When Authors Meet

When Authors Meet
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by Kristen Houghton

There is the need for writers to actively seek opportunities to connect with each other and share information and resources. We all seek to be with people who are like us. This is why book signings with multiple authors is such a great way to mingle with fellow scribes, exactly what happened when Barnes & Noble hosted an author Sign/Talk recently in New Jersey.

I was privileged to be at a table with fellow authors, D. L. Cocchio, Dylann Rhea, and Jennifer Walkup.

Let me begin with a little background on each of us.

D. L. Cocchio is the author of four successful novels – The Psychic Circle ~ Souls Entwined, Be Careful What You Wish For, Magic By Moonlight, and So You Wanna Read Tarot? The author has enjoyed writing stories since she was a child and is never seen without her Kindle. She is fascinated by all things mystical and magical. Her excellent writing won her a publishing contract with Black Opal Books.

Dylann Rhea has always shown a passion for writing despite the difficulty she faced in school with dyslexia. That didn’t deter her. After a semester in college, she made the decision to write and create the world she wished she could have read about as a young adult. Her first book is Tormented Soul part of the Storm Trilogy which includes Fallen Warrior. She received a five-star review from Readers Favorite for Tormented Soul.

Jennifer Walkup is an award-winning author of the books Second Verse and This Ordinary Life. She is most often found writing, reading, and spending time with her husband and sons. Jennifer also works as an editor and creative writing instructor.

And then there’s me, Kristen Houghton, a dreamer and a writer since childhood. I am so honored to be an award-winning author of For I Have Sinned and Grave Misgivings, the first two books in the best-selling PI series, A Cate Harlow Private Investigation. Book three, Unrepentant-Pray for Us Sinners, will be published December, 2016.

So there we are. Four authors getting together to meet and greet our readers and fans and getting to know each other. Our writing is diverse, appealing to the vast majority of readers.

While we are all different in how we approach writing I found that there were similarities as well. For example, talking about our writing styles I found out that, D.L. Cocchio writes long-hand as does best-selling author Amy Tan, (I do the same with notes for chapters), then transfers it all onto a computer. I also learned that all of us have a habit of “saving” our work on the computer many times over under different file names!

We are writers who connect with people and not only through our writing. D.L. Cocchio and I were both teachers and Jennifer Walkup teaches critical writing and does editing. Dylann Rhea is a nanny and organizes book festivals for the Norwood, NJ library.

But the main thing is that we are all authors, all focused on our writing careers. That’s what you need. People who understand what you’re doing and share tips. These are authors who have worked hard to achieve success and are generous in sharing ideas, selling strategies, and helping other navigate the ever-changing world of publishing.

There are emotional benefits to the multi-author book signings. Because you have something in common as writers, you share a much-needed bond with others who understand you and your chosen career so much more than your family and friends. It can be good therapy to vent your frustrations, discuss your work, your hopes, and share your successes. Our day at the Barnes and Noble Author Meet and Greet was successful in so many ways for us, not the least was the beginning new friendships.

Make your life as an author successful and fulfilling. You need both the social and professional aspects of writing.

Kristen Houghton is the author of nine top-selling novels, including For I Have Sinned and Grave Misgivings, books 1 and 2 in the best-selling new series, A Cate Harlow Private Investigation. Book 3 in the series, Unrepentant: Pray for Us Sinners, will be published Decemberof 2016. She is hard at work on a new series that features a paranormal investigator with distinct powers of her own. Houghton is also the author of two non-fiction books and numerous short stories which appear in popular anthologies.

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