Insecure Writer’s Support Group & Back to School Special

It’s time for another edition of The Insecure Writer’s Support Group, founded by Ninja Captain, Alex J. Cavanaugh.

September 1 question - How do you define success as a writer? Is it holding your book in your hand? Having a short story published? Making a certain amount of income from your writing?

Certainly, selling a million copies would be considered successful. For the average traditionally published author, that’s a million dollars. Not bad!

However, since I personally will never be in that category, I fall back to all of fans I made over the years. I have several scrapbooks for my books and all the events and such over the years. Hundreds of photos of people holding my books after purchasing them, many repeat customers. I can look back at those and feel a sense of success.

Today is the last day to enter the IWSG Anthology Contest is open until September 1. The genre is sweet romance and the theme first love. Please see the site for the submission details.

#IWSGPit is set for January 26, 2022. It’s an all-day event where you pitch your manuscript in a line or two and using the appropriate hashtags. Visit the site for info.
Do these Twitter pitch parties work? YES. Dancing Lemur Press has signed FIVE authors from Twitter pitch parties. (And I believe all of them came from #IWSGpit.)

The IWSG Goodreads Book Club has selected two books for next month: Parallels: Felix Was Here and Tick Tock: A Stitch in Crime.
Pick up one of those IWSG anthologies, read it, and share with the club!

September back-to-school special!

Buy one print book direct, get two eBooks free.
Buy two print books direct, get two eBooks and an audio book free.
All orders come with swag – bookmarks, postcards, etc.

Conditions:
Orders must be placed through the Dancing Lemur Press website.
USA delivery only – but please inquire into shipping costs as we can ship to some countries outside the USA.
EBooks over $2.99 not eligible for free eBook selections.
Audio boxed sets not eligible for free audio book selection.
Dancing Lemur Press author discounts do not apply.
Offer good through September 30, 2021.

Take advantage of this great offer – support your favorite author and a publisher whose live events are cancelled for the rest of the year.

What is your definition of success?
Ready to get some books for you or as a gift? Christmas is coming!

IWSG Site - Preparing for a Con

I am posting at the IWSG site today - How to Prepare for a Conference, Festival, or Convention as a Vendor.

If you love YA contemporary fantasy with a great first person voice, please check out my last post on My Magic Summer.

Looking for a Little Magic

Dancing Lemur Press’ next big release is My Magic Summer on February 1, 2022. It’s a delightful YA contemporary fantasy with a fantastic voice.

We are seeking virtual tour stops for author Brian Carmody, either guest posts or interviews. We also have a few review copies to give out, including print.

Here is information on Brian:

Brian is an award-winning screenwriter and novelist with a B.A. in Creative Writing & Lit Studies and an MFA in Screenwriting. He’s worked in the movie industry in many capacities, including Warner Brothers intern and Jean-Claude Van Damme bodyguard. Numerous short films he’s written and directed have been featured in film festivals from San Diego Comic Con to Rio to Lagos. Website

Some of his speaking topics:

Dreams, Consciousness, and Time Travel
Superheroes as Modern Myth
Getting a Headstart on Life: What I Learned Going to College at 16
Moondreams: Magical Realism and the Power of Romantic Nostalgia
The Teleontological Argument: God, Sentience, and the Concept of Design

And the book information:

My Magic Summer
With the Moon Maidens
By Brian Carmody
Print 9781939844804 $17.95
EBook 9781939844811 $4.99
Young Adult – Contemporary Fantasy/Coming of Age/Boys & Men
252 pages

Who are these moon maidens?

Summer of ’94 and Connor Whelan is excited to spend the last three months before his senior year with his uncle in Texas. Aware this trip is due to his mom’s cancer treatments, he still hopes this will be a season of magic.

He gets his wish when he encounters three magical women one night. Claiming to be from the moon itself, bewitching Iluna, flighty Eiru, and motherly Cassiopeia are about to make Connor’s last summer of childhood one to remember.

However, his interest in local girl Laura puts him in hot water with her tough boyfriend. His fascination with Iluna also confuses him. Will the moon maidens’ lessons about joy, wonder, and hope get him through this crazy summer?

Links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iTunes / Kobo / Scribed / Goodreads

Let me know if you can help with either the tour or a review.

The Insecure Writer's Support Group and GalaxyCon

It’s time for another edition of The Insecure Writer’s Support Group, founded by Ninja Captain, Alex J. Cavanaugh.

August 4 question - What is your favorite writing craft book? Think of a book that every time you read it, you learn something or you are inspired to write or try the new technique. And why?

Please consider purchasing some IWSG swag. Erasers, notebooks, etc. It all goes to cover the IWSG domain name.

The IWSG Anthology Contest is open until September 1. You have one more month to enter. The genre is sweet romance and the theme first love. Please see the site for the exact submission details.

Toi Thomas will be taking over the IWSG Goodreads Book Club.

* * *

Last weekend was GalaxyCon Raleigh. Four days of comic con.

They reduced the number who could enter by a third.

And it reflected in sales.

As thus, this will be our last year for GalaxyCon.


It’s an expensive booth and four very exhaustive days. We’d have two free hours in the morning and one in the evening and that was it. All else was con or sleeping.

There are plenty of other cons in NC that are closer to our budget and time limits.

I did get to see Barry Bostwick again – and he remembered me! Three years ago, he stopped by our booth Saturday morning before opening and talked with us for a while. When I asked if I could take a photo of him, he said “Only if you are in it.” (Which made me laugh every time I passed his booth and saw folks paying $40 to get a photo with him.) He remembered me in 2019 and again this year, so I was over the moon. He is an amazing person.

But we are done with that con. On to the next, which is Greenville Comic Con this Saturday!