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The first time I felt like a “real” published author with fans.
My first book signing was also my first convention, the Daytona Beach Florida Romantic Times Convention in 2006. I’d never been out in public as an author and expected to spend most of my time fan-girling others (I did do that, too!). To me it was amazing just being in the same room with some of the “greats”. I’d been getting fan emails and knew people were reading the books, but none of it “felt” real. By this time in my career, my series Dragon Lords had met with success and I was working with three different publishers—Ellora’s Cave, New Concepts Publishing and Virgin Books (Virgin has since been acquired by Random House). Many of the wonderful authors at these places told me what I could expect for my first conference and were tremendously helpful. At the convention, they have a big book signing with all the attending authors. The publishers sent cases of books and I couldn’t imagine even making a dent in the numbers in stock. Being a newbie, I hoped a couple people would stop by, dreamed that a dozen might, and prayed that at least one would. What I wasn’t prepared for was the number of “real, live” fans that were as excited to see me as I was them. It’s still a thrill to remember them reading my nametag and screaming in excitement—“You’re Michelle Pillow!” Others were shy, as if scared to approach my signing table, which always amazes me since I don’t feel like someone readers should be scared of saying hello to. In the end, I nearly sold out, selling upwards of a 100 books. People were taking 2 or 3 at a time, filling in series they wanted a complete set to, but most of all making me feel like a real, live author. It was a wonderful experience and one that still makes me smile. Fans really are what make authors keep writing. THANKS TO ALL MY FANS! YOU’RE THE BEST! ~Michelle
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Michelle M Pillow, Author of All Things Romance, is a multi-published, award winning author known mostly for her paranormal, futuristic and dark fantasy romance. Aside from these, she also writes contemporary, fantasy, historical and erotic romance. She is the winner of the 2006 Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award. You can contact her through her website www.michellepillow.com
LINKS Blog - http://michellespillowtalk.blogspot.com/
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