahoo group or something similar (forums) so attendees who sign up can chat with each other, and make friends. This is where you can set up volunteer sign up, places to visit in the area, seek roommates, meet up hot spots, etc. Plus you can make important updates/announcements in one place. :-)(when a person registers, have this yahoo group address on the registration sheet/receipt, etc. and stress that they sign up)

Tip #6 - Promote: Make sure you get a street team of promoters. If you can get at least 6-10 people to promote on Twitter/FB/etc, then do so quickly. Have a blog/website where you can update your VIP's and presenters as often as necessary. There are some free places to promote conferences as well. I think one is called www.shawguide.com ??

Tip #7 - Get with the hotel event coordinator the day before the conference and go over room layouts, etc., and match your list with theirs to make sure they have the latest update. This can drive you insane if all the rooms are wrong. (do this hours or a day in advance)

Tip #8 - Have your presenters/VIP's/Keynote lined up at least 8 months in advance. (some agents/editors book a year in advance) Make sure you get all their workshop info at least 6 months in advance so you can start promoting the class. Also, make sure you have a contra

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I got a present today from my publisher, and I love it...(will be released January 18th, 2012)

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Well, NOT AN ANGEL just went live and I'm happy to say it's going much better than I expected. I sold about a dozen books (within a little over 24 hrs.), and I think that is pretty darn good numbers. The only problem is, I'm addicted to checking those numbers all day long. lol I gotta stop the madness!

If you buy NOT AN ANGEL,(available at amazon.com/kindlebooks) please feel free to contact me. I love hearing from readers, so give me a shout out. [email protected]

Now off to write the next Poryria book.

Dawn Chartier

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Dear Readers,

If you were wondering what happened to my book, Not An Angel, I requested my rights back due to the contract coming up for renewal. I plan to put the book back on Amazon & other e-book stores (at a *cheaper* price) as soon as I can, but first I need to make a few changes & add a new cover.

Check back in a week or so. ;-)

Note: Reviewer's please contact me at dawn @ dawnchartier.com (no spaces)

Thanks,
Dawn Chartier

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Introducing a fellow Savvy Author member, Harper Bennett...

The Centurion’s Prize by Harper Bennett
Genre(s): Historical Romance
Digital ISBN: 9781937325039
Publication Date: July 18, 2011
Formats: pdf (for Adobe Reader), lit (for Microsoft Reader), mobi (for Mobi and Kindle), epub (for Nook), and html.
Price: $3.99




Blurb:

To save their way of life, enemies must become allies.

In the final days of the Roman Empire, the Celtic princess Nara, daughter of a tribal king, has discovered a secret that will shatter the lives of the people and tribes she holds most dear. Once a sworn enemy of the Centurion Corvinus Aelius Martialis, she must now look to him for help. The Roman’s very presence ignites a powerful and consuming passion within her, one that Nara knows is dangerous and could cost them both their lives…but is she strong enough to resist the Centurion’s all-consuming kiss?

Never one to trust a Celt, let alone a woman, Corvin is taken aback by the bold princess’s bargain. He knows her father is the puppeteer of a very dangerous game involving a rogue band of Rome’s sworn enemies, and he can’t be certain—did the apple fall far from the ambitious, traitorous tree? Or will he claim the fiery princess, body and soul, for his very own?

Set against ancient druidic forests amidst political intrigue and violent betrayal, The Centurion’s Prize is a tale of a love that could save two worlds—or destroy everything in its path.




Bio:




Harper Bennett has her own happily ever after going on in the wilds of Alaska with her husband and children. Earning her MFA in creative writing in 2002 taught her nothing more than student loans were inherently evil and that her passion would never lie in the tomes of literary fiction. Her stories will always require a “happily ever after” with plenty of sweaty lust thrown in for good measure.

Along the way, Harper has been everything from an overnight radio disc jockey to a professional MMA fighter and has learned that no matter the circumstances, life is always one big adventure waiting to be had.

You can find her at http://www.harperbennett.com/ and on Twitter (http://twitter.com/HarperWrites). She also checks her e-mail obsessively and would love to hear from you: [email protected].


Excerpt:


“You are not in danger as long as you are under my protection,” he said when they were clear of the gate. “Do not fear my soldiers.”

“I’ll keep that in mind the next time I am rendered unconscious,” she whispered.

Her hand was soft and warm in his. Try as he might to concentrate on the short journey to the magistrate’s home, Corvin’s thoughts centered on the skin-to-skin contact between them. Nara’s hand was not limp. It was not passive. Corvin could not help but notice she grasped his hand with a strong grip and held tight.

The walk was short—too short. Soon, the dark sky that melded with the darkness of the trees and the cover of branches gave way to paths lined with braziers leading Cadeyrn’s palace. In the distance, he could see the Celtic soldiers patrolling the front entrance.

“How did you manage to get past four guards?”

“There are nine, actually,” Nara corrected him. “Three additional circle the grounds and two more travel in the opposite direction that you did not notice.”

Corvin gave Nara an incredulous look.

Who was this girl?

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Updates for you writers out there:

The last day to enter the Dixie Kane writers contest is August 1st.

Sola's 4th Annual Writers Retreat is August 5th & 6th.

Mary Buckham's All Day Writers Workshop (From Thought to Plot) is Oct. 29th 2011 $75 Sola / $80 Non-Sola. (I hear great things about Mary's classes)

Erica Spindler will be the speaker for Sola's August meeting.

Also, there is Heather Graham's writers conference in New Orleans for Labor Day weekend. (www.writersforneworleans.com)

If you are looking for a great place on-line for writers classes, try out www.savvyauthors.com - Classes galore there...(there is one class I'm taking soon called Quilting 101 by Suzanne Johnson. Looking forward to this one!)


I will be participating in all of these events. I hope you join us.

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Hey y'all,

It's been a while, and yes of course I'm still writing. lol

So what's been happening with everyone? Good things I hope.

Me? I took a little time away from my witch novel, giving it room to breathe, then I'll pick it back up and work on it with fresh eyes. But while Buried Magic is relaxing, I started a new novella and finished writing it. I'm in the critique mode right now, it's only 20k so it won't take long. Maybe a week.

I'm also reading books again, which I neglected to do while writing Buried Magic. You gotta keep reading - that is a must.

Anyway, just wanted to shout out to my friends that I'm still alive. (a little sick with Sinus problems, but alive.)

Oh, and I'm not going to RWA this year. (boo-hoo) Yes, I'll be at Heather Graham's workshop (www.writersforneworleans.com) and yes, I'll be at Mary Buckham's one-day workshop in NOLA as well. (www.solawriters.org) Looking forward to both of those writers workshops. Oh, and don't forget the Dixie Kane writing contest is going on now. That is on the Sola website too.

Happy Summer y'all!
Dawn
Not An Angel, out now!

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Just wanted to spread the word about a new publisher in town. Entangled Publishing.

If you made the rounds submitting or not - don't give up. Check out Entangled.

Good luck!
Dawn

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I know most of my followers live in Louisiana, and for those who do you - must read this little short story from author Suzanne Johnson. The story took on a unique twist I hadn't seen coming...(loved it)...And if you are not from Louisiana you'll get a good glimpse of it through Suzanne's eyes...she couldn't have written it better.

Free read: "Chenoire," an urban fantasy/paranormal novelette by Suzanne Johnson set in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, in the world of Royal Street--a new series beginning April 2012 from Tor Books. http://suzanne- johnson.blogspot .com

(To find the rest of this short story you have to go to Suzanne's website, which I think it listed on her blog.)

Enjoy. I know I did.

Dawn

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My heart broke when I saw this.

I don't normally blog about sad things or request help, but I have to for the lives of these animals. I feel really strong about this and in my latest unpublished novel "BURIED BONES" that I'm currently shopping, my story deals with over-crowding animal shelters such as this one.

Please see the attached link.
http://www.wwltv.com/news/Group-that-saves-neglected-dogs-needs-help-105739803.html

(If the link doesn't work - google it. This is in Louisiana. I also posted this on my facebook, you can connect by going to my website www.dawnchartier.com and click on the FACEBOOK link at the bottom)

If you can help these poor little guys, then do what ever you can.

Thanks,
Dawn

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Author Jade Lee will be at our RWA Sola writers meeting this Saturday @ 10am. (Metairie, LA) Please join us for a great presentation. I've taken a class by Jade before at Heartla's conference and she is amazing...

Lil' update ~
Well, I've been playing around with my "Pitch blurb" for what seems like forever. Who would have thought a little old' paragraph description would be so darn hard???? And the strange thing about this is the first two books I ever wrote (which were pretty good stories, but not so good writing) I put together a truly awesome pitch for those stories. They were easy to do for some reason. I sent it out to two people and got requests from both. They loved my pitch, but was kind enough to say I wasn't there yet and said I could resubmit something again later. Sweet. But now that I'm feeling it, feeling this story like I have never felt before, I mean really emotional, NOW I'm having a hard time narrowing it down to the bare bones. Why is that? And now an agent who requested a partial wants a synopsis with it. What???? Synopsis? Really? Geesh, you'd think she'd asked me for my first or second born.

Okay, I can do this. I will get that syn-poop-sis done! And a better query letter too. I will - I will - I will... Readers don't realize the stuff authors have to go through, and authors don't realize the stuff agents and editors have to go through. Maybe I should have kept this to myself...(nah...)

p.s. I just want to thank who ever it was that gave me such a sweet review on Amazon. It makes it all worth while. Seriously! Big hugs to you!

Have a great day!
Dawn Chartier (who is now alligator free!)
www.dawnchartier.com

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Happy Halloween Hunt or is it Haunt? If you are on the hunt for NIGHT OWL REVIEWS, you are in the right place...(look around...but...be very careful...unknown's are lurking in every corner!)

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For information about the Sola's September writers meeting on Saturday please visit www.solawriters.org ---- Hope to see you there....

Thanks,
Dawn Chartier
NOT AN ANGEL, OUT NOW!
WWW.DAWNCHARTIER.COM

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