Book Signing at the Psychic Fair - Kathryn Knight

My debut novel Silver Lake released at the end of August 2012.  Since then, I've done 10 different book signing events, with various results in sales.  I've tried to think outside the box in terms of venues, and it has paid off--not always monetarily, but I've found many new readers.

Four of the signings took place in the typical locations: book stores, the library, an author event.  But the other six have been more unusual places.  I work at a women's gym, so with the owner's encouragement I held a signing there one Saturday morning.  The owner of a skin care spa I visit invited me to sign books all day at their holiday open house.  I have a friend who owns a gift shop in an outdoor mall in our town, and she suggested I set up a table outside her store during the annual autumn "Sidewalk Sale". 

Signing books at my gym

I purchased tables at two different holiday craft fairs and discovered how valuable good table space is as vendors staked their claim as soon as the doors opened for set-up.  But I'm learning the routine, and at one fair I received a flier looking for vendors for a local "Psychic Fair".

It was scheduled the weekend before Valentine's Day, and the wheels in my mind started turning.  Silver Lake is a ghost story and a love story - people interested in connecting with spirits or looking for a good romance read might be a perfect audience!  I purchased a spot at the fair for $40.

A big blizzard resulted in the shutdown of the entire town on the scheduled weekend, so the event was postponed.  I was disappointed to miss out on the Valentine's Day angle.  Then I found out in March, with less than a week's notice, a new location had been found to accommodate the fair, and it was back on.

I didn't see much advertising for the fair that week, and with the late notice I was worried.  But the traffic was great all day!  I wasn't sure what to expect at a Psychic Fair, but it was very interesting.  There were about 20 psychics participating, and they each had a little table with chairs set up in the middle of the room.  Information on each psychic was posted at the entrance, along with a sign-up sheet for a 20 minute slot.  Some worked with Tarot Cards or objects, some specialized in spirit communication (proof of afterlife), some helped answer questions about the future or offered spirit guidance.  One medium was obviously very popular; her slots were filled up for the whole day very quickly!  Each reading was $20 and many people visited several psychics.

The vendors were lined up all around the outside of the readings area, and I was the only one selling books.  Other items for sale included jewelry, crystals, handmade soaps and cards, natural products, and food.  The 6 hours went by quickly and I did well enough with sales to come out ahead of my $40 investment.

But the best part was an email I received yesterday from someone who purchased my novel.  I've pasted it below, and although this reader wasn't a psychic, I hope her prediction comes true!

"Hello Kathryn,

I met you last week at the psychic fair and purchased your novel.  I loved your book and really enjoyed the way you wrote and the story line.  I tend to read novels that are best sellers and found your book to be as well written as I have ever read.  Based on the fact that this is your first novel, I predict you are going to be a very successful writer."

I'm crossing my fingers, and more importantly, working hard on book #3.  And in my spare time (ha, ha), I'll keep trying to come up with new and creative ways to reach readers!

Liebster Blog Award - 11 facts about Kathryn Knight

Liebster Award Blog – In German “Liebster” means loved one or favorite (so I’m told anyway!), so thank you Christine Elaine Black for nominating me.  Here’s her original blog post:  http://christineelaineblack.blogspot.com/

 

So this award is all about blogging and answering questions and also a game of "tag you're it".  I love nominating people for awards and that's why I agreed to play and pick four of my favourite colleagues.  So read the rules and the facts and then check out some blog links of other players.

Rules:

1. You must tell 11 things about yourself.

2. Answer the questions your nominator gives you.

3. Create 11 questions for the bloggers you nominate.

4. Choose new blogs with fewer than 200 followers and link them to your post.

5. If you’re nominated, please leave a comment on this post with the URL of your Liebster Award post.

Here are the answers to the 11 questions posed to me:

Hot and sexy or sweet and romantic?

If I had to choose one or the other, probably hot and sexy.  But for me the best romances have a potent combination of both:  sexy without being over-the-top graphic and sweet enough to make me care about the characters.

Where would you live for one year if you had the chance to take on a whole new culture?

Scotland.  It seems like a mysterious and romantic place, filled with history and beauty. 

 

Do you have any talents besides your amazing writing skills?

 

I teach fitness classes – I’ve been doing it for 22 years and I still love it.  I teach Step Aerobics, Zumba, Body Pump, Pilates, and Sculpting classes. 

 

One thing you could change about yourself?

 

Plenty of things, lol, but I’ll start with better time management.  I tend to be late for most things.

 

How many children do have or want to have?

 

I have 2 wonderful boys.

 

What were the best years of your life?

 

I’m really enjoying right now!  I’ve achieved a life-long dream of having a book traditionally published, and recently my second novel released early on Kindle.  I’m enjoying the freedom of having kids old enough to stay out of trouble and still young enough to stay out of a different type of trouble.  My husband is supportive of me and has achieved some of his own major goals recently as well.

 

Favourite author and why?

 

Oh, gosh, so many.  Overall, probably Judith McNaught and her incredible historical romances.

 

Pizza and beer or Champagne and strawberries?

 

I like both!  Champagne and strawberries if I had to choose one.

 

How often do you visit your hair stylist?

 

My family has some strong “gray hair” genes, so I go every 5 weeks to turn them blonde.  Meanwhile my husband is 2 years older than I am and he doesn’t have a single gray!

 

Married or single?

 

Married 17 years to the love of my life. 

 

Favourite activity other than writing romance?

 

Reading and gardening.

 

Here are your questions ladies:

 

1.     What book are you reading now?

2.     Where do you write your blog posts?

3.     Describe how a perfect day would go.

4.     Is there any form of social media you refuse to learn or participate in?

5.     What’s your favorite musical?

6.     Coffee or tea?

7.     How many pets do you have?

8.     E books or print?

9.     Do you use pictures for inspiration when you write?

10.  Biggest pet peeve?

11.  Favorite smell?

 

Meet A Hero Monday Character Interview - Studio Relations

Today brings another addition of Meet A Hero Monday!  This Monday, we have Weston Holmes, hero of Georgie Lee’s Studio Relations, businessman and one-third owner of Holmes International, the parent company of Lion Studios.

Welcome Weston, thanks for being here.  When is your birthday and how old are you?

I’m thirty years old and was born in 1905.

Wow, 1905!  How do you spend your days and what are your hobbies?

Most of my days are spent at the Holmes International office.  We have companies and businesses in many countries. With the Depression still plaguing us, I have to keep a careful eye on investments and income from both the domestic and overseas markets.

In my spare time, I enjoy playing tennis, driving, horseback riding and, thanks to Vivien’s influence, watching movies. Since Vivien entered my life, I’ve learned to relax and enjoy life a little more. Vivien makes me laugh in a way no other woman has before. I’m responsible for a lot of people and sometimes I don’t know when to relax and have fun. Vivien is a hard worker too, but she doesn’t take herself too seriously, and she helps me do the same.

She sounds like a keeper.  Can you list 3 words that best describe you?

Efficient. Dependable. Loyal.

All good qualities.  Where have you traveled?

I travel a lot on business and I’ve been to Europe, South America and a good portion of the United States. I’m going to Mexico next week to finalize the acquisition of a Latin American theatre chain.

If you could keep only one material item you own, what would it be?

My Duesenberg. It was custom designed in black with chrome. The interior, which is also custom, is fitted with dark-maroon leather and deep wood trim. The car drives and handles like a dream.

Sounds beautiful.  What is your favorite food?  Favorite drink?

My favorite food is steak, well-done with sautéed vegetables. My favorite drink is a dry martini.

Lastly, who would play you in a movie?

If they ever make a movie of my life, I’m going to have my Uncle Earl, head of Lions Studios, pull some strings and get Robert Taylor on loan from MGM to play me.

We enjoyed meeting you Weston!  Readers please enjoy the blurb below and leave a comment to enter the giveaway.

Studio Relations Blurb

Vivien Howard hasn’t forgiven Weston Holmes for almost derailing her career five years ago. Female directors in 1930s Hollywood are few and far between, and a man who coasts by on his good looks and family connections can’t possibly appreciate what it took for her to get to where she is. But when the studio head puts Weston in charge of overseeing Vivien’s ambitious Civil War film, she realizes she has a choice: make nice with her charismatic new boss or watch a replacement director destroy her dream.

Weston Holmes doesn’t know much about making movies, but he knows plenty about money. And thanks to the Depression, ticket sales are dangerously low. The studio can’t afford a flop—or bad press, which is exactly what threatens to unfold when an innocent encounter between Weston and Vivien is misconstrued by the gossip rags. The only solution? A marriage of convenience that will force the bickering duo into an unlikely alliance—and guide them to their own happy Hollywood ending.

 

Georgie Lee Bio

A dedicated history and film buff, Georgie Lee loves combining her passion for Hollywood, history and storytelling through romantic fiction. She began writing professionally at a small TV station in San Diego before moving to Los Angeles to work in the interesting but strange world of the entertainment industry.

Her traditional Regency, Lady’s Wager and her contemporary novella Rock ‘n’ Roll Reunion are both available from Ellora’s Cave Blush. Labor Relations, a contemporary romance of Hollywood is currently available from Montlake Romance. Mask of the Gladiator, a novella of ancient Rome is now available from Carina Press.

When not writing, Georgie enjoys reading non-fiction history and watching any movie with a costume and an accent. Please visit  www.georgie-lee.com for more information about Georgie and her novels.

Social Media Links

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/georgie.lee.96

Twitter: @GeorgieLeeBooks

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2985551.Georgie_Lee

Blog: http://georgielee.blogspot.com

Buy Links

http://www.amazon.com/Studio-Relations-ebook/dp/B008RBSNYY/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1363607150&sr=1-1&keywords=studio+relations

 

Friday Fitness Tips - Kathryn Knight

Aside from reading and writing, my other passion is fitness. I've been a certified group fitness instructor for 22 years now, and have taught classes nonstop during that time period--throughout graduate school, 3 moves, and 2 pregnancies. I'm a personal trainer as well, although I prefer the energy and camaraderie of group classes to one-on-one workouts. Being in front of a class and cuing every move helps clear my mind. I cannot possibly dwell on a plot issue that's troubling me when 20 people are expecting a cue every 8 counts. Usually by the time class is over, the endorphins have cleared any blockades, and the answer to "what happens next?" springs to the surface.

Exercise is the way I keep my sanity (what little I have left anyway), so I thought it would be fun to write every once and a while about a few of the tips I share with my class. Today it's about multi-tasking. I'm busy. The gym members who take my class are busy. So I try to pack in as much as I possibly can in an hour, especially during the strength training portion of class. And the benefit is two-fold: not only are you saving time, but working several muscle groups at once will burn major calories. For example, if you are doing squats, grab a Pilates ring and do chest presses at the same time. Or use some hand weights and add an overhead press to your squat.

Other examples include dynamic lunges with a bicep curls, burpees holding hand weights (with flat sides) finishing with an overhead press, or lying with your head and upper back on a stability ball (activating the gluts) while you do triceps extensions.




Of course this is not the recipe for huge muscle mass increases. That's a goal that requires different training and diet. But training several muscle groups at once is a great way to build strength and torch calories in a limited time period.

Character Interview - win a copy of Secrets in the Sand!

 
Meet A Hero Monday, the best part of Monday morning! Today we have a character interview with Gene Nicholas, the hero of Alana Lorens’ SECRETS IN THE SAND, from The Wild Rose Press.

Let’s get the basics first. When is your birthday and how old are you?

March 11, and I’m 42 years old. Some days it feels like more, though.

I hear you. How do you spend your days and what are your hobbies?

I’m filling in as a handyman at Lily Pearl Evans’ Sassafras Social Club, a bordello outside Chaparral, New Mexico. With a houseful of young women, that means I’m unclogging drains and hanging pictures, fixing window frames, you name it. But that’s not my real life, just the one I’m living till I can lift the death sentence hanging over me.

Oh, wow. Sounds like interesting work…and a terrifying situation. Does that leave you any time for hobbies?

Right now there’s only one. Trying to keep from falling in love with Lily Pearl. Well, that and being a good listening ear to any of her girls who need to talk. You’d be surprised how much they just need someone to listen once in awhile. Oh, and I play piano in the evenings for the soirees. I can tear up the keyboard with a mad ragtime number any time.

I love a man with musical talent! Can you list 3 words that best describe you?

Compassionate, idealistic, empathetic

All good qualities. So, where have you traveled?

After medical school, I practiced in sunny Fort Lauderdale, Florida, delivering babies and then helping keep the little tykes healthy through their growing years. But I got an itch to do something more…I don’t know--useful? So I signed up for Doctors Without Borders and got assigned a great place in Puerto de Anapra, Mexico. At least I thought it was a great place, until I got into it with the local drug lord. He killed Rosa, one of my little patients, so he and I had it out. It didn’t turn out so well for him. Or, I guess, for me, either.

Whoa that sounds terrifying. What an incredible story! If you could keep only one material item you own, what would it be?

My doctor’s bag, fully-stocked. That way I can be ready for anything.

You sound like an excellent guy to have around. What is your favorite food? Favorite drink?

Lily Pearl makes one heck of a ham sandwich, thin sliced meat fresh off the bone, on pumpernickel bread, with the thinnest smear of dark, spicy mustard. I’ve had lots of ham sandwiches before, but hers is the best. Even better than my mother’s. (Sorry, Mom.)

As for something to drink, nothing beats a hot, fresh black cup of strong coffee.

I agree with that! Finally, who would play you in a movie?

Definitely Karl Urban. He can play rough, tough, and soft at the same time. Like me.

Thank you Gene, your story sounds amazing! Readers please enjoy the blurb and leave a comment to enter the giveaway.

BLURB for SECRETS IN THE SAND:

After a run of bad relationships, Lily Pearl Evans has finally become an independent woman. In the New Mexico desert town of Chaparral, she works for herself, sets her own rules, and is determined no man will hold her back again.

Gene Nicholas worked for more than a decade to achieve his dream to be a doctor. Wanting to share his gifts with those less fortunate, he leaves south Florida to volunteer for Doctors Without Borders in Mexico.

When Gene provokes a showdown with the local Mexican drug cartel, he becomes a man with a price on his head. On the run, he ends up on Lily’s doorstep--a mystery man forced to conceal his past to protect them both. With the cartel’s dangerous web drawing tight around them, can Lily and Gene survive a drug lord’s revenge?

Buy links: http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=137&products_id=4466

Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Secrets-In-The-Sand-ebook/dp/B004XJ5YIC/ref=la_B005GE0WBC_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1362340750&sr=1-4

 

Character Interview and Giveaway - Not Without Risk

It’s Monday, and today we’re meeting Sergeant Justin Harrison from Not Without Risk, by Sarah Grimm.  His story (and that picture) already have me intrigued!  Please enjoy today’s Meet A Hero character interview, and leave a comment to enter the giveaway!

Welcome Sergeant.  Tell us, when is your birthday and how old are you?

August 27.   I am 35 years old.

Can you list 3 words that best describe you?

Six months ago I would have said impulsive, insatiable and invincible.  Then a .38 punctured my lung and I nearly died.  I guess now I would go with practical, methodical, and dedicated.

How awful.  How do you spend your days and what are your hobbies?

Before I was shot, my hobbies were smoking and sex.  Six months later, I can’t take a deep breath without pain so smoking is out of the question, and I haven’t been able to consider enjoying a woman with the same carelessness as before.  My days are now spent proving to myself and my colleagues that I am fit to return to active duty while trying to remain impervious to the long-legged brunette who stumbled into my crime scene.

That sounds like a challenge!  Where have you traveled?

I was born and raised in San Diego.  With the exception of the great state of California, I haven’t traveled much.  I haven’t had time, as my career has always been my main focus.

Your dedication is admirable.  So, if you could keep only one material item you own, what would it be?

My 1969 Pontiac GTO ‘The Judge’.  I found her in a field behind someone‘s house with four flat tires and mold covering the front seat.

I’m guessing she looks a lot better now!  What is your favorite food?  Favorite drink?

Medium-rare prime rib and ice cold beer served in a frosted mug.

Finally, who would play you in a movie?

Jensen Ackles                                                                      

Oh, he is a perfect fit!  Thanks for being here today Justin.  Your story sounds fascinating.

BLURB:

The last thing he wanted was what he needed most...

Six agonizing months after a slug collapsed his lung, Sergeant Justin Harrison manages to return to the one place where he shines—the San Diego homicide division. Nothing will stand in the way of proving he is fit for active duty. Especially not the long-legged brunette who just stumbled into his crime scene.

Photographer Paige Conroy spent years hiding from her past. Then a late night telephone call brings it crashing back. An old friend is in town and needs her help. When she arrives at his hotel room four hours later, he's dead. Suddenly, she's the target of a madman, and Paige must turn to Sergeant Harrison for protection.

But who is the bigger threat to her... the faceless assailant she fears will steal her life or the dark-eyed detective she knows could steal her heart?

 

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/VCdnYz

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/134DlkP

The Romance Reviews Party - grand prize $100

Happy March!  I personally have had it with winter this year.  With all the storms that hit New England and all the trees we have in our yard, I now have enough downed branches to build a good-sized fort, complete with fence.  Spring clean-up is going to be an ordeal.

For the entire month of March, The Romance Reviews site is hosting its 2nd Anniversary Party contest - the grand prize is a $100 gift certificate and there are plenty of other prizes along the way (one being an e-copy of Silver Lake)!  And if you love romance, you'll get plenty of new ideas for your reading list as you play the game.  I've included the link below - good luck if you play (and the answer to my contest question can be found under the Silver Lake tab on this blog :) ).

http://www.theromancereviews.com/event.php