So it’s that time of year again when I post my gentle reminder about the RWA Literacy signing where I encourage readers (and other authors!) to make a point to go by the tables of authors who may not have long lines. Maybe this is their very first signing. Maybe it’s their debut book. Maybe it’s their tenth and they’re still just as nervous as that very first time they had a book out.

Whatever the case may be, you have the power to make the event that much brighter by simply picking out a few authors you may not know and make it a point to swing by. Even if you don’t buy their book, take a bookmark. Ask them about their book. Or just say hi.

Trust me when I say, that the author will remember you for that kindness and the fact that you went the extra mile to make the signing a little more special for them. And hey, you just might end up finding an awesome new author to read!

This year I’m sending my Girlie around to a few author’s tables for me since I’ll be signing, so if you see a gorgeous 12 year old sweetheart with as shy smile and big, beautiful brown eyes, that’s my baby :)

I get asked a lot about my “process” and I always kind of laugh and say I’d like to know what it is too! Or at least I’d like to HAVE a process. Because a process hints at some sort of organizational skills at least. Right?

But I was thinking earlier about how anal I actually am about the way I write my books. So I thought I’d give you guys a laugh and to answer all the people who ask about my PROCESS.

The only actual writing process I have is HOW I write and format my manuscripts. In no other aspect of my work am I remotely organized and yet my chapters and stuff have to be written a certain way or the world ends. Weird huh?

Here’s how it goes.

I write each chapter as an individual word file. But before that, I create a folder. Under a folder called Books. Original huh? So I have Books on my hard drive. When you click on books, you get folders and folders of stuff that says “KGI” or “Scottish Historicals” or “Berkley HEAT” Very specific, no? LOL. So then when you click on say the KGI folder, then you get the individual BOOKS so yeah yet another set of folders. Are you getting the idea I love folders?

So then I’ll have folders for The Darkest Hour. No Place to Run. Hidden Away. Whispers in the Dark. Echoes at Dawn. (And other assorted folders that have character names that I won’t mention because it would spoil some of the pairings haha)

Anyway, under each book folder, I have individual chapter files from 1 to however many there are in that book. And that’s the way I write them. I create a new file each time I start a new chapter and I save them as “Chapter 1″ and “Chapter 2″ and so on.

BUT and you knew I’d have to further complicate this, right?

So once I get like two chapters of a book written, I then create what I call a “Working Full” file. And this is where I reward myself every time I finish a chapter by copying and pasting it into the “Working Full” file because then I get to see the word count and page count go up each time I insert a new chapters. I like seeing those numbers go up lol.

When I get to the end of a book, you’d THINK I’d just edit the Working Full, right?

Nope. That working full is purely a reward system for me. I then go back and open each individual file starting with chapter one and I edit and when I am perfectly happy with the way that chapter reads, I then create a brand new file and this is the one that I actually name whatever the book title is. So right now I have “Echoes at Dawn” and when I finish editing chapter one, it gets pasted into that main document called Echoes at Dawn. And then I move on to chapter 2 file and I do the same.

Once I’ve compiled all of the individual chapter files into the main document with the book title as the file name, THEN I am ready to send that bad boy in to my editor. *g*

Now aren’t you sorry you ever asked about my process??

Every year I try to mention this just because it’s one of those small issues that’s important to me. Next week, the Romance Writers of America organization will meet in NYC for their annual conference and with it they will host a huge book signing event to promote literacy.

There will be hundreds of authors signing. It’s a huge event. A readers dream!

The first year that I was eligible to sign at the literacy signing I didn’t. Ok, I know, you’re thinking what?? I mean after working so very hard to reach the goal of being a published author, I sat out my first opportunity to sign at such an awesome event? Yeah, I did. I was more interested in wandering around and attending as a READER. I wanted a chance to meet some of MY favorite authors and get them to sign books.

I also made it a goal to go by the tables of newer authors who might not have the lines or the followings of some of the more established authors. And each year I remind others to try and do the same.

So if you’re going to be attending the literacy signing, do me a favor, okay? Pick out at least one new author or an author who doesn’t have a line of people at her table. Go by, talk to her, check out her book or even better yet, buy it and have her sign it.

It’s HARD to sit there swallowed up by so many other authors and feel like no one has come to see you or to get you to sign a book.

A little kindness goes a long way and you have the power to make the signing very special for an author who is new, shy or just plain terrified of the crowds.

I hope to see you there! If I remember right, I’ll have Colters’ Lady and either Hidden Away or Sweet Possession to sign. (I’m so horrible, I don’t remember which one!) So come by and say hi. I’d love to chat with you!