Category: events

Visit to Lake City Community College and Richardson Middle School

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On March 18, I’m visiting Lake City Community College (Lake City, FL) to read, sign books and appear on the college’s TV show–Perspectives.

Before my signing, I’ll be visiting Richardson Middle School in Lake City. I get to meet with a pre-AP class and I can’t wait. Should be fun.

I’ll be signing books at 2pm in the learning resource center at LCCC’s campus. This is super special to me because I started taking classes at LCCC when I was sixteen. I graduated from LCCC in fall 2005 and then transferred to FSU. I had an amazing time at LCCC and I’m excited to go back. The campus is amazing and I had the best experience there.

A very special thanks to Jim Morris and Sonja Yarborough for setting this up. I appreciate it! Gooo, Timberwolves! 😀

First school visit to William J. Montford III Middle School

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Setting up my Power Point. That’s the awesome Kathy Drake–the media specialist.


Signing outside. It was a balmy 75 degrees. Lovely!


Signing books in the media center.


A display in the media center. I got to share the board and table with friend and author Sarah Prineas! Sarah’s visiting Montford next. I freaked out when I saw Take the Reins next to The Magic Thief. 🙂


Chatting with horse-crazy girls.


I signed that shirt. Yes, I did!

The group of kids. They were the best audience!

I just got back from my first talk/signing at William J. Montford III Middle School in Tallahassee. The coolest part? It was the school’s first author visit!

I was I’m-going-to-faint nervous before I went. But the second I got inside, it felt amazing. I asked the kids not to throw anything at me because I was nervous and we all laughed. It broke the ice and once I got started, I could have talked for hours. We talked about publishing, writing, editors, agents and sticking with it no matter how many rejections come.

One of the highlights was showing pics of my trip to S&S. I likened the board room to something out of The Apprentice, but noted that no one at S&S (thankfully) resembled Donald. I told them my editor is not a man, did not fire me (yet! ;)) and has waaay better hair than Mr. Trump.

I talked (a lot) about lip gloss and my love of pink pens. By the end, girls were showing me their fave pens and glosses. I even got invited to a spring break sleepover. So. Cute. They thought I was in high school, LOL. When I told them I was 22, they still wanted me to come. And to bring my lip gloss collection. 🙂

The excitement was insane and I almost died when kids started offering me arms and hands to sign. I felt like a rockstar! A sweet girl asked me to sign her t-shirt and I signed a hoodie for another. I asked several times if their parents were going to freak that I took a Sharpie to their clothes. They said no, but I’m worried about getting angry emails. Eeep.

I had sooo much fun at Montford. They’re a lucky school since they get to have Sarah next and I told them so.

Thanks so much to Lisa, Kathy, Bill, Mary and everyone at Montford for hosting me. Yay!

First school visit tomorrow

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Tomorrow, I’ve got my first school visit at William J. Montford III Middle School. I’ll be presenting to the school’s book club and then we’ll move outside to sign books. My friend Mary is bringing a mini horse and we’ll get to introduce the kids to the horse. It should be fun! Thanks so much to Kathy Drake for working with me.

I present at 12:30, so wish me luck. 🙂

Book signing at BAM with lots of pics! :)

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A future reader!


People enjoying Mary Lackey’s mini horses


My new friend Tommy who brought the hay.


Mary Lackey–the awesome woman who loaded up her mini horses!


Jason, my “little” brother, who came to check out the event.


My friend Greg who came and made me promise to remember him when I become famous. 😉 It was great to see you, Greg!


One of the nicest guys I’ve ever met. He’s a retired colonel and he was so sweet. He even took video as I signed the book.


Crowd control! 😉


Mandy M, can you see my awesome boots?


Lewis–a local author.


My new friend, M! I even signed her copy of Young Rider. So sweet.


I’m visiting her school soon.


Minutes before the event began. Trying not to freak out.


The set up outside the doors. I just sat down inside and hoped that someone would actually show up. I was going through JA Konrath’s signing advice in my head. It really helped, Joe. Thanks!


Bill Bothwell, the community ambassador at BAM. He coordinated this entire event. Thank you, thank you, Bill.

*Soooo, my first signing at Books-A-Million was AMAZING! We were under the threat of a tornado watch, yet people still came. I got started at 11am and by 2pm, it started to look scary outside. We closed up shop with zero books left. I met so many great people and had a blast.

The girls that I met were so sweet and smart. I’ll be visiting some of their schools soon and they promised to come up and say hi again.

It was fun to meet readers and almost every girl had a horse story to tell me. Either they ride at summer camp, or rode a friend’s pony last summer or even just petted a horse once. I loved talking to all of you and thank you for coming to see me!

The entire signing was great and it was a wonderful first experience. 🙂 I was super nervous last night! I think I was Twittering at midnight about how freaked out I was and I had to force myself not to call/text everyone in my phone for advice.

Thank you so much to the follow people/businesses:

Bill Bothwell
Mary Lackey and family
Weekend Furniture Bargains for providing my gorgeous desk
Fresh Market for the lovely orchid
Books-A-Million for hosting me
Tommy for bringing the hay
Happy Trails Ranch for providing the hay
The Books-A-Million employees for talking up Take the Reins

(*I’m using “so,” TM, so ha!) 😉

Seriously? Chasing Blue is a month away?!

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Chasing Blue (Canterwood Crest #2) comes out in a month. One. Month. And if I learned anything from Take the Reins’ release, it means that CB could start popping up in stores in 3 weeks or so. Eeek. I’m excited to see them side by side on shelves. That just seems cool.

My first signing is on Saturday and I’m hopelessly failing at not freaking out. I intend to vlog before, during and after the signing, so you’ll get the full “OMG! I’m sooo nervous!” effect in the early minutes of the vlog. Lucky you! 😀

Also, I wanted to give a quick shout out to Tallahassee schools. You all have been so receptive and thanks for asking me to come visit. My March calendar is filling fast and I so appreciate it! Special thanks to Bill Bothwell for coordinating every visit.

Book store signing poster!

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Poster document


Actual poster

Okay, so my camera decided to be grainy and weird, but you can at least see the poster! I designed that on Fireworks and took the file to my local Kinkos. I can use this poster at any event, so that’s why I left off the date and store name. I’m thrilled with how it turned out! It’s laminated on a foam core and it’s 12 x 18.

I also posted the file that I sent Kinkos, since that doc looks much more like the actual poster than the pic I just took!

You guys like it? 🙂

Book signing at Tallahassee Books-a-Million

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On Saturday, I visited my local shops and handed out flyers for my first signing! So. Exciting. The details:

When: Saturday, February 28 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Tallahassee’s Books-a-Million (3521 Thomasville Road)

I’ll be signing copies of Take the Reins and…special guests are coming! Two miniature horses just like the one in this pic! Mary Lackey of Sundance Oaks Miniature Horse Farm will be bringing two of her mini horses to the BAM parking lot. They’ll be available for everyone to pet and enjoy.


Thanks so much to Bill Bothwell and Books-a-Million for hosting me. I can’t wait! 🙂

Also, I’ve heard from a couple of girls that they’ve received their March/April issue of YOUNG RIDER Magazine. Be on the lookout for it on newsstands because Canterwood is featured inside! I haven’t seen the issue yet, so I need to get my hands on a copy. 🙂 My local stores are still stocking the Jan/Feb issue. I’ll post a pic of it, though, when I grab one. Thanks so, so much to Lesley Ward and Allison Griest!

Missouri Writers’ Guild 2009 Conference

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So…I’ve got big news for everyone!

On April 3-5, 2009, I’ll be speaking at the Missouri Writers’ Guild Conference!

I’ve been graciously invited to speak twice and participate on a panel. My sessions will be “Freelancing to Fiction” and “Do’s and Don’ts of Tween Fiction.”

Plus…I’ll be doing a special panel with details to be revealed a bit later.

The conference will be in Cape Girardeau and you do NOT, I repeat, NOT have to be a member of the MWG to attend.

More info will be popping up here over the next few months and there will be a special guest blogger who will give more fantastic details about the conference.

Yay!! 🙂