FAN CONVENTION with Brenda Novak

by Jo Robertson

Please help me welcome NY Times Best-selling Author Brenda Novak back to the Lair. Not only is Brenda a prolific writer and mother of five, but she runs her annual Diabetes Research Auction every May. Check out her website and the current auction information at www.brendanovak.com.

Brenda's latest book, INSIDE, releases June 28. Here's an advance review:

Ms. Novak has been a favorite of mine for some time, but this has to be The Book for me out of all her work. It’s the one I will remember for many years to come. It’s the one that stands out not only because of the content, but the depth of the romance that is instant and intense. You aren’t going to want to miss this one! FIVE STARS

We Read Romance

Today Brenda is discussing her and Christine Feehan's FAN Conventions.

WHAT IS A FAN CONVENTION? by Brenda Novak

When #1 New York Times Best-selling Author Christine Feehan came to me with the idea for FAN (Feehan And Novak Reader Appreciation Weekend) I was excited and definitely ready to jump in, but because I’d never been to such an event I had no idea what we should plan. That problem was quickly solved when we realized that our only goal was to make our event fun and exciting and a party our loyal readers would want to come back to again and again. We also wanted to make it intimate so that we’d be able to grow close as a group (and keep it manageable), so we capped it at 100.

Our first event last year was a smashing success. We had so many of our guests tell us they wanted to come back—and they did. We just held FAN 2011, of which 40% were returnees. We also had guests from as far away as London and Calgary join us.

Follow the link for a slideshow experience of last year's event: http://animoto.com/play/1Tie5jz0hx4RqVQcINL8Mg

So what do we do at FAN? All kinds of things! Our first two events were held aboard a 1920’s riverboat, The Delta King, in Old Sacramento, which means we had a fabulous setting to start things off. Friday we threw a 1920’s Speakeasy, complete with gangster and flapper costumes and cigarette girls (candy), and played poker for prizes. A large key in each gift basket enabled the winner to unlock the treasure chest of bigger prizes, so we had some very excited winners--but everyone got a gift. That’s part of the fun of FAN—the registration bag alone had 10 or more books in it and we gave presents away at almost every function.

Saturday, we had a delicious brunch and played FANGO (basically Bingo) for more prizes. Then we had a chat with the authors, a booksigning (with a palm reader doing free readings in the other room) and the most hilarious Murder Mystery Dinner I’ve ever been to. (My husband killed Christine right in front of her agent and editor. ) There, we gave away more gifts and repeated the tradition at the send-off brunch in the paddlewheel room the following morning. At FAN 2011, we even had a few surprise guests—New York Times Bestselling Authors Cherry Adair and C.L. Wilson!!

It was really fun to get to know the people who joined us. As with 2010, many claim they want to return, so I’m looking forward to seeing my new friends at the next FAN--only this time we’re changing up the party. We’re not sure of all the changes quite yet, but we’re going to do a Venetian Ball, complete with gowns and masks, in place of the Speakeasy. I’m already on the hunt for the most beautiful period costume ever.

If you’re interested in three days of rubbing elbows with fellow bibliophiles and enjoying one party after another, FAN 2012 is scheduled for March 2 – 4. Visit http://www.fanconvention.net/ for more details (and pictures of our past events).

And if you think I’m going to sign off without telling you about my NEXT event for THIS year…you don’t know me very well. My seventh annual online auction for diabetes research opens May 1st at http://brendanovak.auctionanything.com. Go there now to register so that you’re included in all the updates because this is going to be an AMAZING year. Check out some of the items we have up for auction:

Lunches with Bestselling Authors Suzanne Brockmann, Karen Rose, Dianna Gabaldon, Barry Eisler, Steve Berry and more!
A Selection of COACH Bags from Bestselling Author Anna DeStefano
Exquisite artwork, quilts, paintings, and jewelry from dozens of donors
Hundreds of autographed books
A Mexican Beach Getaway, A Week-Long Stay in Hawaii, Florida or Tennessee—even an African Safari
A Personal Styling Session/Makeover with Bertrand Pellegrin
A haircut from celebrity hairstylish Alyn Topper
An tanzanite/diamond ring set in 18k white gold from Michael Greene & Co. (valued at $8500)
A pave diamond heart necklace (valued at $3500)
Electronics, including Nooks, Kindles and iPads!
Agent for a Day With Jessica Faust
A Day at Kensington Books
For aspiring writers--Nearly 100 top agents and editors who are donating their time to evaluate your submission
To top it all off, the person who places the highest number of bids, even if that person doesn't wind up winning a single auction item, will receive a fabulous prize package that includes a brand new laptop computer, an autographed advanced reading copy of my new book, INSIDE (due out June 28th), a FAN 2012 Convention Registration and a mystery box filled with goodies!
See you at brendanovak.com!


A question for today's readers: Have you ever attended a reader appreciation weekend? Is this something you'd like to do in the future? Why or why not?


Be sure to leave a comment to win a copy of Brenda's latest release.

Coming Right Up....

by Susan Sey

BREAKING NEWS: Last night, our own fabulous BETH ANDREWS won the RITA Award in the Best Contemporary Series Romance category for her wonderful book A Not-So-Perfect Past. Congratulations, Beth!!! You can check out all the winners at the RWA National website. PARTY IN THE LAIR!!!

August! Welcome home, all you RWA goers! I know you miss all your writing friends like crazy, so here's a little something to cheer you up: A preview of August's fantastic features!

August 3: Donna MacMeans will host Heather Webber who'll be talking about her casting decisions for her latest release Deeply, Desperately.



August 5: Nancy interviews Avon debut author Katherine Ashe about her dynamite historical, Swept Away by a Kiss.



August 6: One of the Lair's favourite visitors, Eloisa James, returns to talk about fairy tales, Cinderella and her eagerly awaited book, A Kiss at Midnight.
August 16: Best selling author Brenda Novak will return to the Lair with JoMama to discuss her new trilogy and answer questions most asked by her fans.




WHITE HEAT releases on July 27 and Brenda's throwing a fabulous cyber-party to celebrate. Visit www.brendanovak.com for the deets. Her annual Auction fo Diabetes Research reached the one million mark this year!

Also, Brenda's been nominated for a 2010 RITA for her ON A SNOWY CHRISTMAS. Congratulations! We're so fortunate to have her return to the Lair again!
August 15: Trish Milburn's (or should I say Tricia Mills?) release party for her newest young adult novel, Winter Longing. Love Alaska? Love tales of first love? Books that twist your emotions like a dish cloth? This book has it all!




August 19: Suzanne Ferrell brings Wendy Watson to chat with us about her second in the Murder A La Mode series, Scoop To Kill. Wendy and Suz will serve up some fun, mystery and maybe an ice cream or two in the hot summer fun!

August 20: Tawny's release party

August 27: Barbara Monjem returns to chat with Nancy about Tastes of Love and Evil, the second in her Bayou Gavotte paranormal romance series (which was also an unpubbed Maggie winner!)
August 31: Grab a gladiator & a drink (not necessarily in that order) and get ready to get sinful as we celebrate Jeanne Adam's smokin' new release Deadly Little Sins!





And warm up that lucky rabbit's foot, because we have contests, too! From Anna Campbell:


Anna Campbell is giving away TWO Change of Season Reading Packs in her latest website contest. Each pack will include signed copies of MY RECKLESS SURRENDER by AnnaCampbell, SWEETEST LITTLE SIN by Christine WElls, IS MISTRESS FOR A MILLION by Trish Morey, THE GREEK'S CONVENIENT MISTRESS by Annie West, DARK DECEIVER by Pamela Palmer, and either DOES SHE DARE? or RISQUE BUSINESS by Tawny Weber. Just email Anna on anna@annacampbell.info and tell her one other book by each of these authors (the website links are on her contest page to make it easy) to go into the draw. For more information, please visit Anna's contest page.

Welcome Brenda Novak!

Today I'm so happy to welcome back my good friend Brenda Novak! Whether you're a reader or writer, a fan or an Auction junky, Brenda always finds time to support and mentor the people in her life.

New York Times Best-selling Author Brenda Novak has three novels coming out this summer—THE PERFECT COUPLE, THE PERFECT LIAR, and THE PERFECT MURDER, all part of her popular Last Stand Series. She also runs an annual on-line auction for diabetes research every May at http://www.brendanovak.com/. To date, she’s raised over $770,000. Brenda considers herself lucky to be a mother of five and married to the love of her life.

Please say hi to Brenda today as she talks about a universal problem most women experience -- how to manage your time more productively. Today she's giving away two fan packs containing the first three books in the Last Stand series, so be sure to comment and share your ideas on time management (or in my case, the lack thereof :-D).

HERE'S BRENDA:

Time Management is something I struggle with on a daily basis. Why? Because one thing I don’t plan into my day is time to relax and just “hang,” and that’s so important to relationships. Just being available to people is a great way to build stronger ties, but being available requires flexibility which is difficult for me and other workaholics to manage.

If my kids want to go somewhere or create something, I can put it on the calendar and make it happen. But what about those times when certain subjects wouldn’t come up if you weren’t just puttering around the house together, cooking or cleaning or shooting the breeze? My weakness in this area is why I don’t consider myself an expert on this subject.

I think I’m great at getting stuff done. People ask me all the time, “How do you do it all?” But time management shouldn’t be about accomplishing the most in the least amount of time. It should be about balance, about nurturing those around us while we accomplish a reasonable amount.

So now that you know my greatest weakness (I’ve actually had to set goals to stop what I’m doing and let the rest go until tomorrow—LOL), I’ll tell you how I manage to write three books (and one novella) a year, travel, speak and promote my books, run a major charity fundraiser and raise five kids.

First of all, I do it by taking care of myself. Sometimes the hour I take out of my day for exercise seems like a waste. There are so many other things I want to do with that time. But I remind myself that if I’m healthy and have energy, I will be able to accomplish more in less time. And it’s true. If I get enough rest and exercise, I feel strong and capable, and it makes a big difference in my daily output.

Another sure-fire trick is to prioritize what must be done each day and to do the most important things first. That may sound like a no-brainer, and yet it’s so easy to let ourselves get diverted. If exercising every day is your goal, do it first thing in the morning. But if it’s more important for you to write ten pages a day, start with that instead. That way, when the unexpected intrudes as the hours progress, and the day begins to get away from you, you’ll still accomplish those things that are most important to you.

Keeping myself on an even emotional keel is another thing that really increases my productivity. This isn’t always easy, of course. Problems crop up, sorrows intrude, accidents happen. But developing some type of inner peace helps you withstand the emotional buffeting that goes along with the bumps of life.

Some people use meditation. Others read an inspiring story. Still others keep a gratitude journal. All of these are great techniques. I simply close my eyes, take a deep breath, and think, “Be still and know that I am God.” This usually brings me right back to my center, and if it doesn’t, I begin counting my blessings—taking a look at what I’ve got instead of what I don’t have.

And who doesn’t like killing two birds with one stone? I print out pages from my current WIP and edit while I ride my Exercycle. I listen to research programs on True Crime TV while I clean house. I read my latest manuscript to my husband whenever he has to drive somewhere for work. And, probably the best thing I’ve done to date, I’ve hired an assistant. I thought this was something I shouldn’t allow myself—being raised by a frugal mother I felt as if I couldn’t justify such a luxury—but I’ve been able to extend my reach on so many fronts, thanks to this decision.

How do you increase your productivity? Do you agree that time management is more about balance than it is about working every minute? How do you make yourself take time out?

JO: What great tips, Brenda. Thanks for the advice and thanks for joining us today.

Whether we're writers or readers, we all need to be reminded of how best to manage the hours we have. When I was a young mother, I made sure to nurse my babies (at a time when it wasn't so popular) because that way I got to read to my toddler at the same time. Or I watched TV with some sort of handwork, embroidery or mending.

What about you? What tips can you share with us. Or if you're like ME, what disasters? Come on, we all need a laugh and some of my most hilarious moments are trying to save time and failing miserably.

Be sure to leave a comment for the chance to win a fan pack!

Brenda Novak's in the Lair!

1. Guest of Jo Robertson
   
   Today we're so lucky to have my good friend and all-time wonderful person Brenda Novak returning to visit us. Brenda will talk about her new trilogy that's coming out this spring and summer as well as discuss her annual Juvenile Diabetes Auction, which began May 1 and continues through May 31. It is doing fabulously already. Pop on over to http://www.brendanovak.com/ and check it out. There's something for everyone.
3. And don't forget to check out Week 1's prizes below in the one-year anniversary of the Banditas!
   
   Now heeeeeeerrrre's Brenda!
   
   As a writer, I always get asked whether I write from personal experience. In ways, I do, and the new series I’m kicking off this summer is a perfect example of that. TRUST ME (May 27th), STOP ME (June 24th) and WATCH ME (July 29th) are based on a fictional victim’s charity in Sacramento called The Last Stand. The three heroines met at a victims' support group after each one experienced a different kind of violence. They’re determined to heal, to fight back and to help others do the same, which is why they decide to start The Last Stand.
   Trust Me (The Last Stand Trilogy, Book 1)
   
   In TRUST ME, Skye Kellerman was attacked in her own bed. She managed to fend off her knife-wielding assailant, but now her would-be rapist is getting out of prison. Early. And Skye knows that Dr. Oliver Burke hasn’t forgotten what her testimony cost him.
   
   In STOP ME, widower Romain Fornier lost his reason for living the day his daughter was kidnapped and murdered. When the killer got off on a technicality, he used a gun to mete out his own justice. Now that he’s out of prison and free to return to his Cajun roots, the last thing he wants to learn is that he might've killed the wrong man. But that’s exactly what Jasmine Stratford of The Last Stand has come all the way from California to tell him.
   Stop Me (Last Stand, Book 2)
   
   In WATCH ME, Sheridan Kohl was just a teenager parked at the lake with a boy named Jason when a stranger wearing a ski mask shot them both. Sheridan lived, but Jason died—and the stranger was never caught. Twelve years later, Sheridan has learned a thing or two about investigating crime. She returns to her hometown, intent on achieving answers at last. But someone doesn’t want the truth to come out. Someone who is willing to resort to murder. Again.
   Watch Me (Last Stand, Book 3)
   
   While my fictional charity is geared toward violent crime, because I write romantic suspense and thought it would be fascinating to see these women tackle some very interesting and difficult cases, the concept of using personal passion to motivate came from my own desire to make a difference to those struggling with diabetes.
   
   Six years ago, when my youngest son was diagnosed with Type 1, I felt hurt and wanted to fight back, too. Desperately. I just didn’t know how. I had five kids at home and some very tight book deadlines. But then I attended a silent auction at the local elementary school and realized that I could do a similar event on my Web site, where I could utilize the traffic I’d already established.
   
   In my first three auctions, I managed to raise a combined total of $250,000, and the 2008 auction looks as if it will at least match that amount. A shopper’s paradise, it will have plenty of items to fit every budget from a drumhead signed by a whole slew of famous music artists (Michael Jackson, Ringo Starr, Bruce Springstein, and far too many others to list) to a treasure trove of miscellaneous items donated by aspiring author Lauren Hawkeye. And that’s not all. For those who are aspiring to become a novelist or to advance their writing career, there will be AMAZING opportunities. Many of the most powerful agents and editors in the business have donated evaluations—some with the promise of a 24-hour response (which is unheard of in the publishing industry).
   
   How does it all work? Just like E-Bay, except this auction runs at www.brendanovak.com/ and only through the month of May (May 1 – May 31st). Visit that URL to register. When the bidding is over, you can pay with Paypal, credit card or personal check/money order. In most instances the donor even picks up the shipping. And the person who places the highest number of bids over all, even if that person doesn’t win a single item, will receive a fabulous prize package including a brand new camcorder (worth over $1,000), Your Name in My Next Book, an autographed copy of TRUST ME, and chocolate (lots of chocolate!).
   
   Check out the auction, and while you’re at my Web site, enter to win a spectacular trip to Port Orchard and Bainbridge Island (sponsored by Allison Brennan, Debbie Macomber, Susan Wiggs and myself), and receive a $10 gift certificate you can use toward your auction purchases.
   
   Here's to making a difference!
   
   Brenda Novak
   

What cool items have you won in past charity auctions? Do you think this “wave of the future” will eventually overtake traditional fundraising? Do you prefer on-line shopping to brick & mortar shopping?

Thanks for joining us today, Brenda. Readers, be sure to check out Brenda's auction and leave a comment on today's post to be eligible to win an autographed copy of Brenda's May 27 release TRUST ME, the first in her Last Stand trilogy.