Community, that’s what we creatives crave when we come out of our focused, turtle habitats!
Thankfully, there are organizations that provide a nudge out of our shells. When I was considering entering my World War II romantic suspense novel Watch Over Me in the Chanticleer International Book Awards, I consulted with some writer friends about the organization. “Oh, a great group with a wonderful small conference every year in the beautiful Pacific Northwest!” I was told. And … CIBA knows how to throw a party!” They were right on both counts! (Thank you Janet Oakley and Michelle Cox!)
Fast forward a few years and two conferences later. Not only did Watch Over Me achieve First in Category status in the Chatelaine Award for Women’s Fiction, but at this year’s virtual conference, held via ZOOM, I was delighted to hear: “Congratulations to the Grand Prize Winner of the LARAMIE Book Awards for Western, Civil War, Pioneer, First Nation Novels and Americana Fiction: “Seven Aprils by Eileen Charbonneau!”
My cheering squad of husband Ed, daughter Marya and baby grandson Desmond were on hand. My tiara was in place! Our favorite bubblies flowed!
Here’s a glimpse at some of the topics covered in this years Chanticleer Book Conference:
- Virtual Author Events: How To Pivot from LIVE to VIRTUAL for Book Launches, Book Clubs, and Book Events
- Book to Film Panel Discussion
- The Critical Role Authors Play in Fostering a Better Society
- Writing and Selling Children’s Books
- Voice Driven Technology and the Future of Publishing
- How to Create a Sustainable and Compelling Series
- Don’t be Left OUT and OFF the Airwaves – Intro to Podcasting
- Historical Fiction–how to both fictionalize real characters and realize fictional ones
- Collaborating with Other Authors
- Writers: Improve Your Productivity and Your Health by Correcting Posture
Sound great? It was!! So, I encourage my author friends of all genres to stick your necks out, enter your books in award competitions, and come out of your shells once in awhile and join with readers, industry folks and fellow authors to celebrate our crazy but wonderful business!
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