Chanticleer Book Reviews

Category: Chanticleer Author Conference

  • Spotlight on: Books By the Bay Book Fair

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    A Unique Book Fair for a Unique Conference

    bbb poster 2017 smallIf you know one thing about the Chanticleer Author Conference, you know it is unique. We specifically cater to already published authors and teach the tools they need to successfully sell and market their books.

    Books by the Bay is also a unique book fair. Many conferences offer book rooms to sell the books of their presenters. At CAC the book room is for everyone! All attendees books may be sold in the book room!

    And it is OPEN to the General Public for 3 days! 

    Books by the Bay Facts:

    1. The book room is fully staffed by Village Books – one of the top five best Independent Booksellers (rated by Publisher’s Weekly)
    2. The book room is open to the public all three days of the conference
    3. It stays open late on the night of the awards gala
    4. Some of our big winners have sold out completely and gone on to receive special placement in the Village Books store long after the conference is over.
    5. Other authors buy a lot of books, and bring friends to buy books, so a good elevator pitch is essential to bring along to the conference.

    villagebooksEveryone who registers for the conference will receive instructions, closer to the date, of how to enter books into the Village Books system for the event. The book room will be open all weekend for sale, and on the last day, Sunday, from 1pm to 4 pm, when conference sessions have ended the book room will transform into a festival of authors meeting and greeting the public, signing books, performing readings and more.[/fusion_text][fusion_text]

    History of Books by the Bay and the Chanticleer Author Conference

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    Our First Poster

    September 14, 2014 Chanticleer held the very first Books by the Bay, then known as the Books & Brews Book Fest, at Boundary Bay Brewery in Bellingham Washington. This was our very first Book Fest. And the inaugural Chanticleer Author Conference #CAC14 followed days later on September 19th. Looking even further back, the very first seed of the Chanticleer Author Conference was planted when we held our first awards gala in the summer of 2013.

    In the second year of our book fest it was rebranded as Books by the Bay and relocated to the Hotel Bellwether, so that it could coincide with #CAC15 in September 2015. In the third year, we did something crazy and moved everything up to April 2016 (leaving us only 6 months to organize), so that we could give our awards out in a more timely fashion.

    And here we are at #CAC17, our fourth conference, fourth book fair, and fifth awards gala. Whew! It’s been quite the ride.

    We invite you to join us! Either by attending the conference and making your books available for purchase in the book room, or by dropping by to see what the book room has to offer, meet a few authors and support the creative community by buying some books.[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_2″ layout=”1_2″ last=”no” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=”” min_height=””][fusion_text]

    Books by the Bay is held at the Ballroom of the Hotel Bellwether. The Book Room, from Friday to Sunday, is in the atrium and the Book Fest, on Sunday from 1-4, will be in and around the main Ballroom. Will you be there? Let us know on our Facebook Page.

    Will your books be there? Register for the conference today!

    [/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_2″ layout=”1_2″ last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=”” min_height=””][fusion_button link=”https://www.chantireviews.com/services#!/EARLY-BIRD-2017-Chanticleer-Authors-Conference-3-Day-Pass-and-2016-Entries-Awards-Banquet-Register-Today-Seating-is-limited/p/37335633/category=9758702″ color=”darkgray” size=”large” target=”_self” icon_position=”left” icon_divider=”no” animation_type=”shake” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”1″ alignment=”left”]Register for CAC17[/fusion_button][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

  • Spotlight on: Susan Conrad, CAC17 Speaker, Author & Graphic Designer

    You wrote a book, you sent it out to some editors and agents…and it wasn’t accepted. Are you feeling like giving up? Are you wondering if its possible to do it all on your own? Do you need some inspiration and encouragement?

    Meet Susan Conrad, someone who knows a little bit about persistence and going it alone after her 1,200-mile solo kayaking journey to Alaska, as well as how to get out and tour with her book in unique ways that reach today’s audiences.

    And you can find her at the upcoming Chanticleer Author Conference—CAC17—March 31st to April 2nd where she will be teaching My Life as an Unconventional Book Tour and be around to talk about the many things she has learned and experienced.

    As part of our spotlight series, we asked Susan our five questions to get her perspective on professional success.

    1. When did you know what you really wanted to be?

    Well… I’m 55 now and I’m still pondering what I’ll be when I grow up. When I was a little girl, my best friend and I had these reading contests to see who could read the most books in any given week. She always won, but I devoured every adventure book I could get my hands on: Trixie Belden, Nancy Drew, Huck Finn, Tom Sawyer, The Hardy Boys, you name it! That same friend and I also had feverish letter-writing contests. That was back in the day when people actually wrote letters, with a spiral notebook and Bic pen! We’d even get out an old-fashioned envelope, lick a stamp, and send our ridiculously lengthy letters off with the mailman. I had such a confusing childhood that I don’t think I saw myself as growing up and being much of anything, but the magic of words—and the places they could transport me—definitely consoled me.

    2. What was the biggest challenge you faced?

    Not believing in myself.

    3. How do you define success?

    I’ve never embodied the traditional view of success: money, big job, material possessions, etc. When I’m doing what I love, when my heart zings, and I feel good about myself, when I feel I’ve connected with others and contributed to something bigger than myself, I feel I’ve been successful. It’s a personal thing.

    4. How long did it take to achieve your success?

    “Achieving success” is an ongoing process. It takes time, patience, and hard work to achieve our biggest dreams. Somedays it’s being successful at simply feeling content with where I’m at in life. Other days it’s not leaving my keys in the refrigerator. Will I feel I’ve achieved success when Ellen Degeneres calls me (move over Oprah)? Hell yeah!

    5. What is the best advice you have ever received?

    If you’re going through hell, keep going!

    If you have not registered for CAC17 yet, what are you waiting for? Susan Conrad and more fantastic speakers (including yourself possibly, if you register before the schedule is full) will be sharing their experience and knowledge about writing books, selling books, and everything to do with being a successful author.

    About Susan

    Susan Conrad is an author, adventurer, and speaker who has paddled extensively throughout the Salish Sea—and beyond. On an early spring morning in 2010, Susan dipped her paddle into the water near Anacortes, WA and began a 1,200-mile solo journey of the sea and soul to Juneau, AK. Her debut memoir Inside: One Woman’s Journey Through the Inside Passage is the story resulting from that life-changing journey. (released May 2016)
    Susan’s tenacious exploration by sea kayak has fueled her stories and images of the natural world for decades. Her articles and photographs have appeared in Sea Kayaker, Canoe and Kayak, Adventures Northwest, Figure magazines, and more. Wielding her graphic design skills, Susan is keen on helping other authors create visually-polished book proposals, media kits, cover designs, and websites.

    Susan’s class:

    My Life as an Unconventional Book Tour – Gone are the days where an author simply reads, opens the floor to Q&A, and then signs books. Your audience craves engagement, and you want them to leave with your book in their hands—and with vivid memories in their minds. Learn how to: find your audience, generate clever promotions and land the venues you want, organize and present a killer book tour and not go broke doing it, set the mood, engage and dazzle your audience, and more.

    Check out all the classes and sessions we have scheduled!

    Register for CAC17 NOW!

  • Spotlight on: Pamela Beason, CAC17 Speaker and 2014 Mystery & Mayhem Grand Prize Winner

    You’ve written a book, or maybe you’re writing a series or two. Your mind is full of questions. What lies ahead? How do you sell more books? How do you decide between traditional and Indie publishing? Do you get an agent? How?

    Wouldn’t it be nice to hear from someone who has been through all of it before?

    Meet Pamela Beason, the multiple award-winning author of 4 fiction series, 9 novels, 2 non-fiction books…and still more to come. She’s been both Indie and Traditionally published. Her agent has sold her books internationally.

    And you can find her at the upcoming Chanticleer Author Conference—CAC17—March 31st to April 2nd. She will be on hand to teach authors what she has learned from her years of successful publishing.

    Pam will be talking on How to Pitch Your Story and Writing in Multiple Genres.

    As part of our spotlight series, we asked Pam our five questions to get her perspective on professional success.

    1. When did you know what you really wanted to be?

    As a kid, I wanted to be something different every week–a spy, a wildlife photographer, an astronaut. My”what next?” attitude has pretty much continued into adulthood: I’ve worked as a translator, mechanical/architectural drafter, palynology technician, a teacher, technical writer, managing editor, and a private investigator. But through it all, I have always loved reading and writing, and all my experiences flow together beautifully in the world of mystery fiction. For now, I have definitely decided to be a professional author when I grow up.

    2. What was the biggest challenge you faced?

    Are you kidding? Did you read the list in my response to question #1? I had a different challenge every week. In my most recent careers, 1) private investigation and 2) author, the challenges have been 1) keeping an open mind and 2) finding ways to build an audience in a world where millions of new books appear every year.

    3. How do you define success?

    To me, success is feeling satisfied with your accomplishments and your life in general. So I’m always reaching for more success, but I’ve already had a lot so far.

    4. How long did it take to achieve your success?

    I achieve success every year in some way. I learn what works for me, and what doesn’t. The audience for my books is growing, which means sales are growing, but it took years to get to where I am today, even though (or perhaps because) I was traditionally published in the beginning. Being a professional author is a long-term process and you can’t ever stop learning or producing.

    5. What is the best advice you have ever received?

    I don’t know that I’d call it advice, but the statement that has most influenced my life was one I got in a Philosophy and Ethics class in college. The professor said, “You always have a choice.” Sometimes the choice is between options you don’t particularly want, and often the choice is to take a risk or do nothing and maintain the status quo, but you always have a choice. My own advice to others is usually “Be fearless.”

    If you have not registered for CAC17 yet, what are you waiting for? Pamela Beason and more fantastic speakers (including yourself possibly, if you register before the schedule is full) will be sharing their experience and knowledge about writing books, selling books, and everything to do with being a successful author.

    About Pam

    Pamela Beason is the author of nine full-length fiction works; The Only Witness and The Only Clue in the Neema Mysteries, romantic suspense novels Shaken and Call of the Jaguar, and Endangered, Bear Bait, and Undercurrents in the Summer Westin mystery series, published by Penguin/Berkley. She has most recently self-published the first of her YA series, Race with Danger. Pamela also wrote the nonfiction ebooks: SAVE Your Money, Your Sanity, as well as Our Planet and So You Want to Be a PI? Pam has been awarded the Daphne du Maurier Award and both First Place and Grand Prize in the Chanticleer Novel Competition. She lives in the Pacific Northwest, where she writes novels and screenplays and works as a private investigator.

    Her latest book Race to Truth is part of the award-winning Run For Your Life Young Adult Mystery Series.

    Pam’s classes:

    How to Pitch your Story – As an author, you need to learn how to pitch your stories, both in person and in query letters. Writing a pitch really helps you to focus on your story line, not on all the little details. When asked, “What’s your book about?”, the worst thing you can do is go on and on about plot events in your story.

    Writing in Multiple Genres – Join authors Pamela Beason (YA, mystery, romantic suspense and non-fiction), and Susan Colleen Browne (women’s fiction, short stories, MG and memoir) to look at the ins and outs of writing in different genres. Pamela and Susan will discuss story development, juggling different writing projects, and how genre influences their marketing approaches. They’ll also share what they’ve learned in their multi-tasking writing lives!

    Check out all the classes and sessions we have scheduled!

    Register for CAC17 NOW!

  • Spotlight on: Sara Dahmen, CAC17 Speaker and 2015 Laramie Grand Prize Winner

    You wrote a book. You published it. Congratulations, you are now heading up your own business. Even if you are traditionally published, so much of being an author is all about having good business skills, but so few treat their author career like a business. Time to be serious authors and learn how to be an authorpreneur.

    Meet Sara Dahmen, who is both an author and an owner & designer at Housekeeper Crockery (plus a blacksmith which is really really cool!). She knows what business skills need to be applied to a successful author career.

    And you can find her at the upcoming Chanticleer Author Conference—CAC17—March 31st to April 2nd. She will be on hand to teach authors how to treat publishing like a business–and other topics (check out her bio below, she’s been a radio and TV producer, event planner and more–maybe we should just call her Wonder Woman).

    If you need to learn more about being an authorpreneur be sure to attend Bigger Than Books: Business Growth Applied to Authorship & Beyond.

    As part of our spotlight series, we asked Sara our five questions to get her perspective on professional success.

    1. When did you know what you really wanted to be?

    As a Gemini (can I use that excuse?) I feel I’ve had multiple professional lives and enjoyed most of them. As an event planner, I did it because I was good at it and enjoyed the design and the puzzle of producing. As a metalsmith, the challenges are constant and exciting and unique and the learning curve is huge, which I enjoy. As a writer, which I feel has been a part of my identity since middle school, I know it’s my blood, so I feel it was never a choice – I’ve always known I needed to write. The stories burn, and must be told to satisfy my spirit. Whether people read and like them…that’s gravy.

    2. What was the biggest challenge you faced?

    I have always faced multiple issues. Horrific bosses, people who purposefully didn’t want to give opportunity “just because” no matter how hard one works…or fighting against a mentality and culture (as an event and wedding planner). As a metalsmith? The WHOLE THING IS PECKING HARD! Building up an American cookware business from scratch is ridiculous. As a writer, it’s fighting time (I never have enough) and the work of doing the promotion. It’s a tough game, so one has to enjoy enough of it to keep going.

    3. How do you define success?

    Being happy over 50% of every day. No matter what is going on. As a writer, I think success is knowing in your gut that you’ve finished a good book. It is a huge bonus if it wins awards and people like it, because, let’s face it, that’s vindicating and wonderful. But finishing a GOOD book, one that you are insanely proud of (and not constantly fixing and nitpicking)…that’s happiness and success together.

    4. How long did it take to achieve your success?

    It’s ongoing, obviously. But, for the sake of time, let’s say I started writing when I was in 4th grade. So, I was…9ish. So well over 20 years of working at writing bit by bit to feel good here and now.

    5. What is the best advice you have ever received?

    To always know the answer to the question “Who are you?” Everything good comes from that place of knowledge, comfort, and self-security. Goodness and happiness generally follow, or even if it doesn’t, you’ve the self-possession enough to handle it.

    If you have not registered for CAC17 yet, what are you waiting for? Sara Dahmen and more fantastic speakers (including yourself possibly, if you register before the schedule is full) will be sharing their experience and knowledge about writing books, selling books, and everything to do with being a successful author.

    About Sara

    Sara Dahmen is a metalsmith of vintage and modern kitchenware in tin, copper and iron. Her debut novel, Doctor Kinney’s Housekeeper, won the Laramie Award Grand Prize for Western Historical Fiction, and inspired House Copper & Housekeeper Crockery – American-made cookware. She has published over 100 articles as a contributing editor for multiple magazines, book blogs and review blogs and spoke at TEDx Rapid City, at the Historical Writers of America inaugural conference in Williamsburg VA, and has co-chaired the Port Washington Literary Festival since its inception. Prior to her writing gigs, Sara was a print, radio and TV producer in Milwaukee and owns and has operated a nationally award-winning event planning company since 2006. When not writing or sewing Doctor Kinney'sauthentic clothing for reenactments, she can be found hitting tin and copper at her apprenticeship with a master smith, reading the Economist and reference books, or playing with her three young children.

    Her book Doctor Kinney’s Housekeeper was last year’s Laramie Grand Prize winner in the Chanticleer book awards and writing competitions. She will be presenting this year’s Laramie awards to their new recipients.

    Sara’s class:

    Bigger Than Books: Business Growth Applied to Authorship & Beyond – What more does it take to be a successful author?  Whether you’re represented or self-published or somewhere in between, using overarching business tools are a huge assistance in building success. How can the tools commonly manipulated by marketers, large and small companies, and retailers help you create a successful ‘business plan’ as an author?  From multi-pronged approaches, to developing a tiered ‘clientele’, to organization and presence, business is business, whether you’re an author or the manager of Apple.  Use those same tools to create yours.

    Check out all the classes and sessions we have scheduled!

    Register for CAC17 NOW!

  • Spotlight on: Kathy L. Murphy, Book Club Queen and Special Guest at the 2017 Chanticleer Authors Conference

    For authors, having your book chosen by a book club is one of those exciting author career highlights. A couple of book clubs is even better. But what about 700?

    Meet Kathy L. Murphy, founder of the Pulpwood Queens book club with 700+ chapters in the US and 15 countries around the world. If your book is chosen for the Pulpwood Queens Book Club Selections by Kathy, then your book could be ordered and read by all the members of those 700+ chapters.

    And you can find her at the upcoming Chanticleer Author Conference—CAC17—March 31st to April 2nd. She will be on hand to teach the ins and outs of book clubs and perhaps choose a few new books for her book club selection list.

    If book clubs are on your marketing radar be sure to attend Everything you need to know to get your book discovered in a really big way: It’s all about Book Clubs and Social Media.

    As part of our spotlight series, we asked Kathy our five questions to get her perspective on professional success.

    1. When did you know what you really wanted to be?

    I have always wanted to do many things. First, when I graduated from high school I did not know what I wanted to be so I decided I would become an airline stewardess. I figured I could travel then figure it out.

    Wrong, my counselor at school and parents decided I would become a teacher and go to college. 

    I wanted to major in art, but no, that was not a choice. So I went for two years and secretly changed my major. Then I was told I would have to find my own way to fund my education as my sisters were going to be starting college soon.  So, I took a year off to become a cosmetologist as I knew then I could work as hairdresser to put myself through school.  \I would scrape up some money and go, then when it would run out, I would have to drop out to work for awhile.

    Fast forward to now, I am finally going back to school to finish my B.F.A in Art and Mixed Media but basically I have always been in survival mode on jobs including running probably one of the only hair salon/bookstores in the country, Beauty and the Book. I have been in my life a babysitter, lifeguard, bar maid, cook, waitress, hairdresser, au pair, bed and breakfast owner, bookseller, children’s bookstore manager, publisher’s sales representative, hair salon/book store owner, author, book club founder and moderator, college student, speaker, retail sales clerk, and soon to receive my degree in art–educating myself and reading have always been the utmost of my priorities.

    It took me awhile but to the question “what did I really want to do professionally?”–the answer is everything.

    2. What was the biggest challenge you faced?

    Finances, I have been on the edge of poverty my whole life, but the answer has always been, get another job. Right now I have three, I own and operate Beauty and the Book, run The Pulpwood Queens Book Club and their convention, Girlfriend Weekend, work at Cato’s Fashions, all while being a full time college student. Perhaps four jobs if you count speaking engagements…

    3. How do you define success?

    Success to me is not about money, obviously, it’s hand to mouth most of the time. I work hard for my money. Success is when you have a little girl tell you that when they grow up, they want to be just like you. The story is in my book.

    4. How long did it take to achieve your success?

    Honestly, still working on it but when I look back and see my all accomplishments, even I am impressed.  Started a book club with six relative strangers that grew to 700 chapters nationwide and in 15 foreign countries? I have been featured on Oprah’s OXYGEN NETWORK, Good Morning America, The Oprah Winfrey Show, and in print, The Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, published a book, “The Pulpwood Queens’ Tiara Wearing, Book Sharing Guide to Life” with one of the top five New York publishing houses, Grand Central Publishing and sold my option for book to film to Dreamworks. But my greatest success is my two daughters, Helaina Amethyst Wilkerson and Madeleine Alexandrite Patrick. Two strong young women with big dreams, they are my biggest success.

    5. What is the best advice you have ever received?

    The best advice I ever learned is do the work.  I earned everything I have ever accomplished and I take great satisfaction in that fact. I am not allergic to work, I revel in starting a job and finishing it well. But I have to also say, do the work that you love and it never really seems like work. My work and play are the same thing. Everything I do revolves around doing the work, it’s just that simple.

    If you have not registered for CAC17 yet, what are you waiting for? Kathy L. Murphy and more fantastic speakers (including yourself possibly, if you register before the schedule is full) will be sharing their experience and knowledge about writing books, selling books, and everything to do with being a successful author.

    About Kathy

    13124482_10207535874609768_7153109824897621371_nFormer book purchaser for Barron’sBooks, Kathy L. Murphy is the author of “The Pulpwood Queens’ Tiara Wearing, Book Sharing Guide to Life.” She opened the only hair Salon/Bookstore, Beauty & the Book in the country in Jefferson, Texas. She is the founder and operator of the 700+ chapter book club, The Pulpwood Queen and Timber Guys, nationally and in 15 foreign countries making it the largest “meeting and discussing” book club in the world. Featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show and Good Morning America. Recipient of The James Patterson Pageturner Award in 2007 for an individual going beyond the call for promoting literacy.

    Attend the Exciting GIRLFRIEND WEEKEND hosted by Kathy L. Murphy

    12509907_10206520274467936_7402477889447532913_nThis year’s Annual Pulpwood Queen Book Club Convention will be held in Nacogdoches, Texas January 12th – 15th, 2017. The biggest meeting of authors and readers of its kind. Featuring their notorious author dinner–where the authors from the book club selections serve the readers dinner! And a weekend full of panels and fun.

    Register soon because tickets will probably sell out! Make sure to purchase your membership before your tickets to the Girlfriend Weekend so that you get the discount. Tickets are non-refundable.

    Kathy’s classes:

    Everything you need to know to get your book discovered in a really big way: It’s all about Book Clubs and Social Media – Getting readers one at a time can be a long and grueling process. Book clubs are little groups of readers who read books as a single entity. Learn how to super charge your promotion by leveraging book clubs and discover how and where to source the best clubs and how to make the most of each and every book club appearance!

    Check out all the classes and sessions we have scheduled!

    Register for CAC17 NOW!

  • Spotlight on: Shari Stauch, Special Guest at the 2017 Chanticleer Authors Conference

    Spotlight on: Shari Stauch, Special Guest at the 2017 Chanticleer Authors Conference

    You’ve been on your computer for hours, eyestrain is setting in. If you get a moment away from the screen, it stays chained to you in the form of a smart phone. But no matter how many times you post “buy my book” on Twitter, your Amazon numbers don’t seem to budge!

    You need Shari Stauch.

    And you can find her at the upcoming Chanticleer Author Conference—CAC17—March 31st to April 2nd.

    Shari and her team at Where Writers Win, with their top notch marketing advice, are every author’s hero–and ours too! Shari is one of the supporters who have been rooting for us since before CAC began, coming up with a new set of sessions to help authors promote themselves each and every year of the conference.

    If your website is a beast that needs taming be sure to attend her 7 Steps to a Great Author Website: It’s All About Function vs. Form. If you have trouble figuring out what to say on social media and how to say, jump in head first with Deep Dive: Social Media Savvy for Authors: Building an Author Platform Using the BEST Social Sites for YOUR Audience.

    And, ever with her finger on the pulse of what authors are craving, this year Shari brings us a touch of Hollywood: Lights, Camera, Author ACTION: Creative Uses of Video to Build Your Author Brand.

    As part of our spotlight series, we asked Shari our five questions to get her perspective on professional success.

    1. When did you know what you really wanted to be?

    I’ve always been a reader and drawn to the creative community, so working more with authors really just became a natural extension of that. I love promoting authors and seeing their passions take hold with bigger audiences.

    2. What was the biggest challenge you faced?

    The biggest challenge I faced is the one I (and all of us) still face — keeping up with the speed of technology and the changes and opportunities that brings to publishing. HMTL websites have given way to more user-friendly WordPress sites; social media has evolved from early days of MySpace (yuck!) to so many platforms today. Simple text has given way to fewer words and more visuals, both photos and video. New publishing platforms seem to breed like rabbits. There’s always new intel, and innovative ways authors can connect with readers. While that’s a challenge, it’s also what makes book and author promotion so invigorating.

    3. How do you define success?

    Waking up every morning and being excited about what I’ll learn, and looking up late at night and not realizing how much time has gone by while I’ve been working on a project. It’s true what they say; love what you do and the rest will follow. Every single author we’ve worked with who’s loved the process has achieved their own personal success as well, whether that’s big readership or bottom line book sales profits. That I get to be a part of that is an honor and a privilege.

    4. How long did it take to achieve your success?

    It’s a process that I’m not sure ever really officially started, or will stop. I don’t think most of us wake up one day and say, “Okay, I’m successful, I can stop now.” Depending on how you define success (which for me is pure bliss doing what I do) then it doesn’t have to take any time at all – it’s a mindset! I’ve been a magazine editor, a pool player, an author, a promoter, an event producer, a wife and a mom before creating Where Writers Win, so I’ve been lucky (and then some) to enjoy a lot of successes 🙂

    5. What is the best advice you have ever received?

    I’ve received so much great advice from so many… but from my dad came the ultimate: “People do what they want to do.” Meaning, if you’re doing something you’re unhappy doing, it’s up to you to change it, or figure out a way to get happy about it. There’s no rule anywhere that says work has to be dreary – I’m going to have fun whether I’m working with a client, speaking at a conference, or vacuuming up dust-bunnies. Okay, maybe not the dust-bunnies as much, but it does feel good when I’ve corralled them all… Just sayin’…

    If you have not registered for CAC17 yet, what are you waiting for? Eileen Cook and more fantastic speakers (including yourself possibly, if you register before the schedule is full) will be sharing their experience and knowledge about writing books, selling books, and everything to do with being a successful author.

    About Shari

    Shari_Stauch-e14086661578841.jpgCEO and creator of Where Writers Win, Shari Stauch has been involved in publishing, marketing and PR for 30 years. As former board chair of Charleston’s Center for Women, she served as moderator for the Center’s Women’s Writer Series, and conducted seminars for the South Carolina Women’s Business Center on website marketing and image branding. She is also past producer, alongside team member Bren McClain, of the South Carolina Writers Workshop (SCWW) Conference in Myrtle Beach, SC.

    Stauch continues to work with the Pirate’s Alley Faulkner Society as well as with agents, editors, and emerging authors throughout the U.S., using her marketing and PR talents to help authors broaden their audiences, and publishers realize greater sales potential.

    Where Writers Win

    WWW_logoThe “Winner Circle” is a unique Author Resource Market offering access to a full suite of Author marketing services, including: author websites, social media training, video book trailers, hundreds of advice articles, vetted book reviewers, live book clubs, writers conferences and book festivals, indie bookstores, writing competitions and more.

     

    Shari’s Classes:

    Deep Dive: Social Media Savvy for Authors: Building an Author Platform Using the BEST Social Sites for YOUR Audience – Which are the key social media sites you need to be on? Tips for building YOUR targeted audience on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Goodreads, and Pinterest. What to share and how often to share it! A key part of building your platform revolves around serious social media. But what should you share? And how often? And with who? We offer tips for each of the most important traffic building sites for authors today!

    7 Steps to a Great Author Website: It’s All About Function vs. Form – A professional website is a must-have hub for your author communication. Why the “prettiest” websites tend to fail at the book sales box office. Combining form with function to present a professional message that converts visitors to readers. An author website can be attractive and still WORK. Learn why so many sites aren’t reader-friendly and how to ensure your own author website attracts attention and more important, book sales. Discover how to increase your searchability, what content readers are looking for, and what keeps them on your page (and coming back for more!)

    Lights, Camera, Author ACTION: Creative Uses of Video to Build Your Author Brand – Seven ways to create and use video to promote yourself, your brand and your books. Elements of a great video book trailer that will actually sell books. Where to push that video content once you create it! Interviews, video book trailers and more can bring life to your words in all new ways to build a serious fan base. This informative workshop includes ways other authors are using video to build buzz, the elements of successful video book trailers and the dozens of ways you can use and share the video content you create to build a bigger reading audience.

    Check out all the classes and sessions we have scheduled!

    Register for CAC17 NOW!

  • Spotlight on: Eileen Cook, Special Guest at the 2017 Chanticleer Authors Conference

    Two-year-olds begin to learn to resolve and reduce conflict when their mothers teach them that biting isn’t nice. But it’s an authors job to create and escalate conflict to uncomfortable degrees. Not quite biting level–maybe a notch below. Or there could be biting. The story will out.

    So how do authors overcome a lifetime of social training to avoid conflict?

    Eileen Cook to the rescue! Eileen is an author with a background as a therapist–specifically in conflict resolution. One of the sessions she will teach at the upcoming Chanticleer Author Conference—CAC17 is March 31st to April 2nd–will be her class The Perfect Storm:  Character, Conflict and Motivation, which is a unique experience falling somewhere between marriage counseling and writing class. If you have a slightly rocky relationship you’d like to improve, or some characters whose relationships need to be smashed on the rocks to get your plot moving, either way, you will benefit from attending this class with Eileen Cook.

    Also, not to be missed, is her class: Why Would You Say That?  How to Improve Your Dialogue.

    We asked our CAC17 special guest speakers a few questions to break the ice and introduce them to all of you who’ve already registered or are planning to register for CAC17. And Eileen was the first to jump in with her answers, below.

    1. When did you know what you really wanted to be?

    I always wanted to be a writer. My parents kept a homework assignment I did in second grade where instead of practicing sentences, I strung mine all together and the teacher wrote on the bottom: “Someday you’ll be an author.” It took me a while to get there— but now that homework sheet hangs in my office as proof of the power of those who believe in you and the idea of never giving up.

    2. What was the biggest challenge you faced?

    It’s often not the big challenges, but the small (seemingly endless) setbacks that I found wore me down. It’s hard to keep going in the face of rejection. It’s far easier to give up than to keep trying.

    3. How do you define success?

    My definition for success in writing is to continue to learn and grow as a writer and to never forget how truly fortunate I am to do this work. My goalposts for what I want to achieve keep changing- but I hope I always remember to find the joy in the process of creating and sharing stories.

    4. How long did it take to achieve your success?

    It depends on when you want to start the clock! I wanted to be a writer since I was young, but if we start the clock when I started to take the craft seriously, taking classes, writing on a regular basis, completing projects and submitting manuscripts it took about six years before I sold my first book.

    5. What is the best advice you have ever received?

    I took a class and the instructor pulled me aside and told me that I should be submitting my work- that I had talent. I stated that I didn’t know I would do if I was rejected. The instructor told me: “I hate to break this to you- but you’re already not published. The worst thing that will happen to you if you submit your work is that you STILL won’t be published.” That was a lightbulb moment for me- I realized that the worst thing that would happen is that someone would tell me no- but if I was unwilling to survive some no’s I would never get to a yes.

    If you have not registered for CAC17 yet, what are you waiting for? Eileen Cook and more fantastic speakers (including yourself possibly, if you register before the schedule is full) will be sharing their experience and knowledge about writing books, selling books, and everything to do with being a successful author.

    eileen-cookAbout Eileen

    Eileen Cook is a multi-published author with her novels appearing in eight different languages. Her books have been optioned for film and TV. She spent most of her teen years wishing she were someone else or somewhere else, which is great training for a writer. Her newest book, WITH MALICE, came out in June 2016. She’s an instructor/mentor with the Simon Fraser University Writer’s Studio Program.

    You can read more about Eileen, her books, and the things that strike her as funny at www.eileencook.com. Eileen lives in Vancouver with her husband and two very naughty dogs and no longer wishes to be anyone or anywhere else.

    with-maliceWITH MALICE by Eileen Cook

    For fans of We Were Liars and The Girl on the Train comes a chilling, addictive psychological thriller about a teenage girl who cannot remember the last six weeks of her life.

    Eighteen-year-old Jill Charron’s senior trip to Italy was supposed to be the adventure of a lifetime. And then the accident happened. Waking up in a hospital room, her leg in a cast, stitches in her face, and a big blank canvas where the last 6 weeks should be, Jill comes to discover she was involved in a fatal accident in her travels abroad. She was jetted home by her affluent father in order to receive quality care. Care that includes a lawyer. And a press team. Because maybe the accident…wasn’t an accident. Wondering not just what happened but what she did, Jill tries to piece together the events of the past six weeks before she loses her thin hold on her once-perfect life.

    Eileen’s Classes:

    • Why Would You Say That? How to Improve Your Dialogue –Dialogue serves many purposes in a manuscript- it moves the plot forward, shows character, and can be used to increase conflict. This workshop will provide practical examples and prompts to help writers create dialogue that pulls in readers. It will also explore how what is not said can be as important (or more) than what characters say.
      The Perfect Storm: Character, Conflict and Motivation –The challenge of keeping readers turning pages requires the perfect storm of characters, their conflicts and their motivations coming together. This workshop will explore how these different aspects worth together and how the writer can use each of them to amplify the others. Practical prompts and examples will help participants with their current manuscript as well as providing areas to consider when planning new works.

    Check out all the classes and sessions we have scheduled!

    Register for CAC17 NOW!

  • Will Your Books Have PRIME Shelf Space in one of the TOP Indie Bookstores in America?

    Will Your Books Have PRIME Shelf Space in one of the TOP Indie Bookstores in America?

    Publisher’s Weekly recognized  Village Books of Bellingham and Lynden, Wash. as one of the top five independently owned bookstores in North America for 2016. (Publisher’s Weekly, Jan. 26, 2016)

    002

    “…the 2016 PW Awards reflect the growth and vitality of independent bookstores,” said PW senior v-p and publisher Cevin Bryerman. “They are coming off a strong holiday season, and several just opened, or are about to open, second or third locations.” 

    Every year at the Chanticleer Author Conference, we pack a ton of value into the weekend for our authors: from valuable knowledge in workshops and sessions, to a thrilling Awards Gala, to the 3-day Books by the Bay book fair that is managed by Village Books, a national leading independent bookstore.

    bbb poster 2017 smallBooks by the Bay is an exciting opportunity for attendees to sell their books  during the CAC weekend, but to also to gain exposure to a nationally recognized bookseller.

    But wait! That’s not all! Village Books sweetens the pot by offering to the Books by the Bay participating authors of the top 5 bestselling titles of the book fair to continue to carry their title at Village Books after the event. Village Books will also feature the books in their bookstores at Books by the Bay Bestsellers and feature the books on the VB website and in VB’s social media.

    But it doesn’t end there. After the weekend Village Books, our hardworking bookseller, tallies the numbers and comes up with the Top Five Bestselling Titles of Books by the Bay.

    Congratulations to Sharon Anderson, Nicole Evelina, James Wells, Donna Barker and Grant Harper Reid for rising to the top! These titles get the added benefit of remaining for sale and on display in Village Books. They were also featured in the highly circulated Chuckanut Reader.

    Books by the Bay VB Bestsellers lo resRegistration for the Chanticleer Author Conference in 2017 (CAC17) is already open and we have some jaw dropping early bird rates if you register before September 8th. It’s a full weekend of learning, packed with networking, gourmet meals and fun, a full weekend of book sales, and many many residual benefits. We are already receiving registrations! Seating is limited, so don’t miss out!

  • Chanticleer Authors Conference 2016: A Photo Recap

    Chanticleer Authors Conference 2016: A Photo Recap

    The Chanticleer Authors Conference 2016 a weekend of Fun and Learning

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    The Book Fair sold a lot of books!

    Everyone wanted their picture taken with our “special guest”

     Things may have gotten a little crazy during the Big Hair Makeovers….

    We celebrated a lot of 1st place Category winners!

    And then we celebrated the Grand Prize winners from each genre:

    And then came the final announcement of our Overall Grand Prize Winner!

    And the best thing about #CAC16: we fooled you all into thinking we are tidy and organized!

    The #CAC16 Aftermath - Our Chanticleer office on Monday after you all went home!
    The #CAC16 Aftermath – Our Chanticleer office on Monday after you all went home!
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  • Chanticleer Authors Conference 2015 a photo recap

    Many have been asking for the photos from #CAC15 and we have been trying to find a quiet moment to post them, amongst all the review posting, ribbon mailing and preparations for next year’s author conference. Here they are. Thanks for your patience. Enjoy!

    We had a wonderful location right on Bellingham Bay to set the scene for a fantastic conference

    (Photo Credits to our wonderful Lacey Longpré)

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    The Book Fair was a smashing success

    (Photo Credits to our wonderful Lacey Longpré)

    We had a great line up of speakers and lots of eager students at our sessions

    (Photo Credits to our wonderful Lacey Longpré)

    And let’s not forget the amazing food, entertainment, and fun

    (Photo Credits to our wonderful Lacey Longpré)

    The Chanticleer Awards Gala and Banquet was a night to remember for many people

    (Photo Credits to the talented Elaine Dillon)

    This Year’s Winning reaction: Jesikah Sundin Dante Rossetti Grand Prize Winner for Legacy: Biodome Chronicles Book 1

    (Photo Credit Myles Sundin)

    Jesikah Sundin Winning Reaction Prize 2014

    Thanks for the great year everyone. Don’t forget to register for CAC16 coming up sooner than you think, in April 2016![/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]