Bookworm Box Book Signing Wrap-Up

I'm a failure at blogging. I think that goes without being said. To hop back onto the blogging train, I thought I'd include all the details from this amazingly memorable weekend.

A few weeks ago, shortly before Love in Smoke released, I was asked by a fellow author friend, Rhea (pen name R.S. Medina), if I'd like to take part in a signing at The Bookworm Box, organized by her friend Joy. I was shocked, to say the least, as I hadn't expected to attend a signing for at least another year or two, depending on how the writing thing went. I'd be lying if I said I didn't start stressing when I accepted. I had given myself too much to deal with in the days leading up to the release of LIS, and I had never been to a signing before. There were paperbacks to order and swag to choose and design. I hadn't even formatted the paperback for LIS at that point! Anyways, I'm happy to say I have NO RAGRETS! It was amazing! (By the way, RAGRETS is supposed to be spelled that way. Anyone seen We're the Millers?)

If you don't know what the BWB is, it's both a bookstore and a monthly subscription box started by NYT bestselling author Colleen Hoover, featuring signed books and swag that are donated by the authors themselves. All profit goes to charity, and if that doesn't get you to Sulphur Springs, I don't know what will. I'd been to the BWB once before, but sadly missed Colleen. This time, she was the first person I saw when I walked in lugging all my books. Keep in mind I'd hardly slept the night before and was literally sweating at the thought of meeting someone whose books I'd read for years and who gave me the hope and inspiration I needed to publish a damn book in the first place. So, quite the buildup.

If you've never met Colleen, just know there's no reason to be as nervous as I was. She'll give you a huge hug and make you feel right at home. She made a point to visit each of our tables and talk to us about our books and hers, and I was so grateful to have the opportunity to chat with her a bit in such a laid back, no-pressure setting. I had heard not to attend signings as a fairly new author, as readers are usually there to visit their favorites and not necessarily find new ones. Signing at The BWB was unique in that sense, because it was so intimate that most attendees meandered through all the tables and asked all of us about our books. I met a few people whom I had met online previously, and several I'd never before been introduced to! Needless to say, I got in some good practice at pitching/summarizing my books in a more efficient manner. I could still use some practice at that, but hey, we've all got to start somewhere. Succinct has never been my strong suit.

The other advantage to attending a small signing was the opportunity to get to know the other five authors, none of whom I'd met in person prior to the event. All of them were so fun and helpful, willing to share feedback on everything from covers to editing to swag choices, and it was an awesome opportunity to meet others who have more experience in this somewhat solitary industry. Aside from Rhea and Myself, R.D. Berg, Ashley Christin, C.J. Davidson, and C.C. Wood also attended. R.D. Berg writes romantic comedy and has also co-authored a RomCom with Ashley Christin. It was one I had money in my pocket for, ready to buy, and I completely forgot about grabbing it before we packed up. So, if any of you ever read this, I'll take a copy of Strong Hate, please! C.J. Davidson's debut novel is fantasy, so I loved getting to talk to her about world-building and different supernatural races and powers. I got a copy of her book, A Daughter's Curse, and I can't wait to dig into it. One thing I love about fantasy is that there is no limit to what you can create, as there is no limit to your imagination, so chatting with her made me want to pick up mine and blow off the dust. C.C. Wood writes both paranormal romance and paranormal/cozy mystery, and she had several of her gorgeous books to sign. Her covers are all so simple and beautiful, and I had to grab her book Bite Me, which is the first of a series that features all different characters, from vampires to shape-shifters.

There was a steady flow of traffic all day, with attendees who'd come from all around Texas and even out of state. One of the coolest things was to hear that a lot of them had heard about our books already, either through Amazon's "Also-Boughts" lists or on Goodreads or other social media pages. It was reassuring in a way because it helped validate all the hard work indie authors put in on a daily basis. It's tough taking on so much by yourself and thinking it's for nothing, that you're not reaching readers, but Saturday helped prove me wrong. So thank you attendees for traveling, or just taking the time out of your day to come by if you're a local, and for sharing your stories with us. Thank you JOY for organizing such a fun event (and it was the first signing she'd organized!). And thank you to Colleen Hoover, not only for giving so much of your time to a selfless cause, but also for spending some of it with us. For providing a place for indie authors to make a difference, no matter how small it might be. It was an experience I'll never forget!  

Holly's Home Team!

Hey all! I've done the inevitable and created a closed reader group for anyone interested in my books/book discussion/teasers/recommendations. Not recommended for the casual reader. You've been warned. As usual, general news and updates on new releases will still be posted on this page as well as my author page on Facebook. I know a lot of people like to discuss riveting books more in depth but don't like doing it in a public arena, such as an author page. Anyone is welcome to join, the only requirement being that you love reading and chatting books!

Click below to join--->
https://www.facebook.com/groups/159283817923550/

Why write the things that I write?

I've heard it a few times: what inspired this, why do you write about these things? For those of you interested in that subject, you're in the right place. My books might seem a little depressing and dramatic for some readers. For others, they'll say "This is nothing!". I like feelings. I like emotion. I like analyzing how emotions dictate decisions and manifest themselves as fears. Like my characters, I like viewing and reading things that make me feel something. I hope that translates to you all through my words.

I appreciate journeys; literally and figuratively. I like seeing how both real people and fictional characters navigate grief and tension and love--all journeys in their own right. I've read certain books that I've looked back on and thought that was exactly what I needed to read right at that moment. A few books have done that for me, namely Divergent and Me Before You. JK Rowling's words saw me through many of life's trials. It's a lofty goal, but I hope that one of my books provides something for you at a time in your life when you need it. Which brings me to my next point:

I write to get through things. When I was a kid, I was the youngest of five, my four other siblings being older brothers. I had an enchanting childhood that I'd never trade for anything, but it was also controlled chaos most days. I was dealing with the loss of my dad while at the same time learning my place in a family of seven. Writing was my sanctuary in the midst of so much noise. It was a place only I could escape to, which was a rare experience in our household. More recently, when life threw some of the people I love curve balls and placed seemingly insurmountable obstacles in their paths, I fled to writing again. (I also supported them and was there for them emotionally, don't think I abandoned my loved ones!) Thus, FG and ATPTYL were born. These stories are my way of addressing some very real emotions and coming to terms with them. Even now, as an adult, writing is still my sanctuary in the midst of the noise, and I hope you find somewhere to escape to or connect with in those pages.

ATPTYL Release and Other News!

Happy Friday everyone! It is with utmost excitement that I announce that All the Pieces That You Left is now live! Get it on Amazon, Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, or iBooks

This book focuses on a slightly younger age group than Forever Grace (early college days), but the feelings and emotions are just as complex. I hope you all enjoy meeting Ansley and Kyle; I definitely had fun revisiting my small town days for inspiration.

In other news, Forever Grace is now part of the Kindle Select program. This means that although it's $.99, it's FREE for Kindle Unlimited users. So for anyone who's a KU user and has been waiting to try it out, get it now! You have nothing to lose. You can find FG on Amazon here.

What's next on the agenda? Well, I've already got pages of notes for my next book, which will involve a musician, a divorcee, a crime family, guns, and characters that will keep you captivated. More on that soon!

If you've made it to this page by chance, come say hi on social media and catch other news/updates/random thoughts/super necessary photos:
www.facebook.com/hollyhallbooks
www.twitter.com/hollyhallbooks
www.instagram.com/hollyhallwritesthings

Have an awesome Friday, and happy reading!

Cover Reveal & Blurb: ALL THE PIECES THAT YOU LEFT

This project was put on hold when I started writing Forever Grace, but it's since been completed, and I'm now working on the final round of edits and rewrites. I'm always interested in cover reveals, so I thought, why not give you guys a peek at it? If I stay focused and fight off the distraction of ALL THE THINGS, I anticipate that it will be live before the end of the month! Without further ado, I give you, All the Pieces That You Left

Waterview, Texas is good for a few things, but getting over your boyfriend's death isn't one of them. In the aftermath of an accident that claimed her boyfriend's life, Ansley Carpenter finds herself virtually smothered by her tiny hometown and the memories of Dean Ryker that seem to lurk around every corner. Hardly anyone is taking the loss as hard, except for one person: Dean's old best friend, Kyle.

Kyle O'Connor is the only one in the world who seems to understand the depth of Ansley's sadness, yet he's the one person that most people in Waterview expect her to stay away from. After all, it's usually never a good idea to date your ex-boyfriend's best friend. Though they try to deny a connection, the days of the summer after senior year just push them together, and the attraction between them only grows stronger as time before college runs out.

Thinking that a new start is just what she needs, Ansley tackles bonding with her new roommate, finding a new job, and attending college parties, but there is more to overcoming grief than just trying to forget. As she and Kyle try to navigate a relationship post-Waterview, they discover that there's no guidebook to love and loss, and that dealing with the past is the only way to guarantee their future.

...Interested? I hope so!! Keep an eye out for this one to go live.

Holly