Category: Pets, Romance & Lots of Suspense by Linda O. Johnston

Linda O. Johnston's column
Home > Columns > Pets, Romance & Lots of Suspense by Linda O. Johnston

SoCal RWA and OCC

March 6, 2013 by in category Pets, Romance & Lots of Suspense by Linda O. Johnston tagged as , ,

This weekend’s OCC meeting will be a prelude to the first SoCalRWA chapters’ joint conference, California Dreamin’!  As you probably know, it takes place on March 15-17 at the Doubletree Hotel in Santa Ana. 

I’ve belonged to two of the four participating RWA chapters forever–OCC, of course, and also the Los Angeles Romance Authors, LARA.  It should really be fun to get all four chapters together so their members can extol the individual virtues of each chapter while we all do what RWA does best: encourage romance writers to write! 

Unfortunately, because of some deadline issues, I may not be there for the entire conference, but I’ll attend as much as I can.  I’ll definitely be there on Sunday, at least.   That’s one good thing about a local conference.  There’s more flexibility in attendance.  And I’m really looking forward to whatever I’m able to participate in. 

In any event, if you’re going, I’m sure you’ll have lots of fun. 

Oh, and by the way, I’m also attending the RWA National Conference this year, too, in Atlanta.  Do you get the impression that I’m a conference lover?  Well, you’re right–and I’m not even mentioning (much) the mystery writers’ conferences I’m attending this year. 

How about you–do you enjoy attending conferences?
–Linda O. Johnston
1 0 Read more

Our Next OCC Meeting

February 6, 2013 by in category Pets, Romance & Lots of Suspense by Linda O. Johnston tagged as , , , , ,

Our February OCC meeting is next Saturday. I’m really looking forward to it–as usual. But my reasons are a little different from why I’m usually filled with anticipation.

First, there’ll be a drawing for me to provide a critique of someone’s first chapter. I always enjoy doing things like that–contributing a little bit, I hope, to encouraging someone to keep on writing.

And then there’s our program. Our all-day speaker is Patrick Brown, the Author Program Manager for Goodreads, and he will be talking about how to promote your wok on Goodreads. I need that! I’ve been a member of Goodreads for a while but haven’t adequately utilized it. I did give one book away on Goodreads once, and I receive emails on updates about people who’ve friended me on Goodreads, but I know that there are a lot of aspects of the site that I’ve never used, or have used incorrectly.

Yes, I’m one of those people who use social media, but only a few things like a page on Facebook–the “friend” kind, not the “like” kind. I blog a lot, weekly on Killer Hobbies and monthly here at A Slice of Orange. This month, I’m also starting to blog on the 18th of each month at Killer Characters–or at least my characters are. Plus, I’m currently doing a lot of guest blogs to help promote my two new releases. And I post now and then on a wonderful blog that’s run by some delightful and talented OCC members: Writers In The Storm.
But I don’t tweet, since I’m sure I’d spend too much time on Twitter. Goodreads, if I knew how to use it better, might be another good resource, though, so I’m really looking forward to learning more.

How about you? Do you participate in Goodreads? Will you be at this month’s meeting?

By the way, there won’t be a PAW meeting this month, and I usually look forward to them a lot, too. But there’s always March…

O? —
Linda O! Johnston
LindaOJohnston.com
OODLES OF POODLES, February 2013
Berkley Prime Crime
UNDERCOVER WOLF, February 2013
Harlequin Nocturne

0 0 Read more

The New Year

January 6, 2013 by in category Pets, Romance & Lots of Suspense by Linda O. Johnston tagged as , , ,

My New Year’s resolution this year is much as it is every year: I resolve not to make any New Years resolutions!

I’m happy to see the new year arrive. It’s a fresh start, of sorts. But I don’t plan to do things much differently this year from last.

I do have a lot to accomplish this year, though, with all the writing and promotion I aspire–no, intend!–to do in 2013.

I intend to meet all deadlines. I intend to learn and implement as many ways as possible to let people know about my published work–self promotion has become an integral part of my life! I intend to work on some creative directions that may not fit the mold of what I’ve already been writing. I also intend to flesh out lots of fun new ideas for some of the genres I’ve been writing in.

Hey–did I just contradict myself? Maybe intentions aren’t so different from resolutions.

One thing’s for sure. I’m resolved to attend as many OCC meetings as possible, since interacting with my friends there helps to inspire me to continue. Plus, it’s fun.

So, Happy New Year to you–and may you accomplish all your resolutions or intentions!

1 0 Read more

OCC’s Upcoming Meeting and More

November 6, 2012 by in category Pets, Romance & Lots of Suspense by Linda O. Johnston tagged as , , , ,

I’ve missed OCC! I was unable to get to the last two meetings because of family travel plans, but I’m in town now and am delighted to say I’ll be at the Saturday meeting.

Both speakers sound interesting to me. In the morning, Tara Lain will be speaking about blog tours–and I’ve participated in quite a few. I’d love to learn other people’s perspectives about them. I try to utilize a few different social media avenues to let people know what I’m writing, and blogging is one of them.

I’ve said this before, but once upon a time, when I started writing, I thought that was all it was: you write, get published, and things are great from there on. It turns out that, yes, things are great, but there’s more to it than that. These days you write, publish and promote. As a result, I’m always eager to learn about other promotional opportunities.

For example, I’m participating in a blog hop tomorrow. Come visit my post at KillerHobbies.blogspot.com and learn more about me and this particular blog hop.

I’m delighted to say that I’ve signed up for the SoCal RWA Conference in March. Have you? I belong to two of the four participating RWA chapters and have for years. I’m really looking forward to this first SoCal RWA joint conference.

How about you? Do you blog? Are you going to the SoCal RWA Conference?

0 0 Read more

Missing OCC

October 6, 2012 by in category Pets, Romance & Lots of Suspense by Linda O. Johnston tagged as , ,

I won’t be at OCC’s Birthday Bash this month, and will definitely miss it. I wasn’t at last month’s meeting, either, because of some travel plans. Both conflicts were family related, and that takes precedence over everything. But I miss OCC! I should be there for November’s meeting, at least. Can’t wait to see everyone again!

I’m teaching an online class this month, starting on October 22. It’s for Savvy Authors, a really fun online website for writers, and it’s on Blending Romance and Suspense: Putting Suspense Into Your Romance Novel and Romance Into Your Mystery.

The last class I taught was for OCC, on how to write a cozy mystery. I intend to reprise that one for Savvy Authors next spring.

Meantime, I intend to make the Blending Romance and Suspense class just as much fun. Since I write both romances with suspense or mystery in them, and mysteries that also contain romantic interests, I feel qualified to teach this–and in fact I did present a similar online class a while ago for another website.

So… all of you attending OCC’s Birthday Bash, please think of me. Raise your glass or teacup in a toast that includes me. I’ll be thinking of you!

Oh, and you’re all more than welcome to join my online Savvy Authors class….

O? —
Linda O! Johnston
LindaOJohnston.com
Killerhobbies.blogspot.com  
0 0 Read more
«‹18192021222324›»

Copyright ©2017 A Slice of Orange. All Rights Reserved. ~PROUDLY POWERED BY WORDPRESS ~ CREATED BY ISHYOBOY.COM

>