This week I get to run away from home and do one of my favorite things: attend a readers’ luncheon and host my own author table. I’ll be at the first annual Barbara Vey Readers Luncheon in Oak Creek, WI on April 10th. Thirty five authors will be in attendance and over 200 readers have purchased tickets.
As an avid reader, I wish I’d known years ago that these types of events existed. If you’ve never been to one, you buy a ticket and eat lunch with an author. Usually the author has some small gift for you at the table–a book, chocolate, anything. During lunch, you chat with your author, ask questions, and pretty much get to know each other. After lunch you’re treated to a talk by the keynote speaker, usually a very well-known and popular author. This luncheon has Heather Graham as the keynote.
In addition to all the other fun, these events typically involve lots and lots of raffle baskets donated by the authors, their publishers, local businesses, etc. You would not believe how extravagent these things get. Personally, if I wasn’t attending as an author, I’d be investing in raffle tickets! My basket contains a Kindle, an e-copy of my book, The Doctor’s Mission, and other fun things.
Yep, if I’d know events like this were out there, I’d have gone in a heartbeat. If you think something like this would be fun, google “readers lunch” and see what you get. Now, for this one, ticket sales are closed. However, I have one ticket to give to a reader who attends the FREE event Monday night (April 9th). You can come out and see myself, Dianna Love, Trish Milburn, and Marjorie Liu at the Tri City Bank, 2115 10th Avenue South Milwaukee, hosted by the local public library. (more details at www.barbaravey.com) We’ll have a panel discussion, chat, and sign books.
For future reference, I’ll also be in Huntsville at Heart of Dixie’s luncheon on May 5, 2012, http://www.heartofdixie.org/luncheon.html with NYTimes Bestselling author Lora Leigh and, on November 3, 2012, I’ll be in Birmingham, AL at Southern Magic’s luncheon with #1 NYT Bestselling authors Sherrilyn Kenyon and Dianna Love (and many others). http://southernmagic.org/luncheon.html
BTW, tickets usually sell out at these events, so buy early!
Hope to see you at one. These things take place all over the country, so you can probably find one with authors you like that is reasonably local to you!
So, have you ever been to a readers’ luncheon? Want to go to one? Who would be your favorite author to sit with at lunch?
Mal Olson-Hi Debbie,
I was at the luncheon yesterday, sorry I didn’t get a chance to meet you. I live within thirty miles of Oak Creek.
Thanks for the cute little “duck” soap that I found in my goodie bag. I’ll be sure to check out The Doctor Mission–your give away worked because I usually don’t read a lot of historical romance.
I write romantic suspense and therefore I’m heavily into reading RS. Just had my very first release–Shadow of Deceit come out in March (The Wild Rose Press).
I wish you much luck and success with The Doctor Mission.
Judy -Debbie,
Meeting you at the luncheon warmed my heart. I am SO glad I had the opportunity to meet you face-to-face! What an honor and a privilege. You are such a sweet and kind person. I send you hugs of love and hugs of support as you continue on your journey. I will be reading you and smiling from the inside out.
May your day be filled knowing you did good yesterday. You brought joy to my heart. Thank you!ReplyCancel
I managed to accomplish exactly one thing off my to-do list yesterday.
One out of twenty-three.
One of the five items I highlighted as essential.
But, it was a big ONE for me. I created, formatted and posted the excerpt from my first book, The Doctor’s Mission! Let us pause for the infamous Snoopy Dance.
And to really celebrate, I’m giving away books and more for those who take the time to read chapter one.
TWO lucky winners will each receive the following: 1. A set of Love Inspired Books consisting of one Love Inspired, one Love Inspired Suspense, and, of course, one Love Inspired Historical. 2. Your choice of a $10.00 Starbucks, Amazon, or Barnes and Noble gift card. 3. Small gift bag of jungle-inspired and author-related items.
Then come back to the blog here and leave me a comment about the excerpt. Any comment that reasonably indicates that you actually read the excerpt. Solely my discretion to decide if you did or not 🙂
Deadline to enter is Saturday, September 10, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. EST. I’ll randomly draw two names from all my comments on Sunday, September 11, 2011 and announce the winners in the comments here and in a separate, new blog post. Winners will have until Tuesday, September 13, 2011 to claim their prize as directed in the winner’s post. I reserve the right to reaward any unclaimed prizes! No purchase is necessary to enter this contest. Void if your state or country prohibits this type of contest by law. (Sorry, have to say that). Limit one entry per person, per email, per household during the contest period UNLESS obtained by the following means:
EXTRA ENTRIES:
1. Refer a friend and have them leave your name in the comments. One extra entry for each referral.
2. Go “LIKE” my Facebook fan page and leave me a note about this contest on my wall. Don’t worry, if you already LIKE my page AND leave me a comment here, you still get FB credit. www.facebook.com/debbiekaufmanfanpage
3. Refer your friends to LIKE my Facebook fan page and have them leave your name in their comments on my wall. You both get the extra entry! No limit on referalls.
4. Sign up for my newsletter here: www.debbiekaufman.com/newsletter. (P.S. this also puts you in the running for an e-reader when I reach 1000 subscribers! Bonus!)
5. Refer a friend who signs up for my newsletter and lists you under referred by.
6. TEN EXTRA ENTRIES: Pre-order the book online and forward me a copy of your receipt at debbiekaufmanauthor@gmail.com (Hey, if you’re going to read it anyway, why not get extra credit?) I promise to take your name ONLY from your receipt and delete the rest. Prefer to mail a redacted receipt? It must arrive at my designated address no later than Sept. 10,2011. Not responsible for lost or late mail.
Mail your receipt along with your name, address, and contact email to:
Debbie Kaufman, 1423 Southworth Dr. Griffin, GA 30224
Carlene Love Flores-Hello Debbie,
There are so many layers of conflict in this first chapter I would love to read on and see how the good doctor and pastor deal with them all! It really hit me when the malaria policy was brought up. I really felt that was Dr. Mary’s key to accompanying William to Nynabo (spelling?) Congratulations on your book!ReplyCancel
August 31, 2011 - 7:06 pm
admin -Thanks, Carlene (Waves madly at the waterworldmermaids!) Yep, Nynabo. Some of those names were a killer 🙂ReplyCancel
August 30, 2011 - 2:48 pm
Lori Bush -I’m hooked!!!!!!! I simply can not wait to devour the adventures of Mary & William in Nynabo:) So proud of you Debbie, remember us when you are rich & famous!ReplyCancel
August 31, 2011 - 7:03 pm
admin -LOL, on the rich and famous part! But I’m glad you liked it!ReplyCancel
August 31, 2011 - 2:28 pm
Connie Ziebarth -Debbie great book. I really enjoyed reading the first chapter. Can’t wait to finish the book. You are a great writer. Congratulations!ReplyCancel
August 31, 2011 - 7:02 pm
admin -Thanks, Connie! So sweet of you to say so.ReplyCancel
August 31, 2011 - 6:46 pm
Rosemarie -Wow! What a great hook of a first chapter. The setting is exotic, William is a wounded soul and Mary looks to be a fireball. You interspersed some historical facts beautifully without stopping the flow. Can’t wait to see what happens next.ReplyCancel
August 31, 2011 - 7:02 pm
admin -Thanks, Rosemarie. Considering your understanding of history, high praise indeed. 🙂ReplyCancel
August 31, 2011 - 9:14 pm
Rosemarie -Deb,
Your facebook message doesn’t allow me to ‘share’ with the rest of my FB friends. I know some may be interested in your story. There is no ‘share’ button.ReplyCancel
September 1, 2011 - 2:36 am
Nancy Northcott -Debbie, you’ve thrown the hero and heroine for a loop right out of the gate! I like the fact that they’re trying so see each other’s points of view, not just sniping blindly.ReplyCancel
September 1, 2011 - 4:21 am
Pam Asberry-Deb, I LOVE the first chapter of your book! You are truly a gifted writer. I can’t wait to get an autographed copy in my hands. I already like your Facebook page and subscribe to your newsletter; I will see what I can do about wrangling some friends to check things out. Best of luck and continued success!ReplyCancel
September 1, 2011 - 4:24 am
admin -Thanks, Nancy. I hate it when characters just bicker a lot!
Pam, those things get you automatic extra entries! Thanks, girl!ReplyCancel
September 1, 2011 - 2:31 pm
Kitg777@yahoo.com -Great first chapter! I can’t wait to see what happens with William and Dr. Mary!ReplyCancel
September 2, 2011 - 11:31 am
Julie Burke -I am glad the female doctor did not hold her peace! I cannot wait to see how God straightens out the attitude of William. Obviously, they both bear false guilt over the deaths of loved ones, so I can see where common ground will bring some repair of the breach, other than the chemistry that is! Your research is no doubt accurate and I got a real visual of the mode of transportation that they arrived at camp in. So, is this the same Dutch who established rule over South Africa with the British?? I will have to see where this place is on a map. I am very impressed and ready to read on! Julie BurkeReplyCancel
September 3, 2011 - 2:59 am
Dianna Shuford-Debbie, you did an awesome job on that first chapter. I’ll snoopy dance with you! Poor William- to actually think he can play God in sneaking ways to get Mary sent from danger. And boy did Mary tell him! I liked her. Lots of spunk…my kind of heroine.
May your sales be plenty and your reviews be favorable.
admin -Thanks, Dianna. I guess even characters have to learn they aren’t the ones in control 🙂ReplyCancel
September 3, 2011 - 3:13 am
Vanetta Quintana -LOL Debbie great first chapter, I can’t wait to read more! I think I am going to love William… don’t we all “talk to God in that sense?” I am also excited about reading more about the location of this book. I will have to go and pre-order it so I can find out… Can’t wait to “review” it! 🙂 Thanks for the chance and I posted on FB and invited others to check your site out! 🙂ReplyCancel
Diane Peters -Debbie, Loved the first chapter! When I read the title, I assumed the doctor was a man. Shame on me! Can’t wait to see how the story develops and what God has in store for these two. Diane PetersReplyCancel
September 4, 2011 - 3:07 am
cindy rushford -Debbie I loved the excerpt from your book and cannot wait to see the paces that Mary puts william through. I am sure she will lead him on a merry chase. I also want to see them both heal from their losses. Her from losing her brother and He from losing his beloved wife, Alice.ReplyCancel
September 4, 2011 - 3:13 am
admin -Thanks for stopping by Cindy! That merry chase involves cannibals 🙂 And healing, too!ReplyCancel
September 4, 2011 - 12:18 pm
Heather Martin -Debbie! Great job! I can hardly wait to read the rest of the book. LUV that word “magnificent.” I imagine at some point Pastor Mayweather will realize that God answered his prayers abundantly, more than he could imagine.ReplyCancel
Rony-wow…those could have come from a famous rtrsaueant or better yet..some romantic luxury liner… well, in our dreams…but you know what I am saying….ReplyCancel
May 1, 2016 - 7:53 am
Tina-Gracias Galoieb…Estry absolutamente de acuerdo contigo en tu apreciación sobre las modas en ciencia…y sus riesgos.Un abrazo y encantado que hayas entrado en Scientia…blog que te debe mucho por cierto.Un saludo y graciasJoseReplyCancel
It was pretty clear to me after reading all those missionary accounts that I simply had to create a missionary romance in the Liberian jungle. It was also very clear to me that this was a big departure since I had my writing and reading roots in suspense. Suddenly all those years of being a total research geek kicked into gear and I began writing.
I only had a few pages by the time I joined Susan C. May (Nick’s New Heart), Sandy Elzie (The Diplomatic Tutor and In Daddy’s Shoes), and Tammy Schubert, to do nothing but write. I was determined to finish and polish enough pages for an entry into the Maggies (http://www.georgiaromancewriters.org/the-maggies/). I didn’t want to miss out on the great critiques from published authors that the chapter is known for giving.
As a part of the Petit Fours and Hot Tamales blog group, we’d scheduled this “no Internet available” writing retreat for three days at Susan’s family lake house. From daybreak to sunset and beyond, we did nothing but sit on the screened porch and type our little fingers to the bone. Well, okay, there was an occasional conversation and we stopped for meals. Other than that, we really produced. We were all good about shutting down any lengthy chats and forcing ourselves back to work. Outside of a local coffeehouse, it is still my favorite place to write.
Rapidly, my story began to take shape, along with its synopsis. Finally, feeling a little insecure, I asked my friends to read the first three chapters and tell me what they thought. They were very encouraging and I began to think that maybe I hadn’t lost my mind by thinking I could write an historical.
Before I’d left for the cabin, I’d put an item on my watch list at the Brenda Novak Auction for Diabetes (www.brendanovak.auctionanything.com/), an auction I strongly support. Love Inspired’s Senior Editor Melissa Endlich was offering a critique of a partial and a private meeting at RWA Nationals in July. Realizing the auction was about to end, and with no Internet at the cabin, I called my dear husband and gave him instructions for bidding. Then I bit my fingernails and waited.
I was outbid.
However, because of Melissa Endlich’s boundless generosity, I was able to match the winning bid and got a second critique she offered. I was nervous, but more excited than anything. After all, who better to get a critique from that the editor of a line you’ve targeted. If anyone could give me direction on how to better structure the story for Love Inspired Historical, she could.
So, I set out in June of 2010 for RWA Nationals and my fateful meeting with Melissa Endlich. I just made one mistake…
AND that’s a mistake I’lltell you more about on Monday! I’m leaving this next offer open until Monday, May 9th. Leave me a comment and be entered into a drawing for a copy of my new release, THE DOCTOR’S MISSION, when it is published in November of 2011. Gain extra entries if your friends post here and say you referred them. Have you ever had a “must write” moment, or a time of clarity about a direction in your life that suddenly shifted everything for you? Please share!
In the meantime, visit the Novak auction and bid on my book, or any of the fabulous offerings from soaps to Safari trips! http://brendanovak.auctionanything.com/
Leanne-I am really looking forward to reading this book. The history you researched intrigues me 😀 I wish I could afford to buy something to help the diabetes auction, it’s such a wonderful cause and diabetes runs rampant in my family. It’s a cause close to my heart.
admin -Hi, Leanne:
Hey, I understand budget issues. We have what we lovingly refer to as our peanut butter sandwich/lentil soup days. Thanks for coming. And the history intrigued me too. I’m hoping to do the same with other countries and eras, but we’ll have to see what sells 🙂ReplyCancel
May 6, 2011 - 8:10 pm
Eda Suzanne-I enjoyed your blog and your work looks like the kind of books I enjoy. I’m glad we met through the new Facebook Beyond the Book page.
Stacie-This book sounds wonderful! I love inspirational historicals. I am also targeting the Love Inspired line with my own writing, so it’s always nice to read about how someone got into writing them. I am going to a cabin for a couple of nights in May. It will be my second year there and I will be the only one in the whole camp – so no distractions whatsoever.
Susan Manchester -Winning this book would be an amazing treat for me. It sounds fascinating. My husband and I had a moment of clarity in our life about six months ago, when we just knew that it was time to adopt our 8-year-old grandson. We started and stopped the process about three years ago, but God told us it was time, and what you said about our life shifting certainly applied. Yesterday, we had the court hearing, and Christian is ours forever. I will not soon forget his reaction to the judge saying it was final!ReplyCancel
September 1, 2011 - 2:03 am
Joanne -Hi Debbie,
I’ve recently started to write historical inspirationals, and your excerpt is excellent. You’ve set up great internal as well as external goals for the doctor, and your setting is very unique. Best wishes for your continued success.ReplyCancel
September 1, 2011 - 2:19 am
admin -Thanks, Joanne. Nice of you to say so!ReplyCancel
September 2, 2011 - 3:26 am
Lynda Thrash -Hi Debbie, I really enjoyed chapter 1, but hate that I now have to wait to read what I can only imagine will unfold between the Pastor and the Doctor. May God Bless you with continued success and many more story ideas to share with your readers. I can barely wait for November to get the book!ReplyCancel
One of the questions that I get asked a lot is about where I got the idea for my book, The Doctor’s Mission. It’s a good question since I had been working on suspense up until the inspiration for this book hit. Let me say first, that most authors have way more ideas bouncing around in our heads than we’ll ever get on paper. So a specific idea has to really grab you before you choose it above all the others.
So how did I get the idea? Am I just fascinated with cannibals? No, not really. The idea for The Doctor’s Mission literally walked in my fron door one evening in the guise of a visit from one of my married children. As kids piled in the door, my daughter handed me a small paperback authored by my son-in-law’s great-great uncle. It had a rather provocative title, Before We Kill and Eat You. This book, the story of pioneering missionary, H. B. Garlock and his wife Ruth, sat on my dining room table for months before I picked it up and finally read it.
The story of how God worked in the Liberian jungle with the Garlocks was fascinating, probably because missions have always been my heart. The subject and the country grabbed hold of me after reading that book, and wouldn’t let go. Before long, I had read what seemed like a library full of Liberian pioneering missionar stories, and names like Bishop William Taylor, Rev. Adolphus Clemens Good, and Miss Amanda Smith became more than familiar to me.
The more I read of these dear saints on the mission field, one question grew with each page turn. Could I set a romance here and bring this world to life for readers?
To be continued….
I’m curious today. Do you or a family member have any experience with missions? If you could go anywhere in the world, missions or not, where would it be?
Pamela Mason-Debbie! How cool is this, to see how God’s timing works so perfectly.
I have no missionary background. But my church goes to Africa yearly to build wells so the people there can have clean water supply, and of course to support the missionaries there building churches and buildings.
I don’t have the calling to travel so far, but I have worked in the past with children with special needs, and our church does have a mission with our local families in that as well.
I would like to travel to New Zealand and Australia. But not for a while! Too much to do here!ReplyCancel
March 14, 2011 - 3:18 pm
admin -Hey Pamela,
Clean water is such a huge issue worldwide. As to not going far, I’m going to add another page later on domestic missions. We don’t all have to go across the world to serve 🙂
DebbieReplyCancel
March 14, 2011 - 3:19 pm
Katy Lee -I love how God gives us what we need when we need it. Not too soon or too late. His timing is perfect. Thank you for being obedient in writing the story He gave you to write.
As for missions, I organize a bunch, but have yet to go on one. Every year I’m asked, though. At this point, I have said when my daughter can go with me, I’ll go. 🙂ReplyCancel
March 14, 2011 - 4:11 pm
Vanetta -Hi Debbie… I can’t wait to pick up this book… it sounds so wonderful! I have never been on a missionary… But when I was younger I thought it would be a neat thing to do. Though, I do travel to Mexico to see family and I feel like I do missionary work when I go. My family takes lots of clothing and other items that we can take across the border. We give to a few families when we get there. Traveling through Mexico is so heart breaking in some of the states you go through. We see kids as young as 2 selling Eagle feather just so they can feed themselves. It’s heart breaking. I will be picking up this book, once it hits the stands! 🙂ReplyCancel
May 6, 2011 - 5:07 pm
Lucrecea Harvey -Love your books. My parents caretake a missionary’s property and are very involved. The missionaries usually visis Thiland. They are such a nice couple. They are also very generous.
Welcome! I’m blogging here from my new location. What? You’ve moved? Yep! I now live in a new place, a place called Authorville. It’s very different than Writerland, the home where I spent the last couple of years hanging out with my critique partners, attending conferences and workshops, and writing whenever I felt like it. Writerland provided me with comfortable surroundings and easy, familiar navigation. I knew my way around in Writerland. But one phone called changed all that and pulled me right out of my comfort zone. It’s been an adventure learning how to navigate in my new town of Authorville, but the ride is a blast.
Join me starting Monday for the first installment in the story of my road to publication. Traveling back to the beginning, we’ll answer the question of where the idea for The Doctor’s Mission, my first book due out in November, came from in the first place. Hope to see you here!
Dianna Love-I LOVE your new website. This really rocks. And I’m so looking forward to your first book coming out this November. The Doctor’s Mission is wonderful (ok, admitting I got an early peek at it…) that I’m recommending to everyone. 🙂ReplyCancel
March 10, 2011 - 12:57 pm
admin -Thanks, Dianna. Yes, you did get an early “peek,” LOL! What a helpful peek it was 🙂ReplyCancel
March 10, 2011 - 1:22 pm
Pamela Mason -Ultimate Quality website Debbie! Happy for you & wish great success for your future career.
Love this!
Now… when will that book be out again?ReplyCancel
March 10, 2011 - 1:36 pm
admin -Thanks, Pamela! November. Seems like forever and tomorrow at the same time!ReplyCancel
March 10, 2011 - 1:22 pm
Pamela Mason -Ultimate Quality website Debbie! Happy for you & wish great success for your future career.
Love this!
Now… when will that book be out again?ReplyCancel
March 10, 2011 - 1:23 pm
Pamela Mason -Sorry for the double post– tweetdeck giving computer the hiccups.ReplyCancel
March 10, 2011 - 1:37 pm
admin -Lol, mine is giving me internet fits today! 🙂ReplyCancel
March 10, 2011 - 1:44 pm
Pam Asberry-Your website is beautiful, Deb! I am doing the happy dance for you and, like everyone else, looking forward to getting a copy of your new book in my hands. ReplyCancel
Tamara LeBlanc -I’m soooo happy for you Debbie! Can’t wait to read the book and see the cover.
I love your website!! Very easy to navigate, I like the colors, the decoration, the fact that your blog is attached!!!
May I ask who created it for you?
I need to get my own going:)
Thank you for the heads up about the site!!
Have a brilliant evening:)
TamaraReplyCancel
Tamara there are great templates at http://www.prophotoblog.com It’s where I got the basics. It redesigns in soooo many ways. I’m very happy with it. Then go get Caroline to design you a special banner 🙂ReplyCancel
March 10, 2011 - 10:01 pm
Tami Brothers-LOVE IT, Debbie! Very nice. And worth the wait I think.
It was pretty clear to me after reading all those missionary accounts that I simply had to create a missionary romance in the Liberian jungle. It was also very clear to me that this was a big departure since I had my writing and reading roots in suspense. Suddenly all those years of being a total research geek kicked into gear and I began writing.
Mal Olson - Hi Debbie,
I was at the luncheon yesterday, sorry I didn’t get a chance to meet you. I live within thirty miles of Oak Creek.
Thanks for the cute little “duck” soap that I found in my goodie bag. I’ll be sure to check out The Doctor Mission–your give away worked because I usually don’t read a lot of historical romance.
I write romantic suspense and therefore I’m heavily into reading RS. Just had my very first release–Shadow of Deceit come out in March (The Wild Rose Press).
I wish you much luck and success with The Doctor Mission.
Mal Olson
Judy - Debbie,
Meeting you at the luncheon warmed my heart. I am SO glad I had the opportunity to meet you face-to-face! What an honor and a privilege. You are such a sweet and kind person. I send you hugs of love and hugs of support as you continue on your journey. I will be reading you and smiling from the inside out.
May your day be filled knowing you did good yesterday. You brought joy to my heart. Thank you!